Riona lifted her fingers one by one, practicing the scales.

“Very good, Miss Riona. You’ve improved a lot.”

Kyla smiled gently.

“Shall we try the scales with dotted rhythm this time?”

“Yes!”

Riona answered enthusiastically, placing her fingers on the piano keys. Her small hands were now stronger and produced a surprisingly full sound.

After the finger exercises, they moved on to a sonata. Kyla had chosen this piece because its light and lively mood suited Riona so well.

Riona took a deep breath and began to play.

She puckered her lips and furrowed her brow in concentration. The sight of her was both adorable and admirable.

For the first time, she made it through the section where she had always stumbled before, and finished the piece from start to finish.

When she had finished, Riona looked at Kyla with a triumphant expression.

“Wow… Miss Riona, that was truly wonderful!”

Kyla looked at her with sincere admiration.

“Really? Hehe.”

“Yes, truly. You expressed the dynamics very well, and the scale passages were clean and clear without getting muddled.”

Riona had once insisted she hated the piano, yet in such a short time she had grown much closer to it. Kyla found that both surprising and heartwarming.

“If you practice a little more on the parts where the tempo speeds up during the forte, and work on smoothing out the legato in the second theme, it’ll be even better.”

“Ah, aw… But you just said I played really, really well!”

“In music, there’s no such thing as perfection.”

“Tch…”

Riona puffed out her cheeks, sulking almost immediately.

“Well then, Miss Riona. Shall we play it once more from the beginning?”

Kyla raised her voice slightly, speaking in a bright, cheerful tone to encourage Riona.

Drawn in by her voice, Riona unconsciously placed her hands on the keys and started playing again.

Whenever Riona struggled with a section, Kyla made her repeat it slowly several times.

Just as Riona was about to shout, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore!’, Kyla ended the lesson with a burst of applause and praise.

When Riona stood up from the piano bench, she had tiny beads of sweat on her forehead. It was such an adorable sight that Kyla couldn’t help but laugh.

“Miss Riona, since you worked so hard today, I’ll give you a special reward.”

“Really?”

Riona’s dark eyes widened.

“Of course. Tell me what you’d like.”

“Hmm…”

Riona’s eyes sparkled as she suddenly folded her arms, pretending to be an elegant lady.

“Hm… a reward, you say… Ah! I know. Let’s go horseback riding together on the forest trail! I’ve always wanted to try that. Teacher, you know how to ride a horse, right?”

Riona’s cheeks flushed with excitement as she clung to Kyla’s arm.

“A horse…?”

Kyla couldn’t answer immediately.

There had once been a time when riding horses was one of her greatest joys. When she rode across Snowdon’s hills, she felt as though she owned the world. But after that incident, she had never been able to ride again.

“I’m sorry, Miss Riona. I don’t know how to ride a horse. Why don’t you ask the duke instead? Even if he’s busy, I’m sure he would agree if you asked.”

Seven years ago, Silas had already been skilled enough to compete in polo matches. Taking his younger sister for a ride through the forest would be nothing for him.

“That’s disappointing. I can’t believe you can’t ride a horse either.”

Riona’s sparkling excitement faded as her shoulders drooped.

Kyla felt a sudden pang of guilt.

‘Either? Who else can’t ride a horse?’

“Brother can’t ride a horse either. Riding is the one thing he can’t do.”

“But the duke—”

Kyla was about to point out that he had been an excellent rider seven years ago, but she stopped herself.

That day at the polo field.

Had there really been no tremor in his eyes or voice, or was that just her imagination?

The question that had lingered quietly in the back of her mind resurfaced.

He had spoken calmly about putting the horse down, as though it meant nothing. But perhaps he had been hurt as well.

No — maybe he had experienced a shock far greater than the emotional scar she herself carried.

Kyla felt a faint trace of guilt for judging him as a man without blood or tears, simply because of his cold exterior. Slowly, she gathered the sheet music from the piano.

Just moments ago, she had been endlessly cursing him in her mind for demanding a gift from her. Yet now she found herself worrying about him.

A hollow laugh slipped from her lips.

Whenever she thought about him, her thoughts seemed to lose their way.

“Does it make sense that my brother can’t ride a horse? I clearly heard Mrs Gerald say that he was a very good rider when he was younger.”

Riona flopped down onto the sofa, looking deeply disappointed.

Kyla gently closed the piano lid and walked over to sit beside her.

“Then, Miss Riona, how about we go on a picnic instead? I’ll ask Mr Winkler to send a carriage and tell the cook to prepare lunch for us in advance.”

“A picnic? Just you and me?”

Riona’s eyes grew wide at Kyla’s suggestion.

“Yes, just the two of us. It sounds like it could be fun…”

“Eek! I love it, Teacher!”

