“……I am Radilt Brill, widow of the late Baron Sentangs.”

Radilt opened her mouth according to etiquette, clutching her chilled heart. A widow who became single without bearing a child to inherit her husband’s surname would return to using her maiden name. As if cutting off all ties with the deceased.

“Mrs. Brill of the Sentangs family, I see.”

That also meant no burdensome children. A faint satisfaction settled in Pendlore’s eyes.

Meanwhile, Radilt wanted nothing more than to flee from this place immediately. But the people in the banquet hall, including Lady Rizan, were watching her and this rude man. Lady Rizan’s gaze even carried thick expectations.

The man, Pendlore’s rude voice was close to a whisper that only Radilt could hear. Therefore, in the eyes of the people gathered there, Pendlore’s attitude appeared impeccably courteous. They simply looked like a man and woman revealing their feelings to each other and having a polite first meeting according to the purpose of the banquet.

For this reason, Radilt, who had received sponsorship money and attended the party, found it difficult to coldly push away the man before her. She knew she would be the only one treated as strange if she did.

Like a fish tightly entangled in a net, Radilt could only breathe shallowly when Pendlore extended his hand to her.

“Mrs. Brill, would you spare me some time?”

“……Pardon?”

“I find you to my liking.”

Judging by that sentence alone, he behaved like a man who had fallen in love in a short time. But Radilt couldn’t feel any sweetness or burning passion in the blue-gray eyes that enveloped her.

The current situation merely felt troublesome and even somewhat frightening.

“Mrs. Brill.”

A low voice, pleasant to hear but firmly urging. Onlookers sending curious glances as if discovering a sudden romance. All of it felt like a strong push against her back.

Radilt raised her hand in the suffocating sensation. She barely managed not to tremble as she placed her fingertips on Pendlore’s hand.

Immediately after, a premonition of mistake stabbed her heart, but there was nothing she could do. She had already given her hand, and the man instantly pulled Radilt toward him. Almost snatching her to stand beside him, he turned to face the crowd as if showing her off.

Light applause came from somewhere. Radilt felt dizzy as if intoxicated. She felt like she had downed three or four glasses of strong rum.

She was perfectly escorted, and at some point, Lady Rizan stood before the two of them with a full smile.

“You’re passionate, Sir Duston. Young men and women, they say a spark can ignite in an instant. But Mrs. Brill has ventured out after a very long time, so please treat her kindly and patiently.”

“Don’t worry, Lady Rizan. A slow and careful relationship is indeed the virtue of a new meeting.”

Then Pendlore took out the checkbook from inside his coat. Radilt’s confused eyes caught the pen tip endlessly drawing zeros.

“A donation.”

An amount difficult to calculate at a glance. That check was handed to Lady Rizan. It had nothing to do with her, literally just a donation. But Radilt saw the illusion of heavy shackles being fastened to her ankles the moment the check changed hands. The accumulating sense of debt gagged her mouth and bound her limbs.

“How generous of you.”

Lady Rizan’s voice filled with laughter. Praise coming from around them. Radilt lacked the strength to shake it all off and run away.

Eventually, standing on the street as if driven out, the door connecting to the brightly lit banquet hall slammed shut in front of her.

Radilt, who had been staring thirstily at the light mixed with music flowing through the window, slowly turned to face the nightmarish black-clad man.

How to describe it? It felt like reality and dreams were mixing together. The western sky where the sun had just set was still reddish, but the street where Radilt stood was particularly dark. It was even more so because the lamplighter was about to light the street lamps.

In that strange air, the building’s shadow stretched long like a cape behind the man’s back. It wrapped around his body, brushed past his ears, and cast deep shadows under his thick eyebrows. Light and darkness stained, making it difficult to discern his expression.

“……I’ll forget what you said at the party.”

Though it was spring, the still cool evening air somewhat cooled her heated head. Radilt opened her mouth as calmly as possible.

“It’s that kind of place.”

A place where confusing things could happen like a momentary dream.

“I don’t know what you want, Sir Duston, but I wish to end it now, whatever it is.”

I won’t blame you for your rudeness. Just let me go now. Radilt spoke politely, wishing only for that.

