“Then I’ll be going.”

Serce followed Aneta, heading toward the parlor door, without saying much. It wasn’t just because his father had subtly gestured for him to follow. It was clear that if he stayed here, he would only be forced to listen to the pitiful, greedy talks of others, so he quickened his pace.

Though today, he couldn’t help but feel like he was simply chasing after someone. But what could he do? He still didn’t have the strength to defy, so he had no choice but to follow his father’s orders.

Even after leaving the parlor, he didn’t feel any relief. An awkward atmosphere hung between the two as they walked.

“I’ll speak casually since we’re the same age. You can do the same. From the looks of things, whether we like it or not, we’ll probably see each other often from now on.”

Aneta spoke first, keeping her gaze straight ahead.

“Alright.”

While respect or casualness was generally determined by status, not age, Serce didn’t refuse her offer. It wouldn’t be pleasant to receive formalities from someone the same age while still being treated condescendingly.

When Serce accepted without hesitation, Aneta finally turned to look at him.

“I’ll ask you straight. Do you understand what your situation is right now?”

Her expression remained indifferent, but there was no hint of mockery or any attempt to take advantage of the situation.

Thanks to that, Serce responded calmly, without hesitation.

“There’s no way I don’t know. But I have no intention of playing a servant. I hate being treated like a puppet even more.”

Although he had figured out his father’s intentions, Serce didn’t offer any excuses and instead firmly stated his position.

Fortunately, Aneta seemed to have no intention of treating him that way, as she nodded in agreement.

It was a short, unremarkable conversation, but both had already assessed each other’s stance.

‘She’s nothing like her father.’

That was the shared impression both had of each other.

“Must be tough having a father like that.”

“Your father doesn’t seem all that different, though.”

“True. All he knows how to do is squander wealth or act like a scoundrel.”

With that mutual understanding, the conversation flowed more easily.

Serce thought back to the Marquis, grinning from ear to ear at his father’s obvious flattery. It said a lot about his own father, who clung to such a man hoping to benefit from the crumbs that might fall.

Still, the girl in front of him wasn’t so bad. This might be what people mean by ‘misery loves company.’

Perhaps he was mistaken, but it seemed like she liked him too. After all, she was keeping the conversation going, unlike before.

“My father’s pretty good at squandering wealth too. So watch out—he’s probably buttering your father up to invest in his business schemes.”

“If he does, it’ll only show he’s on that level himself.”

Even as Serce gave his warning, Aneta didn’t seem particularly moved.

“You’re not going to tell him?”

“Why would I?”

Aneta’s response was matter-of-fact, and her sincere expression left Serce momentarily speechless.

“Even if I say something, he won’t listen. He’s the kind of person who has to do whatever he wants, no matter what. It’s nothing new—it happens all the time.”

She shrugged her small shoulders, her expression remaining unchanged.

“I hate my father. I mean, I really hate him.”

She didn’t even flinch as she voiced her disdain.

“Can’t argue with that. I feel the same. I have no idea why he keeps starting things he can’t handle. I just hope he doesn’t end up drowning us in debt.”

The two got along well, sharing the same negative views of their fathers.

It was a strangely mature conversation for children their age, but they didn’t seem to care.

“If only he’d invested that money into my mother’s business instead, he could’ve seen real profits.”

“What kind of work does the Viscountess do?”

“She runs a boutique called Étienne.”

“Oh, I’ve had a few dresses made there before. My maids were always impressed by the flawless craftsmanship, and I loved every dress I got from there too.”

Hearing Aneta’s praise, Serce’s face lit up, as though the compliments were meant for him.

“I’m going to inherit my mother’s business, not my father’s.”

He knew he’d have to put in much effort to do that, one of the dress designs he’d sketched as practice had met his own standards.

“Are you planning to make dresses yourself?”

“Why? Do you think I’m stupid? Is it weird for a man to make dresses?”

The faces of his two brothers, who constantly mocked him, flashed through his mind. Serce fired off his questions, worried Aneta might think the same, though he tried not to show his unease.

“No, not at all. If anything, what’s really weird is assigning jobs based on gender. I was just curious, that’s all.”

When Aneta clarified she had no other intent, the sharp edge in his gaze softened. He found her words reassuring.

“I think it suits you perfectly—designing and even wearing them. You ran away as soon as our eyes met, though.”

“Forget about that.”

When Aneta brought up their first meeting, Serce’s face flushed. A murmur replaced the scornful look he’d given earlier.

“I don’t think I can. You were so beautiful that it’s still vivid in my memory.”

