Chapter 4

“Rose.”

At Allendorf’s sweet voice, Rosette looked back as if enchanted. Before she knew it, he was gazing at her with deep, soulful eyes, looking as though he found her too lovely to bear.

“So, here you were.”

“Grand Duke…”

“How many times must I tell you to just call me ‘Allen’ before it sticks?”

He feigned a stern expression, pretending to scold Rosette. But Rosette knew—she knew that even this playful banter from Allendorf stemmed entirely from his feelings for her.

Rosette awkwardly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and spoke.

“I’m sorry. The title hasn’t quite become natural to my lips yet.”

“Not natural to your lips, you say…”

Allendorf muttered the words to himself, then took a large step toward her.

“Then I suppose I shall have to teach you myself.”

“…!”

Rosette’s eyes widened in surprise. Allendorf cupped both her cheeks in his hands, bringing his face inches from hers.

“Repeat after me. ‘Allen.’”

“A… Allen.”

“Once more. ‘Allen.’”

“All…en.”

Though she stammered, Rosette followed his lead slowly. Was it just her imagination? She felt as though their faces were far too close.

Soon, Allendorf began to slowly lower his head toward her. Rosette flinched instinctively, but followed his lead and slowly closed her eyes.

And then, the sweet breaths of the two mingled into one.

Allendorf pushed against Rosette with a gentle yet slightly urgent manner. Though flustered by Allendorf’s sudden surge of desire, Rosette submissively parted her lips.

“Mnh…!”

Suddenly, the small face of Ariana—who had been gazing at him longingly from a corner of the ballroom—flashed through her mind. Feeling a surge of dormant anxiety and possessiveness, Rosette wrapped her arms tightly around Allendorf’s back.

‘This man is mine now. I won’t give him up to anyone. Even if it’s you, Ariana, the female lead of this book…’

***

Meanwhile, while the two were breathlessly kissing, there was someone watching them from afar.

“Damn it…”

Lydis clenched his fists so hard his palms bled, gritting his teeth.

She was the first woman he had ever truly wanted. She was a bit arrogant, yet bold, and he had found himself falling for her without even realizing it, captivated by the rare glimpses of vulnerability she showed.

But he knew. Rosette’s heart already belonged to her fiancé, Allendorf.

“Damn it! Curse it all!”

Lydis spat out a harsh oath and tried to flee the spot. However, he soon tripped over something nearby and tumbled ungracefully onto the grass.

“Urgh!”

“Ah!”

Feeling a murderous rage, Lydis immediately hauled himself up. Then, his eyes met the ‘something’ that had tripped him.

“I-I beg your pardon, Your Highness…!”

“You…”

Lydis narrowed his eyes, looking down at the woman crying in front of him.

“You’re the only daughter of Count Württemberg, aren’t you?”

“I, I am…”

Ariana lowered her head, her face pale. Her face was already a mess of tears and dirt, but Lydis didn’t care why she was crying. He didn’t even want to know.

However, thanks to her, one fact he had forgotten resurfaced.

“Heh…”

Lydis let out a sinister chuckle as he looked down at Ariana.

“Come to think of it, you were Rosette’s enemy.”

“I-I don’t know what you mean…”

Overcome with terror, Ariana trembled and tried to escape. But her legs had no strength; the best she could do was crawl across the ground on her knees.

“Do you dare pretend you don’t know?”

“I… I didn’t… I don’t know anything…”

“…It was all because of you.”

“Your Highness, please…!”

“If it weren’t for you, she would have…”

Having lost his reason to rage, Lydis immediately drew the sword hanging at his waist. Under the pouring white moonlight, Ariana’s deathly pale face was clearly visible.

“…!”

Soon, the sword in the Crown Prince’s hand ruthlessly pierced Ariana’s heart. A gut-wrenching, terminal scream echoed across the vast Imperial Palace gardens…

***

“Aaaah!”

I jolted awake, letting out a terrible scream.

My entire body was drenched in cold sweat, as if someone had dumped a bucket of water over me. My heart thundered against my ribs like I’d just finished a hundred-meter sprint, and my hair was a wild mess, as if I’d been tossing and turning in my sleep.

“Haa… haa…”

It was… a dream.

I got out of bed, shivering from the belatedly arriving chills.

Because the dream I just had was so vivid, I felt a stinging pain in my left chest, as if I had actually been stabbed by Lydis’s sword.

“Ugh…”

Looking in the mirror, my reflection was even worse than I imagined. I barely managed to swallow a curse and let out a sigh so deep it felt like it might reach the floor.

Of all the nightmares, why did that scene have to appear?

The dream I just had was the ‘Death of Ariana’ chapter, which had garnered the most explosive reaction in <How to Captivate the Male Lead.>

To be fair, that scene also featured Allendorf and Rosette’s first kiss, but because the subsequent death of Ariana was so hollow yet left such a powerful impact, it was more often called the ‘Ariana’s Death Chap’ rather than the ‘First Kiss Chap.’

Looking at it now, it really is a sadistic episode. The reason Ariana was crying back then was probably because she saw the two of them kissing…

Ugh, seriously. What did Ariana ever do to deserve being disposed of in such a brutal way!

As expected, the worst person in the world is the author of <How to Captivate the Male Lead.> And the second worst is me. Sob.

I wiped my face, wet with sweat and tears, with the back of my hand. Ariana wasn’t usually the type to sweat much; seeing my whole body soaked like this made my heart heavy, wondering just how much sadness and terror I had felt in the dream.

“Miss?!”

Perhaps awakened by my scream, I heard Emma knocking urgently on the door from the other side.

“Did something happen?!”

“N-no. I just had a scary dream…”

“May I come in?”

“Yes.”

Soon, a worried-looking Emma entered the room. I sniffled, feeling a sudden surge of relief at the sight of her face.

“Emma…”

“My goodness, Miss.”

Emma looked flustered when she saw how drenched in sweat I was.

Well, it makes sense. Emma grew up with Ariana like a real sister, so she’d know that getting this sweaty isn’t a common occurrence.

“Shall I prepare a bath?”

“No, a warm wet towel will be enough.”

I sighed as I spoke. A bath would be better, but it would be too much trouble for Emma…

“And bring me some fresh pajamas. These are soaked and uncomfortable…”

“Yes, Miss.”

A moment later, Emma returned with a warm towel and new pajamas as requested. She meticulously wiped my body with the towel, speaking in a worried tone.

“What kind of dream did you have?”

“Huh?”

“It’s not common for you to be in this state, Miss…”

Trailing off, Emma shook her head and changed the subject. She likely realized that making me recall the nightmare wasn’t a good idea.

“A-ah, never mind. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Oh…”

“Instead, shall we talk about something else? You’re supposed to go shopping at Schwaben Street with Grand Duke Bayern tomorrow to pick out a gift for the Duchess, right?”

That’s when I remembered. Tomorrow, I was scheduled to go out with Allendorf to pick a gift for the Duchess.

“Yeah.”

Wait… could the dream from earlier be because of that?!

Suddenly becoming serious, I fell into deep thought.

Come to think of it, I have been getting unnecessarily close to Allendorf lately. With Duchess Ascania’s birthday approaching, I had unconsciously lowered my guard.

Ever since the day I lost and then found ‘Undine’s Tears,’ Allendorf started acting quite familiar with me under the pretext of protecting me. Of course, it was also my fault for going along with it without much thought because I was so flustered…

Is the problem that I’ve lost my original resolve?

