The extensive two-week etiquette lessons finally ended.

Though intensive, there was nothing more to learn. The teachers who taught Selvia praised her without exception.

“Your Majesty, what do you think? In my view, she seems ready.”

“We’ll have to check.”

Belrocan and Ratius discussed while looking at the evaluation reports from Selvia’s teachers.

“Then how about having a formal dinner together after so long?”

“That would be good.”

Belrocan immediately called a maid to deliver the dinner schedule to Selvia.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen her for a while because he’d been busy.

Ratius had been busy moving around to grasp the nobles’ movements.

“She did seem to be avoiding me strangely.”

“Why would Lady Selvia avoid Your Majesty?”

“That’s true.”

He furrowed his brows remembering her awkward gaze.

“Then let’s see at lunch today and decide.”

Belrocan nodded.

Though the Karina Empire’s etiquette was somewhat strict, looking at the evaluation reports, she seemed to have mastered it sufficiently.

* * *

Selvia tucked the embroidered handkerchief in her chest.

Finally, an opportunity had come.

“You said formal dinner?”

“Yes, you can head there right away.”

Selvia nodded at Mellin’s words.

Her heart fluttered on the way to the dining room. Even though they were just having a meal together.

Selvia took a deep breath and composed herself.

‘I’m just returning the handkerchief to its original owner.’

There was no need to be nervous or put too much meaning into it.

“Lady Selvia, are you alright? Your complexion doesn’t look good.”

Mellin, who had been quietly observing Selvia, asked worriedly. She was concerned the food might not sit well if she ate like this.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

“I’ll ask them to prepare digestive tea in advance.”

“Thank you.”

Selvia forced a smile and suppressed her trembling. But her mind was still full of thoughts about how to give him the handkerchief.

She hadn’t had a proper chance to talk with him recently.

Though they occasionally crossed paths, she couldn’t bring herself to speak and give it to him.

“Um, Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

“……The weather seems particularly nice today.”

She had deflected the conversation like this several times.

I’m giving it to him this time.

It’s not a big deal, right?

Selvia composed herself once again and entered the dining room.

When she opened the door and went in, she saw Ratius’s face.

He immediately stood up from his seat and smiled brightly when he saw Selvia.

“I missed you.”

Ratius spoke as soon as she sat down.

This made Selvia’s calmed heart beat faster again.

“……You must have been busy.”

“I was looking into various things. How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine after getting plenty of rest.”

As soon as Selvia finished speaking, the door opened and servants came in with food.

“Huh?”

This sequence seems wrong.

Selvia naturally adjusted the position of the four cups in front of her.

She placed the water glass first, then the copita glass. Then she immediately placed the champagne glass and finally the wine glass.

Soon after, a tureen of clear soup was placed before her.

Selvia naturally paired it with sherry while glancing at Ratius.

‘When should I give him the handkerchief?’

Her mind was completely occupied with thoughts of the handkerchief.

Unaware of this, Ratius watched Selvia with a pleased expression.

He took in every movement she made without missing anything.

‘She memorized all the sequences in such a short time.’

It was perfect enough that no further confirmation was needed. One could easily believe she was originally from the Karina Empire.

The one thing that concerned him was her expression.

“Do you have something on your mind?”

Selvia snapped back to attention at his sudden question.

“No. It just feels like it’s been a while since we ate together.”

“Did you miss me?”

“No. It’s not that. But I was curious.”

Ratius’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.

He seemed pleased, smiling brightly while resting his chin on his hand. Selvia’s gaze toward him kept looking uneasy.

‘She looks anxious about something.’

Does she have something to tell him? If so, given her personality, she would have already said it.

“Everyone may leave.”

After the formal dinner, Ratius dismissed the servants and maids.

Only then did he bring up the main point of today’s invitation.

“I’m thinking of holding a party soon.”

“Really?”

“Since you seem ready, I think it’s time for us to start moving.”

Her mind cleared at the thought of finally making an appearance in social circles.

She wiped her mouth with a napkin and nodded.

“Are you nervous?”

