KMKS 45

chapter 45

“As you know, today’s party was supposed to be for ladies only.”

Then, the Duke of Winston shouldn’t have appeared either.

Aiden nodded in agreement. If it hadn’t been a ladies-only event, he too would have followed Sarah.

“Did… that man do something?”

Aiden loosened his cravat.

It seemed as though he was worried that the Duke of Winston might have done something to Sarah. Whenever that man appeared, trouble inevitably seemed to follow her.

“No… nothing like that. It just seemed suspicious. He acted differently from Lady Cordelia. And he didn’t hesitate to be affectionate in front of everyone.”

Although it was known after the incident that the two had a special relationship, their actual behavior often didn’t match the rumors.

When Sarah first attended social gatherings, the Duke of Winston stared intently at Sarah, not Lady Cordelia. And it had been Lady Cordelia who followed the Duke around, leading some to call it her unrequited love.

But today, it looked as if their relationship had suddenly progressed. Almost as if the Duke of Winston had feelings for Lady Cordelia.

Perhaps it was because they had kissed on the balcony under the moonlight. He might already have feelings.

And if, as many hoped, the day came when he used his own body for the engagement…

Sarah squeezed her eyes shut. The thought alone was horrifying. It wasn’t because she still had affection for her husband.

She couldn’t let the fate of the man in front of her be changed according to her husband’s will.

“Something seems off.”

“Is that so?”

Sarah was puzzled by Aiden’s flat tone.

It was one thing when he didn’t know his body had been switched, but could he remain indifferent knowing that the Duke, now in his body, was moving with malicious intent? He must want to get his body back immediately.

“…Are you really okay?”

After asking, she realized he couldn’t be and fell silent. It wasn’t that he was unaffected—there was simply no other way.

After a deep sigh, he finally spoke. That he was fine, that he understood.

“After all, I’m not so different, am I?”

Different in what way?

Aiden smiled faintly. What did that mean? It was as if he too could use ‘Aiden’s’ body at will.

“It’s what I expected. Since the accident, the only person he maintains a close relationship with is Count Cordelia. That must be the one he relies on… but are you worrying about me now?”

Aiden’s voice carried a subtle hint of hope.

Worried about him? Sarah nodded slightly.

But she began to doubt whether she deserved to worry. She had secretly hoped that the man inside her husband wouldn’t return to his own body.

Watching his body being used by someone else made her feel guilty. It seemed like all of this was because of her selfishness.

If she had realized sooner that the bodies had been switched and told him first, would things have been different?

“I know what you’re worried about.”

Sarah wasn’t just concerned about the Duke of Winston and Lady Cordelia’s relationship changing.

“It’s not just that.”

The private conversation between the Duke of Winston and Count Cordelia.

“It seems like they’re scheming to take over the Liera building.”

“What do you mean by scheming?”

“In the worst-case scenario, they might revise the property laws to favor them. It’s not certain, but…”

Her husband, who had desired the Liera building strongly, wouldn’t give up on this business easily. Especially now, holding the Duke’s body and his power.

Even when their side refused to give up ownership, he had stubbornly put up banners asserting his stance.

Now, knowing that the Duke’s body was inside her husband, he would be even more determined.

Aiden rubbed his chin.

“You have a point. As you said, using Count Cordelia as chairman makes it possible. I don’t know if the Count will lend his power easily, but fine.”

Aiden stood and extended his hand to Sarah.

“Now that we know their cards, it’s time for us to move too.”

“Move…?”

Sarah blinked in surprise at Aiden’s confident words. The hand he offered hovered before her.

“Oh, I haven’t mentioned yet. I have a very capable butler. I’m sure you’ll like him too.”

Aiden extended his hand again, in a gesture different from when escorting a lady.

It was a hand meant for cooperation, for joining forces.

Cautiously, Sarah placed her hand in his, and he smiled as they clasped firmly.

Warmth radiated from him.

“Let’s do this together, Madam.”