While I was lost in thought, Emma finished wiping me down and helped me into my new pajamas. The smell of sunshine from the dry pajamas calmed my startled heart a little.

“Miss. Should I sleep beside you?”

“No. You must be tired too, Emma. Go back to your room and sleep.”

“But…”

“It’s fine. I’m not a child anymore.”

Emma still seemed worried, but I sent her out, saying I preferred sleeping alone. Since I thought I knew the cause of the nightmare, there was no need to trouble the innocent Emma.

Lying back down, I sighed and tossed and turned. Ugh, even if I changed my pajamas, the sheets were damp with sweat, so the discomfort wouldn’t go away.

From tomorrow on, I really, really shouldn’t act unnecessarily close to Allendorf.

***

Perhaps as an aftermath of the nightmare, I ended up oversleeping the next day. Fortunately, the appointment with Allendorf was set for the afternoon, so there was little worry about being late.

Contrary to my words that a simple look would suffice, Emma put her heart and soul into styling my hair and picking out an outing dress. While Emma and I were arguing over whether to put curls in my hair or not, Linda, the maid, knocked and entered the room.

“Miss, Grand Duke Bayern has arrived.”

“What?!”

I thought we were supposed to meet in the city?

At the news of Allendorf’s arrival, Emma hastily put the hair iron back on the vanity. Fortunately or unfortunately, thanks to his arrival, I was spared the trouble of getting curls. I hurriedly checked my attire and headed down to the first floor.

“Grand Duke!”

“Good morning, Lady Württemberg.”

Allendorf smiled at me with a face that was almost annoyingly refreshed.

“It seems I’ve arrived at just the right time.”

“Weren’t we supposed to meet in the city?”

“I’m not sure why you thought that, but it is not gentlemanly etiquette to let a lady show up at a rendezvous alone.”

“…….”

“My reputation is at stake, so I have no choice.”

‘You said before that you didn’t care about your reputation!’

Though grumbling internally, I had no choice but to link arms with him as he offered his. To think, it hasn’t even been a full day since I resolved not to be unnecessarily friendly…

Recalling last night’s dream, I felt goosebumps and hunched my shoulders. If I didn’t stay alert, that dream might soon become my future.

Allendorf looked at me in my tensed state, loosened his hold slightly, and smiled.

“Don’t be so tense.”

“…….”

“It’s not like this is a date anyway.”

It’s strange. It’s a simple remark, yet I’m the kind of person whose tension melts at words like that.

Allendorf escorted me with practiced ease, and we boarded the Grand Duke’s carriage, which was burdeningly flamboyant. When Allendorf tapped the ceiling of the carriage, it immediately departed for Schwaben Street, the city’s bustling district.

After the carriage started, he and I sat in silence for a while, staring down at our own knees.

It was true that my tension had eased, but I hadn’t forgotten the dream from last night, so I didn’t really feel like making unnecessary conversation with Allendorf.

Because of that, the first one to speak was Allendorf, sitting across from me.

“Have you thought of a gift for my mother?”

I hesitated briefly at his question before answering.

“I’ve thought of a few things, but I haven’t decided for sure yet.”

“I see.”

“And you, Grand Duke…”

I started to continue but quickly shut my mouth.

‘Ah, seriously! I decided not to act too friendly!’

While I was internally berating my flimsy resolution, Allendorf spoke with an expression that looked somewhat subtle.

“I have already thought of one.”

“Ah, I see…”

Allendorf said that and then stared at me intensely, as if waiting for me to ask what it was. Usually, I would just ignore it, but it seemed he would keep staring like that if I didn’t ask.

Ugh. It’s my fault for letting my mouth run… I had no choice but to give Allendorf the answer he wanted.

“What kind of gift is it?”

“It’s a secret.”

‘Why, you little…!’

At my flabbergasted look, Allendorf looked sheepish, then let out a small dry cough and continued.

“You’ll find out soon enough anyway.”

“…….”

“……I apologize.”

Sigh… Let’s just not talk.

While Allendorf and I exchanged trivial banter, the carriage arrived at Schwaben Street, our destination.

After the carriage stopped and I adjusted my hat, Allendorf opened the door and offered his arm with a very natural posture.

“Shall we?”

“……Yes.”

I had no choice but to step out of the carriage while linked with Allendorf. The street, which had welcomed spring, was decorated with brilliant flowers everywhere, making me feel that spring had truly arrived.

The streetlights, adorned with petunias and pansies, were hung with long banners promoting the upcoming Flower Festival. Allendorf looked up at the banners intently, then turned to me with a grin.

“Come to think of it, the Flower Festival is coming up soon.”

“Yes.”

“Do you plan to participate in the Flower Festival, Lady Württemberg?”

“Is there anyone who doesn’t participate in the Flower Festival?”

The Flower Festival is a major festival held over about fifteen days from late April to mid-May.

During this time, the entire capital buzzes with various sights and activities, including plays honoring the Flower Goddess, parades, and the Queen of Flowers Pageant (which is basically a beauty pageant). For the record, I already know all this because I read it in <How to Captivate the Male Lead.>

Ariana was undisputed as the most beautiful girl in the Empire, but she had never entered the Queen of Flowers Pageant. This is because the pageant is only open to women who have officially made their debut in society.

Well, even if she had been eligible, the gentle Ariana probably wouldn’t have entered something like the Queen of Flowers Pageant.

Anyway, it’s quite a large and famous festival in the Alpensia Empire, so almost everyone comes out to the streets to enjoy it.

It seems Ariana, while not participating in the pageant, had enjoyed small attractions like the plays and parades every year with her father or Josephine.

At my counter-question, Allendorf gave a short laugh and looked ahead again.

“Indeed, I asked a foolish question.”

“No. You could just be curious.”

“Actually, I was wondering who you would be enjoying the festival with.”

Hmm?!

At Allendorf’s follow-up, I felt my ears perk up. Depending on how you hear it, this sounds like he’s hitting on me to go together…

‘No, isn’t it just exactly that?’

Feeling the nightmare from last night resurface, I snapped to attention. Giving Allendorf an opening here would be a suicidal move.

Just as I was about to open my mouth to give a response that was as polite yet defensive as possible, Allendorf spoke his next words first.

“We’re here.”

‘Wait, already?!’

With a lukewarm feeling, I looked up at the sign of the shop we had arrived at. The large sign, featuring two pistols, also had the word ‘Gewehr’ written on it.

“A gunsmith?”

“That’s right.”

Oops. I had just muttered that to myself.

Allendorf stepped into the shop without even giving me a moment to feel embarrassed. Still dazed, I ended up entering the shop with Allendorf, since I was still linked with him.

“Welcome.”

Contrary to my prejudice that a bearded man would be running the shop, a surprisingly young woman was at the counter. She had a strangely relaxed air for a clerk. Could she be the owner?

The woman at the counter didn’t even seem surprised to see Allendorf’s face.

“You’ve come.”

“Is the item I ordered finished?”

“Of course.”

As she spoke, the woman glanced at me, who was still linked with Allendorf. Mindful of her gaze, I quickly unlinked my arm, but it was already too late…

‘Ack, damn it. What if she asks what my relationship with Allendorf is?’

In less than a second, I came up with dozens of excuses and squeezed my eyes shut.

“…….”

