The conditions in the basement room had improved significantly. Though not as good as the guest room or her childhood accommodations, it was much better than a few days ago. They gave Eirene water to wash with and enough food to satisfy her hunger, if not abundantly. 

After Clive left, she spent several days in the basement room trying to figure out why she and Aishe had been switched. She thought the Countess’s explanation was just a hastily concocted excuse. 

Aishe being shy? She snickered. Even if Aishe was shy, did that mean she covered her face with a veil every time she met Clive, even at their engagement ceremony? Well, if they had designed the engagement dress that way, it might have been possible. 

Their voices were somewhat similar and might be difficult to distinguish, but the height difference was significant. And Aishe would have been active in social circles. Clearly, the Count, Countess, and Aishe were hiding something. 

She couldn’t guess what it was, but she needed to find out quickly. 

The sound of the lock opening interrupted her thoughts as Betty brought in a meal. Though still not plentiful, it was much better than before. When she lifted the tray cover, she found it piled high with bread. 

Had the Countess instructed this? Why? Everything seemed suspicious. Still, more food was always welcome.

“There’s a lot of bread today.”

“There was only supposed to be one piece, but I snuck in some extra,” Betty said with a bright smile.

Betty had changed. Instead of carelessly setting down the tray with food, she placed it carefully. Her tone had become unexpectedly gentle, and today she had brought extra food. Though grateful for the satisfying meal, Eirene wondered if Betty wanted something in return.

“Thank you. I won’t forget this bread you’ve given me.”

She meant it sincerely. Food was important to Eirene. Regaining her strength was her top priority right now. 

As Eirene began eating, Betty cut the bread, spread butter and raspberry jam on it, and handed it to her very politely. Eirene considered asking what her ulterior motive was but decided to enjoy the noble treatment she had been denied for so long.

“I think you’ll be moving rooms, miss.”

“Really?”

“Yes. To the guest room that Grand Duke Clive used.”

Eirene understood Betty’s behavior now. She was being cautious because Eirene was no longer the hidden young lady in the basement but someone who would be presented to the world. 

The Count and Countess seemed to have no choice now. Somehow, they would have to reveal that Aishe and Eirene had been switched. Plus, the existence of their other daughter had been exposed, which would be quite troublesome to manage.

“They say they’ll fit you for dresses too. You might even go out tomorrow.”

Despite everything, the mention of going outside excited her.

The next day, the feeling of her feet touching the ground for the first time felt strange. It was similar to the wooden floors of the basement or mansion interior, yet softer. The earth beneath her feet seemed to speak to her. 

Unmelted snow from the trees fluttered down in the wind. Cold. But different from the cold she had known before. Not the bleakness of winter in the basement, but a clean, pleasant coolness.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and get in.”

Countess Phineas called to Eirene from inside the carriage. When she hastily climbed in, she found the Countess and Aishe sitting side by side. Eirene sat awkwardly across from them, uncomfortable with the veil around her hat that protected her eyes, which were sensitive to sunlight. 

Glancing at Aishe, she saw undisguised contempt on her face. She seemed to have much to say but kept her lips tightly sealed and turned her gaze to the window. The contempt should be mine, not yours. 

Swallowing words she couldn’t speak, Eirene also looked out the window. The carriage started moving. The rattling sound was too loud. Eirene quickly grabbed the window frame with one hand, fearing the carriage might tip over as it swayed, but she grew more frightened as the speed increased. Without realizing it, she gripped tightly with both hands.

“How uncouth,” Aishe muttered quietly, with mockery in her voice.

But Eirene was too distracted to care. Soon after, her stomach began to churn.

Eirene’s first carriage ride gave her severe motion sickness. She wished she could vomit, but her upset stomach just twisted inside, draining her energy. 

As soon as they reached their destination, the Countess and Aishe got out first, claiming that Eirene’s condition had made them feel unwell too. Betty, who had accompanied them, helped Eirene, who couldn’t move a finger.

“I heard you got motion sick. You look pale.”

Too weak to respond, Eirene leaned on Betty as they entered the shop. Only then did the Countess and Aishe, who had gone in ahead, push Betty aside and support Eirene themselves. 

It was because the shop staff were watching. Once she managed to sit on the sofa, a staff member placed a teacup before her.

“Miss, this is ginger tea. It will help settle your stomach.”

Hoping the staff member was right, Eirene reached for the cup, but the Countess grabbed it first and helped her drink more comfortably. It was almost like being fed. Eirene felt annoyed. 

The Countess used to feed Eirene water or food like this when she had no strength left after treating Aishe. Back then, she thought it was done out of love, but it was all for Aishe’s sake. 

