The fabric shop was bustling with customers buying ribbon ties late in the afternoon.

This was because gifting embroidered ribbon ties was a tradition at hunting competitions.

Just like presenting handkerchiefs at sword tournaments to wish good luck.

‘I’m not sure if I’ll be able to give this to Conrad.’

The fabric shop’s display cases were filled with more varieties of ribbon ties than usual.

From silk to lace to velvet. After carefully examining ribbon ties of various materials, Roina finally pointed to one and said.

“Could you show me this one?”

What she pointed to was a ribbon tie made of golden silk fabric.

Perhaps because it was golden like Conrad’s eyes, Roina was particularly drawn to that ribbon tie.

“Certainly, Your Grace.”

The clerk, nodding slightly, soon took out the golden ribbon tie from the display case.

After gently handling it, Roina placed an order along with ribbon ties made of other materials.

“I’d like these sent to the mansion as well.”

“I’ll prepare them right away.”

Having completed her order, Roina left the shop with the shopkeeper seeing her off.

As she was heading toward the carriage parked near the shopping district with her maid…

“Do you know what you’ve just done, sir?”

A woman holding a handkerchief was glaring fiercely at Astor while grinding her teeth.

Stopping at the commotion, Roina tried to assess the situation.

‘What’s going on?’

Seeing the woman’s anger, she thought her guard knight might have offended her.

But she also found it strange. No matter how disrespectful Astor might be to her, he wasn’t the type to inconvenience others.

‘…A handkerchief?’

Roina’s gaze suddenly fell on the handkerchief the woman was holding.

Judging by the clear footprint on it, it seemed Astor had made a mistake.

“I apologize. I’ll get you the same product again—”

“How am I supposed to find fabric from across the sea now!”

When the woman shouted loudly, Astor exhaled a long sigh as if bewildered.

“Though I’m at fault, wasn’t it you who dropped the handkerchief first, my lady?”

“What did you say? You’ve said quite enough!”

Seeing the woman looking as if she might pull out Astor’s hair at any moment, Roina hurriedly approached them.

“It seems my knight has been rude.”

At those words, Astor gave her a somewhat aggrieved look, but Roina deliberately ignored his gaze.

The woman, turning to look at Roina, soon seemed to recognize her and showed her respect.

“I greet Duchess Asheter.”

Perhaps because they had met a few times through social activities, Roina easily recognized the woman.

“You’re Lady Lorensia.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The lady’s eyes widened slightly, as if she hadn’t expected Roina to know her.

After looking at the stained handkerchief for a moment, Roina soon spoke in a gentle voice.

“If you don’t mind, may I compensate you instead?”

“Compensate…?”

Nodding slightly, Roina answered with a serene smile.

“Since this happened while my knight was escorting me, it’s only right that I take responsibility.”

“Ah… in that case, I’ll accept your kindness.”

Seeing the woman smile awkwardly, Roina added nonchalantly.

“I’ll send word to the Brit Trading Company soon.”

The Brit Trading Company was popular among young nobles for selling items that were difficult to find on the market.

“Additionally, I’ll reprimand the guard knight separately.”

“You don’t have to do that, Your Grace. I also failed to properly manage my handkerchief.”

The compensation of the Brit Trading Company must have been quite appealing, as the lady seemed to have quickly recovered her mood.

Roina gave a subtle glance to her guard knight standing beside her.

‘If he has any sense, he should wrap this up, right?’

Seeming to understand the meaning of her gaze, Astor cleared his throat and spoke.

“I would like to apologize once more.”

“Ahem, it’s fine. I was also careless.”

Perhaps embarrassed by her earlier behavior, the lady answered with a slightly flushed face.

Once the situation was somewhat resolved, Roina swallowed a sigh of relief and spoke calmly.

“Then I’ll be going now, my lady.”

The woman bowed politely in response to Roina’s farewell.

“Yes, I hope you return safely as well, Your Grace.”

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Inside the rattling carriage, Roina was blankly staring at the scenery outside the window.

But feeling a gaze constantly on her cheek, she broke the silence toward the guard knight sitting across from her.

“You seem to have something to say.”

At those words, Astor, with a hardened expression, moved his lips before abruptly asking a question.

“Why did you help me.”

Now she could see he had many questions he wanted to ask.

Slowly closing and opening her eyes, Roina answered calmly.

“Just as you heard. It was simply because it happened during your escort duty.”

In reality, she hadn’t helped him out of personal feelings. She would have acted the same way regardless of who was assigned as her guard.

But still unable to understand her intentions, Astor slightly furrowed his brow.

“Are you perhaps expecting something from me?”

At such a typical question from him, Roina let out a small, hollow laugh.

She had long given up expecting Astor, who was hostile to her, to show a friendly attitude.

“Well, what could I possibly want from you?”

It seemed to be an unexpected answer, as he appeared somewhat flustered.

His complicated expression made it look as if he’d unexpectedly incurred a debt.

‘He doesn’t need to worry so much.’

Soon recalling something, Roina continued with a short sigh.

“It’s hardly a reprimand, but if I may offer advice, it’s best to avoid speaking the truth when possible.”

“……”

Hadn’t Astor’s earlier confrontation been with a noble lady?

Though civic consciousness had risen with the advancement of the times, the Noxtan Empire was still a class society.

This meant that right and wrong were ultimately determined by power.

‘Considering Astor’s commoner status…’

For his own sake, he needed to know when to hold back.

“I hope you take this to heart, for your own safety.”

When Roina finished speaking, bewilderment flashed in Astor’s eyes.

“That’s because I…!”

“Do you still have more to say?”

At Roina’s calm voice, he bowed his head and merely added softly.

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

Returning to her room after the outing, Roina sat down at her dressing table.

She intended to embroider the ribbon tie before the hunting competition.

While searching for her sewing kit in the drawer, her hand suddenly touched a jewelry box she had tucked away deep inside.

‘Surely inside this…’

Opening the lid of the jewelry box, Roina stared at the brooch inside.

“So I’ve still been keeping it preciously.”

A bitter smile soon spread across her face.

Because it reminded her of a distant memory that once provided comfort but now only brought a dull ache.