Cecilia discovered something surprising.

There were quite a few people who, despite being tone-deaf, eagerly volunteered to sing.

She frowned when the songs sounded like noise but enjoyed them when they were pleasant enough to listen to.

She didn’t notice Russell watching her intently from the side.

Russell suppressed a laugh when she scrunched up her face.

He glanced at a middle-aged man singing loudly and muttered,

“You’re out.”

At some point, he had stopped eating.

He was fully immersed in the amusement of observing her constantly changing expressions.

He had thought she was someone who never revealed her likes or dislikes.

But today, he realized her expressions were quite varied.

He hoped she would show just as many expressions when she was with him.

‘Who are you, really?’

Was the version of her he had seen months ago a façade?

Or was the person before him now the false one?

‘She roams the castle all day, yet she doesn’t seem to be digging for anything.’

Even though the castle atmosphere appeared relaxed, there were always hidden eyes.

The Cardros family taught their heirs that maintaining informational superiority and internal control was paramount.

The lord had spies among the servants, hunters, administrators, and even the villagers of Lagos.

Whenever Russell returned after being away, he received detailed reports of everything that had happened in the castle.

Come spring, he would receive reports from all over Lagos, providing a clear view of the winter activities in each village.

Thus, Russell knew Cecilia’s daily routine in detail.

He also knew the routines of the people from the grand duchy who had accompanied her.

‘She’s the one who distanced herself from the people of the grand duchy. After appointing Helen as butler, she’s left her to work without interference.’

She didn’t seem interested in playing the role of a madam managing the household.

‘What is she thinking?’

Russell couldn’t make sense of her behavior.

She had left her birthplace and come here, a land called the ‘Cursed Land’ on the continent.

Of course, she would be afraid.

It was instinctive to take actions to protect herself.

If she had clung to the people from the grand duchy and used them as a barrier, Russell would have understood.

‘But she…’

She didn’t put up a wall of thorns.

She didn’t antagonize the people of Lagos.

She didn’t discriminate against them.

‘Could it be genuine?’

Even a lifetime isn’t enough to truly understand someone.

How could he possibly know in just a month?

And yet, Russell hoped she was sincere.

For the first time since he had grown up, he found himself wishing for something out of personal emotion.

While Russell was lost in thought, there were people watching him.

“Look over there.”

A person nudged the middle-aged woman beside them, who turned her head.

“Oh my.”

Some people chuckled as they looked at the lord.

“He can’t take his eyes off her.”

“They’re in their honeymoon phase.”

“They make a good couple.”

“Do you think so?”

“Why?”

“The lady is so beautiful.”

“And what’s wrong with our lord? He’s tall, a skilled hunter, and quite handsome as it is.”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen him like this.”

“Exactly. I hope our lord builds a happy family and lives a joyful life.”

Not everyone was at ease, though.

Hoffman downed a glass of water with a conflicted expression.

The man next to him turned and said,

“Hey, that’s my drink.”

Hoffman felt the burn in his throat and realized something was wrong, but it was too late—the alcohol was already gone.

A wave of heat surged through him. Panting, he overheard voices nearby.

“Oh no, what do we do?”

“Who gave Hoffman a drink?”

“It’s not my fault! I poured it for myself…”

The surrounding noise faded from Hoffman’s ears. His vision swam, and he slumped forward onto the table.

It was just a minor incident at a lively gathering full of laughter and chatter.

A few people helped Hoffman out of the hall, but no one paid much attention. By the end of the evening, several more would likely be carried out, thoroughly drunk.

At long last, the singing contest ended.

The performers, who had been playing in pairs or trios, all took their positions together, and they began playing an upbeat, fast-paced tune.

People at the tables rose and moved into the cleared space in the center—with flushed faces, likely from a drink or two, men and women paired off and started to dance.