“Stop laughing at me and explain what you mean.”

“Diego Ruperto is not the kind of man who would give up his own interests for a wife. You think the rumors about him having gold-colored blood for a reason? If it came down to trading his wife for the mine, he’d choose the mine. That’s the Count Ruperto I met.”

“You’re the one who doesn’t know anything.”

“What?”

Alec bristled. Melissa placed her hand lightly on his cheek in a gesture meant to calm him. Overshadowed by Ribeta or not, she was objectively quite beautiful. That was the only reason she had managed to maintain any standing in society despite her dreadful personality.

Her looks played at least some small part in why Alec hadn’t let her go yet. She was too foolish to consider marrying, but she was perfectly fine for a brief amusement before being discarded.

Once Alec had settled down a little, Melissa smiled and spoke.

“Think carefully, clever Alec. Before the lady became a countess, which family did she belong to?”

“Are you calling me an idiot again? Who doesn’t know that? Duke Barea…… oh.”

“Yes. That’s exactly it.”

Melissa’s voice rose with excitement. Alec’s eyes lit up alongside hers.

“If something happens to his daughter less than six months after the wedding, do you think Duke Barea will just sit quietly? Absolutely not.”

“Good. That’s good. But the countess barely leaves the house. She has to come outside before we can do anything.”

Count Ruperto’s residence was famously airtight in its security. It surpassed even a ducal residence, rivaling the imperial palace itself, and the servants working there were so loyal to their master that bribing them was out of the question.

It was a residence shrouded in mystery, which had done its part in fueling all manner of strange rumors about Diego Ruperto.

“Of course I thought that far ahead. I heard from people that the countess has a soft heart. So……”

Melissa leaned in and whispered in Alec’s ear. A moment later, Alec’s eyes lit up and he pulled her into his arms.

“You’re incredible, Melissa! How could anyone not love you? Oh, my Melissa.”

Melissa smirked. He was pouring sweet words on her, which meant his mood had lifted. Well, even she had to admit it was a brilliant plan. If things went according to it, Alec would owe her enormously and she would have a significant hold over him. It would mean she could marry him.

Melissa kissed him back and laughed to herself inwardly.

❀❀❀

Ribeta opened her eyes. Seeing a magic stone about the size of two finger joints lying on her dress, she let out a quiet breath of relief.

She had been struggling since morning, unable to concentrate for some reason. It was the result of finishing dinner and even taking a bath to settle her body and mind. She was grateful to have managed even this much.

“Finally done.”

She hadn’t noticed before, since she had only been making small bead-sized magic stones, but making them required considerable mental effort.

Right now she was aiming to produce magic stones of a consistent shape and size, following Luca’s advice, which made the fatigue even worse. That was why she hadn’t noticed at all that Diego had come to sit beside her.

“Oh……”

“Stop asking when I arrived. You say that every time you see me.”

That was because Diego was always there without her knowing.

But thinking about it, she supposed that was true. Ribeta gave a small nod and smiled slightly to cover her embarrassment.

“Welcome back. Have you eaten dinner?”

“Being summoned to dinner is work in itself.”

Diego looked tired saying it. Ribeta wanted to ease his fatigue but didn’t know how, so she simply sat and looked at him quietly. Diego turned and brought his face close to hers.

“Someone told me that a person’s warmth helps settle the mind.”

Ribeta had been about to say she had never heard that, but stopped herself. It brought to mind the time she had lain with her head on Diego’s knee, even if it had been because of the brand.

She had been so tense at the thought of resting on Diego Ruperto’s knee, and so distracted by the brush tickling her back, that she had been far from settled. Though if it hadn’t been for the brush, she thought she might have felt exactly the kind of calm he was describing.

If I could be even a little helpful to the Count…… Ribeta laughed at herself for thinking it.

Be honest, Ribeta. You just want to be closer to Diego. You’re trying to satisfy your own desire.

Even so……

“Shall I help? My lap is nothing special, but you’re welcome to it.”

Diego looked at her with an expression of genuine surprise. His look made her lose her nerve, and Ribeta lowered her head.

“I was trying to do for you what you did for me……”

“All right.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll use your lap. In exchange.”

Diego lifted Ribeta from her chair. She was so startled that she grabbed his clothes without thinking.

“Count, what are you doing all of a sudden?”

“I’m going to the bedroom. Is there a problem? You look tired too, so I’m taking us somewhere we can both rest comfortably. I carry you since you’re tired, and you lend me your lap. Isn’t that fair?”

It was said with a certain smugness, but Diego was also looking out for her, worn out from making magic stones. Ribeta was grateful for this kind of consideration, and also afraid of it.

If she got used to it, she would never be able to go back to how things were before. She would keep wanting more and more.

She was carried in Diego’s arms into the shared bedroom. He set her down on the inner bed, the one she used, and looked at her steadily.

“I’m tired. I want to lie down.”

“Oh, yes. I’m sorry. Please, go ahead.”

Ribeta sat on the edge and patted her thigh. Diego promptly lay down on his side with his head in her lap. His fine golden hair spread out around him. It was bright and brilliant, like sunlight pouring down.

Ribeta wondered if she was allowed to touch it. It felt like something she hadn’t been given permission for, so she kept her hands still at her sides. Diego, eyes closed, spoke.

“An invitation arrived.”

“An invitation? What kind……”

“A charity party invitation. A party that Princess Celestina hosts from time to time.”

Ribeta had tensed for a moment thinking it might be a ball where she would have to dance like last time, but she relaxed.

A charity party was held to raise relief funds, with the purpose of collecting donated items or contributions, and was typically a light affair involving conversation over refreshments.

She had only heard about them, never attended one. Melissa had never taken her to outside events, and besides, Melissa preferred glamorous venues like balls over charity parties.

“So Princess Celestina hosts charity parties herself.”

“She’s someone who takes more interest in that sort of thing than in balls.”

He spoke as though he knew Princess Celestina well. For a moment, Ribeta felt a small sting in her chest. What was that feeling? Had the fatigue from spending all day making magic stones caught up with her?

Ribeta pressed her hand to her chest and held it there briefly. It must have been nothing, because the sensation faded quickly.

“Tiresome.”

Diego muttered it shortly, like a complaint. It was the first time he had let his irritation with something show in front of her like this, and Ribeta found it unexpected, and couldn’t help thinking: does he really hate charity parties that much?

But it was an invitation from a princess.

Diego had said the day would come when money would stand above imperial authority, but that day hadn’t arrived yet. In that situation, refusing a princess’s invitation was unwise. That was probably why Diego grumbled about it being tiresome but said nothing about refusing.

“Have you been very busy lately?”

“A little, because of a persistent nuisance who won’t leave me alone. Normally I could make up an excuse and just send a donation, but I owe a debt, so I can’t.”

The certainty settled in her: he and the princess had a personal arrangement, a relationship close enough to ask favors of each other.

Sting, sting. Oh, there it was again. The same small pain in her chest as before. This time it didn’t fade quickly and lingered for quite a while.

Instead of asking what kind of favor, Ribeta asked this,

“His Majesty seemed to treat you with familiarity. Are you also close with Princess Celestina?”

“Well. His Majesty is someone who treasures his younger sister greatly.”

It was an answer that both was and wasn’t an answer. Diego said that much and went quiet. He had no intention of saying more.