The fireworks of Beckford began, marking the start of the summer social season. Since the fireworks were an annual event held on a scale second only to the capital, hotels bustled with crowds flocking in from all over Bergen. This year, especially, the fireworks were given even greater attention as they coincided with the hotel’s remodeling.

The many streams of fireworks that embroidered the night sky bloomed like flowers—like the hem of that woman’s dress.

“Will you give me the Captain?”

Even when he thought about it again, she remained a woman with no answer. At the memory of her laughing face, light as a breeze, his head shook almost of its own accord. All he could hope for was that the troublesome day he had yielded to her would soon be over.

The five-colored lights ceaselessly dyed the night sky.

It was as Kyle returned to the master room from the terrace, after watching the spectacle, that Felix walked in. Judging by Felix’s refreshed expression, it seemed the event was running smoothly.

Kyle averted his gaze and straightened a crooked cuff button.

“This year’s Beckford fireworks are another success.”

Felix spoke proudly, leaning back onto the sofa as if half reclining. At last, he let out a sigh of relief and loosened his tie. His gaze, which had briefly circled the ceiling decorations, soon landed on Kyle sitting across from him.

“But there’s a problem with the property…”

When Felix hesitated—so unlike himself—Kyle nodded as if unconcerned.

“The Empress owns the property, but it was under a borrowed name, so I didn’t know. For now, Count Clifton said he’d help…”

His voice dropped low, as though admitting to a mistake. Felix rubbed his face in frustration.

“Pay whatever they ask and secure it.”

“It’s not that simple! They’re already asking over five times the price.”

At Kyle’s nonchalant tone, Felix shot up from his seat. His clenched fists trembled with anger.

“Of course it’s five times—because it’s in the Count’s name. If they realize it’s Beckford, they’ll never sell. So do you still think you can get it?”

Felix could not continue and instead bit his lips in frustration. Kyle was right. The diamonds had provoked the Empress enough already; if she learned Beckford was the real owner, she would stop at nothing to block him from obtaining it.

“Remember, without the property, there is no hotel.”

Kyle’s dry gaze fell on Felix.

“It’s just bad luck, all this fuss over a diamond.”

At the mention of Celeste, Felix’s face flushed red with anger. He was the only one who had survived without concealing his hostility toward her and the entire Dwyer family. Of course, the price he paid was a limp in one leg.

Kyle, unfazed, looked at him with indifferent eyes, as though it were a familiar scene.

“Until the purchase is finalized, behave yourself. Duke.”

“You’re hardly in a position to worry about me, Your Grace.”

“That’s a threat.”

When Felix sneered, Kyle picked up a weekly magazine from the table and corrected him with a stony face.

“You’ll soon have a reason to worry. The excuse of the old man’s impending death means it won’t be long before they attach someone to you as well. Do you understand?”

Felix’s voice, sharp and irritable, lashed out. The matter of the property was troubling enough, and on top of that, he had recently been summoned to Ebria, where he’d faced considerable pressure to marry. Both he and Kyle—being cousins to the Ebrian royal family—were especially burdened by the external pressure of their grandfather, the former king Lionel. Felix shuddered in disgust at the thought.

“So, get along with Miss Maude. Even if she has no intention of getting along with you. Didn’t she go all the way to the Bergen base to see you? That says otherwise, doesn’t it?”

Reclining again, Felix squinted at Kyle. Kyle’s gaze fell on him once more.

“That’s a crime.”

At that, Felix clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Oh come now, a crime? It’s courtship and effort!”

“That’s only your view, Duke.”

Kyle cut him off.

“Do you know why the Empress wants the pink diamond so badly?”

Felix’s lips curled high, as if about to tell a most amusing story. Kyle merely shook his head indifferently. Neither some eccentric lady, nor the Empress’s burning obsession—none of it was enough to spark his interest.

Like this weekly magazine, he was already flipping through at remarkable speed.

“There’s a popular light-pink rose called Rosie, and the Empress thinks Miss Maude resembles it exactly.”