If Eirene didn’t recover quickly, she couldn’t treat Aishe the next month. The Countess behaving this way now meant she wanted something again.

“Hello, Miss Eirene. I’m Scarlet, the designer responsible for your dresses. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Scarlet, who greeted her politely, was dressed more modestly than one might expect of a designer. She wore a dark navy dress adorned with just a few pearls and no accessories like earrings or necklaces. Her inherent neatness gave a glimpse into her personality. 

Wait. Eirene doubted her ears. Scarlet had called her Eirene, not Aishe. Confused, she looked at the Countess, who signaled her to stay quiet. Eirene felt uneasy, wondering what they were plotting. Once her nausea subsided somewhat, Scarlet took Eirene’s measurements herself.

“Scarlet, my daughter has been ill and lost a lot of weight. Please make her look beautiful to avoid any unfortunate misunderstandings.”

“Yes, I’ll do my best. Don’t worry. Such a slender figure makes any outfit look beautiful. As long as we choose colors that suit the young lady, she’ll look good in anything.”

After Scarlet’s words, silence fell. Through the mirror reflecting Eirene, she could see the Countess and Aishe sitting and talking. Aishe’s expression changed constantly as she spoke with the Countess. 

Turning her back to them, Eirene raised and lowered her arms like a doll while pondering. If Scarlet knew Eirene’s real name, did that mean others knew too? They wouldn’t have told only Scarlet. There were other staff members here too. 

If someone in a profession that served many nobles knew, it would spread instantly. She couldn’t understand what the Countess was thinking. Suddenly, Eirene felt dizzy and staggered. The aftereffects of her first experience with motion sickness were strong.

“Are you alright?”

She nodded vaguely, and Scarlet took her to the fitting room to help her try on some ready-made dresses. Though she might have wanted to look in the mirror at her new dress, Eirene found it all bothersome.

“I’d like some cool water.”

Thinking it might help settle her remaining queasiness, she made the request. After taking a sip of the water brought by a staff member, she finally felt better. 

She desperately wanted to go back and lie down, but remembering they had come by carriage and would have to return the same way made her heart sink. With a headache, she sat for a moment before leaving the fitting room, only to find someone who made her head hurt even more. 

Why was Clive here?

“I pay my respects to the Grand Duke.”

Eirene quickly bent her knees in greeting, and Clive rose from his seat and approached her.

“I was about to contact you for a meeting when I heard you would be here today. Is that a new dress? It suits you perfectly. Honestly, the dresses at the mansion didn’t do justice to your beauty. They didn’t suit you.”

Clive had a good eye. The dress had belonged to Countess Phineas, so it couldn’t possibly suit the much younger Eirene.

“You don’t look well.”

“I got motion sickness riding in a carriage for the first time in two months. I’m fine now.”

“Here, this way.”

Clive extended his hand to Eirene. She hesitated, unsure whether to take it, but eventually did and followed him to a seat. Even after sitting down, he didn’t release her hand. 

She was in an awkward position, unable to forcibly pull away but uncomfortable continuing to hold hands, when two of his fingers lightly brushed her ring finger.

“It’s not there?”

“What… is?”

“Our ring.”

She hadn’t expected him to check for the ring. Eirene, the Countess, and Aishe’s eyes darted around quickly. They were exchanging signals, but no one spoke up first. She couldn’t use the excuse of taking it off while washing and forgetting about it again. 

While the three hesitated in confusion, Clive tilted his head and frowned.

“Why is Miss Baix wearing our engagement ring?”

The “Miss Baix” Clive referred to was Aishe. 

Baix, not Phineas? What was this about? 

She had thought something wasn’t right when they said Aishe covered her face when meeting Clive despite being active in social circles. Clive was also socially active, so he couldn’t possibly not know Aishe Phineas. 

She wondered what method they had used, and now it was clear: Aishe had been living as a young lady of the Baix family. She couldn’t understand why they would go to such lengths. Aishe, called by a different surname, stood up as if it were the most natural thing.

“Oh, oh! My goodness! Why am I still wearing this? Grand Duke, I’m so sorry. I’m truly, truly sorry. The ring was so beautiful that I begged Miss Phineas to let me try it on. I was going to return it when she came out of the fitting room, but I forgot. I’m really sorry.”

Aishe removed the ring from her finger and held it out to Clive on both hands.

“Begging to try on someone else’s engagement ring? That was thoughtless of someone who should know better.”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

Ignoring Aishe’s repeated apologies, Clive personally placed the ring on Eirene’s finger. He moved slowly. Just like when he had brushed her finger earlier, the ring slid very slowly until it settled at the base of her finger.