Unexpectedly, the barrage of questions I had prepared for didn’t come.

“You had so many requirements that it took a lot of work. The cost came out higher than expected—is that alright?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Wait, what. She’s so cool…

While I was feeling unnecessarily anxious, the woman who seemed to be the owner turned around and brought out a high-quality box about the size of a shoebox. That must be the item Allendorf ordered.

“Have a look.”

When the lady opened the box, I also peered inside.

On the lining of high-quality red velvet, a silver pistol with ornate embossed patterns boasted a sleek yet elegant design.

“Wow…”

I couldn’t help but let out an exclamation as I looked at the pistol Allendorf had ordered. I don’t know much about guns, but the design itself was so splendid that it was a feast for the eyes.

Hearing my exclamation, Allendorf turned to me with a proud expression.

“Does it look alright to you?”

“It’s wonderful.”

I gave him my honest impression and stared at the pistol again, as if possessed.

Since I couldn’t take my eyes off the gun, the shop owner pushed the box forward with a triumphant expression, as if telling me to look all I wanted.

I even forgot my resolve to give Allendorf the cold shoulder and ended up asking him a question first.

“Is this the gift for the Duchess?”

“Yes. My mother and I are going hunting this fall. My mother said she has never been hunting before, so I purchased this as both a birthday gift and an invitation.”

“Aha…”

Usually, when you think of a hunting gun, long shotguns come to mind, but the nobles of this world mostly use pistols for hunting. Of course, it’s not because the nobles’ marksmanship is that great, but because these days, ‘easy mode’ hunting—where hunting dogs subdue the prey first and the noble finishes it with a pistol—is the trend.

“Are you interested in guns or hunting as well, Lady Württemberg?”

“A-ah, no.”

I turned red and shook my head.

“Not once until now. I don’t even have a gun.”

“Then why don’t you get one for yourself this time? I will pay for it.”

When I looked at him with surprised eyes, Allendorf spoke in an apologetic voice.

“It is a token of gratitude for saving my mother.”

‘Do you have any idea how many times you’ve used that ‘gratitude’ excuse?’

That being said, honestly, getting a gun for myself this time didn’t seem like a bad idea… I mumbled and turned to the shop owner.

“I can buy my own gun with my own money. You don’t need to pay for mine, Grand Duke.”

“But…”

“If you keep doing that, I’m going to ask for the most expensive gun here.”

At my answer, Allendorf nodded with a face that was almost annoyingly pleasant.

“That wouldn’t be bad either.”

‘No, I said it’s fine! Why are you like this?!’

The shop owner, who had been listening to our conversation, brought out two more boxes with sparkling eyes and placed them on the counter.

“Then how about these? These are the most popular ones for beginners.”

When she opened the lids, pistols that were simpler than the Duchess’ but still had quite a nice appearance were revealed. Forgetting my bickering with Allendorf, I looked at the guns the owner was showing.

“The one on the right has a safety, so there are fewer accidental discharges. However, it takes a bit longer to get used to. The one on the left can be used easily even by a beginner.”

“Aha…”

I fell into a slight dilemma between the two pistols the owner showed. Both had their merits and looked okay… but buying both seemed like a waste. What should I do?

“I’ll just buy you both.”

At Allendorf’s persistent words, I gave him a sour look and spoke flatly.

“No. One is enough.”

Just as I was agonizing over the choice, I heard someone else entering the shop from behind.

“Welcome.”

Who was it?

At the owner’s greeting, I reflexively looked up and turned my gaze toward the new customer.

The man who entered was lanky, with shaggy orange curly hair and dressed in loose-fitting robes. It might be a prejudice, but he looked more like someone who belonged in a secondhand bookstore than a gunsmith’s shop.

Lifting the thick horn-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, the man scanned the interior of the shop. Soon, as if spotting us standing before the counter, he suddenly looked delighted and approached.

“Good day to you.”

“Oh, hello.”

With a bewildered expression, I looked up awkwardly at the strange man. I had reflexively returned the greeting since he spoke first, but I had no idea why he was acting like he knew me.

“…”

Unlike me, who was still in a daze, Allendorf was staring at the man with an inexplicably displeased look. Did they know each other? Just as I was about to ask, Allendorf suddenly stepped in front of me and spoke to the man in a voice radiating coldness.

“What brings you here so suddenly?”

What is even happening?

With a bunch of mental question marks floating over my head, I looked back and forth between Allendorf and the man in glasses. At Allendorf’s question, the man looked quite flustered and fidgeted with his glasses frames.

“I’m not sure what you mean…”

“Isn’t it more strange to hope you wouldn’t be recognized while dressed in such a suspicious outfit?”

“…”

“Even if you can deceive others, don’t try to deceive my eyes.”

Allendorf said this and then let out a deep sigh.

“Crown Prince.”

What?!

Before I could react to those out-of-the-blue words, the man grinned and pushed his glasses firmly back up his nose.

“I really can’t hide anything from the Grand Duke’s eyes, can I?”

The man muttered and snapped his fingers. Instantly, a blinding light rose from the floor and enveloped his entire body.

“To think you’d pierce through this Magic Camouflage in a single glance.”

“…!”

I stood there, jaw dropped, staring at the Crown Prince.

The scruffy, orange-haired man who had been standing there a moment ago was gone without a trace.

With blond hair that looked like pure gold spun into thread, blue eyes, and a sculptural appearance with a commanding posture, Crown Prince Lydis was looking this way with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“To be honest, I was hoping you might not recognize me.”

Oh, for heaven’s sake…!

I felt my old nightmares resurfacing and my legs began to tremble. Who could have known that last night’s nightmare was a premonition of meeting Lydis!

“Y-Your Imperial Highness…!”

I wasn’t the only one shocked by the Crown Prince’s sudden appearance. The shopkeeper, looking as if his eyes might pop out, hastily bowed low toward Lydis.

Right, this is no time to just stand here! Following the shopkeeper’s lead, I hurriedly bowed while gritting my teeth inwardly.

“W-What brings you to such a humble place!”

“I happened to see Grand Duke Bayern entering this shop,” Lydis said, waving his hand as if telling the shopkeeper not to worry. “I occasionally inspect the areas outside the Imperial Palace in disguise. As the Crown Prince, I need to keep tabs on how the citizens are doing.”

“Ah…”

“I just decided to play a little prank since I spotted a familiar face.”

Allendorf stood facing him with his head tilted slightly, looking extremely displeased with the current situation. Far from showing the etiquette due to a Crown Prince, he didn’t even offer a formal greeting.

Lydis chuckled at Allendorf’s expression.

“Still, it’s a shame. I thought you wouldn’t recognize me since Magic Camouflage isn’t exactly your specialty.”

“Even if the fields differ, the basic principles of magic remain the same. Any mage who has reached a certain level is bound to recognize it.”

“A mage who has reached a certain level?”

Lydis shot back, as if Allendorf’s stiff answer was absurd.

“Until now, the only person who recognized me in disguise was Lord Chemnitz, who created this Magic Camouflage.”

“…”

“By your logic, every imperial mage except Lord Chemnitz is a level-deficient insect.”

“I never used the word ‘insect’.”

“That’s what you implied, isn’t it?”

“Enough with the trivial wordplay,” Allendorf said, his voice laced with clear irritation. “I am in the middle of important business, and you are interfering.”

“Important business, you say?”

Lydis suddenly cast a devious look toward me and narrowed his eyes.

