After the tea party, the amount of presents piled up in the east hall became even more hectic. It was because noble families sent flowers and gifts to Anne one after another. There were also cards wishing her good health, but Anne did not bother to open them.

Lately, Anne’s mood has been at its worst. She was suffocated when the heat came upon her. Her limbs were heavy and there were dull aches all over her body, like she was having a fever.

“They say northern summers are cool, so why is it so hot?”

Her breasts swelled up at will, and even her nipples became hard on their own. Even when she wore loose clothes, it was obvious, so she was even more annoyed.

Then Emily came in with a knock.

“Madam, I received a reply.”

Emily carefully took out the letter hidden inside her skirt and handed it to Anne. Turning over the envelope to see the Whitmore family seal, Anne hurriedly ripped open the seal with a paper knife. She sent only one short sentence, so she wondered if he would have understood it.

When she opened the envelope and took out the piece of paper, a simple sentence was written in the middle of the blank paper.

“I’m glad you found your memories in time. There are many conversations I would like to have. Miss Angroanne, if you wish, come to the house where you previously stayed. I will tell them to be prepared.”

Even though she didn’t write about the main topic, he was sure that she would leave, and he had even arranged a place for her to stay. This was the reason Anne had contacted him.

At first, she tried to leave this place blindly, even empty-handed. But with her pregnant body, there was nowhere to go right away. So she decided to find a place to lean on for a while and then prepare to stand on her own.

“What should I do…”

Tapping her fingernails on her armrest, Anne was lost in thought.

Now that she has found a place to stay, she can leave at once. But, wouldn’t that be too easy? It was because she was quite interested in punishing the Grand Duke.

She treated him only a little coldly when there were other eyes, but whenever she was alone with him, she was ridiculing and humiliating and occasionally giving him pain.

However, when the victim did not show much reaction, she was also not very fond of it these days. It would be nice to give another punishment soon…

“Madam, is this good news?”

“Yes. I found a place to stay after the child was born. Yes. I’ll have to invite Daymond. I have to tell him this good news.”

Anne’s lips curved gracefully into a smile.

* * *

Anne invited the Grand Duke to dinner that evening.

The cool summer breeze was refreshing and he showed up just in time. He was happy that Anne seeked him first. It was obvious from his face, which was colored with joy. Anne greeted him with her back buried in the soft chair prepared by the handmaids.

“I’ve decided. I will stay here until the baby is born.”

In an instant, his face brightened. That annoyed for her. However, while imagining that his face, which had been filled with expectations, would collapse in a mess, she sighed and spoke without delay.

“It’s only until I give birth. After that, I will move to the place that Sir Salton arranged for.”

“Lord Whitmore?”

Daymond’s complexion went fierce when the unexpected person was mentioned.

“He remembered everything too. He must have remembered after seeing you here. Surely you’re not thinking of chasing me all the way there, are you?”

The Grand Duke forcibly suppressed his distorted expression. Even if he rejected it right away, it would only increase her anger. It was obvious that the situation would be worse than it is now.

For now, he intended to make Anne stay here somehow to relax her mind as much as possible until she gave birth. It’s hard to say how he will change if she leaves after the child is born, but he was thinking of buying time until then.

With a helpless expression, he pulled out the chair opposite Anne.

“Oh no, not there. Sit right here.”

The tip of her shoe lightly tapped the ground.

The Grand Duke’s pupils, which had been filled with anticipation, shook slightly. When he had finally understood what it meant, Anne lifted her lips loosely as she watched his sharp jawline harden.

Yes, retribution.

She sat there last winter and put the Grand Duke’s thing in her mouth. He should experience the exact same thing.

It had been a long time since she had grown tired of poking his palms with a needle until they were tattered, so today was a new punishment for him.

“Of course.”

Even so, he knelt before her feet without hesitation.

Anne slightly lifted her skirt and showed the top of her foot. His gaze landed on her bare ankles. It was the bare skin that he hadn’t seen in months. Outside her gaze, his eyes were filled with heat.

“Kiss my feet first. Since you like my body more than the food I give you, you’ll enjoy licking it.”

Anne said coldly in a mocking voice. Again, the Grand Duke fell at her feet without hesitation.

He bent over and buried his face between Anne’s ankles. A few low breaths drifted into her ears. Anne felt that it was a bit strange, but she watched him silently. Looking down on him . . . it wasn’t bad.