「So… you decided to be partners with the Carpendier Young Master.」

“Ugh… yes.”

Valerian paused with his fork halfway to a bite of strawberry cake, wearing a peculiar expression.

Teresia bit her lip while sneaking glances at his expression. Her turquoise eyes rolled around like marbles, almost as if they would make a ‘clinking’ sound.

While Valerian remained speechless, Teresia, perhaps interpreting his expression negatively, added hesitantly.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you first. But, but I’ll still have my first dance with you as promised…”

「…」

“Of course! You know this is just a hope, right? I’m fine with going as your partner too. Since I need a guardian to attend the ball…”

「…」

“Really! I truly am fine being your partner too. I swear on pepper.”

Perhaps thinking his continued silence meant he didn’t believe her words, Teresia raised one hand as if taking an oath and spoke solemnly.

At those words, Valerian finally let out a small laugh. He chuckled like a sigh and reached out to gently stroke Teresia’s hair.

「No. If that’s what you want, then do it.」

“…Are you really okay with it?”

「Yes, because I don’t want to take away your chances to experience things.」

Teresia blinked her round eyes in surprise at the unexpected words and actions. Seeing this, Valerian laughed again.

Actually, Valerian’s deepest feelings were opposite to the words he spoke to Teresia.

He wished Teresia wouldn’t partner with Damian. It was partly the typical displeasure felt towards someone showing romantic interest in his daughter, but more than that, it was due to the strange uneasiness he felt while investigating the Carpendier Count’s family.

The investigation results for the Carpendier Count’s family and Damian Carpendier came back clean. But Valerian’s instincts kept telling him to keep watching them.

He wanted to stop Teresia because of this concern. Worried about the pain his daughter might experience later.

‘Though I wish she could live a life without experiencing failure…’

But Valerian knows that people cannot live like that. And that this is just his own selfish desire.

One shouldn’t thoughtlessly take away opportunities for failure from their child using their concerns as an excuse. Some failures hold realizations that can only be gained through direct experience.

So all Valerian could do was quietly watch over his child who was trying to walk on her own, albeit unsteadily, ready to reach out his hand immediately when needed.

Just as his father, the previous Duke Everdeen, had done for him.

「I’ll do the protecting. You do what you want to do.」

The words that the previous Duke Everdeen had once given him flowed from Valerian’s lips.

Teresia cleared her throat after seeing the smile on his face and casually spread her arms. By now, the gesture looked quite natural and confident.

“Ahem. I’ll hug you because I’m grateful.”

「…You’re ‘giving’ me a hug?」

“I’ve grown that much at least. Aren’t you proud?”

This time it was Valerian’s eyes that went round. When he just blinked several times without moving, Teresia flapped her arms up and down while glaring at him urgently.

Valerian finally burst out laughing heartily as he lowered himself and hugged the child tightly. Teresia giggled and hugged him back.

* * *

Time flew by in the blink of an eye, and soon it was the day of the ball she was to attend with Damian.

“You’re not coming with us?”

<…Well, no. It would be troublesome, so there’s no need.>

“Hmm. You don’t have something bothering you?”

I narrowed my eyes and pressed Rick. Though his tone and voice were calm, he’s seemed somewhat down lately.

But Rick just pushed my head away with his cotton-like hand.

<I’m more worried you’ll be late for your appointment at this rate. Hurry and go.>

“Really? Really really?”

<I said go.>

…I hope he’s really okay? I should ask Selena if she’s heard anything when I get back.

Thinking this, I patted Rick’s head once before getting in the carriage with the Duke.

Perhaps because it was late evening, Count Imarg’s mansion gave off quite a different atmosphere from when I saw it during the tea party.

“You’ve arrived, My Lady.”

As soon as the carriage door opened, Damian greeted me. He was wearing the most splendid outfit I’d seen him in yet, and it suited him remarkably well.

I took Damian’s offered hand and stepped down from the carriage first. His eyes curved gently as he looked at me.

“You look truly beauti…”

Just then, Damian seemed to notice something over my shoulder and abruptly stopped speaking.