“Do you mean having a date on Schwaben Street in broad daylight?”

“…!”

At Lydis’s remark, Allendorf’s face hardened into a serious expression. As for me, since the opponent was who he was, I didn’t dare utter a peep and just kept my mouth shut. Sob…

Fortunately, Allendorf stepped up to explain to Lydis on my behalf.

“That is a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?”

“I only came here with Lady Württemberg to buy a birthday present for my mother. It is not the kind of relationship you are thinking of.”

“Ah, so this woman is the rumored Lady of Württemberg House?”

Lydis suddenly looked intrigued and turned his gaze toward me.

‘Ack, please don’t look at me! I feel like I might drop dead just from your gaze! Actually, I already feel like I have!’

Contrary to my desperate wish, Lydis scanned me from head to toe and spoke with a grin.

“I have heard many rumors about you. They say you possess a very thoughtful nature, unlike most noble ladies these days.”

“…I am honored.”

“I heard that Duchess Ascania has become your chaperone. As far as I know, the Duchess has never acted as a chaperone for anyone before.”

Lydis knew surprisingly much about me. I suspected this was all thanks to Duchess Ascania’s fame.

Should I call this a blessing or a curse? I hated being in Lydis’ sights, but it was also proof of how great the Duchess was… With a complicated feeling, I bowed politely to the Crown Prince.

“It is only because Duchess Ascania was kind enough to look upon my lacking self with favor.”

“Hmm.”

Then, Lydis nodded and leaned his face closer to mine. Gasp, my heart started to strain in a different way than it did with Allendorf.

Every time I faced him, last night’s nightmare came back to me. That cold gaze looking at me, the sensation of the sharp blade piercing my heart, and the despair and sadness that overwhelmed my whole body…

‘Ugh, someone, anyone, please save me!’

As if hearing the cry in my heart, Allendorf quickly stepped between me and Lydis, blocking him.

For a moment, forgetting that I was supposed to keep my distance from Allendorf, I felt a sense of infinite gratitude and reverence for him that almost brought tears to my eyes.

‘Sniff. As expected, you’re the only one who can protect me in times like this, male lead.’

“What do you think you’re doing?”

At Allendorf’s intrusion, Lydis looked up at him as if he were being absurd. His expression was closer to bewilderment than offense, but for me, that alone was enough to make my heart go crazy.

Allendorf countered Lydis in an remains cold tone.

“The Lady is frightened.”

“Frightened? Lady Württemberg is afraid of me?”

Lydis blinked a few times and stared intently at me hiding behind Allendorf.

“Is that true?”

‘Can’t you tell just by looking? You jerk!’

But I couldn’t exactly say that to the Crown Prince of all people. I had no choice but to put on the most pitiful expression possible and trail off in a distressed voice.

“I-I’m sorry. I’m naturally a bit shy around strangers…”

“See there.”

Allendorf immediately looked triumphant at my answer and spoke to Lydis reproachfully.

“The Lady says she is afraid.”

“Being shy and being afraid are strictly different. Surely the Duke knows that?”

“She’s speaking indirectly because she can’t say she’s afraid.”

“No, I mean, what exactly did I do wrong to this lady?”

Lydis questioned Allendorf in a tone that sounded almost victimized. However, Allendorf maintained his stiff attitude and gave Lydis a look as cold as ice.

“How should I know? Anyway, she’s scared, so stop talking to her.”

“Hmph…”

Lydis clicked his tongue at Allendorf’s increasingly sharp reactions. Fortunately, he didn’t press me further to see if his words were true.

‘Ah, thank goodness. Now just accept it and get lost,’ I thought, but then—

“Are you really sure there’s nothing going on between you and Lady Württemberg?”

Lydis dropped a second bomb, catching both me and Allendorf off guard.

‘What kind of terrible nonsense is this?’

In a moment of confusion, Allendorf and I instinctively turned toward each other. Only after our eyes met did we realize that this reaction might look even more suspicious to Lydis, but by the time we turned back, it was too late.

“See, I told you.”

Watching our reaction, Lydis nodded with an air of certainty. He now had the relaxed smile of someone who had won.

“I didn’t expect this from the Duke. To be eyeing another woman when you have a fiancée.”

“That is not true.”

Allendorf denied Lydis’s words with almost reflex-like speed. However, what followed was a bit different from what I expected.

“Lady Martinez is not my fiancée or anything of the sort.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I have never once recognized Lady Martinez as my fiancée.”

‘Hey, if you say it like that, it really makes it sound like we’re dating!’

As if hearing my internal scream, Allendorf hastily cleared his throat and continued.

“…Of course, that doesn’t mean I am dating Lady Württemberg either.”

“If you’re not dating, are you just testing the waters with each other?”

Having been dazed, I finally snapped to my senses at Lydis’s words.

‘Oh, no. If I let these two keep talking like this…’

Before Allendorf could respond, I quickly tugged on his sleeve. Allendorf seemed to finally register my presence and, looking at me tentatively, shut his mouth with an awkward expression.

“…Regardless, it is not the kind of relationship Your Highness is thinking of.”

“And yet you stepped in front of me with your eyes blazing earlier.”

“That was because Lady Württemberg seemed troubled.”

“I suppose that chivalry you never show to other women suddenly activates only for Lady Württemberg?”

“She is my mother’s savior, so isn’t that only natural?”

Fortunately, the conversation seemed like it would return to a normal track soon. To think that the “savior of my life” excuse would actually help me—I guess I’ve lived long enough to see everything.

Allendorf had returned to a calm expression, as if he had completely regained his pace.

“At any rate, we are not in a leisurely situation. We came to this shop specifically to purchase a birthday present for my mother.”

Allendorf said this and turned his gaze toward the shopkeeper, who had been standing blankly at the counter until then.

“Isn’t that right?”

“Ah… yes.”

The shopkeeper, suddenly finding the spotlight on him, spoke with a tense expression.

“Grand Duke Bayern ordered a pistol for Duchess Ascania at our shop a week ago. The production finished recently, and he visited today to collect the item in person.”

“…”

“I-I can show you the order ledger if necessary.”

“See there.”

The situation quickly flipped in Allendorf’s favor. Lydis, who had been smirking until a moment ago, now had an expression that said he’d been outmaneuvered and slowly rubbed his forehead.

“…Then I suppose it can’t be helped.”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

A relaxed Allendorf immediately pulled out a checkbook from his pocket, paid the price, and received the ordered gun along with the other two pistols. Despite my protests, he had ended up buying both guns for me.

‘Sigh, I can’t really say anything with Lydis watching… I’ll have to give him a piece of my mind on the way back.’

Allendorf spoke in a leisurely voice to Lydis, who was still standing there blankly.

“We have other errands to attend to, so we will take our leave now.”

“…”

“Then, until we meet again.”

“…Wait a moment.”

Lydis, who had been quiet until then, suddenly spoke up and stopped us.

“Where do you two think you’re going?”

“I told you. We are going to prepare a birthday gift for my mother.”

“In that case, I shall come along.”

‘Wait, what kind of novel nonsense is this?’

I wasn’t the only one thinking this; Allendorf was staring at Lydis with an expression of pure disbelief.

If it were someone manageable, he would have just ignored him and left, but since it was the Crown Prince, he looked quite distressed.

Ignoring Allendorf’s gaze, Lydis spoke up.

