Derek spread out the seemingly endless parchment and checked each item meticulously.

“The carriage decorations?”

“We’ll decorate with fresh flowers from the greenhouse.”

“Pay special attention to that. Are the accommodations arranged?”

“Trust me. I’ll put in proper effort.”

“…See that you do.”

Fortunately, with Lucas helping at his side, the preparations didn’t take long.

After selecting all the stylish clothes to wear for the two weeks, all that remained was choosing a restaurant.

“Just need to decide on the meals. I assume the survey of nearby restaurants is complete?”

“Yes. I’ve narrowed it down to three out of twenty-seven places. Would you like to see the menus?”

“No, I’ll visit in person to confirm.”

Following Duke Frith’s instructions, a portal was prepared instantly, created with Lokt’s magical device.

After crossing the portal and arriving at the restaurant in one breath, he carefully looked around.

“The atmosphere isn’t bad. The carpet has a suitable antique feel.”

“It’s becoming a popular dating spot these days. Most reviews say the moderately dim lighting creates a good mood.”

“But taste is most important, isn’t it?”

“I anticipated that and ordered in advance. Ah, here it comes.”

“……”

The head chef approached, pulling a five-tier cart. His nervous demeanor was evident in the squeaky movements.

Watching this, Derek somehow stiffened his face.

“This place is especially famous for its soft appetizer bread-, Your Grace?”

“……”

Abruptly.

Without warning, he stood up and headed toward the portal without looking back.

Flustered, Lucas hurriedly followed.

“Your Grace! Where are you going?”

“I think another place would be better.”

“Without even tasting the food?”

“No need. By the way, why didn’t you tell me?”

“Pardon? Tell you what?”

Derek frowned with displeasure.

“You didn’t mention that the chef was a young man.”

“……”

The assistant was at a loss for words.

Did choosing a restaurant really require considering the chef’s gender and age?

Was it not enough that he had investigated everything from the interior to the lighting, the spacing between seats, the flow of movement, and even the softness of the chairs?

‘…If this is love, I can’t do it.’

Lucas thought he would rather just stay single.

***

The next morning.

Audrey regretted not asking for details about the territory inspection schedule.

‘W-what is this…!’

Bam! Ba-ba-ba-bam! Ba-ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-ba, ba, ba, bam!

A military band, lined up on both sides of a red carpet, began a vigorous performance.

The resounding brass instruments reminded one of a military send-off ceremony.

People on their way to work stopped and murmured.

“Is something happening?”

“Seeing the military band, it must be no ordinary event.”

“What on earth is all this?”

…They probably thought war had broken out.

Derek, standing in front of the red carpet, casually asked her.

“If your feet hurt, we could use a cart-“

“I-I’m fine!”

“……”

But Audrey hurried ahead with her head bowed low.

The instrument sounds blasting from both sides were so loud that it felt like her eardrums might fall off.

Duke Frith watched her lovely retreating figure and smiled meaningfully.

‘She’ll probably be surprised.’

His prediction was spot on.

“Oh my.”

Audrey covered her mouth at the sight of the line of carriages.

It wasn’t the size of the carriage, which could easily fit about eight people, that surprised her.

Rather…

‘Is this a territory inspection or some kind of evacuation?’

The three luggage carriages prepared seemed a bit excessive for a day trip.

Anyone would mistake it for a month-long stay.

‘…I should have just said I’d pack myself.’

He had told her to come with a light heart as the luggage would be taken care of.

Seeing what looked like all the household items of the duke’s castle swept up, she couldn’t help but sigh.

Creak.

“Oh! You startled me.”

A coachman who had been waiting on one side opened the door with precision.

Simultaneously, Audrey’s gaze turned back to the carriage.

The luggage carriages were excessive, but the carriage they would ride in was by no means ordinary either.

‘How much do you like flowers?’

Was surrounding the castle walls with rose decorations not enough?

The duke’s ebony carriage was also completely covered in black roses.

With flower decorations resembling a coffin, she couldn’t shake off the eerie feeling of entering the afterlife.

Meanwhile, Derek glanced at her expression.

Somehow, Dodori’s face looked quite uncomfortable as she examined the black roses.

‘I must have gone too far.’

Indeed. What business did black roses have when he hadn’t even properly proposed yet?

‘You are eternally mine’—what a message!

