“During our married life, there may be unavoidable occasions when I’ll need to make contact with you. I’ll ask for your understanding in advance. Of course, I won’t cross any lines.”

“……But right now isn’t an unavoidable situation, is it?”

“Consider it a rehearsal.”

Diego spoke matter-of-factly and released her, then gestured with his hand. It seemed to mean she should stop talking and hurry up and undress. Ribeta gripped the shawl draped over her shoulders tightly.

She had always steeled herself in a corner of her heart that something like this would happen someday. Wasn’t that what a slave’s life was like? A life where you had to follow your master’s orders in everything. A life where you had to give up everything whenever your master wanted it.

She thought she had firmly resolved herself. But she hadn’t.

When faced with a similar situation, her stomach churned. She thought she had endured enough humiliation in Lerrbatia and had grown stronger.

No. In Lerrbatia, at least she could have died. But here…… in front of that man, Diego, she was certain she wouldn’t even be able to die. With death—the most certain escape—gone, there was nowhere left for her to flee.

“Do you need my help?”

“……No. I’m fine. I’ll do it with my own hands at least.”

Ribeta lowered her shawl. Just as her trembling hands were about to undo a button, Diego twirled his finger in a circle.

“Turn around.”

“……”

Ribeta obediently turned around as instructed. When she saw the door, her pounding heart gradually calmed. The thought that she could escape at any time arose. Though she couldn’t actually escape, even that thought was reassuring.

She undid one button. Diego said nothing. She didn’t sense any movement either. Another button came undone.

When she unfastened the third button, the loosened fabric slipped down, exposing her shoulder.

“That’s enough.”

Her eyes, which she had squeezed shut without realizing it, opened. The sound of shoe heels stopped close by. Ribeta clutched the front of her garment tightly to keep it from slipping down. The awkward state of being neither undressed nor dressed made her feel even more embarrassed.

“Don’t just stand there. You need to take it off.”

“What…… do you mean take off?”

“The ring.”

Her frozen mind started working again. So that was it. This man was teasing me. He never had any intention of that from the start!

Ribeta, who belatedly caught on to Diego’s intention, whipped her head around. Diego, who had been watching her, smirked. It was clearly a smile mocking her.

“The one crossing the line isn’t me, but……”

“No! No. Please don’t say it.”

If she left him alone, something embarrassing would obviously come out. Ribeta cut off Diego’s words and hurriedly removed the ring. As the magic was released, Lady Barea’s brown hair was replaced by Ribeta’s original magenta-colored hair, which rippled luxuriantly. Diego’s eyes glimmered faintly as he stared intently at the hair covering her shoulders and back entirely.

“It’s an unusual color every time I see it.”

“It’s not a common color. It stands out too much, so I sometimes think it would be nice if it were a more common color.”

“Like Lady Barea’s?”

“I suppose so. Though I don’t mean that the lady’s is ordinary.”

“I’m glad you like it. Though I find it somewhat regrettable.”

Diego’s casually uttered words left a long impression on Ribeta.

Ribeta stood dazed for a moment, then swept her hair over to the right. The slave brand was stamped on her left shoulder.

“Excuse me.”

“……Ngh.”

At the smooth, cold sensation touching her skin, Ribeta let out a small sound. Though she couldn’t be certain without seeing it, what touched her shoulder seemed to be leather. Diego’s gloved hand, no doubt.

When Ribeta flinched, Diego spoke a beat late.

“The leather gloves must be cold. My apologies.”

“……It’s fine. Just finish quickly, please.”

“Don’t rush me. I’m examining it.”

Diego’s touch came intermittently but was extremely delicate and careful. There was no trace of ulterior motives—if anything, it was closer to a doctor examining an injury.

Ribeta tried not to let her body flinch. It was an involuntary reaction to the cool, smooth sensation that suddenly stimulated her skin. She knew Diego had no ulterior motives whatsoever, but no—that was exactly the problem. Diego was completely unaffected while she alone was reacting, which was awkward and embarrassing.