“Duchess Ascania is a dear friend of the Empress Mother and a valuable asset to the Empire. If I, the Crown Prince, don’t personally see to her birthday present, who will?”

“…”

Instead of retorting, Allendorf narrowed his eyes. Indeed, it was the Empress and the Second Princess who attended the Duchess’ birthday party last year; I don’t recall hearing that the Crown Prince attended.

Lydis sent a mockingly innocent look toward us and curled his lip into a grin.

“If it were a date, I’d have the sense to back off… but since you’re out to get a gift for Duchess Ascania, I have no choice.”

‘Argh, this is driving me crazy! I hate you! I’m scared that if I leave you be, you’ll suddenly lose it and try to kill me!’

Although he was playfully bantering with Allendorf right now, I knew. I knew this guy would later fall in love with Rosette at first sight and harbor a one-sided rivalry against Allendorf!

The bigger problem was that it was nearly impossible to brush him off by pretending it was a date. If I did that, the front page of tomorrow morning’s newspaper would scream that Allendorf and I were dating.

Lydis is the type of guy whose mouth is so light he’d probably float if he fell into water.

Lydis caught me looking vulnerable and asked with a smiling face.

“Lady Württemberg, would my joining you be a burden?”

‘Of course it’s a huge burden. Do you really have to ask me that?’

I managed to steady my trembling lips and gave the Crown Prince a bright smile.

“It would be a great honor for Your Imperial Highness to accompany us.”

‘Ugh, I suddenly feel a sharp pain in my stomach… At this rate, I’ll die of stress before Lydis even gets a chance to stab me.’

Taking my answer as a yes, Lydis looked triumphantly at Allendorf behind me.

But that won’t do. I quickly added more words to burst Lydis’s bubble.

“However, if Your Highness joins us, it will draw too much attention… so I am admittedly a bit concerned.”

“Do not worry about that.”

With a grin still on his face, Lydis lightly pressed a button on his collar. Then, with a poof, he suddenly transformed into the appearance of a common servant.

“…?!”

“This way, there’s no need to worry about standing out.”

Ah, I forgot. This guy can use Magic Camouflage created by the imperial mages.

Magic is a tremendous advantage, but only the Imperial family and the Bayern House can enjoy it. All those born with magical talent are obligated to belong to the Imperial Palace and serve the royals; only Grand Duke Bayern and his successor were exempt from this duty.

Therefore, while magic exists in this world, it functions as if it doesn’t for most. At least limited magic tools like communication stones are available to non-royals… but even those aren’t exactly easy to come by.

For the record, Allendorf, as Duke Bayern, can use magic, but his magic is strictly fire-related. So even though he’s a mage, he can’t just solve everything with magic like people might think.

On the other hand, Lydis, the Crown Prince, lacks magical talent but can fully enjoy its benefits through magic tools created by the imperial mages.

Thanks to that, he can wander around as he pleases using Magic Camouflage like he is now.Once again, I realized the world is truly unfair. My original world was unfair enough, but this place is even worse.

“Now, it won’t be a burden if I follow, right?”

Lydis leaned toward me with a thoughtless grin. Ugh… I really didn’t want to take him along, but I had no more excuses to refuse.

I forced a smile and said, “Of course not.”

“Grand Duke, what do you think?”

At Lydis’s question, Allendorf, who had been silent, looked at the transformed Crown Prince. He seemed to think for a moment, then spoke with a subtle smile.

“Certainly, in that attire, there’s no worry about standing out.”

“Right?”

“I happen to have a good idea as well.”

Saying that, Allendorf turned around and suddenly shoved the items he had received from the shopkeeper into Lydis’s arms.

“Honestly, it wouldn’t look right for me to carry these things myself, would it? Since Your Highness’s disguise looks like a common servant, it would be quite fitting for you to carry them.”

“What—”

“Think about it. How suspicious would it look to passersby if I were carrying my own luggage while accompanied by a man dressed as a servant?”

“…”

“This is also a strategy to avoid drawing attention, Lydis.”

Lydis looked as if he couldn’t think of a retort to Allendorf’s words, his face twisted in frustration.

In the end, despite his clear displeasure, he was forced to take on the role of our errand boy.

…Wait, is this an unexpected moment of catharsis?

Allendorf looked at me, still dazed, and then flashed a kind smile as if nothing had happened.

“Shall we go then, Young Lady Württemberg?”

“Yes, uh…”

Conscious of Lydis grumbling behind us, I eventually followed Allendorf out of the shop.

To be honest, I’m still a bit scared of Lydis… surely he won’t try to retaliate against me because of this, right?

Sigh. If you’re going to retaliate, do it to Allendorf! Leave a powerless person like me out of it!

***

Stepping out of the gloomy gunsmith’s shop, the sudden influx of sunlight made me feel a bit dizzy for a moment. Allendorf immediately switched positions with me to shield me from the sun and spoke with a smile.

“What kind of gift did you have in mind, Young Lady?”

“Oh, that’s…”

I awkwardly glanced between Allendorf and Lydis, who was carrying the luggage with a pouting face.

Technically, it wasn’t a place that suited large men very well… but it should be fine, right?

“Just follow me and you’ll see.”

At my answer, both men nodded silently. To calm my racing heart, I took a slow, deep breath, then turned around and began to walk.

Truthfully, I had been debating between a few candidates before entering the gunsmith’s… but now, my mind was firmly made up.

Perhaps because it was a weekend afternoon, the street was very crowded with pedestrians. However, contrary to my worries, not many people paid us much attention. Most seemed too busy heading toward their own destinations to spare a glance for others.

“It’s heavy.”

Lydis, who had been turned into a porter by Allendorf, grumbled from behind. Every time he complained, I felt like I was developing an arrhythmia and took a quick peek at him.

He’s not going to suddenly snap and try to hurt me, is he?

Of course, Rosette hasn’t even appeared yet, and I want to believe he isn’t the type of guy to suddenly hurt me in this situation… but since he’s someone who can lose his mind the moment things go south—as seen in <How to Captivate the Male Lead>—I can’t exactly trust him.

Seriously, if this guy is the Crown Prince who will lead the Alpensia Empire, the future of this empire is looking pretty dim.

‘Good grief…’

Unlike me, who was constantly on edge because of Lydis, Allendorf merely watched his non-stop grumbling with a lukewarm gaze.

“How much could a few packages possibly weigh for you to complain this much?”

“Then why don’t you carry them yourself, Grand Duke?”

“As I told you, I’m simply trying to be careful so people don’t find us suspicious.”

Allendorf made a significant expression.

“Don’t you realize that even my using formal language with you could look strange to others?”

“That’s…”

“So, I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to drop the formalities for now to make it look more natural.”

“What?!”

Despite Lydis’s protest, Allendorf immediately adopted a nonchalant face and switched to casual speech.

“If you understand, then keep your mouth shut and follow.”

“What on earth…”

“If you keep complaining, I’ll leave you behind.”

“…”

Whoa, there it is. Allendorf’s ‘Arrogant Mode’ that I saw in the novel.

It’s something I often forget, but Allendorf actually has quite a nasty personality. How should I put it? He’s warm to those he’s opened his heart to, but he’s incredibly obnoxious to those he hasn’t.

I could tell just by thinking about how he treated Rosette when they first met in the novel.

But… wasn’t that because he changed suddenly due to the shock of the Duchess’s death?