Felix criticized Celeste, calling her a chilling woman. As he said, it was an obvious ploy. The Empress was the Red Rose, the Crown Princess the Pink Rose—the nicknames reeked of a clear intention.

“She’s made such a fuss about it that there’s hardly anyone who doesn’t know by now.”

No sooner had Felix poured out his words than he flopped fully onto the sofa. Kyle, setting the weekly magazine down on the table, briefly thought of Maude.

It was true she was a woman with a dazzling appearance and flair for color, but still—

“She seemed to like myrtles.”

The ribbons on her hat and the lace trimming her dress had all been embroidered with myrtle blossoms. At that remark, Felix instantly sat up, his brows arching as he shot him a blatant look.

“You mean you know her that well already?”

Just from Felix’s thrilled expression, Kyle realized he had said something unnecessary. With a weary air of resignation, he rubbed at the corners of his tired eyes and made his way toward the door.

“I’m leaving.”

“I’ve made up my mind. If our Grand Duke marries Miss Maude—”

“Shut up.”

He stopped in his tracks, grabbed a heap of chocolates from the tray by the entrance, and hurled them with force at Felix.

***

After a short yet long stay in Bergen, Maude and Sarah boarded a train bound for Ness. The quickly changing scenery outside the carriage window signaled their approach to Ness.

Even nearing arrival, Maude seemed busy catching up on overdue work. A faint crease lined her brow as she pored over documents.

Opposite her, Sarah kept glancing sideways. Her gaze darted only between two things: her lady and the bag that held the Grand Duke’s jacket.

The memory of that day refused to fade. The radiant smile of her lady beneath the bursting fireworks, and the large jacket draped over her shoulders. Sarah’s face was full of questions. Even as they stepped off the train, her eyes lingered on the bag.

“…”

“Sarah!”

Maude, walking ahead, called out in exasperation, waving her hand.

“Ah! Y-yes!!”

Startled, Sarah snapped back to herself and hurried to her lady’s side.

“What were you thinking so hard about?”

“N-no, nothing! Thompson should be here by now… ah, there he is.”

Maude tilted her head at Sarah’s oddly absentminded behavior, but Sarah quickly pointed toward the waiting black car, feigning composure.

Maude greeted the driver, Thompson, warmly and climbed into the car.

“Nothing happened while I was away, right?”

“No, my lady.”

“Good. Could you drive to the very end of Fifth Street?”

“As you wish.”

“My lady, what business do you have in Fifth Street?”

As the car slowly set off, Sarah asked curiously. Fifth Street, being apart from the main road, was sparsely populated and only recently undergoing redevelopment. It was not a place for ladies of standing to frequent.

“I’m going to see Miss Brisa.”

“The outfit you wore at the base, with the hat—that was from her atelier, wasn’t it?!”

At the familiar name, Sarah’s eyes flickered as she suddenly recalled the hat and dress.

“Yes. I want to congratulate her, and I have a favor to ask as well.”

“Congratulate her?”

“Tomorrow, the Grand Duke and I will be on the front page of The Paper. I submitted it myself.”

Anonymously. Maude whispered smugly into Sarah’s ear.

“W-what?!”

“So, won’t Miss Brisa’s clothes sell well?”

While Sarah gaped in shock, unable to close her mouth, Maude remained unbothered, her calm demeanor making the worry seem groundless.

“But… won’t the gossip about you cause an uproar…?”

“It’ll be a bit more troublesome than now, I suppose. But there are more important things.”

Maude raised her index finger and waved it in front of Sarah’s eyes. What mattered to her wasn’t being consumed as gossip. What mattered was that Brisa would gain a huge amount of free publicity from that gossip.

A smile touched Maude’s lips.

That was precisely why she had chosen the most popular, most scandalous tabloid. Maude’s mind was busier than ever. She had to meet Brisa before the next issue was published.

Before nameless pests could swarm the beautiful flowerbed she was about to bring into bloom.