Finally, after reading the letter to the end, a smile spread across Diego’s lips. He turned on the magic communication device connected to the driver’s seat.

“Cancel the evening schedule.”

—Which schedule should I cancel?

“All of them.”

—All of them, sir?

“Yes. All of them. Including dinner.”

It happened to be a situation where the carriage needed to stop briefly. The moment the carriage halted, Luca looked back at the window connected to the seat and was startled.

Diego was smiling. Genuinely.

The smile disappeared quickly. However, Luca, who had served Diego closely for a long time, was one of the few people who could distinguish between his real smile and his fake smile.

Diego returned to his usual cold and indifferent expression, propped his chin on his hand, and closed his eyes.

“I should propose.”

※※※

Ribeta stared intently at herself in the mirror. She had only washed her face with toner and neatly combed her hair, yet she looked somewhat different from usual. The simple, unadorned dress she wore was also crisply ironed without a single wrinkle. She was satisfied.

“Don’t be nervous. It’ll be fine.”

After speaking to herself in the mirror as if making a promise, her nervousness really did seem to fade.

Not long after, Luca knocked on the door. It was the time he had said he would return.

“It’s Luca. Are you ready?”

“Yes. I’m coming out.”

Ribeta opened the door. Her eyes met with Luca standing outside. Luca furrowed his brow sharply.

“Didn’t you say you were ready?”

“I came out after preparing as you instructed.”

“I meant for you to come out wearing the dress and accessories Diego gave you.”

“I understood your words perfectly. However, given my position, I couldn’t wear such precious things. I apologize.”

Ribeta bowed in apology. Luca said nothing for a moment, then took out his watch to check the time. After furrowing not just his brow but one eye as well, he reluctantly turned around.

“Follow me.”

Ribeta quietly followed behind Luca. With her head slightly lowered, she let out a sigh of relief. She had predicted that even seeing her like this, Luca would prioritize not being late for dinner, and fortunately her prediction had been correct.

She hoped things would continue to go this smoothly. Ribeta walked diligently, putting her wishes into each step. Luca had wide strides and walked quickly, so she had to walk almost at a run to maintain the distance.

In the late afternoon, Ribeta had received a visit from Luca. When she woke to the knocking sound and hurriedly opened the door, a large box was thr*st into her arms.

To her puzzled look, Luca added an explanation stiffly.

“This is a gift from Diego. Furthermore, Diego has invited you to dinner. Wear all of the gifts without exception. I will come to fetch you in one hour.”

“A gift? And what’s this about dinner…… Wait, Luca. Please explain a bit more……”

“I’ve explained everything that needs explaining. Exactly one hour.”

Inside the large box were a dress, a hairband, and a necklace. The burgundy dress wasn’t complicated and didn’t have many ornaments, so it seemed she could put it on by herself. As if matched to the elegant and refined dress, the necklace and hairband were also primarily made with pearls. They suited Ribeta’s intense and vivid magenta hair well.

However, Ribeta ironed the clothes she had been wearing with a hot teapot and put them back on instead of the dress. She didn’t wear the accessories either, leaving them in the box. There was another reason besides what she had told Luca.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking.”

Standing before a tightly closed door, Luca turned to look at Ribeta. His gaze was sharp as a blade. It must be because a slave had refused Count Ruperto’s order. Ribeta had no intention of making excuses about that, so she silently accepted his stare.

“I hope you won’t be rude to Diego.”

“I have no such intention whatsoever. Still, I’ll keep it in mind.”

“That answer had better be sincere. You should know that Diego is being quite considerate of you.”

After delivering his harsh warning, Luca knocked three times—tap, tap, tap. Then from beyond the door came Count Ruperto’s characteristic calm voice.

“Come in.”

As if those words were a spell, the door opened. Luca stepped aside from the door so Ribeta could enter easily. Ribeta tensed her entire body as she stepped beyond the door.

Soon an exclamation burst from her lips.

“Wow……”

A fantastical space greeted her where stars poured down from overhead and white flowers bloomed abundantly underfoot.

There, Count Ruperto, shining like the sun, extended his hand toward her.

“This way.”

The low voice whispering to Ribeta was as secretive and bewitching as a tempting demon. Ribeta approached the Count as if entranced by something. No, what had entranced her wasn’t ‘something’ but Count Ruperto himself. Clearly.

Next to the Count was a table for two and two chairs. The table was already set with a lavish meal. As Ribeta approached, the Count pulled out a chair for her.

“Sit.”

It wasn’t easy to refuse such natural movements and flow. When she came to her senses, Ribeta found herself sitting across from the Count at the same table.

An elegant table, a lavish meal, stars in the sky, pure white flowers blooming on the earth.

And Count Ruperto.

She hadn’t prepared herself for such a wonderful atmosphere. The feeling that her heart might burst at any moment probably wasn’t simply due to nervousness.

But what if even this was the Count’s scheme?

The man sitting before her like a painting seemed entirely capable of it. Whatever his intentions, Ribeta didn’t want to be swayed by him.

“Count, I……”

“Eat first. I heard you skipped lunch.”

Ribeta lightly touched her stomach under the table. As the Count said, because she had slept through lunch, her stomach felt empty. If she didn’t eat anything, it would obviously make embarrassing noises. A growling sound in this place quiet enough to hear flower petals rustling. Just imagining it was mortifying, so Ribeta meekly accepted the Count’s suggestion.

Throughout the meal, the Count personally attended to Ribeta. He served her dishes she couldn’t reach, or demonstrated how to eat unfamiliar dishes. By the time Ribeta noticed the subtle and natural consideration, it was already too late.

Once she realized it, the burden felt maddening. Her stomach wasn’t filling with food but bloating with pressure. She finally ended up avoiding the Count’s hand as he tried to pour water into her empty glass. It was beyond discourtesy to rudeness, but she absolutely couldn’t let him pour water for her too.

“I’m sorry. But I’ll pour the water with my own hands. I can’t impose on you any further……”

“At this point?”

The Count chuckled softly and quietly set down the pitcher. Then he took Ribeta’s hand. His long fingers slowly threaded between hers, and because they were so slender, the time their skin touched seemed to continue as if it would never end.

Ribeta froze completely.

Finally his fingertips reached the back of Ribeta’s hand. Ah, so hot. Unlike his ashen eyes. The moment she thought that, Count Ruperto slipped the glass into her other hand.

“Drink.”

His firm fingers withdrew quickly, unlike when they had entered. The Count gracefully moved his body, as sleek and slender as his fingers, back to his place. Then he calmly resumed his meal.

As the Count said, her throat was parched from bewilderment. Ribeta tried to gulp down the water but barely managed to just wet her throat. If she emptied the glass, the Count would come over here again.

The Count watched Ribeta attentively.

The meal where she didn’t know where the food was going ended. Without the Count even calling him, Luca suddenly appeared, cleared the dining table, left behind comfortable cushioned chairs, and disappeared.

Ribeta was bothered by the narrow gap between the chairs placed side by side, but because the Count sat first, she had no choice but to sit.

Sitting in the chair that reclined backward, the sky naturally filled her view. If it’s now when she can’t see the Count’s face. Ribeta straightened her back and cautiously opened her mouth while keeping her gaze on the Count’s feet.

For a slave to speak first to their master was a tremendous breach of etiquette, but the Count didn’t seem to care about such things. Besides, if it was rudeness, she had already committed plenty of it.

“I’m truly grateful for the gift you sent. However, the reason I didn’t follow your words to wear it……”

“Ah.”

Before Ribeta could finish her sentence, Count Ruperto raised his hand to stop her.