While Adelliana was spending her time with Delaphina and Seraphina, Aphrodite was on her way to the royal court for a  meeting in her husband's stead. The law of the Beresford's empire is, husband and wife have equal power.

The law was created hundred years ago, it was the dynasty of emperor Henry the fifth. Henry the fifth, also known as Elizabeth Henry the fifth, the first female emperor who lead the military and cut off Henry the fourth's head who was her uncle.

The Henry dynasty came to an end and the Peregrine family became the next royal. There was an imbalance power between male and female from years ago but thanks to Henry the fifth, and many other women who followed Henry the fifth's footstep, the era where men was superior than women vanished.

"Well, isn't this the Grand Duchess? How are you doing these days?"

Aphrodite was stopped by the female who called her. She approached Aphrodite and smiled at her happily.

"Are you coming here in your husband's stead too?!"

"Ah, lady Rhea. It's nice to see you here, and to answer your question, I am here to represent my husband's stead."

The two ladies slowly walk to the royal court with a light conversation going on between them until lady Rhea brought up a new topic.

"I heard from one of my husband's subordinate that they found a woman, and it turned out she was a saintess."

The word 'saintess' caught Aphrodite's attention.

"May I ask if you know who she is?"

"I also don't know about this, but according to my husband's subordinate, she was found unconscious by the lake Maria. It seem that they brought her in just in case if she was a spy but that lady doesn't seem to have any clue about the enemies' troop. Although she stated that she came from Beresford."

Aphrodite didn't respond to Rhea. She doesn't know why but hearing about that unknown woman made her heart skipped. She has never even met her so why does she feel uncomfortable with her already?

"I apologise if this made you uncomfortable." Lady Rhea immediately apologised once hearing nothing from Aphrodite.

Aphrodite shook her head and smile at her like nothing was bothering her. Both of them walk into the royal court with every eyes turned to them, especially Aphrodite.

In front of them were the emperor and the queen throne. Aphrodite stood at the left row where the queen will be sitting on the throne. Beside her was lady Rhea who smiled nonchalantly.

Aphrodite was used to the attention the nobles gave her. It was either disgust, admiration, envy or pervert stare.

Her big size chest used to caught many pervert's attention until she married Ares but there were still some pervert who stared at her or even goes as far as dragging her to a corner to confess (sexual harassing).

Thankfully, this dress she was wearing hide her chest 50%. A moment later, the queen and the emperor came with the announcement from the knights.

"His majesty, the emperor, Helios Eero Peregrine and her majesty the queen, Perseis Walken Peregrine."

Just like everyone stated, the royal couple was like a fairy and an elf. Everyone including Aphrodite bow down their heads until the emperor gave them a permission to lift their heads up.

Throughout the whole meeting, Aphrodite only listened to important stuff  and mentally noted to herself. Aphrodite stays silent until the queen suddenly calls her by her name.

"Duchess Aphrodite, will the Valentine be also participating in the royal hunting festival this year?"

"I'm afraid not, your majesty."

[ How did the Tax matter topic became Royal hunting festival? ] Aphrodite shook her head to herself, scolding herself for not paying attention.

"May I ask for your reason?"

"By the time it's the Royal Festival, my husband will be also returning from the border inspection and I don't want him to attend a crowdy festival in such hurry. Plus, my daughter easily get sick with crowd, so I'm afraid not."

Aphrodite replied smoothly as if she's really cared for Ares when in reality she's not.

[ Can we end this meeting already?! Really!! Husband just returned from inspection, my ass! I don't care! I just don't want to meet with those snake women and pervert men and those guys from church. So annoying. ]

In conclusion, Aphrodite just didn't want to go and used Ares who knew nothing as an excuse.

"Why am I getting chilled all of a sudden...?" Somewhere in the Beresford border.

"I see. It's just fun to have Duchess Aphrodite participating here. Young ladies will be happy to join in this year. And what about you, lady Rhea?"