At least as time passed, the leather gloves warmed with Ribeta’s body heat and the cool sensation faded, making her feel more comfortable.

“The design is quite large.”

“Yes. Since it’s stamped in a place that’s not easily visible, Miss Mel…… the Miss I served decided it should be large.”

“Melissa Razey.”

Ribeta nodded. Diego continued in a languid tone.

“I thought she only lacked a head for business. Turns out she was a fool who couldn’t even properly care for one child.”

The cynical content paired with an incongruously gentle tone was always sharp no matter when she heard it.

She knew that Melissa’s father, Count Razey, had botched several businesses and ultimately gone bankrupt, but she hadn’t known it was connected to Diego. As Melissa’s servant and outlet for her anger, she had always been stuck by Melissa’s side.

When the last business Count Razey touched failed, the Count and Countess fled in the night, and the family was ruined just like that. Ironically, the one who remained by Melissa’s side until the very end after both father and mother disappeared was Ribeta, whom she hated most.

“What do you think after examining it? Is there a way to remove it?”

“It’s too large to cut out. There’s no guarantee the wound would heal properly either. If things go wrong, your life could be in danger.”

“I suppose so……”

She already knew this. Yet hearing it from Diego’s mouth made it even more bitter. Perhaps she had unconsciously harbored some hope that he would have some method.

Diego was someone who somehow inspired expectations just by looking at him. He always illuminated his surroundings brightly and clearly like the sun. He was someone who emitted his own light even in dark places. Confident, self-assured, composed. He was someone standing atop the solid success he had built for himself.

Failure was a word that simply didn’t suit him. So perhaps she had unconsciously held the expectation that there would be some method, any method.

“I’m sorry for taking your time. I know better than anyone that there’s no way…… I’m grateful just that you paid attention to it.”

“I didn’t say there was no way.”

“What? But…… you said it was too large to cut out.”

“That doesn’t mean there’s no way. You don’t listen properly to what I say.”

Diego chided her leisurely. Ribeta was puzzled. It was too large to cut out and couldn’t be covered over with something new, so what method could there be to remove the brand?

Instead of resolving Ribeta’s question, Diego walked steadily somewhere. Ribeta pulled up her garment and followed him with her eyes.

His long legs stopped in front of a long sofa. With fabric draped here and there, she hadn’t even known it was there. Sitting elegantly on the sofa, he gestured with his chin toward Ribeta.

“What are you doing? Come here.”

“……To be honest, you look extremely suspicious right now.”

“I’ll say it again—you’re too suspicious of me.”

Diego, adjusting his black gloves, pointed to the spot beside him. His expression was utterly indifferent, but the voice coming from between his parted lips was tempting enough to be irresistible.

“I’ll make sure it doesn’t hurt.”

Was it because of his tone, slower than usual? Or because of his particularly deepened gaze? For a moment, strength drained from her body and she nearly dropped the garment she was holding.

Stay calm. He means he’ll solve the branding issue, nothing else. Deliberately ignoring the strange fear mixed with a bit of heat, Ribeta approached him.

“I’m here—ah!”

Diego snatched her hand and pulled her toward him. It was quite strong, and the sudden action made Ribeta easily lose her balance and tilt. Diego skillfully seated her collapsing body in the empty spot beside him.

“What is this……”

“Rest your head on my lap and lie on your side.”

“What?”

“Didn’t I say? I absolutely hate repeating myself.”

His face was all smiles, but his eyes weren’t particularly affectionate. Where did things start going wrong? From when she discovered the paint rolling in the hallway? No, no. From the moment she encountered the Count at Sirente Exchange.

She really shouldn’t have caught this man’s attention.

Belated regret washed over her. There was nothing she could do now. Even though she knew she had to do as he said, her body wouldn’t obey. To lie down with her head on his lap while half-undressed. Such a shameless act was absolutely……

“Are you worried about my skills?”