I looked at Allendorf with a slightly confused feeling. Since he had always acted soft and kind in front of me until now, I thought that was his true personality…

Was this obnoxious version of Allendorf actually closer to his true self?

Allendorf, who had a cold expression just a second ago, flashed a gentle smile the moment our eyes met. Eek. That’s real. I just got goosebumps.

Don’t tell me he’s actually like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?

“Is there something making you uncomfortable?”

“Oh, no.”

I shook my head frantically at Allendorf’s question. Honestly, even if there were, in a situation like this, anyone would have no choice but to say no.

“That’s a relief, then.”

Allendorf looked relieved and turned his gaze back toward Lydis. When the attention suddenly shifted to him, Lydis went quiet, though he still looked displeased.

“…”

Fortunately, Lydis became surprisingly compliant after Allendorf’s ‘threat.’ The grumbling that had been making my heart sink was no longer heard.

I quickened my pace as if running away from the two men behind me. But naturally, both of them matched my faster stride with even quicker steps to follow me.

‘W-What is this? I’m just walking, but it feels like I’m being chased…’

Ugh. If I had known it would be like this, I should have come alone.

Walking toward the shop that was my destination, I stopped abruptly when I saw the sign I was looking for. Since I, who was leading, stopped, the men following me stopped in their tracks as well.

“…It’s here.”

Feeling unnecessarily awkward, I looked at the two with a shy expression before turning my head back. The gaze of the two men felt strangely stinging against my back.

Tinkle.

As the door opened and the doorbell rang, I felt the attention of the people inside momentarily focus on us. While being fully conscious of the two men following me, I entered the shop with a smile.

“Welcome.”

A woman who seemed to have just finished a conversation with another customer approached with a professional smile. She looked back and forth between me and the two men with an intrigued look, then leaned toward me.

“What kind of item are you looking for?”

“Please show me the most popular items in this shop. The more flamboyant and pretty, the better.”

“Aha.”

At my request, the woman nodded with a beaming smile.

“Please wait a moment.”

While the woman was away, the men looked strangely uncomfortable and were glancing around at others. It was understandable, given that everyone in the shop—both staff and customers—were young women.

Furthermore, the place was filled with things like ribbons, lace, and flowers that women would typically like, so it wasn’t hard to understand why the men felt out of place.

Allendorf and Lydis sat on a sofa in the corner of the shop with awkward expressions, their eyes darting around. I remained standing, waiting for the clerk to return.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

A moment later, the clerk reappeared with the items I had requested. Allendorf looked at the items in the clerk’s hands with a somewhat bewildered expression and looked at me.

“Is this something for you to wear, Young Lady?”

“No.”

“Then…”

Allendorf seemed even more flustered by my answer. Not just Allendorf, but Lydis too had a serious expression as he looked at the two hats in the clerk’s hands.

The clerk held out the two hats and said in a kind voice,

“These two are the most popular designs in our shop right now.”

“I see.”

“Which of these would you like?”

After a moment of deliberation, I chose the pink hat in the clerk’s left hand.

“I think this one would be good.”

The gift I chose for the Duchess was a flamboyant hat decorated according to the latest trend. It was a wide-brimmed hat with a large pink ribbon, colorful artificial flowers, and lace—a style typical of a teenage girl’s taste.

When the two men fell silent, the clerk spoke again with a beaming smile.

“You won’t be wearing it out, right? Shall I wrap it for you?”

“Yes. Please wrap it as a gift.”

As I handed the hat back, the clerk returned to the counter to wrap it. While she was wrapping the hat, I took out my wallet to pay.

“Are you giving this to a friend?”

I hesitated for a moment at the clerk’s question but eventually nodded.

“Yes.”

“I hope your friend likes it.”

The clerk winked at me as she said that.

“Actually, I’m sure she’ll love it.”

“Of course.”

Allendorf and Lydis still looked confused, but they didn’t say anything until I finished paying. As we stepped out the door, the clerk’s kind voice saw us off.

“Thank you. Please come again.”

“…”

I walked slowly, carrying the large box containing the hat. It didn’t feel like we were in the shop for very long, but time must have passed quite a bit, as the street was already tinted a light orange.

As dinner time approached, the already crowded street became even more congested. Allendorf, who had been following me silently, took the box from my hands and handed it to Lydis instead.

“…Ah.”

Lydis, who had been half-dazed until then, seemed to snap out of it and blinked rapidly. While accepting the box Allendorf handed him, he spoke to me in a quite flustered voice.

“Young Lady Württemberg.”

“Yes.”

“Are you really planning to give this hat to Duchess Ascania as a birthday present?”

“…”

“This hat is, no matter how I think about it…”

Lydis had heard my conversation with the clerk, so he wasn’t asking because he didn’t know I was planning to give it as a gift.

I slowed my pace and glanced back at Lydis, who was following behind.

“You’re going to say it doesn’t suit the Duchess, right?”

“That’s…”

He opened his mouth as if to retort, but then looked embarrassed and went silent.

“…”

An awkward silence once again hung between the three of us. Allendorf, who had been listening to our conversation, suddenly stopped walking.

“Since we’ve finished our business, I’ll take you home now.”

“Ah…”

“If there’s more to talk about, let’s do it slowly inside the carriage.”

Indeed, it was about time to head back, and standing around talking in a place like this wasn’t ideal, so that might be better.

“Yes.”

When I nodded, Allendorf turned toward where the Grand Duke’s carriage was waiting. Even Lydis, after hesitating for a moment, followed him toward the carriage.

The carriage was parked on the side of the road, a little distance from the hat shop.

The coachman, who had been outside smoking a cigarette, hurriedly opened the door. Lydis naturally climbed into the carriage first, making a fuss.

“Whew.”

Once inside, Lydis finally put down the boxes and let out a sigh deep enough to shake the earth. After dispelling his Magic Camouflage and returning to his original form, he sat next to Allendorf with a still-displeased expression.

Just before the carriage started, Allendorf closed the window and drew the curtains.

I sat opposite the two men, feeling a bit tense, and fidgeted with the box on my lap.

“Now, please speak freely.”

Allendorf said this, yet he looked even more tense himself.

Lydis also seemed quite curious about why I had chosen such a gift, though he didn’t say anything.

“…”

“You must have a reason for choosing that hat, don’t you, Young Lady?”

I finally looked up at Allendorf. He gave me a slow nod with an awkward face.

“Yes.”

It was only natural. My counterpart wasn’t a close friend like Josephine, but Duchess Ascania—the only Duchess in the empire. No matter how much she favored me, how could a mere Count’s daughter like me dare to choose such a gift as a joke?

Lydis was still watching me with a curious expression. Honestly, I still found him scary and wanted to avoid him… but I should give a plausible explanation for why I chose this gift.

I stared down at the box on my lap. The box containing a hat that looked almost burdensome in its flamboyance—a hat suited for a cute young girl.

“I chose this hat because I wanted to give the Duchess a chance to feel like a young girl again, even if only for a moment.”

Allendorf looked at my face in silence. He observed me with a gaze that was both unfamiliar and relieved, before looking down.

“I suspected as much, but it really was because of that conversation then.”

This time, it was my turn to be surprised by Allendorf’s response.

“You remembered that?”

“Was I not also there at the time?”

“What? What on earth did you two talk about?”

Lydis, who had been listening silently, cut in with a bewildered expression. As I reflexively shut my mouth, fortunately, Allendorf began to provide the explanation to Lydis for me.