He felt a chill, worried she might misunderstand him as being obsessive already.

‘I must divert Dodori’s attention!’

He hurried his steps to prevent her from looking at the black roses any longer.

“Let’s get in. Even two weeks is too tight to see the entire territory.”

“…What? D-did you just say, two weeks? Not a day trip?”

Audrey, climbing the steps, asked in shock.

What kind of territory inspection takes two weeks? In a world where you could tour the entire empire in half a day using portals!

But Derek pretended not to notice.

“A day trip is impossible. The territory is too vast.”

“But if we use a portal-“

“Unfortunately, we don’t have the budget for that.”

“……”

Duke Frith drew a firm line. It was a somewhat dubious excuse.

He had 500,000 gold to pay off her gambling debt, but no budget to open a portal?

‘That’s absurd.’

The duke’s finances couldn’t possibly be that sloppy.

However, instead of panicking or questioning, Audrey elegantly lifted her bag.

‘Hmph, I have my reputation as Lokt’s boss to maintain.’

Then she opened it wide toward Duke Frith.

“I brought this just in case… Fortunately, it’ll be useful!”

“……”

“Hehe.”

It was filled with magical devices that could open transportation portals.

But facing Dodori’s bright smile, Derek felt devastated.

‘How cruel.’

As if the duke’s castle would really lack budget?

This was all a lie he made up because he wanted to enjoy a leisurely, intimate time with Dodori.

But how could his Dodori be so oblivious to his feelings?

‘It’s because Dodori is innocent. That’s not Dodori’s fault.’

Derek immediately composed himself.

If Dodori wasn’t familiar with romantic games, then he, being more skilled, should lead the way.

“That would be difficult.”

“What? Why?”

“I have… magical device motion sickness.”

“…?”

“I can’t cross portals.”

Derek lied without blinking an eye.

He felt terribly guilty, but there was no other way.

‘This will be the last lie I tell you. Really. I promise.’

Meanwhile, Audrey was at a loss from bewilderment.

‘Magical device motion sickness?’

It was a symptom she had never heard of in her life.

But given that magical outbursts exist, could magical device motion sickness really not exist?

Even the many luggage carriages made sense belatedly.

Audrey, unaware that Duke Frith had been perfectly fine using portals until yesterday, believed his lie at face value.

‘I have no way to verify, so there’s nothing I can do…’

But she still felt frustrated.

To go on a two-week territory inspection in that carriage!

If she had known the schedule was this long in advance, she would have refused by any means necessary.

‘I thought Father would obviously not permit it.’

Audrey suddenly wondered about Count Kevelson’s true thoughts.

Even as a retainer, how could he?

His daughter spending two weeks with a man, and he permitted it so easily?

But it was too late for regrets now.

Duke Frith, approaching the carriage door, extended his hand to her.

“You first.”

“…Thank you.”

After Audrey took her seat, he entered.

Just as the assistant was about to step in—

Slam.

“…Your Grace?”

Duke Frith firmly closed the door.

Lucas, rejected right before his eyes, desperately knocked on the carriage door, thinking perhaps he hadn’t been seen.

Knock knock knock.

“Your Grace, it’s me. Lucas.”

“I know.”

“This door…”

“There’s no room, so take another carriage.”

“What?”

“……”

Audrey’s eyes quietly surveyed the interior of the carriage.

The carriage, designed for eight people, was extremely comfortable and spacious with only two occupants.

Yet he insisted there was no room, which sent a chill down her spine.

‘W-what is this…! Is this really a carriage to the afterlife?’

Lucas’s voice soon faded away.

He must have given up and boarded another luggage carriage.

“If preparations are complete, let’s depart.”

“Yes!”

Neigh!

Following Derek’s instructions, the carriage set off vigorously.

Their first destination was Pelios.

Meanwhile, a belated schedule was delivered to Count Kevelson.

“Yes, yes. Let’s see, what time will they arrive.”

But as he checked the endlessly long paper, he unconsciously rubbed his eyes.

“…This much? T-two weeks?”

Count Kevelson, who jumped to his feet, immediately rushed outside.

But the ebony carriage carrying the two had long since left the duke’s castle.

“Oh, my goodness! My daughter!”

He stood there blankly for a while, unable to move.

It was because of the guilt of having personally pushed his precious daughter into the beast’s jaws.