Chapter 2

After securing a safe distance and bristling with caution, Leticia met the boy’s gaze head-on.

Clear, clean green eyes. The unusual color, with flashes of yellow and violet like the aurora, was said to draw people in at a glance—and it was true.

“I’ll really be careful next time.”

Maybe that was why. Without thinking, she instinctively made a promise. Her cautious instincts whispered for her to say so, afraid she’d get lost in those green eyes.

Though Valerio’s aura was gentle, his tightly closed lips showed no fake smile, and his gaze seemed to calmly study her.

Of course, she wanted to convince him that she hadn’t disturbed his thoughts on purpose.

But recalling the cold, harsh words from moments ago, her small courage melted away like snow in the spring sun.

So all she could do was make sure not to trip again, glancing behind her as she stepped back, one step at a time.

Then she apologized. Having promised to be careful, now all that was left was to find a chance to escape.

“Hmm, what’s your name?”

Valerio finally withdrew his hand. His looks made even the act of withdrawing his hand, after she’d ignored it for so long, seem natural.

His gentle smile appeared so suddenly, it seemed it had been there from the start.

“Ah, sorry. I should introduce myself first. I’m Valerio. You can call me Rio.”

He tilted his head slightly, smiling with his eyes as he asked her name, then pretended to realize something, acting surprised, and laughed softly.

Leticia was at a loss for words.

It was impossible not to know who he was, but there was no need to share a nickname—they weren’t close, and it was their first meeting.

A young duke apologizing with a smile for almost making a lady introduce herself first—why did it send chills down her spine?

“I’m…”

Her voice wouldn’t come out, as if a huge candy was stuck in her throat.

Valerio, waiting with sparkling eyes for her answer, seemed strangely frightening. Maybe it was because she’d already seen him angry. What did he want with her name?

Should she give her real name, or make one up?

She felt that if she was fooled by that smile and gave her real name, her parents might end up in trouble later.

Most of all, Valerio hadn’t told her it was okay. Was he trying to put her at ease, learn her family name, and then make her cry later?

“Shi… no, Shiina.”

Unable to think of a fake name, she tried to pass off a nickname as her name, but even that felt risky, so she hurriedly made it up.

“Shiina…?”

“Yeah.”

The tilted head drooped a little further, and the gaze fixed on Leticia narrowed ever so slightly.  

Hearing the drawn-out tone at the end of his words, it was clear that suspicion had arisen. Leticia vigorously nodded, rubbing her sweaty palms against her skirt.  

“Shiina.”  

“Mm.”  

“Then, I’ll call you Shia.”  

“Uh… okay.”  

“Shia. That’s a pretty name.”  

“Th-thank you…?”  

Was it possible he knew everything, that she was using a fake name?  

Leticia’s face twisted as she reluctantly accepted and answered. The forced smile trembled at the corner of her lips, barely hanging on.  

Her older brother, who had lived a few more years and eaten a few more meals than she had, always said that their family, the Blanc Earldom, was not one to be looked down upon anywhere.  

Even so, Valerio probably hadn’t memorized the names and faces of every daughter from every Earldom. There was no reason to.  

Or maybe he did know. Today’s gathering was a tea party hosted by the Duchess Lester. It was a midday tea party to celebrate the reopening of her villa for spring.  

Leticia’s mother, the Countess Blanc, had served as the chief lady-in-waiting and confidante to the Duchess Lester before her marriage, when she was still a princess.  

Their friendship had lasted through the years, so much so that the invitation always arrived first to Leticia’s mother. Perhaps he had heard about Leticia.  

She thought, “Surely not,” but anxiety lingered.  

“Th-then, I’ll be going now…”  

“Shia.”  

“Huh, yes?”  

“I’m really sorry about earlier. I made a mistake.”  

When things felt uneasy, running away was best. But just as she tried to leave, Valerio cut her off by bowing deeply.  

“Ah! Wait, you don’t have to…”  

Leticia jumped at the overly polite apology. She hadn’t expected an apology, nor had she even tried to clear up the misunderstanding—so what was happening now?  

“It was entirely my carelessness not to properly check who you were. I startled you for no reason, Shia. I’m truly sorry.”  

She wanted to believe it was just teasing, but there was not a trace of mischief on the boy’s face. With repeated apologies, Leticia’s voice grew damp.  

“No! I’m the one who came in without permission…”  

“Shia, wait a moment.”  

She almost wanted to cry, unable to figure out what to do, and shuffled her feet anxiously as Valerio strode closer.  

She hadn’t even realized the distance was closing. Valerio, ignoring Leticia’s wide-eyed surprise, reached out his hand.  

“Your ribbon’s come undone.”  

The ribbon that had been holding her braided hair in place finally slipped off and ended up in Valerio’s hand. Catching the sky-blue lace ribbon, Valerio smiled sweetly.  

The safe distance she had tried so hard to maintain vanished in her moment of carelessness. Valerio’s wandering hand finally found its destination.  

“Thank you…”  

Valerio glanced at the palm Leticia extended to retrieve her ribbon, but ignored it. Maintaining his smile, he tidied up her disheveled hair.  

He didn’t restore it to its original style, but gently combed through the stray strands.  

His fingers, warmer than expected, lightly brushed against her ear, and Leticia froze with her hand still outstretched.  

“Um, the ribbon…”  

“All done.”  

Perhaps he was focused on fixing her unfamiliar hairstyle, because he didn’t seem to hear her request for the ribbon’s return.  

Only after his fingertips brushed her cheek did Valerio finally step back.  

“Um, the ribbon now…”  

She tried once more to ask for the ribbon, as he smiled gently as if inviting her to speak.  

As she struggled to maintain her composed expression, her eyes met Valerio’s.  

Gulp. She swallowed hard.  

What part of him is supposed to be kind? Her brother must be blind.  

He’s scary. Just like earlier, when he spoke softly but poured out biting words.  

And when she ignored his hand offered for help after she fell, he made sure to get back at her in subtle ways.  

For a moment, Valerio’s gaze lingered on the ribbon he refused to return, then shifted back.  

Valerio’s face softened as he noticed her wandering eyes.  

Leticia reflexively swallowed again. 

‘Why, why is he smiling? Did he notice I was staring at the ribbon?’ 

Contrary to rumors that he was an angel incarnate, he seemed to be someone who always returned things eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. At least she hadn’t done anything to him with the ribbon… yet.  

“Shia.”  

And so, she ended up doing it without even realizing. She cautiously slapped away the boy’s reaching hand.  

The sound was almost a ‘slap,’ loud enough to startle her, and his pale hand seemed to turn slightly red.  

Whether out of surprise or actual pain, Valerio clasped his struck hand with the other.  

His darkened eyes turned to Leticia. Was he angry, or just upset? Maybe both, since she’d essentially hit him.  

Valerio bit his lower lip and stared at her.  

“S-sorry!”  

Just as his lips parted, Leticia quickly apologized first. He might strangle her with the ribbon! Pale-faced, she bowed her head and turned away.  

She didn’t hear her name called from behind, but she didn’t dare look back. The young Leticia ran away desperately.