“It’s about the day the Young Lady Württemberg and I first met. That day, I heard my mother and the Young Lady talking about a hat that was currently in fashion.”

“Does that ‘hat’ refer to the one the Young Lady Württemberg just picked?”

“Correct.”

“…”

Listening to their conversation, I fell into a brief flashback.

When I first visited the Ascania estate, the Duchess said this with a somewhat shy face: “Speaking of which, I hear cute hats are in fashion among young girls these days? Flamboyantly decorated with large ribbons and flowers…”

“That’s right. You’re well-informed.”

I had looked at the Duchess with a bit of surprise. Since the Duchess was a woman of age, I found it surprising that she knew about the hats trending among teenage girls.

“Sometimes when I visit close friends, I see their daughters wearing them. It probably wouldn’t suit me, but just looking at them, they seem so pretty and lovely…”

“What do you mean it wouldn’t suit you? Please don’t say that.”

At my response, the Duchess shook her head with a somewhat bitter look.

“I’m already forty-five. My birthday is coming up soon, so I’ll be forty-six. At this age, there’s no way such a cute hat would suit me…”

“Duchess…”

“I wouldn’t dare wear one for fear of looking foolish to others… but it’s nice just to see how cute and lovely they are.”

“…”

“When I was the Young Lady’s age, I had quite a dull personality. I used to look down on following trends as something only mindless fools did.”

“Um, that’s…”

“How foolish I was back then… I regret it a bit now. I wish I had fully enjoyed the things that can only be done at that age.”

The Duchess said this while looking at me.

“So, I want the Young Lady to enjoy the things she can do now to her heart’s content. Once youth passes, it never comes back.”

“…Yes.”

I felt an unspeakable sadness as I watched the Duchess speak.

Although forty-five isn’t young like one’s teens or twenties, the Duchess looked young enough to pass for her thirties and had a beautiful appearance.

Therefore, even if she wore a hat popular among young girls, as she had self-deprecatingly mentioned, it wouldn’t look so out of place as to be called foolish.

Having heard Allendorf’s explanation, Lydis seemed to finally understand a bit about my reasoning for picking the hat. He tilted his head with a slightly awkward expression and muttered to himself.

“I’m surprised Duchess Ascania said such a thing. She always looked so dignified and confident in official settings.”

“My mother is a woman of very strong pride. And because her pride is so strong, she doesn’t easily reveal what she considers her weaknesses.”

Allendorf looked back at me as he said this.

“I felt it as I listened to that story. The fact that she shared such a story on only the second meeting meant that she trusts the Young Lady Württemberg deeply.”

“…Please don’t praise me too much.”

I reflexively felt my face flush and twirled my hair around my finger.

“Of course, I’m grateful for the great trust the Duchess has shown me. But I’m not that great of a person. I’m not brilliant, nor am I from a great family.”

I wasn’t saying this to be humble; I truly meant it. Otherwise, why would I be so wary of Allendorf and Lydis?

Even if the soul inside is different, as long as I’m in Ariana’s body, I’m inevitably influenced by her social status and capabilities.

Getting close to the Duchess was a stroke of great luck, but I don’t know how long this luck will last.

Allendorf shook his head firmly as if he didn’t agree.

“You need to evaluate your own value a bit more highly, Young Lady.”

“…I think the Grand Duke and Duchess Ascania are the only ones who evaluate me that way.”

“That is your own thought, Young Lady Württemberg.”

‘…What is he even saying?’

I didn’t even have the energy to continue the conversation with Allendorf, so I let out a small sigh.

“In any case, Duchess Ascania is a far greater person than I am. I hope she realizes that herself.”

One’s forties is an age where many things can still be done. Furthermore, since she is Duchess Ascania, a great noble, she could achieve anything she set her mind to.

I just felt it was a pity that she was trapped by social conventions about age and couldn’t even wear a hat as she pleased.

Of course, coming from a family lower than the Ascanias, and being only seventeen here, my thoughts might seem arrogant to others. However, as someone who had to give up many things in my original world due to money, gender, and other reasons, I couldn’t just stand by and watch the Duchess.

Duchess Ascania is a truly wonderful person. So, while she’ll receive many gifts far more expensive and rare on her birthday, I might be the only person who can give her a gift like this.

It’s embarrassing to keep talking like this, as if I’m praising myself… but regardless, if my gift makes the Duchess even a little bit happier, or gives her the courage to try things she had given up on—

I think I couldn’t ask for anything more.

“…”

The two men fell silent after hearing my words, as if they had lost their speech. I too lacked the energy to speak further after an exhausting day, so the conversation naturally died down.

A moment later, the first person among the three of us to speak was unexpectedly Lydis.

“Duchess Ascania is a lucky person.”

“…?”

I looked at Lydis in bewilderment at his muttering. He looked straight at me with the most serious expression I had seen all day.

“She’s met someone with a heart as warm as yours.”

What? He’s saying things that don’t sound like the Lydis I knew.

I felt a sudden chill run down my spine and darted my eyes around. Anyway, I was grateful he thought well of me and praised me… but I still couldn’t help but feel scared and uneasy around him.

Still, since I’d been praised, I should at least say thank you.

In my nervous state, I stammered my thanks to him.

“I-I am honored.”

“It’s not something to be honored about. I only spoke what I felt after seeing and hearing today.”

“…”

What’s wrong with him?

Stunned, I reflexively looked at Allendorf sitting next to him as if seeking agreement.

Allendorf looked quite displeased about something, his eyes cast downward.

A short while later, the carriage arrived at my home, Count Württemberg’s estate. When the carriage stopped, Allendorf got out before me and reached out his hand.

“Please, step down.”

“Oh… yes.”

I carefully took Allendorf’s hand and stepped out of the carriage. Before leaving the carriage, I offered a courtesy to Lydis sitting opposite.

“It was an honor to meet you today, Your Highness. I apologize for any unintended rudeness.”

“Rudeness?”

Lydis blinked slowly, as if he didn’t immediately understand what I meant. Recalling how he had been used as a worker by Allendorf, his face turned red, and he quickly turned his head.

“…How could it be the Young Lady’s fault? It was all the Grand Duke’s doing.”

“But…”

“I have no personal grievance against Young Lady Württemberg.”

“…”

“How could a Crown Prince of a nation be so narrow-minded? If we’re being technical, I was at fault for following you two on my own. Please rest assured and take care.”

Phew, thank goodness.

Having finally secured the answer I wanted from Lydis, I let out a sigh of relief. Of course, this doesn’t mean I’m completely safe, but since he said that, he likely won’t try to get personal revenge on me.

The cool breeze blew through my and Allendorf’s hair as I stepped out of the carriage. Being careful not to let my hat fly away, I also thanked Allendorf.

“Thank you for today.”

“Oh, no.”

Allendorf gripped my hand tightly for a moment before letting go. When I looked up, I met his eyes as he looked down at me with a gaze that had softened more than before.

“I am the one… who is grateful to you, Young Lady.”

“Pardon?”

“I didn’t know you would think of my mother so thoughtfully.”

Allendorf quickly added more words as if making an excuse.

“Of course, I know you aren’t looking after my mother because of me. Even so… as her son, I wanted to thank you once again.”

“I see.”

I nodded slowly and looked at Allendorf’s face.

