“Hmm," Lady Chavamond tilted her head, looking over my sisters behind me, who awkwardly curtsied. “Though I understand where your worries lie, your overprotective measures could be detrimental to your sister’s reputation. It is best to let them fly free.”

“I thank you kindly for your insightful advice, my lady, and shall take it to heart,” I bowed my head. “On that note, may I have a quick word with you? I wish to ask for advice in regard to my sisters' upcoming events.”

“If it’ll only be a moment,” she nodded, snapping her fan closed and waving over a maid. “Please show the Bellelane ladies to their seats.”

The maid nodded, and my sisters curtsied once more before following the staff—casting a variety of expressions, from nervousness to suspicion. Lady Chavamond waved her fan toward me and then pointed at a pergola set back into some tall hedges. I nodded and followed. 

“Thank you again for your time, Lady Chavamond,” I stated once more, holding my hand out to help her sit before me on the bench. “I, too, wish for my sisters to have more freedom. My family is quite worried since my sisters seem to have experienced some memory shortages and personality changes since their accident.”

“Memory issues?” She paused as she looked at me with concern. I nodded.

“I’m not sure if you heard the details, but the carriage accident they were involved in was quite serious. They were lucky to come out unharmed in the end, though they were unconscious for a month. Since they have awoken, their personalities have been a bit more… free—and there seems to be a sizable gap in their memory concerning family, common events, and high society.”

“Oh dear,” she gasped, her lace-gloved hand covering her mouth in surprise. 

“I don’t mean to burden you, but could I bother you just to keep an eye out for my sisters? Not to take care of them, but for your own safety,” I started before pausing, trying to think of how to word such a crazy sentence. “They seem to be under this strange notion that you are a villain in a romance novel…”

“... Pardon?” the lady paused, her face hardening. I sighed in frustration as I scratched the back of my neck. 

“I am sorry for saying this, my lady, but my sisters seem to have lost their minds a little. I overheard them speaking recently that they believe they are inside a book and that you are some villainess set to ruin the future of some female lead…” I drawled. My face contorted as I looked away. I was too embarrassed and filled with shame to meet the ladies’ eyes.

“... are any of them supposed to be the female lead?” she asked slowly. I shook my head. “Then, are you supposed to be the main love interest?”

“No,” I shook my head again before dropping my face into my hands. “They called me the sub-male lead. In unrequited love, destined to be alone and pining for some woman I’ve never met.” 

I was met with silence for a while before I heard a subtle snort. I looked up in confusion, only to see Lady Chavamond hiding her mouth behind her hand as she attempted to stop herself from laughing. 

“This isn’t a joke, my lady,” I pleaded, clenching the extra fabric of my pants around my knees. “I worry they might do something unsavory, so I insisted on coming along. They have secret meetings discussing the events of this so-called novel unfolding and the characters they meet. I know I sound like I belong in a mental hospital—and my sisters are driving me up the wall, but I can’t let them bring any harm to others because of issues related to an accident. No excuses.”

“I understand your plights, young duke,” she replied, clearing her throat. “I shall keep your warnings in mind. I would also love to take on their chaperoning for any events I’m in attendance at."

“Really?” I snapped my head up in surprise, still hunched over and mouth agape. The lovely laugh gently laughed with a nod.

“I am not trying to make light of your family’s circumstance, but it sounds interesting. It’ll spice up this drab season and give me something to focus on,” she shrugged with a subtle smirk. At that moment, it didn’t matter to me if she got enjoyment out of my sisters and their madness - but the fact that she would share this burden with me was already a relief. Though my sisters called her a villainess, and she seemed to be a bit of a mischievous person, right now, she shone like an angel before me.

“Thank you, my lady. Really, truly, thank you,” I flashed her my largest smile in thanks, taking her hand in mine and kissing the back of it. “I appreciate your generosity during these times. If you could even just simply send a note if anything stands out to you, I would be ever so thankful!”

