The gatekeeper tilted his head at Radilt’s shabby appearance but obediently went inside. After some time, he returned with a young man who appeared to be his superior. The young man approached Radilt and spoke, looking down at her.

“The master said to bring in his ‘lover’.”

“Yes, I—”

“The lady worthy to stand beside Sir Pendlore Duston.”

“……!”

Radilt’s face darkened instantly. A lady befitting Count Duston. Her green eyes took in her shabby dress. The shoes beneath were also sturdy, made for working comfortably.

A bitter smile slowly seeped onto Radilt’s lips.

“……I see. I understand perfectly. I made a foolish mistake. I will come back properly prepared next time.”

Suppressing something rising within her, Radilt turned around. She began walking back the way she came, gathering her tired body and mind.

After Radilt’s faintly staggering figure grew distant and finally disappeared from view, the firmly closed main gate opened, and a carriage emerged.

* * *

Radilt, who had walked the long way home, went straight to her bedroom. The box of clothes she had carelessly piled up the night before without a second glance now lay wide open under her hands. Radilt took out a pale yellow dress that looked closest to everyday wear among the clothes inside.

After changing clothes and letting down her hair to brush it, she looked in the mirror and sighed naturally.

‘……What am I doing?’

The thought of dressing up in gifted clothes, adorning herself, and forcibly going to House Duston made her shudder. But she couldn’t back down now.

A job. She needed a place to earn money to take care of herself and be responsible for her family. Even if some might click their tongues at her for being pathetic, this was who Radilt Brill was.

Recalling the hands of Lady Fond’s staff from the previous night, Radilt braided and twisted up her long blonde hair. The disheveled parts due to her clumsiness were covered with decorations, making it look passable.

Without sufficient cosmetics or tools, proper makeup was impossible, but she at least colored her lips red. After putting on earrings, a necklace, and even a bracelet, she finally wore shoes that matched the dress.

Having dressed with such care, she stood before the mirror again. A woman with somewhat gloomy eyes met her gaze. She couldn’t compare to that lady from yesterday, but at least she wouldn’t be turned away at the door.

Radilt descended the stairs. Her creaking steps felt unstable. Her already tired feet, trapped in new shoes, throbbed as though stepping on glass shards.

‘I have to walk all the way there again……’

The distance seemed overwhelming. Moreover, the thought of showing this appearance to her neighbors made her dizzy.

‘……Maybe they won’t recognize me. There shouldn’t be many people around now anyway.’

The fact that most people in this neighborhood would be out working at this time offered some comfort, as everyone’s circumstances were similar.

Radilt steeled herself and opened the front door. Then she froze in place.

Vroom–

The sound of a horse’s snort reached her ears. A fine steed rarely seen in this area was harnessed to a beautiful carriage. A servant who had been waiting approached Radilt and politely greeted her.

“Mrs. Brill, please get into the carriage.”

“……What?”

“Sir Duston sent it. He couldn’t possibly let you walk.”

The carriage door opened. Staring bewilderedly inside, Radilt’s hands clenched into fists.

‘Appropriate attire deserves appropriate treatment.’

It was laughable. She felt the urge to laugh out loud. No matter how she dressed up, what lay beneath remained the same. She felt like her entire body had become Pendlore Duston’s accessory. No, it was no different.

What Pendlore wanted was only Radilt’s elegantly dressed appearance.

“How thoughtful.”

Radilt boarded the carriage, clutching her increasingly cold heart.

Creeeeak, the iron-wall-like main gate yielded its interior all too easily. Radilt entered the mansion without having to walk the long, difficult path or ask the gatekeeper for permission. Through the carriage window, the fragrance of the garden in full spring bloom flowed in abundantly.

The carriage, which had been following the perfectly maintained green hedges, passed the main building and stopped at the entrance leading to the annex. Then the carriage door opened, and butler Roil bowed respectfully. His attitude was completely different from when they had met at the front gate.

“Welcome, Mrs. Brill.”

“……”

Radilt stepped out of the carriage without saying a word, her lips tightly pressed together.

“This way, please.”

Roil guided her toward the annex. The eastern annex, prepared for guests, was smaller than the main building but elaborately decorated. Tall, evergreen trees comfortably surrounded it, and the small garden was adorned with different flowers each season. A pretty glass greenhouse stood beside the building, sparkling in the spring sunshine.

“The master is waiting in the innermost reception room.”

