Even though fabric hung in various places, the lighting was bright enough that it wasn’t dark. Still, it gave off quite a peculiar atmosphere. The table occupying the center of the room—organized yet not quite organized—along with fruit and an easel clearly revealed the identity of this place.

Of course, the fact that Diego was the owner of this place was also quite surprising. Even more surprising was how naturally Diego blended into the studio.

She had never once thought he would paint, and despite never having imagined it, it didn’t feel strange at all.

Perhaps it was because Diego Ruperto’s exterior was as splendid as a painting. Indeed, Diego sat before the easel without moving, just like a painting.

As her thoughts reached that point, Ribeta came to perceive the scene in this room, including Diego, as if it were a single painting.

So the moment Diego rose from his chair, she involuntarily made a sound.

“Ah……”

“Mm?”

Diego turned around. Their eyes met. Ribeta turned to leave. But she couldn’t. A large hand closed the door. Ribeta found herself trapped between the door and Diego.

Diego’s voice came from behind.

“Why are you here?”

“I picked up a paint tube and was trying to put it back in its place. I had no other intentions.”

Ribeta held up the paint. She didn’t want to tremble, but her hand shook. After a moment of silence, Diego snatched the paint away.

“Your business is resolved, so you should satisfy my curiosity too. How long have you been here?”

“I don’t know the exact time, but it couldn’t have been long. About five minutes…… maybe?”

“I had no idea.”

“You seemed absorbed in painting. I knocked before entering, but there was no answer.”

Ribeta made sure to mention that she hadn’t trespassed. Diego showed little reaction to her efforts. However, his breath faintly touched near her ear. The fine hairs on the side of her neck where his breath touched stood on end. Ribeta shrank her shoulders as she belatedly realized the distance between them was too close.

“Then I’ll be going now. I’m sorry for disturbing you at this late hour.”

“One more thing.”

Diego didn’t seem ready to let her go yet. For Ribeta, who had nothing more to say, it was only bewildering.

At least her posture…… In trying to avoid Diego, she ended up pressed against the door, but her mind was rather more at ease. Because Diego’s breath no longer reached her.

Ribeta pressed her forehead against the door and prayed for this time to pass quickly.

“How did you end up wandering here?”

“I was taking a walk. I’ve been cooped up in my room, so I felt stifled and thought I’d get some air.”

“To borrow your words, a walk at this late hour.”

At his tone that seemed to doubt her, Ribeta immediately retorted. She hated being misunderstood and suspected most of all.

“You’re the one who said I could freely wander anywhere, anytime if I wore the ring, Count. And I’m currently wearing the ring.”

Ribeta placed her left hand on the door as if to show him. Then Diego’s large hand settled right next to her left hand. Startled by the sudden approach, Ribeta flinched, but Diego moved closer by as much as she had withdrawn. If this continued, their hands would touch.

“Wait, Count. Your hand……”

“Do you think I’m doubting you?”

“……Yes. Your questions sounded that way. Aren’t you?”

“It’s the opposite. You’re the one who doesn’t trust me.”

Ribeta, who had been unable to keep her hand still, stopped abruptly. Diego whispered in a low, low voice. A gentle voice suited to the deep night scattered near Ribeta’s ear. Just like his breath.

“I trust you. You’re quite a clever and prudent business partner. I like that.”

“……Thank you for thinking well of me. But I……”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t trust me. Trust isn’t what upholds contracts.”

Diego tapped the ring on Ribeta’s finger and stepped back. The intense presence she’d felt right behind her also moved a bit further away.

Ribeta, who had felt crushed by him, let out a sigh of relief. Conversations with him were utterly unpredictable, making it impossible to relax for even a moment.

“So, what are you worried about?”

Ribeta, who had been about to open the door and leave, widened her eyes while still gripping the handle. How did Count Ruperto know? She hadn’t said a single word about having worries.

The sound of shoe heels echoed through the quiet studio. Diego leaned against the armrest of a chair and crossed his arms. He seemed to have no intention of speaking further. Ribeta asked with a sigh mixed in.

“How did you know?”

“This place is in the exact opposite direction from your room. You wouldn’t have come here on purpose. You must have been worrying about something and ended up here.”

Diego’s guess was accurate. Having nothing to say, Ribeta smiled awkwardly. She hesitated for a moment but soon opened her mouth. It wasn’t a problem that would be solved by suffering alone. Anyway, Diego was the only person she could consult. Rather, she was even a bit grateful that Diego had asked about her worries first.

“The brand bothers me.”

“Go on.”

“I know the transformation magic perfectly changes my appearance…… but I worry about what if the magic is undone, or what if my brand isn’t covered by the magic. Of course, it’s because I don’t know much about magic.”

“Even now, to my eyes, you appear as Lady Barea, not Ribeta.”

“Yes. I know. But even knowing that, it’s not easy to get rid of the anxiety. Even though it’s a matter of my own feelings…… if there’s a way to erase the brand, I want to erase it.”

Ribeta gripped her left shoulder where the brand was stamped. Even though it couldn’t be, she couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling as if her fingertips were touching something.

In truth, there was no way to erase a brand once stamped. A slave brand was created by heating a branding iron engraved with the owner’s crest and leaving a burn scar on the skin. Nobles with ample finances or strong possessiveness would even use special chemicals to ensure the crest would never fade.

In Ribeta’s case, it hadn’t received special treatment, but it was still an inerasable brand. To erase the brand, one would have to cut out that part or cover it with an even larger scar.

In the end, Ribeta’s worry was one without an answer. It was something she had to give up and accept. Even if she became free after two years, she would have to live carrying the brand.

No answer came from Diego. If Diego had no method either, it meant there truly was no method. But strangely, Ribeta felt at ease. Before speaking, her chest had felt completely blocked, but now it felt refreshing, as if a knot had been untied.

‘Maybe I didn’t want to find an answer, but just wanted to tell someone. Maybe I wanted someone to know this feeling of wanting to erase the brand.’

She hadn’t expected that person to be Diego Ruperto. Still, it wasn’t a bad feeling.

Ribeta was grateful to Diego for silently listening to her worries. She was about to conclude the conversation, saying thank you, that it was enough now, when Diego uttered one shocking statement.

“Would you take it off?”

Ribeta doubted her ears. Take it off. Did he really just say that to me?

But Diego’s words were undoubtedly directed at Ribeta. There were only the two of them in this room, after all.

Ribeta simply couldn’t follow Diego’s thoughts. She had thought the dissolute image described in rumors was fabricated to hide his true self. Indeed, Diego’s attitude toward her had been nothing but bland, except for their first meeting. Even at their first meeting, she hadn’t felt that Diego was genuinely approaching her.

Flustered, Ribeta simply froze in place. Diego stared at her intently, then pulled up the corners of his mouth.

“You and I are going to be husband and wife. There’s no need to be so guarded.”

“……But it’s not a real marriage.”

“Either way, we’re husband and wife publicly.”

Diego wrapped his arm around her waist. It was stronger than expected. Ribeta was caught by him and couldn’t escape. Diego’s voice, lowered another level, rang out gently.

“To appear as an affectionate couple, we’ll have to do various things in front of people. Even if you don’t want to.”

“You didn’t say such things when we drew up the contract.”

“I’m saying it now.”

The arm around her waist tightened further. Ribeta, now pressed even closer to Diego, tried to turn her head. Diego grabbed her chin and made her look straight at him.