After finishing the meal, night quickly fell.

It had been daytime when I fell asleep in the carriage, but time seemed to fly by.

A maid brought me a warm cup of tea. Since my hands were cold, I thanked her quietly. I held the cup in my hands and sipped the tea.

“Alex.”

Suddenly curious, I called out to Alex.

“Why?”

Alex looked at me with a sharp but smiling gaze.

“Where do we sleep?”

I glanced at the tents set up around us and asked him.

Would I also sleep in a tent? Like camping?

I asked Alex with a bit of anticipation. Alex gestured with his chin towards one side. When I turned my head, I saw the carriage we had traveled in.

“I’ve prepared a place to lie down in the carriage. You can sleep there.”

“Oh…”

Honestly, I was disappointed.

I thought I would be sleeping in a tent since we were outside.

Of course, I knew that sleeping in a carriage with enclosed walls would be more comfortable and warm, but I couldn’t help feeling disappointed since I had been looking forward to it.

“You seem disappointed. Do you want to sleep in a tent?”

“Yes! Can I?”

I quickly answered, fearing Alex might change his mind. Alex rubbed his chin with his hand.

“Well, it’s not impossible, but I didn’t expect you to sleep in a tent, so the space is a bit awkward.”

“…Then I guess it can’t be helped.”

I smacked my lips in regret. Alex looked at me with a mischievous smile.

“Or, how about joining me in my tent?”

“What?”

What on earth is he saying now?

“I could make some space if it’s for you, Claire.”

“No thanks. I’ll just sleep in the carriage.”

“That’s a shame.”

Alex laughed in a low voice.

Even his laughter sounded so charming. This must be the benefit of being a main character.

I looked at Alex sharply, then placed the cup on the table and stood up.

I felt like I would be enchanted by Alex if I stayed by his side any longer.

Especially now, sitting in front of the campfire with such a good atmosphere, it was even more dangerous.

Alex looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Are you going to sleep already?”

“Yes. I think it’s best to go in now.”

“…Then do as you wish.”

I looked at Alex, who seemed disappointed, and went straight into the carriage.

Inside the carriage, there was a makeshift bed prepared for one person to lie down on.

I lay down on the makeshift bed and looked out the window.

I saw stars in the dark night sky, as though they were about to pour down.

Although it was late at night, I couldn’t fall asleep easily, perhaps because I had taken a long nap during the day or because I was conscious of Alex being outside.

***

As expected, I couldn’t sleep.

When I accompanied Miss Veronica to the capital for her debutante, I slept well then, but now my eyes were wide open.

No matter how hard I tried to sleep, my mind only became clearer.

After tossing and turning on the makeshift bed for a while, I sat up.

Lying down without being able to sleep only made me feel more sluggish.

I wanted to do something productive, but nothing came to mind, so I cautiously opened the carriage door and stepped outside.

The damp and cold air of dawn filled my lungs deeply with each breath.

The dawn air was refreshing, mixed with the smells of earth and foliage.

I looked around with a light heart.

Except for a few guards on watch, there were no people in sight.

I could see neither Alex nor the Rose Knights, suggesting they had all gone to sleep.

Well, it was late at night, so it would be strange for anyone to be awake.

Unless they had taken a long nap during the day like me or were on watch duty, it was time for everyone else to sleep.

Accepting this easily, I noticed the spot where I had been sitting earlier.

Wandering around the field at night was dangerous and could cause trouble for others if I got lost, so I just sat on the makeshift chair.

I planned to sit there until I felt sleepy and then return to the carriage to sleep.

“Shall I relight the fire for you?”

A guard on watch approached and pointed to the campfire.

“Oh, no. I won’t be outside for long, so it’s fine. The moon is bright enough.”

“It will still be cold.”

His concern left me with no good rebuttal.

It was indeed early winter, and the air was cold after sunset.

Lighting the fire would help fend off the cold.

“Then, please do.”

I spoke awkwardly, and the guard smiled and walked away. Soon, he returned with a torch and lit the firewood.

“Then, I’ll be off.”

“Thank you.”

The soldier bowed and left.

Watching his back, I leaned against the chair’s backrest and gazed blankly at the newly kindled flames.

The crackling of the firewood and the sounds of insects were soothing. It was a naturally calming sound.

Immersed in the quiet, I slowly reflected on my situation.

A lot had changed in many ways.

Alex had fallen in love with me instead of Miss Veronica.

In the original story, Alex began courting Miss Veronica a year after she saved him from dying in the rain.

But now?

Only a few months had passed since then, and Alex had come to get me.

The timing was off, and so was the person.

Whether Alex’s love for me was genuine or not, one thing was clear from this situation.

If things continued like this, the Maynard estate would remain safe.

As long as I didn’t act or think like the original Miss Veronica, the worst wouldn’t happen.

So I should act differently from Miss Veronica in the original story, contrary to her actions.

Alex’s destructive and violent love was a source of fear for Miss Veronica.

That’s why the original Miss Veronica rejected Alex’s courtship.

This led Alex to destroy everything around Miss Veronica to win her over.

Consumed by twisted possessiveness, Alex increasingly entangled Miss Veronica, eventually destroying the Maynard estate.

…So, what should I do?

Should I accept Alex’s courtship and date him?

No, at least for the next three months, I should try not to upset Alex.

It didn’t seem difficult to appease him sufficiently.

But the problem was that simply appeasing him wouldn’t be the end of it.

Even if I left documents behind, I couldn’t rely solely on them.

The original Alex destroyed the Maynard estate to get the woman he wanted.

Would such a person really follow the terms of a contract just because it was written down?

I didn’t think so.

So, for the three months I proposed, I had to appease Alex while also distancing myself from his heart.

Could I really do it?

I wasn’t someone with extraordinary abilities like in a novel, nor was I as beautiful as Miss Veronica, who could make anyone fall in love at first sight.

I did think I was pretty, but I couldn’t compare to Miss Veronica…

That’s why I was even more puzzled. What did Alex see in me to fall in love with me?

Was it just because I took on Miss Veronica’s role?

Not knowing the cause made it harder to make Alex give up on me.

I might fail.

Thinking that far made me very depressed.

Remembering Alex’s confident demeanor despite the three-month time limit made me even less confident.

How could I make Alex lose interest in me?

“What are you doing here instead of sleeping?”

While I was lost in thought, I heard a familiar voice by my ear. Startled, I checked the direction of the voice.

As I expected, it was Alex’s voice.

Alex draped a blanket over my shoulders, which he had brought from somewhere. Then he sat next to me with a nonchalant expression.

His gaze was languid as he looked at me. Had he just woken up?

“It’s late at night. What are you thinking about here? If you have any worries, tell me. I’ll solve them for you.”

Alex’s gentle urging made me hesitate for a moment before pulling the blanket tighter around my shoulders and speaking.

“I’m going to stay at the Berzel estate for three months, so I was wondering if there’s anything I should do.”

My voice naturally carried my concerns.

Although I couldn’t tell him the details, I briefly explained the main point of my worries.

Alex frowned, puzzled by my words.

“Surely you don’t plan to work there, do you?”

“No, of course not. You won’t make me work, right? Why would I work if you don’t make me?”

I shook my head as I answered, but Alex remained silent.

“Were you thinking of making me work?”

“Well.”

Alex’s response was ambiguous.

“…No, right?”

I asked hesitantly, and Alex looked at me deeply. His gaze made me uneasy, as if he might actually make me work. Surely not, right?

But then Alex burst into laughter.

“Of course not.”

After confirming Alex’s answer, I awkwardly smiled.

I felt frustrated with myself for being startled even though I knew he was teasing me.