“I hope the engagement ring stays where it belongs. Now, if you’re finished with your business, I think it would be best to leave.”

There was no need to check the Countess’s reaction. It was a command that no one could refuse. Eirene had no chance to ask how Scarlet knew her real name or if Clive knew it too before following him out. She had no choice but to take his offered arm and leave.

“Your motion sickness must have been severe. You should rest. Was I thinking only of myself?”

Once they were outside and alone, Clive asked with concern.

“I’m fine, really.”

In truth, she wasn’t fine. Her settled stomach was churning again due to Clive’s sudden appearance.

“I think a short walk might help.”

For Eirene’s motion sickness, fresh air was better than tea or water. Though her companion made her tense, the freedom she had gained for a while was like medicine. 

Being in the city for the first time, she found everything fascinating—the shops lining the streets and the many people passing by. It felt like a dream. Absorbed in sightseeing, her nausea completely disappeared.

“You seem unusually happy to be out after two months. You never used to like crowded places like this.”

“Preferences can change anytime.”

“That sounds like you could grow tired of me anytime too.”

“…That’s not what I meant.”

As they walked down the street, people bowed their heads to Clive. Curious eyes followed them. Eirene could hear conversations of people wondering who she was and making guesses.

“Is that her? The Grand Duke’s fiancée?”

“She must be, or she wouldn’t be walking arm in arm with him. They kept her hidden away and never showed her face. I wonder what’s the occasion? Are they getting married soon?”

Eirene listened carefully to what people were saying. The curiosity was all similar. From what she gathered, Aishe, who had been living as a young lady of the Baix family, could not show her face in public as Clive’s fiancée. 

Though she didn’t know why, one thing was clear: except for the Phineas family, everyone believed Eirene was Clive’s fiancée. Eirene felt somewhat relieved, thinking things might end more easily than expected. 

As they walked, her tension around Clive gradually eased. Unlike before, he didn’t give her uncomfortable stares. He seemed considerate, speaking just enough to avoid awkwardness but not too much. 

Because of this, Eirene didn’t find the time with him unpleasant. Honestly, it was better than being with Countess Phineas or Aishe. After they had walked for some time:

“Is your leg bothering you?”

Stopping abruptly, Clive asked, and Eirene shook her head.

“No.”

“But you’re limping.”

Her? Eirene moved her legs in place.

“Oh!”

Only then did she feel the pain in her heels. Someone who had only walked inside the mansion wearing shoes would naturally hurt after walking for a long time. She had been too fascinated by exploring the world to notice.

“Let me see.”

Clive bent down on one knee.

“Your Grace!”

They were in the middle of a busy street. A member of the royal family shouldn’t kneel so easily. Had he cared for Aishe this much?

“People are watching.”

“Let them watch. What do I care about people’s stares when my fiancée is in pain?”

When Clive removed her shoe, the pain intensified. Her heel, completely raw and bloody, was revealed as he grabbed her foot, which she kept trying to pull back out of embarrassment.

“This won’t work. Get on my back.”

Before she could answer, Eirene found herself on Clive’s back.

Clive took Eirene to a nearby café. The owner, seeming accustomed to such situations, immediately guided Clive to a private room and soon returned with a box of medicine.

“It might sting, but bear with it for a moment.”

He was treating her with such care. After seating Eirene in a chair and removing her shoes, he frowned at the sight of her wounds. He poured clean water to wash away the blood and carefully applied disinfectant. His hands were very skilled at wrapping the bandage.

“You seem experienced. Don’t you have doctors at the Imperial Palace or your residence?”

“I’ve done this often on battlefields. In war, doctors are scarce, so it’s good if at least one person knows basic medical skills. Even better if you can treat yourself. Though I wouldn’t call this level of treatment medical skill.”

“I see. Thank you.”

“But you know…”

After securing the bandage so it wouldn’t unravel, he looked up at Eirene. The kind look in his eyes from earlier had vanished.

“Haven’t I told you about this before?”

Eirene swallowed hard, seeing the shadow of a massive predator slowly rising.

“Did… you? I must have not been paying attention if I don’t remember. I’m sorry.”

“No, that’s not it.”

“…”

“It’s not that you don’t remember. You never heard it in the first place. Now, tell me. Who are you?”

Clive had suspected Eirene on the first day he stayed at the Phineas mansion, and afterward, he became certain. He had left a tiny possibility that he might be mistaken, but today that possibility completely disappeared. 

The woman before him was not the Aishe he had been meeting. How strange. He wasn’t angry. He was more curious about who this woman was than about what scheme Count Phineas had concocted.