Chapter 1

Grace Lofaere was a young lady with a neat and mature demeanor. Her long silver-gray hair and violet eyes gave her an air of mystery.  

As a descendant of the Lofaere Marquis family, one of the founding families of the kingdom, she carried herself with elegance. She never discriminated against people of lower status, which made her widely popular in social circles.  

Vivian, a young lady from a Baron’s family, maintained a close friendship with Grace, who never let social status get in the way of their bond. For this reason, Vivian cherished Grace as a friend.  

Today, at Grace’s invitation, Vivian was enjoying tea time with her in the garden of the Lofaere Marquis estate.  

“Vivian.” 

Grace called out suddenly as Vivian sipped her tea while admiring the garden scenery.  

“Yes, Grace?”  

Vivian addressed Grace casually, as Grace had insisted they speak informally to strengthen their friendship. Today, Vivian noticed Grace’s violet eyes sparkling more than usual. 

Was something good happening? 

Vivian grew curious.  

“What do you think of my elder brother?”  

The words that came from Grace were completely unexpected to Vivian.  

“Your elder brother? Do you mean the Marquis?”  

Although Vivian pretended to confirm, she already knew who Grace was referring to—Cassius Lofaere. Even without his title as Marquis, he was a famous figure in the empire.  

Like his sister, Cassius also had a composed and elegant impression. His short silver-gray hair and light violet eyes, softer in hue than Grace’s, were as clear and beautiful as glass beads.  

His appearance was so striking that it was hard to notice anything else when he was around. His tall stature, toned physique, and sharp features captivated anyone who saw him. Combined with his handsome face, it was impossible to think of anything else for a while after seeing him.  

Naturally, Vivian was among those captivated. After all, wasn’t it normal to be drawn to beauty? Whenever she visited the Lofaere Marquis estate and encountered the Marquis, Vivian found it hard to control her racing heart. The only reason she managed to hide her feelings was that she had grown accustomed to seeing him through her frequent visits to Grace.  

“Yes, yes, that renowned Marquis Lofaere.” 

Grace replied, chuckling softly. She leaned forward, looking at Vivian with curiosity as if she was about to dive deeper into the topic.  

Not knowing Grace’s intentions, Vivian hesitated, wondering how to respond.  

“Ha-ha… The Marquis? He seems like a good person.”

Vivian offers a safe, neutral answer after some thought.

“And?” 

Grace pressed on, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. It seemed she was looking for a specific answer. Her expectant gaze made Vivian feel pressured.  

“Pardon? And? Well, he’s… handsome, isn’t he? He’s very popular and has a gentle personality. He’s also skilled in swordsmanship and is said to manage his duties as a lord flawlessly. He’s someone worthy of respect.”  

Vivian racked her brain to come up with a response. She already had a good impression of him, so she added a bit more praise, hoping it would satisfy Grace.  

“Hm…”  

But Grace still didn’t seem pleased. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, lost in thought.  

What kind of answer was she expecting? 

Vivian began to grow curious.  

“Um… Grace?” 

Vivian called out, puzzled by Grace’s unusual behavior.  

“Don’t you have any interest in him as a man?”  

“…What?”  

Vivian stared at Grace in shock. She realized this was the answer Grace had been seeking all along.  

“I’m just curious.” 

Grace said with a playful laugh, though she subtly observed Vivian’s reaction.  

“Ah, well… as a man… That’s so sudden. Haha…” 

Vivian scratched her head, unsure how to respond.  

“Don’t you find him… attractive?” 

“Well, yes, I suppose. The Marquis is a remarkable person.” 

Vivian nodded, trying to stay composed. But Grace’s next question threw her off completely.  

“Have you ever thought about sleeping with him?”  

“…What?!”

Vivian couldn’t believe her ears. 

Did Grace really say that? 

It seemed impossible for such words to come out of someone as refined as Grace. Vivian tried to deny reality.  

Regardless of Vivian’s reaction, Grace continued speaking.  

“Actually, I thought you might have a little interest in my brother.”  

Hearing this, Vivian felt a chill run down her spine.  

‘Could she think I’ve been looking at her brother with impure intentions?’  

Perhaps Grace believed she harbored inappropriate desires for her brother. Maybe she was testing the waters to prevent a worst-case scenario. Surely, Grace wouldn’t use such crude language unless it was to set a trap and expose any hidden desires.  

Vivian began to understand. She needed to clear up this misunderstanding immediately. Grace was a dear friend, and Vivian couldn’t risk losing her over something so absurd.  

