Hello, Readers! I am celebrating my birthday with extra chapter updates, so please enjoy this special chapter release of 4 bonus chapters! 🥳

(Lurelia’s Birthday Bonus – Update 3/4 🎉)

♡ To all readers who purchased these chapters before my Birthday: I can’t express this enough – Thank you for your support. (*ˊᗜˋ*)/ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏ ᵞᵒᵘ*

***

On Biselium Street, where the midsummer sunlight poured down dazzlingly.

This time, thanks to Richard calling for a carriage, I could travel more comfortably using the carriage roof as shade.

Sitting in the carriage, I placed my hands neatly on my knees and observed Richard’s cool expression beside me on the right.

“Are you very angry?”

He seemed to know exactly what I was referring to.

“No.”

Just when I thought he’d end it with that brief answer, Richard’s lips moved slightly before continuing.

“But if you’re going to do something like that again, tell me in advance next time.”

Given how he was stubbornly staring outside the carriage without even glancing my way, he was clearly suppressing his displeasure.

“Yes, I’ll make sure this never happens again. Absolutely never.”

I spoke with sincere remorse in my voice.

And to show my contrition, I sat up straight and silently fixed my gaze on the street outside.

After staying like that for a while, I suddenly felt a gaze on my right cheek.

But when I turned toward the right where Richard sat, he was still looking only at the street.

It must have been my imagination.

‘…He’s not going to storm out saying he can’t sit with me anymore, right?’

Even at a time like this, his profile was picture-perfect.

His straight forehead, sharp nose bridge, and elegant yet strong jawline – every feature was nothing short of artistic.

But with a tiny bit of remaining awareness that I should be reflecting, I tried to stop feasting my eyes and lowered my gaze.

That’s when I noticed his jacket, carelessly folded on one side of the carriage seat.

Even though he’d removed the sherbet-stained jacket, his ascetic appearance remained unchanged with his shirt buttoned up to the top and tie still in place…

‘How can it be sexy when nothing is exposed? This isn’t because I’m a pervert, it’s because those muscles are cheating.’

The way they’re subtly visible without being openly exposed is even more…

“You don’t need to feel guilty.”

Just then, his low voice crept into my ear.

He must have thought I was looking at his sherbet-stained jacket.

In reality, as I had been internally condemning while sneaking peeks at his torso muscles, his words only made me feel more guilty.

“Ahem, hem. Why did you step in earlier? It wasn’t a situation where I could have been seriously hurt, and getting hit with sherbet would have been fine.”

Though we included a safety guarantee clause due to Mikhail’s strong insistence, it didn’t cover situations like this.

“Pretending not to care would be a contract violation. What kind of man would stand still when his lover is about to be doused with food?”

“But I’m supposed to be playing the villainess role.”

“That’s not my concern.”

So he’s saying he just needs to perform his role as the lover well, is that it?

‘Tsk, making this business quite heart-fluttering.’

I was worried about his reputation dropping for protecting a villainess.

But it should be fine. The Southerners love their Admiral.

‘If anyone badmouths him even after we break up, I’ll just draw some more aggro as after-sales service.’

Though he won’t protect me then as he does now, money will protect me instead.

‘With 456 billion golden, how many bowls of meat stew would that be?’

Just thinking about it makes me feel secure. All hail Admiral.

As I smiled contentedly, the cool breeze flowing through the open window felt even more pleasant.

The scent of sherbet with its fresh fruitiness and sticky sweetness brushed past my nose like a gentle breeze.

‘…Wait. This is definitely a scent, but earlier it wasn’t…’

Suddenly struck by an ominous thought, I called out to Richard.

“Did I perhaps smell of sweat earlier on the street?”

With a subtle expression, he remained silent for a moment. Only when I pressed him with an insistent look did he finally speak.

“You seem to have forgotten that I’m a soldier.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Compared to naval officers in the midst of training, you smelled quite fragrant.”

Damn it. So I did smell.

Mortified, I couldn’t face him and lowered my gaze to the floor.

Then I thought I heard something like suppressed laughter and snapped my head up.

“Excuse me, Admiral. What’s the point of covering your mouth? Your eyes are laughing.”

“When did I?”

“Just now.”

He shrugged and lowered his large hand that had been covering his mouth.

The slight upward curve of his lips was quite annoying.

It’s fortunate he’s not still angry, but… somehow this is irritating.

“By the way, where are we going?”

“Are you trying to change the subject now?”

“Do you find teasing me entertaining?”