“A little.”

“Whatever happens, it will be fine. Because it’s you.”

His single sentence brought her comfort.

What a strange thing indeed.

Selvia took out the handkerchief from her chest and handed it to him.

“I used it well last time.”

He quietly looked at the handkerchief. There was embroidery on the pure white handkerchief.

“It’s delphinium.”

Ratius gently traced the embroidery on the handkerchief and smiled with crinkled eyes.

Though it was a small gesture, somehow her feelings seemed to come through.

“May I misunderstand?”

“……”

Selvia didn’t answer. She just blinked slowly and shrugged her shoulders.

“Actually, even if you tell me not to misunderstand, I plan to misunderstand as I please.”

Ratius carefully tucked the handkerchief into his chest.

“I’ll keep it safe. Though I probably won’t be able to use it because it’s too precious.”

“It’s not that special.”

“How is it not special when you embroidered it yourself?”

He narrowed his brows and tilted his head to the side.

“Everything you do has meaning to me.”

Selvia’s face turned red as he continued speaking without changing his expression.

How could he say such things so casually?

“I understand, so you can stop now.”

“Are you embarrassed?”

“……You’re teasing me.”

“It’s because I like you.”

Again, again.

Selvia took a sip of wine as her throat felt dry.

As she slowly drank one glass, then another, she started feeling a bit tipsy.

Whether from the high alcohol content of the wine or something else, her cheeks felt hot. Selvia pressed the back of her hand to her face to cool down.

“You seem to like the wine. Don’t drink too much.”

She couldn’t tell if it was his gaze that was hot or if the alcohol was making her body increasingly warmer.

Whatever it was, she needed to keep her wits about her.

Ratius watched Selvia and spoke casually.

“There’s one more thing we need to check before attending the party.”

“So this dinner was also to check what I’ve learned.”

“I just made an excuse because I wanted to eat with you.”

Selvia finally understood his gaze that had been watching her.

He had been observing from start to finish whether she had properly learned the etiquette.

Realizing this wasn’t a private occasion made her feel more at ease.

“What else needs to be checked?”

“I’m planning to go to the ballroom soon to dance together. Since you’ll be attending as my partner, we should practice our coordination.”

“That makes sense.”

Selvia nodded. She took another sip of the wine in front of her.

A proper acidity with rich flavors lingered in her mouth.

Ratius stood up from his seat. Startled, Selvia stared at him.

He approached her and took away her glass.

“I think you should stop drinking now.”

“Ah……”

Selvia’s wine glass had already reached the bottom without her realizing.

She looked up at Ratius after staring at the confiscated glass.

“I’m not drunk.”

“I know.”

“……”

His eyes didn’t look like they knew.

Selvia stared intently at the wine glass with just a sip remaining.

He immediately downed the remaining wine.

“Your face is red.”

Though his hand held a warm temperature, it felt burning hot when it touched her cheek.

With the shortened distance, Selvia stared straight at his face.

“It’s because I’m hot.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

Ratius’s soft voice wrapped around her ears.

“I didn’t say anything either.”

Selvia retorted.

Ratius’s eyes lowered languidly.

In the dining room’s silence, only their breathing could be heard.

They stared at each other for a long time in that position.

“I should go back to my room now.”

Selvia was the one who broke the silence. She gently pushed his chest as she stood up.

At the same time, Selvia’s body staggered backward.

“Be careful.”

He caught her lightly while wrapping his arm around her waist.

Selvia’s heart pounded heavily as she grabbed his arm in surprise.

The golden eyes looking at him wavered intensely as if waves were forming.

“What a shame. I want to kiss you while pretending not to know, but I don’t want you to hate me.”

Ratius lifted Selvia’s body and brushed her hair back.

The black hair flowing at her waist fell softly between his fingers.

He kissed her hair deeply as if regretful, then smiled with crinkled eyes.

“Let me escort you to your room.”

“……Thank you.”

Selvia kept wanting to open the box hidden deep in her heart.

But she was still afraid. So today too, she turned away from the box that tried to open.