Following the events of that night with Calix, Selina was unable to sleep.

If she wasn’t careful, melancholy might consume her and she might descend into another nightmare, so she spent the night sitting wide awake at her desk.

Fortunately, she had an excuse — something to stop her dwelling on things.

‘Gifts to help the territory’s residents endure the summer heat…’

Before her thoughts could spiral back to Calix, Selina forced herself to focus on the task at hand.

‘If it were me, what would I want to receive?’

However, no matter how long she thought about it, no clear answer came to mind.

Selina wasn’t particularly interested in pretty trinkets or delicious food.

Although she had been living under false pretenses, she was still the Marquis’s daughter and was now a Grand Duchess. She had naturally grown accustomed to a life of abundance and had never once felt as though she lacked anything.

‘Then… what about when I was in the convent?’

Selina searched her memories of the past.

When she was alone at the convent, she would often imagine things she wanted to try someday and experiences she longed to have.

However, when it came to choosing between Calliope’s and Alter’s suggestions, she wasn’t sure.

‘Back then, what I really needed was a friend.’

The greatest fear associated with life in the convent was the loneliness that descended at night.

During the day, the rising sun lit every corner, making it easier to bear.

However, when night fell and the world sank into darkness, she was overwhelmed by terror and the crushing realization that she was utterly alone in such a vast place.

Perhaps that was why what she needed most back then was not food or beautiful things, but a friend.

And perhaps because she longed for it so desperately, Ari appeared soon after — and, like a miracle, Calix came to her.

‘But it’s not as if the territory’s residents would want a friend. They already have plenty of neighbors they’re close to.’

Just as she was thinking that what the residents desired would naturally be different from what she had once needed—

“Maybe…”

It struck her, suddenly, that what people wanted would inevitably vary depending on their circumstances and values.

“The residents might want something completely different.”

With that new thought, Selina’s mind began to turn in another direction.

‘If I were one of the territory’s residents facing the summer heat, what would I want?’

After racking her brain and imagining scenario after scenario, Selina finally produced a single sheet of paper summarizing her list of gifts to help the residents prepare for the summer heat.

“I think both hats and food are necessary for the people of the territory. However…”

With her lips pressed together in a small, neat line, she continued in a serious tone.

“I believe the reason the residents would need these items is probably completely different from what the two of you have in mind.”

At last, she laid the list she had written out in front of them.

【A wide-brimmed, well-ventilated straw hat; a sturdy bamboo fan; summer fruits to restore strength; medicinal herbs to replenish nutrition…】

“I’ve heard that many people working in the fields under the blazing summer sun collapse from the heat. Anyone who has seen their family return home exhausted after a day of farm labor would surely wish, if only a little, that they could work somewhere cooler.”

This was the story of the Bear family in The Midsummer Sun Festival.

Worn down by farming in the blazing heat, Papa Bear collapsed. Seeing this, Mama Bear and Baby Bear wove him a straw hat. Once he had recovered, Papa Bear was able to return to the fields, working in the shade of his new hat and feeling much cooler.

Inspired by the story, Selina began to think seriously about what the bear family might have needed: Fans, fruit and medicinal herbs sprang to mind.

“Of course, with limited funds, we can’t provide anything extravagant or luxurious, but if we focus on the essentials, we might still be able to offer decent-quality items…”

As Selina began to speak about the ideas she had thought through so carefully, she suddenly found herself losing confidence.

She was worried that she had pushed her own opinion too strongly. From Calliope’s and Alter’s perspective, it might appear that she was disregarding their suggestions.

Glancing around nervously, Selina saw Rocheste quietly raise a sign.

He flipped it over. On the other side, in bold letters, was written: 【Approve】.

“That’s an excellent idea, my lady. I hadn’t thought to consider things from the residents’ point of view. As expected of you!”

When Rocheste gave her a thumbs-up, some of the tension in Selina’s face eased—but the real concern was Calliope and Alter.

“In my opinion…”

Calliope began slowly, eyes fixed on the list.

“This straw hat is an excellent choice. Why didn’t I think of making a hat out of straw? It’s much cooler and looks great, too!”

Not to be outdone, Alter raised his hand.