I felt it anew—it seemed I had become quite close to him without even realizing it. At some point, I had started taking his kindness and favor toward me for granted.

But that didn’t mean I had forgotten. That soon, Rosette would intervene and use all sorts of means to claim Allendorf for herself, and that he would start a contract engagement with Rosette and eventually give his heart to her.

Of course, some might say it would be better for me to claim Allendorf instead. But I am someone who understands Rosette’s desperation better than anyone.

Allendorf is undoubtedly a charming man, but I didn’t want to possess him at the cost of ruining someone else’s life.

What I desire is only a peaceful and stable life. In the kind of life I envision, Allendorf would be more of a hindrance than a help.

Yet, despite that, a small part of me feels a twinge of regret. The thought that Allendorf’s tender gaze, currently fixed on me, will one day be directed toward someone else. And that when that time comes, I must turn away from him without lingering, as if nothing had ever happened.

“…”

I recalled the dream I had last night. Even though Allendorf is by my side now and Lydis shows me no hostility, no one can guarantee that the dream won’t become my future.

Of course, my job is to work hard so that the dream never becomes reality.

“…And I was a bit relieved.”

Startled by Allendorf’s sudden murmur, which sounded like he was talking to himself, I asked back with a bewildered expression.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Actually…”

Allendorf started to say something more, but his face suddenly flushed, and he covered his mouth with his hand. Feeling more puzzled than ever, I stared intently at his behavior.

“I had a strange dream last night.”

“A dream?”

At my reflexive question, Allendorf nodded with a strained look.

“Yes.”

“What kind of dream was it?”

“I cannot say.”

‘What on earth is he talking about? Why even bring up the dream if he’s not going to tell me?’

Noticing my gaze turning cold, Allendorf hurriedly shook his head and spoke.

“I cannot tell you what the dream was about… but I saw you in it, Young Lady Württemberg.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

‘What a strange coincidence. I saw you in my dream too.’

But given the nature of my dream… I couldn’t possibly tell him what I saw either.

Allendorf then stared into my face for a moment in silence. It was as if he were trying to verify if the ‘me’ standing here was actually the same person or not.

“You were crying.”

“…”

I fell silent, seized by a strange sensation. Even though a dream is just a dream, hearing those words made me feel self-conscious.

Could it be that the contents of Allendorf’s dream were…?

Allendorf suddenly reached out and lightly brushed my hair. I flinched at his sudden gesture, but for some reason, I couldn’t pull away.

“A leaf was stuck there.”

“Oh, I see…”

I reflexively blushed and looked up at Allendorf. Was it just my imagination? I feel like I’m becoming overly conscious of even his smallest actions.

“But I thought it was strange. If it were the Young Lady Württemberg I know, I didn’t think you would be standing there crying like that.”

“…”

“Still, I couldn’t help but be worried… I was a bit anxious, but seeing you as your usual self has set my mind at ease.”

As Allendorf said this, a faint, almost imperceptible smile played on his lips. Feeling a bit bashful, I darted my eyes around before speaking again.

“By any chance, did you come to pick me up today because of that dream?”

“That’s right.”

It might have been better if he had denied it, but since he admitted it so candidly, I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Still… I should be grateful that he cared about me.

I offered him my thanks, feeling a bit shy.

“Th-thank you for worrying about me.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Ah, I really don’t know how to react in times like this!

Hesitating, I eventually spun around and turned away from Allendorf. My heart throbbed at the sound of his low chuckle behind me.

“Ah, I forgot to give this to you.”

Allendorf stepped closer behind me. Instead of turning me around, he handed two boxes over my shoulder. They were the boxes containing the guns he had bought because of me at the shop earlier.

“Oh…”

“If, by any chance, someone dares to threaten you in any way.”

A dangerous edge suddenly seeped into Allendorf’s previously soft voice. I reflexively turned my head and met his blood-red eyes directly.

“At that moment, use these to blow their head off.”

“…”

“Even if that person is me.”

‘…What did I just hear?’

As I stared at him blankly, lost for words, Allendorf flashed a harmless-looking smile again, as if he had never uttered such terrifying words. Suddenly feeling a chill down my spine, I hurriedly looked down at the boxes in my hands.

“Um… I’d prefer it if a situation like that didn’t happen in the first place.”

“I agree.”

“But thank you for the thought. I’ll cherish them.”

Allendorf smiled softly again at those words. Fortunately, his smile this time didn’t feel scary like before.

“If you’re comfortable with it, would you like to go hunting with me this autumn? My mother would be very pleased as well.”

I almost reflexively agreed to his words, but I snapped back to my senses just in time. By then, Allendorf will likely be engaged to Rosette.

Since Allendorf seems not to like it when I mention Rosette right now… instead of a direct refusal, I gave him a vague, roundabout answer.

“Once I get used to handling guns.”

“You’ll get used to it in no time.”

Allendorf replied with a look that seemed somehow pleased. Honestly, I had no intention of actually practicing shooting, but seeing him look like that made my conscience prickle a bit.

“It seems it’s time for you to go inside.”

“Yes.”

“If you ever need my help, call me anytime. I will come running, setting aside everything else.”

As he said this, Allendorf pointed to the communication stone attached to his cravat. To say he would come running, setting aside everything else… it felt a bit like an exaggeration, but I decided to appreciate his sentiment.

I bowed to Allendorf and bid him farewell.

“I’ll be going in now. Have a safe trip back and a good night.”

“I wish you a good night as well, Young Lady.”

After exchanging farewells, I turned and headed toward the entrance of the Württemberg estate. A servant, realizing late that I had returned, rushed out to take the items I was carrying.

As I stepped into the foyer, I heard the sound of the Grand Duke’s carriage departing. Looking back at the receding carriage, I was swept up in a sentimental mood for the first time in a while.

***

Allendorf leaned back against the seat, enveloped in a pleasant lingering afterglow. Ariana’s face, with her eyes wide as she looked up at him, was still flickering before his eyes.

Just thinking about her voice saying she would cherish the gift made his chest feel ticklish. Thinking that he didn’t want to forget this feeling of happiness, Allendorf slowly placed his hand over the left side of his chest.

It was then.

“You’re wearing quite the idiotic expression.”

“…”

“Honestly, I’m a bit surprised. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Grand Duke talk to a young woman for so long.”

Awakened from the soft and warm afterglow, Allendorf glared, feeling a rage bordering on murderous. Lydis, sitting opposite him, was wearing a provocative expression, as if he had expected this reaction.

“What is it you want to say?”

“I’m asking if it’s truly the case that there’s nothing between you and the Young Lady Württemberg.”

Allendorf hesitated for a moment at Lydis’s question. But to him, there was only one answer he could give Lydis.

“…Have I not told you already?”

“You did. But I wanted to confirm it for sure while she wasn’t around.”

Lydis shifted into a relaxed posture and looked at Allendorf.

Seeing the man who was always indifferent and cold toward others act defensively was like catching an unexpected prize.

He had always wanted to shatter Allendorf’s icy facade.

However, since Allendorf rarely had anything he was attached to, Lydis’s wish had always remained just that—a wish.

At least until now.

“Since you’ve stated clearly that there’s nothing between you, I feel relieved.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“What do I mean? Do you really not know why I’m asking? Or are you just pretending not to know?”

Lydis pulled the corners of his mouth into a smile, his eyes cold.

“It means I’ve developed a personal interest in the Young Lady Württemberg.”