"This one won't be joining again this year, my husband doesn't like this kind of event and my daughter...dislike socialising..."

There was a moment of silence after lady Rhea mentioned her daughter. Not only Aphrodite, but the queen, the emperor and the rest of the noble thought the exact same thing.

[ She must be tired from dealing with these antisocial father-daughter...]

"Seem like the young ladies will be even more thrilled to hear this. But it's also sad that you won't be participating either."

There was a reason why the queen said the young ladies will be happy to participate when Aphrodite and Rhea are absent.

It was no joke when there are men who suicide when they heard Aphrodite and Rhea were getting married. Aphrodite, the sophisticated beauty and Rhea, the soft mature beauty.

So every year, Aphrodite received many gifts from young men or men who are the same age as her.

And this festival is also a no joke. When Aphrodite was unmarried and still a teenager, she has received many animals from the hunting festival, same goes for Rhea.

Almost no more than 20 ladies received animals aside from Aphrodite and Rhea. To be able to received hunted animals, the most receiver will obtain a reward.

A tiara was the reward, both Aphrodite and Rhea had obtained many tiaras each.  Not only Aphrodite and Rhea, but the queen herself was also one of Aphrodite and Rhea's gang.

But no one dare to give her any animal after she became the queen as it was considered as confessing their feelings and they didn't want to lose their heads yet.

Last year, there was a bold man who dare to gave the queen a white deer. And he went missing for a week and was found at the hunting ground and he almost went insane.

It was either the Walken family doing or the Emperor's doing or both joined hands, it was remained as an urban legend.

It was okay to give the hunted animals to normal noble married women because they can divorced but that very last year also, no one also dare to gift anything to lady Rhea.

No one knew exactly why, but those men who gave her were gone for a whole day and the next day, withdraw from the hunting festival with fears in their eyes.

Mysterious unsolved.

Only Aphrodite seem to be safe and every men was eager to participate in it, but now, Aphrodite won't be joining.

The royal meeting came to an end and the one who is happy about this the most was none other than Aphrodite herself.

She said goodbye to lady Rhea and walked a separate route.

"I should and get Adelliana. That's right! We can get cakes on our back home!!"

Just imagine Adelliana's smiling face, munching on her favourite cakes already made Aphrodite over the moon. She can't wait to pinch those chubby cheeks.

"Duchess Aphrodite, do you have a minute to spare for me?!" Aphrodite turned around and face with a handsome looking man.

Ahh, she remembered him. He was the found who stared at her the whole time being. She wanted to reject him but he will only bother her now.

"Let's make this quick." Aphrodite didn't bother to hide her annoyance but the man was happy.

"D-duchess Aphrodite, I have loved you for a very long time now!!! I know your husband doesn't treat you well, so please at least, consider my love for you."

He knows that Aphrodite rarely left her house, and this was the only time to meet her. It won't take long for her to return his feeling, she will run to him, yearning for love and will give him many wealth. Women are just recycle trash.

(Then what are you?)

Aphrodite didn't react, but soon she showed a teary expression which makes the noble man happier.

"Oh my...where did you know about this?"

The man smirk victoriously.

"I know from the very beginning. The way you were so spacing out in the meeting, I knew you were sad about this. I can give you love more than anyone."

"Just love?"

"Pardon?" The noble man was taken back a bit.

"You can only give me your love, nothing else?"

"I, uh I..."

"How dare you, a mere lowly count tried to cling onto me?! What do you have to offer me? Just your love? This isn't a fairytale, why don't you go and beg your mother or nanny to read you a fairytale? Before you dare to think of having feelings for me, look at your status first and reconsider."

"W-wait!!"

The noble man tried to stop her but Aphrodite continued to move on without looking back. Men just loved her for her appearance and wealth...she knew money can also buy happiness but...but..even if she and Ares no longer have any wealth and become a commoner...if she and Ares loved each other..she wouldn't mind becoming a commoner just to have a regular happy family life with him and Adelliana.

"Ahh...why am I thinking about the impossible?"