“Surprisingly so. So, are you really trying to change the subject?”

“Sigh… Thank you for giving me time to cool off in the carriage. May I know our destination?”

Finally letting out another laugh, Richard nodded and gave me an answer.

“Of course. It seems we’ve arrived.”

With perfect timing, the horse stopped, and he got out of the carriage first.

“Since both you and I need to change clothes, we’re stopping at a boutique.”

***

Though it felt like a long time had passed, in reality, it had only been a few days since the tea party at the Elkanto mansion.

According to what Maribel and Louisa had told me then, Madame Tartine’s salon was the most prestigious boutique in the South.

“All the nobles want to get their important ceremonial clothes made there.”

“You need to make reservations at least a month in advance!”

But now, how different things were.

“Oh my, if it isn’t Admiral Aquilus! Welcome!”

Not just any seamstress, but Madame Tartine herself, the owner of the boutique, came to greet us at the entrance with a bright expression.

“I apologize for coming without a reservation.”

“We happened to be free, so please don’t mention it.”

The Madame, with her brown hair elegantly styled up, snapped her folding fan shut and smiled broadly.

“Besides, it’s an honor for our salon to be the first boutique the Admiral has visited with a lady!”

Well, they say the navy is viewed very favorably in the South to begin with.

Plus, the Admiral is perfect in everything – looks, ability, character, wealth – so he’s incredibly popular wherever he goes.

As I was watching that popularity shine even in a boutique with interest, the Madame turned to me with a bright smile and asked.

“May I ask the beautiful lady’s name?”

“Callia Rabius. That’s my name, and whoever you are, don’t come within three steps of Richard.”

Though the Madame’s eyes wavered briefly at my sharp tone, she was a professional.

“What a lovely person you are.”

She naturally led Richard and me to a cozy sofa in the VIP room and brought refreshments herself while taking our order.

“First, a dress suitable for Callia in this weather.”

“I’ll bring out our finest ready-made dresses that you can wear immediately.”

Nodding at the quick-witted Madame’s affirmation, Richard looked at me briefly before adding with a hesitant tone.

“Something that’s not too hot, but not too revealing.”

“Oh my, oh my, of course.”

Madame had her assistants bring what looked like dozens of dresses, and though I was excited at first, I soon felt my energy draining at a rapid pace.

Just changing clothes was quite exhausting, but what dealt the critical blow was Madame Tartine’s endless chatter.

“With such a lovely, doe-like neckline, why don’t we show it off naturally? If we pin up this red hair with a sapphire pin and pair it with this blue chiffon dress, you’ll look absolutely stunning. You’ll be as elegant, lovely, and noble as the Sea God’s most beloved daughter, truly befitting a lady by the Admiral’s side. Of course, it’s my belief that any woman by Admiral Aquilus’s side should be dignified and beautiful even when alone, so I’m paying special attention to that aspect as well. The way the draping draws attention while keeping the exposed shoulders tasteful, and when we scatter tiny diamonds that reflect light like sea foam on blue waves-“

Even if I wanted to play the villainess here, there was no gap to squeeze a word in through Madame’s storm of chatter.

I tried to do something during the breaks between changing clothes, but the Madame’s assistants had endless requests – lift your foot, put your arm through here.

And while I was frantically going back and forth behind the curtain, the Admiral was leisurely enjoying a cup of tea on the sofa.

Though I sent several SOS signals, he pretended not to notice with amused eyes.

Occasionally when I came out in a new dress, he would clap with a pretend-serious face, which was incomparably more annoying than his behavior in the carriage.

‘So this is how you want to play it?’

“Now, let’s try this red mini dress. You’ll surely look as fresh and alluring as a rose with morning dew, and with this hat as well, undoubtedly-“

“Richard!”

Finally, my annoyance toward Richard overcame Madame’s chatter.

With my hands on my hips, I declared to him like a declaration of war.

“It’s too disappointing that I’m the only one trying things on. I heard this place also serves as a tailor shop…”

His eyes, which had been curved in amusement, trembled with an ominous feeling.

Hah, I should have done this sooner.

“Madame. To match the twenty-seven dresses I’ve tried on so far, please prepare the same number of men’s suits for Richard to try. The exact same number.”

I made a special request while looking at Madame.

“And please give Richard the same compliments and commentary you gave me.”

“Oh my! Of course! Thank you so much for the order!”

Madame’s face bloomed with smiles, while Richard’s expression instantly turned gloomy.