The reply didn’t come immediately. I clicked my tongue, wondering if my attempt to extract information had been too obvious.

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, the paper became covered with red ink.

It doesn’t seem like it was simply spilled. Looking closely, it appears like someone tried to stamp a large circle shape but didn’t quite finish.

The paper only became clean again after several minutes had passed.

[The youngest can’t write. But it seems they wanted to express their feelings anyway.]

Hmm, did they pour ink on the paper and then sit on it?

“By the way, if they can’t write… are they quite young?”

Since they mentioned the “youngest,” that’s certainly possible. I jotted down this conjecture in my notebook and replied to the blackmailer.

[Really? How old are they?]

[Five years old. A cute little one.]

The handwriting seemed more forceful than when they were swearing to God, making it feel somehow genuine.

‘Even for a blackmailer, it’s good they care for their sibling…’

Though good sibling relationships shouldn’t extend to learning blackmail techniques.

It’s slightly concerning, but not what I need to focus on right now.

I shook my head and concentrated on the written conversation.

[I see. How many years apart are you two?]

If I knew the age gap, I could deduce the blackmailer’s age.

[Ten years? Or maybe twenty-four years.]

What nonsense. Their ridiculous answer makes it clear they have no intention of providing information.

[…So you’re either fifteen or twenty-nine?]

[Which does Lady Callia prefer?]

[Twenty-eight.]

For reference, Richard is twenty-eight.

[You really are serious about Richard, aren’t you?]

The fact that they immediately recognized I was referring to Richard confirmed my suspicion that this blackmailer’s true obsession wasn’t me but Richard.

What a lecherous person.

[Of course. I’m only serious about my man.]

[Lady Callia, I want to kiss you.]

“Are you insane?”

Struck by this unexpected mental attack, I rubbed my arms as goosebumps rose on them.

I don’t want to lose this battle of madness, but this person is the ‘real deal.’

And while I was trying to pull myself together after my tattered mental state, my opponent delivered the finishing blow.

[In front of Richard.]

“Ugh.”

Between the bright red lip mark stamped again and the barrage of deranged sentences, I grimaced and raised both hands in surrender.

“…Fine, you win today.”

Too disgusted to touch it with my hands, I used two pens like chopsticks to pick up the paper, then shoved it into the corner of a drawer and locked it away.

***

The next day.

Today I have a date scheduled with Richard.

“Miss, here are today’s battle outfit candidates.”

Ella came holding a red organza dress in one hand and a blue satin dress in the other.

Having suffered nightmares all night of being surrounded by red lips—thanks to the blackmailer’s influence—I pointed to the blue dress with tired eyes.

“The blue one.”

Today, I should focus on looking at Richard’s face to cleanse my mind of last night’s contamination.

Just thinking of his face already makes me feel like my fatigue is melting away.

“Come to think of it, you said today’s date location is a tearoom near the Naval Headquarters? There are many white buildings there, so blue will match better!”

Ella helped me into the dress and brought a softly gleaming pearl necklace to place around my neck while exclaiming quietly.

“Wishing you victory, triumph, and overwhelming success today, Miss!”

“Thanks for the support, my chief of staff.”

When I called her my chief of staff to match her unique way of speaking, her sparkling eyes looked adorable.

I left the dressing room with a smile.

“…You’ve come out.”

Mikhail, who must have been waiting outside, spoke gruffly while standing at attention with his gaze lowered.

“Hello, Mikhail.”

Recently, Mikhail has almost completely stopped coming to my bedroom.

Just a few weeks ago, he would barge in without mercy, even when I begged for 10 more minutes of sleep.

“Miss, do you hibernate in summer as well?”

“Yawn… Bursting into a lady’s bedroom… How indelicate of you, Mikhail.”

“A lady? Even bears don’t sleep that long.”

“How did you know? I’m actually descended from bears.”

“Stop talking nonsense and let’s begin your daily routine like a human being.”

He would mercilessly snatch away my blanket while nagging.

But recently, he doesn’t even wake me up, and when he has business, he sends another maid instead.

‘Has he grown tired of our bickering?’

For a while, he seemed eager to be called rude, but perhaps he’s partially given up such efforts because work has become too demanding.

‘I should give him a long paid summer vacation soon.’

Nothing beats money and rest for an exhausted worker.

While I was making this resolution, Mikhail raised his head, took me in with his eyes, and paused.

Then he slightly furrowed his brow.

“Why? Too beautiful for words?”

