59

* * *

Lucian had a dream from a long time ago.

However, it wasn’t a nightmare of a winter day with drizzling rain.

Rather, it was from a slightly earlier period.

A time when his parents were still alive, and Lucian was the happiest boy in the world.

[Dad!]

Lucian ran towards his parents standing in the distance.

His father, turning around, warmly smiled and patted young Lucian’s head.

[Our son. Did you go for a walk?]

[Did you finish all your homework?]

Meanwhile, his mother standing by his father’s side looked at Lucian with a suspicious glance.

Lucian puffed up his cheeks.

[Sigh, Mom always talks about studying.]

[If our son does his homework properly, then Mom shouldn’t worry about Lucian like this, right?]

His mother, placing her hand on her hip, scolded Lucian.

‘No.’

Lucian swallowed a dry gulp.

If he stayed like this, he might have to listen to his mother’s nagging all day.

He had to somehow change the topic.

[Ah, Dad!]

So, he managed to open his mouth, but… he didn’t really have anything to say.

As Lucian, with rolling eyes, tried to find something to say, he suddenly noticed a large sapphire ring on his father’s finger.

Come to think of it, his father never took off that ring even for a moment.

[Dad, why do you always wear this ring?]

[Ah, this?]

At Lucian’s question, his father grinned and winked.

[It’s a tradition passed down in the Kaleid family from generation to generation.]

[A tradition?]

[Yes. It’s called the ‘Heart of Winter’…]

His father gently patted Lucian’s shoulder.

[Someday, it will be yours.]

[Really?]

[Yes. The only person who can succeed as the head of the Kaleid family is you.]

…There was a time like that.

Under the shadow of his parents, he believed without a doubt that he could live a peaceful life.

A very brief peace granted to Lucian.

If only his parents hadn’t left so miserably, he would have spent time together with them no matter what…

‘Ah.’

Simultaneously, Lucian slowly lifted his eyelids.

The gray ceiling came into view.

A ceiling that he never wanted to get used to.

…But it was already a ceiling he had become accustomed to.

Clack! Creak…

Right then, the sound of a key turning in the lock echoed beyond the door.

Lucian abruptly turned to look at the door.

“Lady L…”

Lucian reflexively tried to call Elze.

He closed his mouth when he saw a stranger carrying a morning meal tray entering the room.

The man bowed his head towards Lucian.

“Nice to meet you. In Lady Elze’s absence, I will be attending to Lucian for a while.”

“…”

Lucian stared at the man with a blank expression.

“Yes.”

Elze had mentioned it before.

Since the incident with the genuine perfume, all the original servants in the annex had been replaced, the news went.

‘Then, is this man a newly assigned servant?’

Moreover, considering that Liam himself was a person who served as the personal secretary to the Marquis of Offenheir, it was clear that he couldn’t just keep an eye on Lucian alone.

Anyway, if it was a day when Elze couldn’t come to see Lucian in person…

“Is today June 25th by any chance?”

In response to Lucian’s question, the man, who was just putting the meal tray down on the table, nodded.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“…”

In that case, today, Elze would become the partner of the Marquis of Offenheir and attend the Diorlance Club.

At that moment, Lucian’s mood became very low.

The man discreetly gauged Lucian’s reaction.

“If you don’t have an appetite today either…”

“No, I’ll eat.”

Honestly, he didn’t have much of an appetite. However, because of the recent side effects of the genuine perfume, he had been grumbling with discomfort in his throat, causing concern for Elze.

‘I can’t make him worry again this time.’

Quietly lifting his utensils, Lucian suddenly looked through the iron bars to the scenery of the garden.

The seasons had ripened even more, and the word “early summer” now seemed pale.

The roses that unfolded beyond the window were now at their end. The red petals had almost all fallen, and only the green leaves sparkled in the sunlight.

‘…I can’t stay here forever.’

That was the promise with Elze.

To escape from this dreadful boarding school together.

For that to happen…

‘At the very least, I shouldn’t mess things up due to lack of stamina.’

Lucian tore a piece of bread and put it in his mouth. The piece of bread felt like sand as it crunched inside his mouth, but he persistently chewed and swallowed.

He was determined to keep his promise with Elze, no matter what.

* * *

Diorance Club was located on Brandt Street.

Brandt Street was the heart of the empire, densely populated with major government offices and residences of the nobility. Simply entering Brandt Street itself symbolized a kind of social success.

The area in front of the building owned by the Second Prince, where the club was held, was already crowded with carriages.

By the way, Viscount Craig couldn’t attend. The viscount was just a substitute for Duke Kalleid, not officially ennobled as a duke.

‘The former Duke Kalleid was known to be a member of the club.’

Imagining the viscount’s face turning red and blue, it was a bit amusing. I hid a small smile.

“Anything good happen, my lord?”

At that moment, Dante asked me a question.

“Your expression is bright.”

“Well, I’m happy to attend an event like this with the lord.”

Well, it might be too much of a schedule to indulge an lover to be used and discarded like a mere toy.

Hiding cynical thoughts, I looked at Dante with a sweet gaze.

“A bit… it feels like getting closer to the lord. So, I like it.”

“…”

Maybe it was an illusion, but Dante’s expression seemed to soften a bit.

Seizing the moment, I added a few more words.

“I don’t mean to insist on attending external events together. I just… spending time with the lord is enjoyable in itself.”

I concluded my words like a girl in love, blushing both cheeks and pretending to shyly avert my gaze.

“…”

Then, after a moment of silence.

A soft voice echoed.

“In the future.”

Huh?

I lifted my head slightly.

Unnoticed, Dante was now looking out the window, resting his chin on his hand. His ears were slightly red.

“…I’ll try to make time for you.”

What’s going on?

I became a bit puzzled.

Lately, Dante has been acting strangely.

The Dante I know wasn’t a man who behaved so affectionately towards Elze.

Wouldn’t it be more natural for him to coldly push me away, complaining about my clinginess, rather than being this affectionate?

Why did he change so much?

At the same time, the carriage stopped.

Dante, who got off the carriage first, reached out his hand to me.

“Let’s go, darling.”

“…”

I silently stared at the hand extended to me.

Even being escorted by him in such a natural manner felt unfamiliar.

If it were the old Dante, he would have jumped off the carriage alone, whether I got off or not, walked ahead with both hands in his pockets, leaving me behind.

…But there’s no need to dwell on that issue now.

“Thank you.”

I clasped my hand in Dante’s.

Dante skillfully escorted me towards the club building.

Meanwhile, a crimson gaze touched the new suede shoes peeking beneath the dress.

He whispered teasingly.

“I gave you those shoes, right?”

“Yes.”

Since the shoes were personally chosen by the male protagonist, I should wear them consistently and leave an impression.

I nodded, concealing my mixed feelings.

At the same time, Dante faintly smiled.

“They look pretty. They suit you well.”

“…”

In that moment, I felt my heart sink.

‘Why is that guy smiling at me like that?’

It wasn’t his usual sharp smile.

Just a satisfied, gentle smile.

In an instant, the emotions of the ‘original Elze’ surged wildly.

‘No.’

I took a short deep breath.

Being swayed by that guy will only make my escape more difficult.

What I need now is clear-headed rationality and a cold judgment.

So, emotions like affection…

‘I don’t need them.’