“Mrs. Brill.”

The low voice had a faint trace of laughter.

“You’re quite mischievous.”

“……Pardon?”

Radilt was bewildered by words she had no reason to hear, words she should have been saying instead.

“Pretending not to know anything, with such an innocent face.”

“……I truly don’t understand.”

“Don’t you hold the initiative, madam?”

“Sir Duston. From the moment you stood before me, there was nothing I could control.”

She was merely being dragged along like a dog on a leash. Radilt replied stiffly, unable to completely hide her rising anger. At her indignation, the man clicked his tongue briefly, saying, “My my.”

“Purity is commonly said to be a woman’s virtue, but I don’t particularly welcome it.”

“Yes. As you said, I’m merely an inadequate and naive woman, so I’ll disappear from your sight now.”

He was a man with whom communication seemed impossible. Having made that judgment, Radilt tried to turn away, but her wrist was firmly caught. It wasn’t a rough movement. But it stopped her with a strong force that couldn’t be shaken off. Two eyes that had darkened to near black approached sharply before her widening green eyes.

“What—!”

Radilt’s shoulders instinctively shrank. That downward gaze was intimidating. Though only one wrist was caught, she felt completely wrapped and bound from head to toe.

“Think carefully.”

Quietly, as if soothing an ignorant child.

“About what conversations might be happening beyond that door.”

The whispering voice was quite affectionate. But Radilt only felt a chill down her spine.

“A young wealthy man who has coldly rejected young and beautiful virgins. A poor widow who suddenly appeared before him.”

“That……”

Radilt’s eyelashes trembled finely. At the same time, her mind froze.

“……Everyone, about us……”

“They’re talking. Excitedly.”

Moreover, that topic would spread to every corner of social circles as soon as day broke. Radilt belatedly recognized the situation she was in. Her tightly bound chest felt suffocating. Her heart thumped heavily.

“So, but……”

“Now do you understand, madam.”

Pendlore’s eyes looking down at Radilt narrowed slightly. False sympathy brushed the man’s lips.

“That the choice is now yours. If you turn away and leave now, it would be an excellent revenge.”

“Revenge! I…… have no such…… intention at all.”

Radilt spoke with difficulty in a thin voice like a strangled bird. How could she dare think of revenge against someone she couldn’t even make a simple request to let her go? She was not only unable to handle the aftermath but also terrified at the mere thought.

“Even if you say so, I happen to be quite disliked.”

In contrast, Pendlore’s voice was even cheerful.

“There are people lined up who would be delighted to hear that I was slapped by a mere widow. The mockery that would pour out for weeks, perhaps even beyond a month, would be incomparable to the few words I spoke to you.”

Would that ease your unpleasant feelings?

At Pendlore’s words, Radilt quickly shook her head.

“……No. That’s not it.”

She tried to step back. Pendlore willingly released Radilt’s wrist as she tried to escape. The heels of her old shoes stumbled against the street’s paving stones. The dull sound didn’t last long. Despite being freed, Radilt stopped abruptly after retreating just a few steps.

Pendlore looked at the pitiful woman who couldn’t even run away. She was trembling faintly like a precarious candle flame.

“You may return home, Mrs. Brill.”

Pendlore said politely. A servant who belatedly received word that the master had left the party venue drove a carriage over. Four well-bred horses stood by the road, their hooves clattering. The light from the carriage lamps cast a red glow on Pendlore’s profile.

“Or, you could take my hand.”

Everything according to your will.

Like a man in love waiting with bowed head for the other’s decision. But in reality, a choice without options was being extended to Radilt.

Radilt’s hands clutching her dress hem tightened. Her lips were also firmly closed.

What else here. Radilt stepped forward.

Besides taking that hand. One step. Other than that. Two steps. What answer could there be? Three steps.

Radilt fled just three steps and then walked back three steps on her own. And she raised her hand.

If only she could slap the man’s cheek right now.

But contrary to her heart, Radilt’s hand lightly settled on Pendlore’s palm.

“The honor is mine, madam.”

The man’s lips lightly brushed the back of her captured hand. With Pendlore’s satisfied smile, the carriage door opened.