When I teased him with a chuckle, his face immediately turned cold. This is why I can’t stop joking around.

However, these days, Mikhail is formidable; he soon smiled properly as if he had never frowned.

“No. I was at a loss for words because you look particularly ugly today.”

The way he delivers insults so smoothly and gently is irritating. But I won’t simply call him rude for that.

I smiled even more brightly and counterattacked.

“My goodness. Mikhail looks stunningly handsome even when saying such things.”

I figured out long ago that he’s strong against insults but weak against compliments.

“I’m concerned that you seem both blind and deaf, Miss.”

“Caring about my health too—you’re so thorough and attentive.”

“I’m worried about your mental health as well.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Your beauty is a cure-all, Mikhail.”

After that, no matter what he said, I responded with compliments until he occasionally just glared at me.

‘Hehe, today is my victory again.’

Just as I was feeling confident while watching Mikhail escort me to the carriage with his lips tightly sealed—

“Let’s stop this, Miss.”

“Already? I could compliment you all day.”

“What if I actually fall for you?”

“Huh?”

Though his tone and expression were the same cold Mikhail as always, the incongruous content caused cognitive dissonance.

My dumbfounded face was reflected in Mikhail’s calm words.

“Miss. You are dazzlingly beautiful.”

My startled expression was perfectly reflected in his silver-gray eyes beneath black eyelashes. Soon, one corner of his mouth rose in what appeared to be mockery.

That sight brought me back to my senses.

“Oh! You’re handsome too!”

“Enough. It was a slip of the tongue, so please forget it.”

Mikhail, his expression blank again, promptly helped me into the carriage.

“And since I lost, please truly stop now.”

The cream-colored carriage door closed gently.

Beyond the shaded window, Mikhail looked somehow exhausted.

***

In front of the tearoom near Naval Headquarters.

I got out of the carriage in a troubled state.

Like the blazing sun overhead, my mind felt heated with worries.

‘Was I too harsh?’

The tired expression I saw on Mikhail’s face earlier wouldn’t easily leave my thoughts.

When I realized that what I experienced seeing the blackmailer’s nonsense might be exactly what Mikhail was going through, I felt both shocked and solemn.

‘At times like this, a sincere apology… with a heartfelt bonus would be good.’

As I was reflecting and considering appropriate measures, a shadow suddenly fell across my eyes.

“Callia.”

A large hand wearing a black glove was shielding me from the piercing sunlight. My serious mood melted away at this thoughtful gesture.

“Richard! Have you been waiting for me?”

“I just arrived as well.”

Richard smiled back as he spoke and took my hand, respectfully kissing the back of it.

When I shivered slightly at the ticklish sensation, he chuckled softly.

Isn’t it unfair for a laugh to be this charming?

I averted my gaze slightly to calm my racing heartbeat.

But as I scanned behind him, the street was empty except for occasional passersby.

“For someone who just arrived, there’s not a single carriage around?”

“The Naval Headquarters is nearby. Unlike you, who came all the way from Basium to meet me.”

His blue eyes gazed at me affectionately. As he smiled with his eyes fixed solely on me, I momentarily forgot what I was going to say.

I blinked and tried to act nonchalant.

“Ahem, well, I get to see you in uniform, too. I’m the lucky one, aren’t I?”

Yes. While classic suits suited him like a model, his perfectly dressed naval uniform was simply beyond standard.

The snow-white uniform adorned with golden epaulettes, lapel pins, and various decorations would be difficult for most to pull off, but Richard was an exception.

It was as if the uniform had been created specifically for him.

He’s truly a dangerous man who could create uniform fetishes where none existed before.

Meanwhile, Richard, unable to read my inner thoughts, smiled with relief.

“I was worried I might seem inconsiderate coming to see you without changing clothes, but I’m glad you like the uniform.”

“Of course. I’m thinking I should come to the Naval Headquarters area for outings more often.”

At my words, Richard playfully winked.

“I should wear my uniform even on holidays if it means impressing you.”

He seems to have taken my words as a joke.

‘With that face and body, you’d make even a burlap sack look like vintage fashion, but the uniform is truly unfair.’

However, worried that I might be labeled a pervert if I couldn’t control my mouth, I decided to hold back and change the subject.

“By the way, you must be busy these days… Am I taking up your time?”

The reason I suggested meeting near the Naval Headquarters was because I’d heard from Louisa that this was a busy period for the Navy.

‘It’s because of the Sea God Festival next month, right?’

And at my question, the smile disappeared from Richard’s lips.