The dinner party scheduled for the evening ended without incident.

“How tiring…”

Leaving Dylan at the venue, Avril returned to the guestroom first and gently sank into the sofa. Avril had been a bit excited to attend her first evening party as a married couple.

But nothing special happened, as expected.

This time, I didn’t tell anyone that Lord Dylan and I are married. Chris was the one who escorted me to the party, and Lord Dylan seemed busy the entire time.

Seeing Dylan’s back as he engaged in diplomacy unexpectedly left her feeling lonely. She was surprised at how normal having Dylan by her side had become for her.

Moreover, I’m a villainess, so my room will be separate from Lord Dylan’s. That means I won’t be able to see him tonight…

Her shoulders sagging, she recalled the evening party.

While Dylan gallantly saw to his through his duties, Avril was constantly greeted by gentlemen who’d say things like, “It’s been a while. I didn’t know you can look like this too,” or “What about the jewels I gave you?” Chris time and again came to her aid each time.

From the various conversations, Corinna had apparently snuck out from her inn every night to play around at masquerades balls within that country. More than that, that no one openly showed any hostility toward the Villainess Avril was strange.

While she was dismayed by Corinna’s behavior, she also felt that the consistency her stepsister showed in only targeting the wealthy and prestigious was admirable.

Learning of my stepsister’s behavior at evening parties was astonishing and bewildering, but was I able to proper conduct myself as a villain?

A distant expression crosses Avril’s face as these feelings mixed with her loneliness at being separated from Dylan.  It was then that Grace placed a steaming cup before her eyes.

“Lady Avril, I’ve prepared some hot milk for you before you turn in for the night.”

“Thank you, Grace!”

“For you, as well, Chris. Thank you for your hard work today.”

“For me as well? Thank you.”

Grace seemed to have prepared some hot milk for Chris too. Normally, she prepared distilled liquor like she did for Dylan, but Chris’ cup gave off the same sweet aroma as Avril’s.

Avril was taken aback when she recalled that Chris was her escort.

“Did you drink a lot, Chris?”

He was smiling as usual, but his face seemed a bit red.

“Not at all, hahaha.”

Grace sighed in place of Chris, who grinned as he drank hot milk.

“I was watching from the side. Chris accepted every glass that was meant for Avril.”

“Oh my!”

“That was my first time seeing Chris go through rounds of alcohol. I feel he must’ve consumed quite a lot. Moreover, he rejected every single invitation you received to slip out of the party. He is undoubtedly today’s most outstanding person.”

“! I’m so sorry, Chris!”

To take my place like that, and I would have never noticed if not for Grace, it’s inexcusable.

She quickly stood up and bowed, to which Chris’ smile grew deeper than usual.

“It’s alright. Lord Dylan asked me to. If it becomes too much, I’ll complain to my lord, so don’t worry about it.”

Looking at the gentle smile he rarely broke, Avril continued to apologize profusely. Then, a thought suddenly occurred to her.

Chris always obeys Lord Dylan’s request. What’s more, no matter what he’s requested, he never shows any displeasure. He always accompanies Lord Dylan at work and acts as his reliable right-hand man. At the same time, he’d happily accompanies me when I go shopping…

Avril placed the empty cup on the table and tilted her head.

I wonder, why is Chris such a loyal servant for Lord Dylan? I get the feeling that there’s a special bond between the two of them.

In the end, Dylan didn’t come to Avril’s room.

Avril went to sleep, thinking of Dylan’s distant back she saw at the evening party.

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