Radilt stepped into the annex. Warm-colored hardwood, bright patterned wallpaper, and radiant pink-tinged marble. Each decorative element, from abundant fruit carvings to small bird sculptures, was designed to comfort guests, but Radilt’s face remained deeply shadowed.

The long corridor felt like a desolately dark cave. Trying to shake off the illusion of walking on her own into darkness where a beast waited with jaws wide open, she stood before the closed door.

‘It’s okay.’

This was her business, her life. So speak confidently. Radilt took a deep breath and knocked.

“Do come in, Mrs. Brill.”

A low voice came from beyond the door. Radilt slowly opened it.

The first thing that caught her eye was the glass window filling an entire wall. Transparent glass leading to the terrace poured the afternoon sunlight generously into the reception room. The man stood amid that intense light.

He looked the same as yesterday, yet different. His black hair with golden undertones appeared softer and gentler than in the darkness. The same was true for his blue-tinged gray eyes. They had been frighteningly deep in the night shadows, but now they shone smoothly like the sky clearing after rain.

His attire was also lighter. Unlike yesterday, when he had dressed perfectly to the point of asceticism, today he wore only a vest without a jacket. His only decoration was cufflinks on his sleeves, and his collar was even loosened. Radilt’s eyes blinked nervously at the glimpse of what lay beneath that thick yet sleek neckline.

She had often seen men carrying loads in the market strip off their upper garments entirely. Nevertheless, this man’s slight dishevelment affected her differently.

For some reason, she wanted to run away.

“……I have something to ask.”

Radilt forced her drying lips to open. Pendlore smiled faintly, silently. He smiled. Like an ordinarily friendly man.

“Before that, let me greet you, Mrs. Brill. Did you sleep well last night?”

A relaxed voice, a composed expression. While she burned up inside, the cause of that dry flame.

“……Yes. However, this morning there was a small issue.”

He truly doesn’t care at all.

“The shops I frequented said strange things. I wonder if you know anything about that, Sir Duston.”

She had expected it. She had expected it, but.

“You’re clever, so I think you understood well.”

Pendlore said, maintaining his smile.

So it was true after all.

Radilt accepted reality with surprising calmness, even to herself.

Now, what face should she make? Should she flare up in anger? Would that even make him flinch?

“I see.”

“I don’t wish to interfere with every aspect of your daily life, but allowing my sponsored lover to do rough work severely damages my reputation.”

“Yes. I suppose so.”

Pendlore approached the table and picked up a box placed on it. Then he held it out to Radilt, who stood rooted to the spot.

“This will suit you.”

Click, the black velvet box opened. A clear, transparent emerald like a tender sprout just peeking out. A magnificent necklace with a large main gem decorated with dozens of diamonds was placed around Radilt’s neck. The value it held, its meaning, felt so heavy she might collapse forward. That’s what Radilt thought.

“Sir Duston.”

Her voice came out calmly settled.

“I already told you I would not accept sponsorship.”

“It seems your good-for-nothing brother-in-law has reformed in the meantime.”

“No. I will work. Just as before, unchanged, I will work to make a living.”

With these two hands directly. In response to those unyielding words, Pendlore slowly stroked his chin.

“I believe I clearly conveyed that I cannot allow it as long as you stand by my side.”

“I understood perfectly.”

Very clearly, painfully understood. Radilt unfastened the emerald necklace and held it out to Pendlore. The space between his black eyebrows narrowed slightly, but he accepted the necklace obediently.

“So let’s stop this.”

I shouldn’t have accepted this nonsense from the beginning.

“Don’t worry about the aftermath. I will walk out of this mansion and become a miserably abandoned woman. I’ll stagger away with tear-streaked face and lingering steps for all the streets to see, like a cow being dragged to slaughter.”

People would mock her. She would become a spectacle for tongues to click at. But what of it? It wouldn’t last long anyway. Such a common tale of heartbreak would soon be forgotten.

“Sir Duston, tell everyone I was too greedy. That you showed kindness to a poor widow, but her greed knew no bounds. And say that, hurt by love, you have no desire for new relationships. That way, you can conclude this matter comfortably. You won’t need to waste unnecessary effort on me anymore.”

He would get the good excuse he wanted. Radilt bowed her head.

“Though it was only a brief day, I apologize for any offense. I will return everything I received.”

With this, her connection to that man would completely end. They would return to being strangers who would never cross paths again. They had always lived in completely different worlds, so this was right.

Radilt turned around with relief. Just as she was about to leave the reception room….

Thud—