Riona jumped up with a squeal, grabbed Kyla’s hands, and bounced up and down in excitement. Kyla laughed and spun around with her as if they were dancing.

Kyla was happy that she had found a reward that delighted Riona so much.

‘If only the duke’s gift were this easy to solve.’

She had no idea what he might like. Then it occurred to her that perhaps Riona might know something about his preferences.

“Miss Riona… by the way, what does the duke like?”

“My brother? What he likes?”

Riona tilted her head as though wondering why such a question was being asked.

“Wait… don’t tell me you like Brother Silas instead of that handsome blond prince?”

“Ah, haha. The blond prince you’re talking about is my brother. And me liking the duke? That could never happen.”

Kyla burst into laughter at Riona’s adorable imagination.

“Oh, that’s a relief. Teacher, you absolutely have to marry the prince. Of course, Brother Silas is handsome and rich too, but honestly, he doesn’t smile much and he isn’t very kind, is he? Well… not to other people, at least.”

Riona giggled and looked at Kyla.

“Yes, I understand, Miss Riona. Then I’ll try to find a prince other than my brother Jayden. Someone who smiles often and is very kind.”

Kyla curled her hand and covered her mouth, trying to hold back her laughter.

“Then why did you ask what Brother Silas likes?”

“Ah… I just thought I should give His Grace a small gift to thank him for all the consideration he’s shown me.”

“Really? I don’t know what Brother did for you, but you don’t have to give him a thank-you gift. I’ve never once seen him happy about receiving a present.”

“Ah… is that so?”

“Yes, of course.”

Riona nodded with complete confidence.

He had never been happy to receive a gift before.

It was an absurd thought, yet at the same time, it seemed entirely plausible for someone like him. Kyla simply couldn’t imagine him looking pleased with a gift from someone else.

But then, why had he asked her for one?

He had clearly said he didn’t care what she gave him.

‘Fine. If that’s the case, I’ll just give him anything.’

Kyla glanced down at the piano music she was holding. She had nothing but sheet music. For a moment, she seriously considered tying them together with a ribbon and placing them in his arms.

But to him, the sheets that were so precious to her would probably be worthless. Still, she was curious to see what expression he might make if she gave them to him.

Shaking her head with a wry smile, she was lost in thought when Vanessa Hamilton knocked on the door and came in.

“Miss Riona, it’s time for your Meissen language lesson.”

“Ah, already? Ugh, how annoying. Won’t that blasted Meissen language ever disappear?”

Riona crossed her arms and pouted.

“Miss, you must always use proper language.”

“Yes, yes. I know, Miss Hamilton.”

Though Riona continued to grumble, she eventually picked up her Meissen textbook and sat down at the desk while Vanessa Hamilton stood there, expression unchanged.

“Then, Miss Riona, I’ll be going.”

As Kyla said her goodbye and moved toward the door, Riona suddenly turned her head.

“Teacher, don’t forget about the picnic!”

“Yes, Miss. Don’t worry.”

Kyla smiled reassuringly at Riona’s insistence and left the study.

To keep her promise, she went to find the butler, Hugh Winkler.

Hugh Winkler was in the pantry, polishing a silver plate. He had polished it so carefully that the surface shone like morning sunlight after rain.

“Mr. Winkler, are you very busy?”

“Ah, Miss Feilding. Is there something I can help you with?”

Hugh Winkler paused his work and looked up at her.

“If the weather is nice tomorrow, I’m planning to take Miss Riona on a picnic. I was wondering if we could borrow a carriage—one with a cover. Should I ask Uncle Joe about it myself?”

Kyla spoke carefully.

“I’ll speak to Joe for you. But before that, have you received the master’s permission?”

“No… I was planning to inform the duchess, but I suppose I should speak to the duke instead.”

“Yes. Whenever the master is at Chatsworth, that is the proper way.”

Kyla couldn’t help letting out a quiet sigh. She hadn’t even decided on the gift yet, and now she had to speak with that man again—worse, she had to ask for his permission.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll speak to His Grace now. Please just arrange the carriage.”

“Very well.”

“Thank you, Mr. Winkler.”

Kyla gave a small bow of thanks and headed towards the study.

The door was tightly shut, and there was no sound coming from inside.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door.

A moment later, a voice from within told her to come in.

It was low and calm.

It sounded no different to usual.

So why did it suddenly make her nervous? Was she afraid he might question her about the gift she was going to give him?

She opened the door and stepped inside slowly.

Sunlight filtered through the curtains of the large window that covered one wall of the study, softly illuminating the side of the man’s face.

He was seated at his desk, writing.

His black hair glimmered where it was touched by the sunlight, and the sharp line of his nose stood out against the slight tilt of his lowered face.

Had he always shone like that?

He seemed so distant that she could no longer bring herself to take another step forward.