“I had the exact same ‘aha!’ moment. I love summer fruits — why didn’t I think of this?’ The neighboring village is at a high altitude, so their peaches ripen early and are incredibly sweet and refreshing. How about giving those as gifts?”

Contrary to her expectations, the two of them reacted positively, leaving Selina looking baffled.

“Do you… really think so?”

“Of course! Since we’re already here, why don’t we hand the list over to Lady Lily right away? I can’t wait to check the samples.”

“I agree! Since there isn’t much supply of peaches from the neighboring village, it would be best to secure them as soon as possible!”

They were both quick to support Selina’s idea. As she watched them, she covered her mouth with both hands.

It was strange. She had never experienced this feeling before.

She felt slightly embarrassed, yet at the same time, she felt a sense of oddly satisfying pride.

“Th-thank you.”

Selina said, her cheeks flushing as she expressed her gratitude.

“I didn’t expect you to approve.”

“We approve because it’s a good idea. If it had been something Lord Alter said, I’d have been dead set against it.”

“That goes for me as well, Your Grace!”

With his arms folded, Rocheste looked at the three of them with a pleased expression.

“Well then, all that’s left is to look at the samples, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. Now we just have to review them one by one before the event and pick the best…”

Calliope’s eyes suddenly narrowed.

“By the way, does Calix even know we’re handling something this important? He’s definitely going to be involved in the event, but where is he, and what is he doing that he hasn’t shown his face at all?”

At the mention of Calix’s name, Rocheste instinctively glanced at Selina. Sure enough, the brightness on her face from just moments earlier darkened to an almost frightening degree.

“Well… perhaps His Grace the Grand Duke has been busy in his own way.”

Rochester replied, trying to smooth things over.

“Busy? His Grace has been so absorbed in drinking lately that it’s as if he’s drowned himself in liquor! All he does is pour and drink!”

Completely oblivious to the tension, Alter raised his hand energetically as he spoke.

“What? Instead of being busy catching up on his backlog of work, he’s busy going out and having fun? While we’re here working ourselves to the bone?”

Calliope, as if a thread of self-restraint had just snapped, shot to her feet.

“I’m going to drag him here right this instant!”

If Rocheste had not rushed in to stop her, Calix would certainly have been summoned to the study immediately.

After the meeting in the study had finally concluded that night, Selina gave Lady Lily the list of items that needed to be confirmed with the merchants directly. Now, she found herself lingering outside Calix’s door.

She was holding a sheet of paper detailing supplies to help endure the summer heat, along with items to tend to his injuries.

As Calliope had become enraged upon realizing that Calix — who was supposed to be involved in the event — knew nothing about its progress, Selina had no choice but to offer to speak to him herself to calm her down.

In order to keep that promise, she had to meet Calix in person and explain how the preparations were going.

“…Maybe I should just go back.”

Selina stood there for a long while, debating whether to leave or to knock, before finally making up her mind and rapping on the door.

“…”

But the room remained silent.

“Looks like he hasn’t returned yet.’

She let out a quiet sigh. Whether it was a sigh of relief or one tinged with bitterness, she couldn’t tell herself.

‘Should I just leave the things here and go?’

If Calix wasn’t in, perhaps now was the perfect chance.

Cautiously, Selina opened the door and peeked inside. It seemed he truly hadn’t come back yet.

Was he out drinking late again tonight?

‘It’s not as if it’s my concern.’

She pushed aside the inexplicable pang of disappointment rising in her chest and stepped towards his bed.

Now that she thought about it, this was probably the first time she had been in his room since arriving at the Grand Ducal Castle.

Selina let her gaze sweep across the room. Nothing was out of place; only the bare necessities were arranged with meticulous order — a clear reflection of his preference for efficiency. And yet, perhaps because of that very orderliness, the room felt all the more empty.

She placed what she had brought on the bed, which seemed even larger in the spacious room. With the note she had included, Calix would have no trouble understanding the situation.

As that thought settled, she turned to leave.

Click.

The door, which had been closed, suddenly swung open, and in walked the one man she least wanted to face at that moment.

Finding herself face-to-face with him, Selina instinctively held her breath.
If she didn’t, the sharp, almost intoxicating scent of herbs clinging to him might cloud her head entirely.