6. it’s impossible to measure the intensity of affection

“…I’ll be going.”

“Thank you for your visit, Your Highness. Please come again.”

After sending off the Grand Duke with a business-like smile, knowing he wouldn’t return, the Madame quickly turned to Lysith. She approached her, who still looked completely uninterested, with eyes full of curiosity.

“Miss, what did I just witness?”

“What?”

“What do you mean ‘what’! His Highness the Grand Duke couldn’t take his eyes off you!”

“I see.”

Realizing that Lysith would not satisfy her curiosity no matter how much she chattered, the Madame closed her mouth with a disappointed expression.

Lysith, who hadn’t paid any attention to Dietrich’s departure, continued choosing accessories and found something striking among the various jewels.

“What’s this?”

“Ah, that… It’s called a ‘Cat’s Eye’. The surface of the gem looks like a cat’s eye. Certain gems show this pattern…”

The cat’s eye-like appearance naturally reminded her of Penchev. Unable to find a good quality gray stone, she reluctantly chose an aquamarine cat’s eye gem that resembled her own eye color.

Afterwards, she commissioned the creation of black opal and golden chrysoberyl pieces for Ashites, then left the boutique with Eve, who had been waiting quietly in the VIP room.

As soon as they boarded the carriage, receiving the Madame’s farewell, Lysith heard Eve’s grumbling in her ear. Eve had been forbidden to leave the room.

“I heard His Highness the Grand Duke came and told me not to come out.”

“If you had come out, he would have glared at you for sure.”

“That’s… true, but…”

“I don’t want to care about it anymore, now.”

Seeing Lysith’s slight smile, Eve finally stopped talking. If her mistress didn’t want to bother with that man anymore, grinding her teeth in dislike would only make her more uncomfortable.

The carriage slowly moved in the opposite direction from where Dietrich had gone. Being an area frequented by nobles, some people who recognized the carriage’s crest could be seen murmuring, but Lysith paid little attention.

Well, that’s what Lysith thought. She was currently the hottest topic in high society.

A woman who might be receiving the Tower Master’s affection, and perhaps even belatedly captured the Grand Duke’s heart…

Some who couldn’t resist their curiosity sent her invitations, but Lysith had no desire to jump into that frying pan and become a hot potato, so she didn’t respond to any of them.

Knowing that she didn’t particularly want to enter high society, the mansion staff took it upon themselves to filter out the letters addressed to her.

She had no desire to become the flower of high society, and there were no bad rumors circulating, so it was fine to continue like this. After all, Lysith’s goal was to clear the main quest.

…Even though the important affection levels showed no sign of appearing.

As the carriage that arrived at the mansion came to a stop, and Lysith was about to get out carefully as usual, a white-gloved hand entered her field of vision.

“…Huh?”

It was the first time Penchev had come out this far to escort her, as he usually didn’t leave the mansion.

“Did you have some change of heart?”

“Something like that.”

She lightly asked as she firmly grasped his hand and got out of the carriage, and received an equally light answer. After sending Eve in first, she slowly entered the mansion, receiving his simple assistance.

The butler, who had taken the shawl Lysith was wearing on one arm, began to speak, saying he had something separate he wanted to tell her as she was about to return to her room.

Lysith narrowed her eyes for a moment and gave him a playful, suspicious look before asking in a dubious tone.

“It’s not like last time, is it?”

“No, it’s not.”

Although she didn’t have much trust due to the previous incident, there was a possibility that this time it could really be a different matter. As she entered the room with Penchev, she heard the door quietly closing behind her. Lysith tried to suppress the ominous feeling that felt like a splinter and turned her back as she opened her mouth.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“First, would you please sit here.”

Though puzzled, Lysith obediently sat in front of the mirror as he requested. Penchev walked behind her, took off his gloves, and began to remove the pins from her hair one by one.

The pins that had been holding her hair in place were pulled out one after another, and the braided updo came loose and disheveled. Usually, Eve did this for her, and he had never even seen it done before, so how could he do it so skillfully? Lysith looked at him with wide eyes through the mirror.

Discovering that face, he smiled lightly and casually revealed a surprising fact.

“I learned.”

“This?”

“Yes. Miss Eve taught me.”

“E-Eve…”

There was no way she taught him because she wanted to slack off… Wasn’t she trying to push her towards Ashites? So what was this act of seemingly trying to set her up with another man…

Suddenly finding it absurd, Lysith let out a small laugh, and Penchev took in the sight of her for a moment. Soon after, he slowly ran his fingertips through her loosened hair a few times, then combed it neatly with a brush. The white hair flowed like waves in his strong hands, calloused from work.

As he brushed, his hand occasionally touched and left her exposed nape. Each time, he gazed deeply at the woman’s back, which flinched slightly, then put down the brush and slowly began to braid her hair, gathering it together.

As he braided from the top down, the tips of his finger joints or the back of his hand brushed against the back of her neck again. Whether it was intentional or not was impossible to tell, but Lysith thought it was 100% deliberate. And one thing was certain.

‘No, this is too subtle…’

If Ashites was a younger man, this one was a year older than her. Indeed, this seemed to be the seduction of an older man. It made her swallow carefully for no reason.

His touch was subtle, but his intentions seemed so clear that she didn’t want to give in.

The fingers that lightly brushed against her were slightly cooler than the temperature of her nape. As he finished braiding most of her hair, the cool touch on her skin gradually disappeared.

Lysith, who had sighed imperceptibly, felt a small relief. Finally, as the end was firmly tied and his hands left her hair, she tried to stand up quickly. However, a hand that quickly rose up pressed lightly on her shoulder, causing her to remain seated.

Before she could ask why, Penchev reached out and slowly embraced her waist from behind. Like he was trying to pull her into his arms.

Because she was sitting and he was standing, he had to bend his waist, but he didn’t seem to mind at all as he rested his cheek on her head.

Then, placing his knee on the chair, he lowered his head to her exposed ear, briefly pressing his lips, then buried his face in her nape.

At some point, a thick air filled the room. It was so quiet that even the sound of a needle dropping would seem to resound loudly. Lysith hesitated, then carefully stroked his face with the back of her hand, and Penchev rubbed his face against her touch as if he had been waiting for it.

It was no different from the appearance of someone who’s craving affection, but he didn’t seem to feel any strangeness at all.

The arm embracing her waist kept tensing with surging possessiveness, then relaxing abruptly as if afraid the pressure might hurt her, repeatedly.

After a few minutes had passed like this, Penchev, seemingly satisfied with inhaling her scent deeply and receiving her touch, raised his upper body with a languid sigh.

There were no particular words or contact, but each of his actions showed affection, making her feel strangely embarrassed. Still, Lysith tried not to show it and attempted to accept all his advances. As she had felt before, his affection had a somewhat thick and sticky feeling.

Penchev tried his best to hide his intense desire so as not to burden her, but occasionally, the dregs of emotions he couldn’t conceal dripped onto her.

“W-well. You learned well. Braiding hair.”

“…If it’s alright with you, I’d like to do it next time as well.”

“Are you taking Eve’s job away?”

“That’s…”

“I’m joking. You can do it next time too.”

Penchev, who seemed relieved at her permission, sighed and slightly dropped his shoulders, then gently fiddled with the ends of her hair with a regretful expression.

As Lysith turned around and raised her head at his touch, a momentary impulse struck her when their eyes met.

…Whether it was the Tower Master or the Grand Duke, if only she could have this person all to herself in a place beyond their influence, she couldn’t ask for more.