“Um…….”

She looked up to tell him it was done.

The scene she hadn’t noticed while focusing on stopping the bleeding etched itself into her mind.

The man stood tall against the backlight created by the morning sunlight.

His revealed profile was strikingly handsome. Now she understood the beauty that minstrels praised so highly.

Hyacinth engraved the sight into her memory, overwhelmed.

His noble nose, his firmly closed, neat lips.

An inexplicable emotion, one she shouldn’t understand, settled deep in her chest. She shouldn’t feel this way. She thought, not knowing why she felt so anxious.

It felt like something that had been coiled up was finally awakening.

Only when she was fully immersed in the shadow cast by the man did Hyacinth realize the depth of his presence. His broad shoulders and tall stature. The firmness that blocked out the light.

Her tongue felt stiff.

……It’s because it’s the first time.

Hyacinth made excuses to herself. It’s the first time she’s been this close to a strange man. No. No. It’s the first time she’s been alone with someone this early in the morning.

If someone with ill intent saw this, her honor could be tarnished.

But rather than feeling fear about that possibility, Hyacinth was more aware of the overwhelming reality. One existence could evoke both stability and tension at the same time.

Does that make sense? What is this…….

“It’s done.”

The Duke glanced at her and then stepped back a couple of steps. Even though she knew it was the proper distance, Hyacinth’s emotions churned.

“Thank you.”

“No, it’s my fault you got hurt because of my stubbornness. I apologize. Please make sure to show the wound to the royal physician later.”

He nodded slightly. A polite refusal.

Just before the Duke turned to leave, he briefly glanced at Hyacinth’s hand.

“Sorry for dirtying your precious hand.”

“Ah.”

It’s just a bit of dust……

When Hyacinth looked up to respond, the man was already walking away, holding the cat loosely in one arm.

So distant, almost coldly so.

Hyacinth hesitated, hoping he would look back at least once, but the result didn’t change. She walked dejectedly to the fountain. She plunged her hands into the cold water and washed thoroughly between her fingers.

The warmth that had touched the back of her hand.

Grayish, and perhaps because it was gray…… Ethan Erentis’s hand was warm.

* * *

Hyacinth entered her bedroom as cautiously as she had left. Her nanny had also woken up, and the sound of her soft prayers echoed from beyond the door.

She always prayed for Hyacinth’s happiness.

May she be happy wherever she is, meet a harmonious family, and live without worries. May she always be bathed in light……

Hyacinth quietly listened to the prayers and then slipped into her bed.

For some reason, she felt like praying too, so she closed her eyes tightly and clasped her hands together.

What should she pray for?

Due to her tangled emotions since dawn, Hyacinth couldn’t form coherent sentences. So she simply wished for the well-being of her nanny and that person.

* * *

About two weeks later, the court social circle of Tyche gave the Duke of Trisel a nickname: ‘Unicorn.’

A white horse with a single horn.

The mythical creature from legends had quite a few similarities with the Duke of Trisel.

Living in the North, large and white, beautiful, and extremely difficult to spot…… those aspects.

Whether the Duke would like it or not was unknown, but it was certainly a perfect description of him. When Their Majesties first heard the nickname, they lightly laughed in agreement, which said it all. From then on, Tyche’s palace started calling Trisel the ‘Unicorn Duke.’

Except for one person.

Except for Lady Laurel.

Hyacinth stood firm alone.

She steadfastly adhered to the formal title of ‘Duke of Trisel,’ enjoyed her morning walks, and attended social events, waiting for news of him.

Of course, Ethan Erentis, who was just as steadfast, didn’t show even the tip of his elegant nose.

It seemed unlikely she would see him until the jousting tournament, which everyone in the social circle was required to attend.
But Hyacinth didn’t give up.

She had a strong conviction that seeing him once more would help clear her mind.

Every morning after her walk, she washed her hands in the fountain. It was a new habit. She looked around for the gray cat and stared at the infamous bench, even sitting on it once.

If she weren’t a ‘well-bred lady,’ she might have tried lying down on it. In fact, Hyacinth took off her shoes and put both feet on the bench but couldn’t bring herself to stretch out her legs.