“Oh, no! It’s just that… he’s such an impressive person, so it’s natural to notice him! But I’ve never had any improper thoughts about him!” 

Vivian raised her hands in defense, trying to assert her innocence.  

This was the truth. Although Cassius Lofaere was one of the most handsome and well-regarded men in the empire, he was also a Marquis. Vivian wouldn’t dare entertain such thoughts. As a human, she had occasionally wondered what it might feel like to date someone like him, but that was all.  

“Is that so…” 

Grace muttered, her shoulders slumping as she looked at Vivian with a face full of disappointment.  

Vivian, who had expected Grace to feel reassured, was bewildered by her reaction. She couldn’t help but wonder what Grace’s true intentions were.  

“Um, Grace, why would you think that?” 

Vivian asked, unable to contain her curiosity.  

“Well, you see… the way you look at my brother sometimes—it’s not ordinary.”  

“…Did I look at him inappropriately?” 

“Oh, no, not like that. It was more of an admiring gaze. Was I mistaken?”  

Grace seemed genuinely regretful. Her words made Vivian want to agree with her, at least partially. After all, Grace wasn’t entirely wrong.  

“…Ahem, well, I can’t say there wasn’t any admiration. Anyone would feel that way about someone so remarkable, wouldn’t they? It’s only natural.”  

Vivian subtly included others in her response, making it easier to admit her feelings. By framing it as a universal reaction, she could express herself without drawing too much attention.  

“Then, have you ever thought about wanting to… possess him physically?”  

Grace continued to gaze at Vivian with sparkling eyes. 

Why on earth was this young lady so obsessed with such matters? 

Vivian felt her head spinning. On top of that, it became clear to her that Grace had indeed asked if she wanted to sleep with her elder brother, proving that it wasn’t a misunderstanding.  

“Well, um… haha… since he’s attractive as a man, I suppose it’s possible…?”  

Vivian stammered as she answered, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Immediately after speaking, she regretted being so honest.  

“Really? Then I’ll help you.”  

Grace’s next words only made her regret it more. Grace’s face lit up with excitement, and her eyes gleamed with determination. 

What kind of crazy thing was this young lady saying?  

“What… what are you talking about?”  

“Exactly what I said!”  

Grace stood up abruptly from her chair, her face brimming with enthusiasm.  

“C-Calm down, Grace. I don’t understand how you can even think like this. Have you gotten the Marquis’ consent?”  

“Consent from my brother? Why would that matter?”  

Grace tilted her head, genuinely confused. At this point, Vivian felt a headache coming on. Normally, Grace was a perfect friend—someone who was easy to talk to and almost flawless in every way.  

“No, I think it’s a very important issue in this context….”  

Vivian, not wanting to become an accomplice, firmly pointed out the flaw in Grace’s thinking.  

“Oh, um… is that so?”  

Grace’s enthusiasm waned slightly at Vivian’s resolute response.  

“Listen, Grace. Calm down and sit back down. Can you explain why you’re even thinking about this?”  

“Oh… ah, I didn’t explain that, did I?”  

Grace suddenly realized her mistake and exclaimed. Then, leaving behind a brief “Wait a moment,” she disappeared.  

“What is going on…?”  

Vivian muttered in disbelief as she watched Grace’s retreating figure without sitting back down.  

Where on earth was she going? Could she possibly be planning to bring the Marquis Lofaere here?  

The worst-case scenario flashed through Vivian’s mind.  

“Haha, running back here made me hot.”  

Grace returned, fanning herself with her hand and laughing cheerfully. Fortunately, contrary to Vivian’s fears, the Marquis Lofaere did not appear. Vivian felt a huge sense of relief. Instead, Grace was holding a thick hardcover book in her hands. If she had only gone to fetch a book, she could have asked one of the maids to do it, but it seemed she had been in such a hurry that she forgot.  

“You see, I’ve been reading this recently.”  

Grace shyly showed the book she had brought to Vivian.  

Vivian leaned in to read the title of the book Grace was holding.  

〈A Midnight Tryst〉  

The title seemed rather ominous. 

What kind of clandestine meeting was happening in the dead of night? Was it some kind of conspiracy? 

Vivian’s imagination began to run wild just from the title.  

“What kind of book is this?”  

As Vivian showed interest, Grace smiled mischievously.  

“Would you like to read a bit? It’s the most moving novel I’ve read recently.”  

Vivian accepted the book Grace handed her.  

“Ah… alright. I’ll read a little, then.”