“Even so, calling me beautiful is a bit…”

It wasn’t that he felt uncomfortable being called beautiful as a man. If he’d harbored such thoughts, he wouldn’t have been able to tolerate those who mocked his ambitions in the first place.

Serce was simply embarrassed. Aneta’s unflinching praise, delivered so casually and matter-of-factly, left him entirely self-conscious.

“Are you embarrassed?”

“…”

Serce couldn’t bring himself to either affirm or deny her words. In moments like this, silence was as good as an admission.

Seeing through his truth, Aneta turned her head back with a faint smirk.

“Well, you’ve got an unexpectedly innocent side to you.”

She resumed walking, her tone playful and teasing.

“Unexpected? I’m not sure what you mean by that, but thanks for the compliment anyway. By the way, where exactly are we heading?”

“The garden. I’m supposed to give you a tour of the estate, but that’s really the only place worth showing. If we at least make a show of it, it’ll save us both some hassle later.”

Surely, the garden couldn’t be the only place worth visiting in a vast mansion. The thought crossed his mind, but since there wasn’t anywhere he particularly wanted to see, Serce simply followed Aneta’s lead without protest.

Their steps, however, came to a sudden halt not long after.

Serce stopped before a painting, his gaze fixed firmly on it. When Aneta heard his footsteps pause, she turned to follow his line of sight.

At the end of his gaze was a painting of Elena.

“Do you like that painting?”

“I do. Somehow, it feels warm and comforting.”

This was even though the painting leaned heavily on cool tones. You won’t forget its distinctive style after seeing it once.

Serce stood transfixed, gazing up at the painting hanging on the wall.

“My mother painted that.”

Elena Adenauer, or the Marchioness Adenauer, was famous for many reasons.

She came from an unremarkable family, but her beauty had caught the eye of the Marquis, elevating her to the mistress of one of the Empire’s wealthiest households.

When such a figure was mentioned, Serce glanced at Aneta’s expression—and was taken aback. Aneta’s face held a faint smile as she spoke of her mother.

‘So, she can smile like that too.’

Of course, being human, it made sense that she had emotions. But the sight still struck him as surprising. Starkly contrasted to how she reacted when speaking of her father.

Serce found himself unable to look away from her face for quite some time. Then, suddenly, a flash of inspiration illuminated his mind.

To avoid forgetting the image that had appeared in his mind, Serce mentally retraced its shape repeatedly. For some reason, he felt that he might finally accomplish the task weighing on him for so long today.

***

As Serce recalled those moments from the past, his thoughts turned to what happened afterward.

Upon returning to the mansion, his younger self had headed straight to his room. The image that had surfaced in his mind when he saw Aneta’s smile was immediately transferred onto paper.

It was the first time he had ever created a design he was delighted with. Though his skills were still clumsy and unrefined, his mother praised them without hesitation.

That was when he began taking an interest in drawing. Serce often asked to accompany his mother on her visits to galleries.

Though he and Aneta never became particularly close, they were still each other’s only friends. She was also a muse who often inspired him whenever he saw her.

But the truth of his feelings lay elsewhere.

Serce didn’t realize what his emotions meant until Aneta informed him of her engagement. All he could do at the time was suppress the unexplainable turmoil inside him.

He finally understood his heart when he was invited to Aneta’s wedding as her friend.

It was when he saw her standing beside Carlos in her wedding dress.

“But the moment I realized it, I had to give up.”

A bitter smile crossed Serce’s face at the memory.

When Aneta got divorced, he couldn’t help but hope. He believed that perhaps he might finally have a chance, and he waited for her. But in the end, Aneta chose Carlos once again.

Serce had no choice but to accept his defeat.

Carlos not only had Aneta’s love but also the strength to protect her.

Recalling the horrors of the kidnapping incident, Serce rubbed his face with both hands and slowly opened and closed his eyes.

It had been weeks since guilt and helplessness had held him back, keeping him from meeting her.

“I miss her.”

Thinking about the past, he was overcome with longing. It was absurd, considering he was the one who had avoided her in the first place.

“Even if it’s shameless of me, maybe I should go see her.”

After much hesitation, Serce made up his mind.

As he rose to prepare for his outing, his butler, Edal, entered his workshop at just the right moment.

“Perfect timing, Edal. I’m going to the Adenauer Marquisate. Please prepare the carriage.”

Normally, Edal would have quickly left to carry out the order, but this time, he stood frozen as if rooted to the spot.

Serce felt a wave of unease at the sight of his butler’s hardened expression.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Master Serce, there’s something you should know before heading to the Marquisate… The Marquis Adenauer has announced her remarriage to His Grace, Duke Carlos Baltimor.”

And with that, Serce’s unease became a reality.