“Hmm,” she mumbled in thought before smiling and placing her other hand on top of mine that still clasped hers. “How about we have our own secret meetings? We can have our own discussions, share observations, and come to our own conclusions to prevent any mishaps their confused selves might cause, hmm?”

“Pardon?” I asked, confused.

“You said they hold little secret meetups. Why don’t you invite me to your estate to witness their rendezvous and plan accordingly? How about it?” she stated as a large and entertained grin overtook her beautiful face, leaving me at a loss for words - so I just nodded absently. How could this woman ever be considered a big evil? Were my sisters just simply jealous? They weren’t the type to be - at least pre-accident.  

“Let’s do that, then,” I replied slowly. “I’ll be sure to send you an official invitation to our estate.”

“Hmm,” he continued, tapping her fan against her chin. “Being that we are both unmarried, some unsavory rumors may spread due to that. So let’s instead say that we are discussing a possible engagement between our families.” 

“Can we not just say that you are friends with my sisters?” I questioned, confused. She shook her head, and her wavy hair swayed with it. 

“We need an excuse as to why we are spending time together - especially since we would meet more often than I would with your sisters.” She told me, unfolding her fan and covering her lower face, but I saw the smile lines form around her eyes - how charming. 

“Then I’ll bring this up with my father,” I nodded. There was no way my father would refuse a connection to the grand duke’s house. Her eyes curved into half-moons before she closed the fan and tapped my hand with it.

“Then, since we are done discussing, I shall head back to host my party. I’ll have the maids show you inside for some beverages, and you are welcome to peruse the grounds or the library,” she told me as she stood up. 

“Of course, my lady. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter,” I replied, quickly standing up and bowing in thanks. 

“Of course. Leena will show you the way,” she nodded, waving her hand to a nearby maid who urged me to follow. 

“Ah, Lady Chavamond,” I paused as I attempted to walk away, turning to look at her. “Do you know what it means to ‘squeeze a popped cake’ by any chance?”

“No,” she paused, a slight crease in her brows formed as she seemed to think it over. "Is it something your sisters said?”

“Yes,” I nodded in turn.

“I’ll be sure to try to solve the mystery of such a phrase. I’m now quite intrigued,” she laughed, waving as she gracefully walked away. I watched her leave around the hedges before I followed the maid inside to the sitting room—where I was served some whiskey and light tapas while I waited for the tea party to conclude to take my sisters’ home. 

After a few hours, and some time spent browsing the grand duke’s family library, the lady’s personal maid fetched me to inform me that the tea party had ended. As I made my way to the entrance, I saw my sisters quietly bickering with each other as our carriage made its way up the laneway to fetch us. I clenched my jaw as I quickly strolled towards them. I won’t hold back from nagging them as soon as we enter the carriage. 

“Young duke,” I heard that angelic, clear-as-a-bell voice call to me, and I quickly turned to face the rose-like lady with a smile.

“Thank you again for today, Lady Chavamond,” I bowed low, gently taking her gloved hand and kissing the back of it. She nodded and flicked her fingers towards her face. I tilted my head and slightly leaned forward. She had a playful smile on her face, and she leaned in to whisper in my ear.

“Just for your knowledge, ‘squeezing a popped cake’ refers to squeezing a full and round buttocks on a handsome and well-built man,” her voice was filled with mirth as she leaned backwards, and she flicked her fan out to cover her face - but it didn’t cover the curve of her eyes as they sparkled with laughter. My jaw slacked in surprise, as my eyes begged her to confirm she was jesting, but she shook her head. My head whipped to look at my sisters as they gathered in front of the newly arrived carriage, faces flushed in embarrassment. 

“E-excuse me, my lady,” I bowed before swiftly turning, quickening my speed towards my sisters. The driver saw me approach in a hurry and jumped down to help my sisters inside. I climbed in quickly after them and urged the driver to take off before I turned to smack each of my perverse sisters on the back for their public displays of depravity as the carriage moved at full speed. I glanced out the window as I was berating them, only to see Lady Chavamond still standing there, watching in amusement.