She had to maintain her dignity……

Anyway. The reason for her eccentric behavior was unclear at the moment, but it seemed it would become clear once she met Ethan Erentis.

So Hyacinth wandered around steadfastly.

Wondering if she might catch even a glimpse of his silver hair.

Whether the gods were on her side or not was unclear.

But Hyacinth Hener finally found Ethan Erentis on a sunny spring day, in a library filled with warm light.

……To be precise, she fell on top of him.

Behind the light green sofa situated between the bookshelf and the window was a hidden space.

A place where the floor was lower than the rest, giving an overall sunken feeling. Half of it was bathed in sunlight, while the other half was a shadowy nook perfect for a nap.

In her childhood, Hyacinth often came here after being scolded. To cry alone where no one else was. Whispering softly, ‘I’m really upset,’ ‘It’s so unfair,’ and spending time alone.

So, on an afternoon without any events, Hyacinth Hener visited the library to sort out her thoughts in her personal refuge. When she pulled out a book and jumped behind the sofa.

“Ugh.”

Hearing the groan that rose from below, she nearly fainted with her eyes open.

Of course, she didn’t actually faint. She was just so shocked that she wouldn’t have been surprised if she had collapsed.

As soon as her vision, which had gone black for a moment, returned, she gripped the book tightly. She had to strike the intruder with the corner of the book. Then she’d have to gag him tightly……

She was about to launch an attack when what caught her eye was silver hair. Wait. Silver?

“Gasp!”

This time, Hyacinth was startled in a different direction and stepped back. Just before she hit her head, a swift hand reached out and grabbed her forearm.

It was a firm yet gentle touch. A warmth she couldn’t forget.

In her confusion, Hyacinth’s eyes widened. The pieces of the scene scratched at her mind.

Her secret space from childhood memories. A man lying loosely, half-reclined there—lying down again!—and herself perched on top of him. Her skirt was a mess, and the sunlight formed a round pool on the floor. Dust floated and sparkled in the light.

The next moment, Hyacinth realized exactly what position she was in. One arm was held by the Duke, while the other was raised, holding the book. She glanced at the man and slowly lowered the book.

“Thank you for putting away your weapon, Lady Laurel.”

“I wasn’t planning to attack…….”

“Ah. Really?”

The Duke chuckled and let go of her arm.

A slight, crooked tilt of his head. The clean image of a pilgrim was nowhere to be seen; at this moment, he looked quite roguish. His colorless gaze stared at her, and Hyacinth regained her senses a beat too late. Blushing from her face to her neck, she slipped off the man.

A lady sitting on top of a strange man……. Oh my god!

If her nanny found out, she would have breathed fire. Hyacinth lowered her head slightly. If the Duke enjoyed gossip even a little, she would have lost sleep every night worrying.

The reticence of the Duke of Trisel was her salvation.

Hyacinth began to straighten the wrinkles in her clothes for no reason. What should she say? What words should she choose? Her mouth felt dry. Uncharacteristically so.

She believed that seeing this person would make many things clear, but her heart was fluttering and growing more troubled.

She admitted it. This was an emotion she had never experienced before.

Hyacinth swallowed hard and slowly, as if climbing the topmost stairs of a tower, then turned her gaze.

He must have his eyes closed. There was no way she would be in the sight of a man who cared about nothing…… she thought.

But when she looked to the side, she met the gray eyes staring straight at her. The world came crashing down. Time felt twisted and broken. It was a dizzying sense of facing a maelstrom.

Receiving his calm gaze, she observed the man shrouded in darkness. The sunlight streaming through the window created a clear boundary between them. It only touched the area around her, barely skimming the man.

Hyacinth inhaled and exhaled slowly.

She didn’t want to be the first to look away. This tingling sensation in her fingers, this strange emotion. She felt that if she looked away, it would only intensify. Even in the darkness, his silver hair was mysterious, his gray eyes deep, and the Duke was beautiful. It was enough to keep watching him endlessly, to slowly trace his noble features with her eyes.

Time continued to pass.

For a long time. Or perhaps very briefly.