“Then give me some time as well. I’ll contact you before tomorrow evening.”

With a cold expression but a formal demeanor, Kyle finished his farewell and strode leisurely out of the second-floor hall of the coffee house.

“I’ll be waiting for good news.”

Maude also rose to her feet and offered a polite bow as she saw him off. The manager, flustered by Kyle’s departure, hesitated for a moment, then quickly returned to his usual kind demeanor and set the coffee on the table.

“Thank you.”

The rich aroma of the fine coffee added to the charm of the moment.

***

A sensual black car with a voluptuous frame merged onto a quiet road. Its sleek, curved body gave it an air of raw allure—it was the only one of its kind, made exclusively for Kyle. The car sped along, retracing its route back toward the base. Fierce winds whipped through the open window, ruffling his hair into disarray.

Kyle ran a hand carelessly through his tousled hair. His thoughts were deep. It was always best to choose while there was still a choice to make, and to take what was offered while it could still be received. Even more so if it was something one desperately desired.

Ennen Voight—the nameless painter his mother had cherished. Kyle was determined to find him and complete the art compendium his mother had left behind. That was why he had never once surrendered a vacation, even though time off meant little to him otherwise. It was a matter close to his heart.

Now, Voight had gained some fame, but no one had ever truly seen his face. He remained veiled in mystery. For over three years, Kyle had searched and yet could not find a single person who even knew Voight’s gender. And now someone claimed they could deliver him.

“Just give me the Captain for one day.”

The more he thought about it, the more absurd she seemed. A dry laugh escaped him. That brazen, audacious request echoed in his mind like a ringing in his ears. It was a transaction with clear gains and losses. Scandal was the cost, but considering the reward he could hold in his hands, it was a deal of considerable worth.

The thought that he had been put up as a bargaining chip in someone else’s wager filled him with indignation, yet if it meant obtaining Ennen Voight, it was a price he could bear.

If only he could leave immediately…

It wouldn’t matter if it were a warzone with bullets raining down, or some faraway foreign land. No matter how dark the scandal, it would fade once the subject disappeared. If he endured each day as he always had, time would resolve the matter. Kyle’s eyes narrowed sharply as his grip tightened on the steering wheel.

He pushed up his sleeve and checked his watch. The time left to him was not abundant. Kyle pressed down on the accelerator.

***

By the time they neared the hotel, the surrounding area had grown noisy. Maude glanced at Sarah’s face, but this time, she seemed just as clueless. Stretching her neck to look around, Sarah grabbed a passing girl in a maid’s outfit and bombarded her with questions.

“Excuse me! Is there some kind of event? Or has something happened at the hotel?”

“There’s a fireworks festival—it happens every year. That’s why everyone’s out.”

Ah, fireworks…

Only then did Maude take in the bustling scenery around them.

From the mobilized staff and the lively atmosphere, it was clear that preparations were on quite a grand scale. For the idle rich, there was no better way to spend a long, languid summer night than with dazzling fireworks—Maude understood this well.

“Really?! Where’s the best place to see them?” Sarah asked eagerly, her eyes sparkling.

“They’re so large and brilliant you can see them from anywhere, but the hotel terrace and gardens are said to have the best view.”

“Thank you!”

Sarah dashed back, nearly skipping with excitement.

“My lady! They’re having a fireworks festival!”

Her eyes were alight with anticipation.

“Yes, I heard.”

“They say the terrace and gardens are the best spots to watch from!”

Maude longed to retreat to the hotel room and rest, but thinking of this as a rare holiday she could fully enjoy, she felt it would be a shame to waste it.

One night wouldn’t hurt.

After that thought, Maude nodded lightly.

“The garden will probably be less crowded than the terrace.”

“Yes! I’ll go find out when it starts. If you’re tired, maybe stop by the room for a while?”

“I’m fine. I’ll just stroll around a bit.”

“Then… please don’t wander too far, all right?”

