She decided not to make a scene for now, since she could confront Sally if she ever showed up again.

However, contrary to her expectations, a month passed, then two, and Sally never appeared.

The Marchioness grew more anxious as time went on. Sally seemed like the type who would do anything for her child, but now she had gone completely silent.

“Find Sally at once! If you see her or her child, kill them on the spot!”

Unable to bear it any longer, the Marchioness ordered the household retainers to search for Sally, but no one could find her.

It would have been a relief if the problem had ended quietly, but the seed of distrust that had taken root only grew larger.

The Marchioness tried to suppress her feelings, but it wasn’t easy. Every day, anxiety kept her awake at night. Only after she heard news of Sally’s death did she finally feel at ease.

That sense of relief was so great that, as time went by, the entire incident faded from her mind.

* * *

On a bright spring day, two young people sat at a garden table, basking in the warm sunlight and enjoying tea together. From afar, they looked peaceful, but up close, the atmosphere was different.

The man appeared calm, but the woman kept glancing at him nervously. She opened her mouth several times, as though she wanted to say something, then finally gathered her courage and spoke.

“Um… Lucas.”

Her name was Ariel Jiles, the only daughter of the House of Jiles. The man sitting across from her was her fiancé, Count Leonard, who had become the head of the Leonard family at a young age.

“Go ahead,” he replied.

Ariel hesitated for a moment, then squeezed her eyes shut and blurted out, “I… I wish you’d stop treating me so carefully, just because I’m your fiancée.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Huh?”

She had worked up so much courage to say it, but Lucas didn’t seem to get it. Ariel couldn’t help but feel flustered.

Did he miss her meaning because she’d been too indirect? That couldn’t be—the man in front of her was sharp and quick-witted. He was probably pretending not to understand.

But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that he understood her feelings. It was embarrassing to say it out loud, but the one who wants something most has to speak up first.

Ariel hesitated again, then forced herself to continue.

“We’re going to get married anyway. So, I want to go further than just kissing.”

Lucas narrowed his eyes, as though he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. Ariel had always blushed over even a light kiss, so her bold words caught him off guard.

She had expected this, but embarrassment still made her face flush.

In truth, she hadn’t said it because she actually wanted to take things further. She just wanted to see how he would react.

Most of all, she wanted comfort from him. Lately, the mood in the House of Jiles had felt strange, and it left her feeling uneasy.

Her parents had changed.

Ariel noticed it more than anyone, since they had always cherished and loved her. They still acted kind and affectionate on the surface, but their eyes told a different story. She could sense a subtle distance growing between them.

The problem was, she couldn’t tell anyone about this. If she did, they would just dismiss it as baseless worry.

Unable to shake her anxiety, Ariel sought comfort from her fiancé, Lucas.

In fact, he was also part of the reason for her worries.

At some point, his attitude had shifted as well. She wanted to believe she was just imagining things, so she made this sudden suggestion.

Lucas remained silent, lips pressed together. The lack of a response made Ariel even more anxious.

Maybe they should have at least set a wedding date this year.

Ariel had wanted to marry earlier, but Lucas only became an adult this year, so it hadn’t been possible.

She wished they could marry immediately, but the Marquis kept making strange excuses.

“Why not take a little more time to learn the ways of a bride? I still think you’re both too young.”

They were both adults, so what did he mean by “too young”? Her father’s suspicious attitude only made Ariel’s anxiety worse.

If they couldn’t marry yet, she at least wanted Lucas to respond positively. That way, all her worries would disappear in an instant.

She looked at him, silently begging for an answer. Finally, Lucas let out a shallow sigh and replied.

“I don’t know why you’re bringing this up all of a sudden, but I think it’s still too soon.”

The moment she heard his clear rejection, her heart sank.

She knew he would refuse. Until now, Lucas had always treated her with care, like she was a fragile glass ornament.

Even so, she had hoped. She thought that because he cherished her, he would give her whatever she wanted. The bigger her hopes, the greater her disappointment.

Was she the only one excited about this engagement? Did he not love her? Had he agreed to the engagement only because her father ordered him to?

Her eyes grew unsteady as she looked at Lucas. Countless thoughts rushed through her mind.

No, he hadn’t completely rejected her. Maybe she could convince him if she tried a little harder.

Ariel forced herself to push away her doubts and spoke again.

“We’ve been engaged for ten years now. Isn’t it about time we took things further?”

“The Marquis is my benefactor. I could never treat his daughter carelessly just to satisfy my own desires.”

“My father wouldn’t mind if our relationship grew deeper. So, please?”

“Ariel, you don’t need to rush. No matter what happens, we’ll get married. I have no intention of breaking that promise, so can’t you trust me?”

She threw away her pride and pleaded, but his answer was still a refusal. Embarrassment swept over her, and her face burned.

She couldn’t meet Lucas’s eyes, so she hung her head. Then, he stepped closer and gently hugged her.

“I just want to cherish you. I hope you understand how I feel.”

His voice sounded stiff, but there was kindness in it. Strangely, his embrace made her disappointment melt away.

He was always like this. He acted distant, but then he would ease her worries.

Why did he keep playing with her feelings?

She thought he was a bad man, but she couldn’t help it. She had no choice but to accept that the man she loved had that kind of personality.

She forced a smile and looked up at Lucas. He cupped her chin and softly pressed his lips to hers, then pulled away. His movements were gentle, like he was handling something precious.

“Can’t you be satisfied with just this for today?”

He smiled, and there was no way she could say no to that.

“Why not? Fine. I guess this will do. But honestly, it’s not enough.”

Maybe he wanted to be careful, but she didn’t feel satisfied. He could have been a little rougher.

If he wouldn’t do it, she would have to take the lead.

Ariel grabbed Lucas by the collar and pulled him in for another kiss. This time, their lips lingered together a little longer.

She debated whether to slip her tongue in, but she couldn’t. Lucas kept his lips firmly closed.

She could have asked him to let her in, but if he refused, she would feel miserable, so she held back.

So, this would have to be enough for today.

Ariel looked at Lucas with trembling eyes. Even after kissing, he showed no excitement, embarrassment, or any other emotion. He looked as composed as ever, making her wonder if they had even kissed at all.

Was she the only one with these feelings?

She hadn’t heard the answer she wanted, but she still wanted to believe in Lucas’s sincerity. Still, she couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

He hadn’t always been like this.

Lucas’s first impression was completely different from how he was now. Back then, he seemed delicate, not dependable. That side of him was what made her agree to the engagement in the first place. She didn’t dislike how he was now, but she still missed the way he used to be.

He hadn’t always been like this. Why had he changed?

Ariel pouted and recalled the first time she met Lucas.