“Young Master Carpendier? What’s wrong?”

Surprised by his reaction, I turned my head too. Then I saw the Duke just getting down from the carriage.

There’s only the Duke behind me? As I thought this and turned my head back forward.

‘…Huh?’

Though it was just for a moment, I thought I saw Damian’s face twisted into a fierce expression. A gaze filled with such deep contempt that I unconsciously wanted to step back.

But when I blinked in surprise, such signs disappeared as if they were an illusion. Damian bowed to the Duke with his usual gentle smile.

“It’s my first time greeting you, Duke Everdeen. I am Damian Carpendier.”

The Duke’s response came after a slight pause.

「…Nice to meet you, Young Master. I entrust Terry to you today.」

“I will escort her well as you say. Then, shall we go, My Lady?”

Damian smiled brightly and gently pulled our joined hands. As I nodded and followed him, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

‘Come to think of it…’

I wonder if Damian has read <The Tale of the Invisible Gentleman>? It even made it onto the list of best-selling books on the continent.

The reason I suddenly thought of this is…

‘Does he… dislike ghosts?’

I’m wondering if that sharp gaze from earlier was directed at the Duke. It was such a brief moment that it might have been my imagination, but it’s bothering me a bit.

I decided to ask when I got the chance and continued walking. Not long after we entered the brightly lit ballroom, the host Count Imarg couple and their daughter came to greet us.

“It’s an honor to have you visit. But you two…”

Count Imarg’s daughter stared in surprise at my hand joined with Damian’s. Damian nodded with a bright smile.

“The Lady has graciously allowed me to be her partner tonight.”

“Just for tonight, I wonder?”

“That’s not up to me to decide.”

Count Imarg’s daughter smiled suggestively while nudging Damian. Damian avoided her hand with fluid movement and gazed at me intently.

This is a bit embarrassing. As I cleared my throat while trying to avoid their gazes, the music conveniently began.

“As mentioned before, I’ll have my first dance with the Duke and return.”

“Yes. Have a good time.”

Damian readily let go of my hand. I nodded lightly in greeting and found the Duke to join hands.

Dancing with the Duke was familiar, so by the time our dance ended, much of the embarrassment I had felt from Count Imarg’s daughter had faded.

“Now it’s my turn.”

Thanks to that, I could comfortably take Damian’s hand when he said so.

‘He dances well, just like before.’

Damian showed off his graceful dancing skills, no different from during the festival. After admiring that for a while, I opened my lips to ask what I’d been curious about.

“Young Master Carpendier.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

“Have you perhaps read <The Tale of the Invisible Gentleman>?”

“…Ah.”

Damian momentarily stopped moving, perhaps taken aback. But only briefly, as he soon skillfully continued dancing while wearing a troubled smile.

“When that story was popular, I was bedridden…”

“Ah…”

“And after that, I was busy with returning to the family and preparations, so I couldn’t read it. I’m sorry, My Lady.”

Damian apologized while hanging his head dejectedly.

Seeing him like that made guilt rush in. I hurriedly shook my head.

“No, I didn’t ask for an apology. I’m glad you’re healthy now.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

Damian smiled with gently curved eyes. Though I smiled back at him, I still felt uneasy.

‘Just now, something felt strangely… like it deliberately provoked more guilt?’

* * *

“Terry!”

Right after my dance with Damian ended, someone called out to me.

When I turned my head, I saw Harien waving from far away. Libel and Merlin were with her.

As I looked at them, Damian let go of my hand and stepped aside.

“Will you go for a moment? I’ll also go greet some other people briefly.”

“Alright.”

I nodded and parted from Damian to approach Harien. As soon as I stood beside her, she firmly grasped my hands and opened her mouth seriously.

“Terry. Are you partners with the Carpendier Young Master?”

“Huh? Yes.”

“Why? You’re not planning to get engaged, are you?”

“Cough. Uh, what?”

A cough burst out suddenly. But rather than be surprised at Harien’s question…

‘Do I… dislike it?’

It was because of the rejection that suddenly rose from deep in my heart when she mentioned ‘engagement.’