Maude waved her hand dismissively at Sarah’s fussing.

“Got it. I’m not a child.”

Now that Sarah, who was more than a head taller than her, was fussing over her as if she were a child, Maude couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Sarah, clearly uneasy and glancing back over and over, finally disappeared. Maude set about properly exploring the hotel.

Because the fireworks festival was scheduled to start soon, the interior of the hotel was noticeably quiet. A surprising calm under the midnight sun. The fireworks had triumphed over the wretched diamond.

The city of Bergen stretched along its cool, beautiful coastline, lined with dramatic sea cliffs. Called the Jewel of the North, it was dotted with grand estates where nobles and the new bourgeoisie came to spend their summers. Recently, the expansion of trains and railways has made the city more accessible, attracting not just people from across the empire but foreign visitors as well. Nobles and wealthy merchants now considered owning a summer villa or a membership at one of the hotels here as a marker of status and success. Thus, the city’s blessings never ran dry.

Though large hotels had begun springing up, none could rival the Beckford in luxury. It was the only hotel close to the train station, too. Beckford’s popularity, unlike Duke Felix’s bad luck, was proof of shrewd management.

Maude made her way up to the terrace above the lounge. From there, she could see the garden below, where the tables had been perfectly prepared. Each was adorned with arrangements so fine they looked like works of art.

They were all so exquisite that it was impossible not to notice. Her eyes lingered especially long on the flower displays—white roses that should have been blooming in her own coffee house.

“We can pay you six times more if you wish. We spare no expense for the very best.”

“Well… the interior decorations are still fine as they are. How about trying in autumn instead?”

That was decorator Judith Curson, speaking with a face that suggested she had nothing to lose. Remembering that meeting, Maude frowned. Felix the Duke had surely paid her ten times as much. A complete waste of time.

A weary laugh slipped past Maude’s lips. As her gaze swept over the garden, it drifted toward the terrace entrance. She thought Sarah should be back by now. Just as she was about to move along, she spotted a familiar figure. As the man drew closer, her face brightened.

‘The Captain!’

Maude was certain Kyle had come to Beckford to give her his answer.

‘I mustn’t lose him.’

She hurried toward the terrace exit—only for their eyes to meet. Kyle paused, bowed politely, and Maude responded with a graceful salute of her own. He then resumed walking toward the terrace.

Unlike in the morning, Kyle’s presence now felt gentler. Without the pomaded hair of his uniform look, his loose hair softened his appearance. A man shaded in the hues of the deep night, destined to become the highlight of this season’s social scene.

He did not avoid the gaze of the woman with the flushed, eager face. His eyes fell to her peach-colored cheeks, and as he gazed at her, it seemed as though the most beautiful colors in the world had been chosen to paint her. If only she could live as brightly as her clear face suggested… His eyes held the quiet calm of a storm waiting to break.

Just as she was approaching him, Maude suddenly stepped back and slipped out of his view. It was an unexpected reaction, though not as startling as when she had stormed into the base that morning. His face showed little emotion.

Kyle took long strides, pushing forward until he reached a column inside the terrace, where he spotted her and let out a dry laugh. Maude was hiding behind a large column beside the terrace window, her finger pressed to her lips.

“Shh.”

Puzzled by her gesture, Kyle loosened his tie with a look of disbelief. He was just about to ask what on earth she was doing when she suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled him behind the column. Her hand was warm enough that the lukewarm night air offered no relief. Heat lingered at his fingertips.

And yet, she didn’t let go. On the contrary, she looked at him with a face set in firm determination.

“I’m sorry… Please, you must know—it’s absolutely not intentional.”

It didn’t take him long to grasp the meaning of her mysterious apology. She had tugged on the end of his tie, pulling them close enough that their breaths mingled. Looking down at her flushed cheeks, Kyle gave a wry laugh.

The woman was indeed strange. Absurdly so.