Sarah would come to understand the meaning behind Aiden’s confident smile only a few days later.

A few days later, Sarah went out to the cafeteria with Aiden and unexpectedly ran into a familiar man.

“Jace!”

As they entered the private area, Aiden and the man couldn’t hide their delight.

Sarah greeted him lightly and sat down.

“You came early.”

“Lately, the weather’s nice, so I feel like going out anywhere.”

“That’s understandable. Ah, this is the capable butler of the Duke of Winston. Introduce yourselves. This is Lady Sarah Spencer.”

Aiden made the introduction in time.

“Pleased to meet you, Madam. You can call me Jace.”

“May I call you by your name?”

“Of course! That’s more comfortable for me too, Madam.”

While memorizing Jace’s name, Sarah had a nagging sense of familiarity.

‘Where have I seen him before…?’

The strong man with pink hair tied in a tight ponytail wasn’t common in the city.

As she observed him, she remembered where: a few days ago, leaving the Count’s mansion.

‘He looked pale, like he was scared of something.’

Seeing him in front of the Duke’s carriage, she had assumed he was a servant…

“He’s not only a butler but also a long-time friend.”

“Nice to meet you, Jace.”

Sarah hadn’t expected him to be a trusted ally from childhood, someone who could be relied upon for important tasks.

Aiden’s face naturally softened, revealing a boyish playfulness.

With close friends, he showed this side. Sarah found Aiden slightly unfamiliar, yet decided to feel at ease. Someone so kind and close to him couldn’t be bad.

After brief greetings, Jace recounted how he had been handling orders from the Duke of Winston.

Jace’s biggest surprise had been the Duke’s outrageous behavior at a recent tea party, pretending to be in a romantic relationship with Lady Cordelia.

At one point, Jace had to gulp tea repeatedly, and Aiden had to pass him several napkins.

“You didn’t even consult me!”

“You must have been surprised. News traveled so widely.”

On the table lay newspapers with the engagement announcement of the Duke of Winston and Lady Cordelia on the front page.

“Don’t even mention it! Do you know how shocked I was? An engagement! And they didn’t even tell me, their own butler, about a major family matter!”

Jace clutched his chest and flipped the newspaper, as if denying the engagement announcement.

“Funny as it is, I didn’t even know he truly liked Lady Cordelia… Ah…”

Jace glanced at Sarah. Right now, the Duke’s real body was Aiden—her husband.

“I made a mistake.”

“No, you didn’t.”

Sarah gave a faint smile to the flustered Jace. Affairs with women had been complicated before.

“From what you say, the engagement announcement seems to have another purpose. Has the bill been scheduled?”

“Oh, no. I was ordered to submit the application documents, but they’re delaying it for various reasons. Not sure how long it can be postponed.”

Jace shrugged.

“I should have discussed it with His Grace first.”

“That’s risky. You could be suspected. Since you didn’t mention the engagement, they might already be suspicious.”

Aiden’s sharp remark made Jace pout. It hinted at how much he had suffered under the Duke recently.

“My questioning has increased lately. But I can’t submit the documents immediately. His Grace opposed this business.”

“What to do…”

Aiden sighed deeply.

Currently, Jace was the Duke’s only hand, and they couldn’t afford to distrust him.

If anything went wrong and suspicion fell on Jace, he might be dismissed immediately.

Sarah also struggled to find a solution. Her husband’s temperament made the danger obvious.

[How dare you try to betray me?]

He would surely take revenge on anyone defying him.

But…

“No matter how much we try to avoid suspicion, submitting it and having it pass would be disastrous.”

“If Count Cordelia adds her support, it might pass.”

“Exactly what I mean!”

Jace pounded his chest, insisting on his point.

Sarah’s rational mind, however, grew colder.

If the Liera building were taken by the Duke of Winston…

“On the contrary…”

“…?”

Sarah, who had been silent until now, spoke in a small but firm voice, causing a faint ripple through the teacup.

“It might be for the best.”