Responding naturally to the familiar greeting, Chloe quietly examined him, already changed into outdoor clothes. The man wearing a light beige shirt and darker but thin pants blended into the summer resort atmosphere.

Then, as he stared at her, he stroked her nape and asked.

“Are you feeling alright inside?”

His long fingertips gently traced the congestion marked with traces from last night.

Though she had been somewhat tipsy yesterday, she hadn’t been so drunk as to lose her memory. Chloe nodded in response as vivid scenes from the night before came to mind, slightly lowering her gaze. Others might ask why a married couple was being so bashful, but such moments were still embarrassing.

Unlike her shyness, Andert pulled her hand as she tried to move away slightly and sat her on his knee. Chloe’s eyes widened as she ended up straddling his legs.

“What menu would you like? Let’s have whatever you want.”

It was a question that didn’t match their closely attached position. Chloe, who placed her hands on his shoulders to balance herself, quickly pointed to the bathroom.

“Anything is fine. Shall we go to the restaurant for breakfast? I need to get ready, so it will take time……”

But her suggestion that he should go out for some fresh air first didn’t make it out of her mouth.

Andert’s lips on her neck felt too sweet. Chloe, who had only been moving her lips, was startled when his large hand caressed her br*ast as if gripping it.

The aching sensation spread instantly from her chest, reminiscent of last night’s memories. Chloe, who bit her lip for a moment, rose from his knee before it was too late.

“Andert.”

Stopping him with a voice raised nearly two octaves, Chloe first put on the slippers that had fallen under the sofa.

“It won’t happen right away, so please go out first. I’ll come as quickly as possible.”

With reddened earlobes, Chloe disappeared into the bathroom with just those words.

Andert, who gazed at the firmly closed door with languid eyes, leisurely checked the time. Though he wanted to hold onto the flustered Chloe a bit longer, today wasn’t the only day.

“There’s no rush, take your time, Chloe.”

Andert approached the bathroom and spoke before lightly leaving the room. He had already dressed in outdoor clothes, so there was nothing else to prepare. His steps toward the restaurant through the corridor were unhurried.

Those who boarded the cruise ship circling the eastern coast enjoyed the summer with the hot sun shining from morning. Cheerful laughter and cheers erupted continuously from the center of the deck where the swimming pool was located.

He passed by the crowded passengers and entered the relatively quiet restaurant.

“Hello? Good morning.”

Andert, who sat at the window seat guided by the waiter, ordered tea first.

He planned to enjoy the leisure until Chloe finished preparing, which would take some time. But killing time without a specific purpose wasn’t easy either.

Andert suddenly felt an unfamiliar gaze as he put down his teacup with just a few sips remaining. Someone’s gaze came from beyond the window. The person sitting in the outdoor seating was close enough to face him diagonally, thanks to the wide-open window.

Andert turned his head briefly in that direction but turned away without lingering. He had looked because he felt the gaze, but he made the judgment that it was a completely unfamiliar face.

At that moment, as he tried to take another sip of his remaining tea, the woman greeted him first.

“Hello?”

If compared to a typical meeting where a man couldn’t rashly approach before a woman spoke first, there was nothing special.

But in this resort, and between strangers at that, why would someone greet him?

Looking at the woman with cynical eyes, he maintained only minimal manners.

“Good morning.”

That was it. But the other person seemed to think differently and spoke again.

“I’m Linger Powell, who plays the flute in this ship’s orchestra. The person responsible for operating this cruise ship is also my uncle. I heard about you in passing from my uncle. You’re Duke Dietrich from Vasa, right? Oh, I hope there’s no problem with how I address you? This is my first time meeting a great noble like a duke.”

“……”

Andert frowned slightly at the manner of speech he encountered for the first time in his life. The woman, who appeared to have just come of age, used honorifics but had an informal attitude as if addressing a friend.

“Actually, I saw you on the deck yesterday too. But why are you alone?”

The question, asked so strangely and pointedly, was equally out of place with the situation.

Andert, who put down his empty teacup, drew a line to end the meaningless conversation. Literally, he had nothing more to discuss with this orchestra member of the ship.

“I’m waiting for my wife. I hope Miss Linger has a good time too.”

It was the most generous answer given his personality. He felt quite satisfied with the time on the cruise ship where he could completely monopolize Chloe.

But Linger, with her eyes narrowed, added in an innocent tone.

“Yes, actually I was going to ask if I could join you. Then, how about meeting somewhere quiet in the evening instead of now? After tonight’s concert. I know every corner of this cruise ship well.”

Unlike the blatant proposal, Linger showed a bright smile.

It was an open secret that noble men visiting Larcel found lovers here. Already on this ship, two members had changed their circumstances overnight by receiving support from men they met by chance.

It was the concept of what’s commonly called a mistress, but the treatment they enjoyed was incomparable to the life of an ordinary citizen. Even the lover of a not-so-famous noble received that much.

“Duke Dietrich? Well, how much would I know about him? What’s certain is that he comes from an extremely wealthy family. Even the CEO of our shipping company ran to the capital dozens of times to receive investment from the duke.”

With her uncle’s explanation added, she wanted to create even a small connection with the man before her. A wealthy noble with handsome features—she couldn’t ask for more.

A young, pretty woman. What men who keep mistresses want is clear. And she met both of those conditions.

She had been looking for places the duke might visit since the day before yesterday, but none worked out. And now to encounter the man alone here.

Though it seemed somewhat hasty, she didn’t want to miss this opportunity as such timing wasn’t easy to come by.

Andert’s gaze hardened immediately after. It was because he hadn’t fully grasped the stranger’s intentions. At least in the capital, Vasa, no one would approach him this way.

At least they would know that such clumsy seduction wouldn’t work on his temperament.

Though he could guess what the young woman who had just become an adult was trying to appeal, he only had interest in one person. Letting out a sneer, he silently rose from his seat.

“You’ve got the wrong person.”

That was all the man said, with clear intent that he didn’t want to deal with her anymore.

Before Linger could speak again, his long strides quickly left the restaurant. It happened before the corner of her mouth, which had smiled at her most confident angle, could even return to its place.

* * *

“Andert, have you been waiting here? I thought you’d gone to the restaurant first.”

At the voice from behind, Andert reflexively extended his hand. Then the warmth that naturally took his hand melted his heart softly.

Since it had been less than 10 minutes since he left the restaurant, Chloe must have moved as quickly as possible. He stepped away from the railing he had been leaning against.

“Are you hungry? Let’s go quickly.”

Chloe, who had checked that it was already past 9:30, hurriedly led him.

Though he had left the restaurant due to unnecessary attention, Andert also matched his steps as if he had been waiting. The presence of the unfamiliar woman who had spoken to him just before had already vanished from his mind.

Back at the restaurant with Chloe, Andert leisurely completed his order. He briefly noticed the woman still sitting beyond the window, but that was all.

Breakfast with Chloe.

He didn’t want that time to be disturbed by irrelevant matters. While watching Chloe moistening her throat with cool lemon water, he asked with a curious face.

“What’s next, Chloe? I think there was definitely a schedule for today on your plan.”

“Hmm, when we disembark at Ron, the last port of call, we’ll just look around the exhibition hall.”

“Exhibition hall?”

“There’s a space where wildflowers are displayed in pressed form. It’s close to the harbor, so it won’t take long. You probably won’t be interested, but I’m curious since we’re here. Is that okay?”

To Chloe, who carefully asked for his opinion after slowly swallowing her food, he playfully replied.

“Can we not go?”