A day passed, and before class, I set up tea. I placed tea bags that could steep even in cold water into the teapot and set out teacups enchanted with magic to maintain a cold temperature.

Fazel arrived 20 minutes before class, just like usual.

After the engagement ceremony, Fazel and I had been spending brief tea times before lessons to show we were on close terms.

When I finished preparing the tea, Fazel walked over and asked.

“Is there anything I should do?”

I shook my head at Fazel’s question. I pointed to the cookies and sat down in a chair.

“Let’s eat first.”

“Yes.”

Fazel seemed pleased with my words and ate cookies first before drinking the cool tea.

“My house is really hot, but it’s cool here. There’s probably no better place to study than this.”

I smiled at his words.

‘Fazel, let’s live together in the castle.’

I desperately wanted to say it, but I kept my mouth firmly shut.

〈I refuse.〉

I’d already been rejected once before.

“Drink some tea too.”

“Thank you.”

Fazel picked up the teapot and poured tea into his cup. I watched him and asked.

“Fazel, don’t you want to go on a trip?”

“A trip?”

“I want to go on a trip.”

Fazel took a sip of tea and thought about it. Since he didn’t immediately refuse, it seemed like he might come along.

“Where would you go?”

I spoke like I’d been waiting for this.

“I’m going to a valley near the territory.”

If it was near the territory, Fazel seemed to have an idea and nodded.

“You mean the place with the villa. Master Trean went there and said it was good.”

Trean had wanted to spend his vacation somewhere cool, so I lent him our family’s villa. And he had a good time there.

“I don’t remember resting recently.”

Fazel seemed to think this trip was fairly acceptable. Especially since Trean Arnold had been there first, which seemed to give it high marks in his mind.

“Want to go?”

“Sounds good. But who’s coming?”

Fazel had developed a habit of checking the guest list first whenever I suggested going somewhere. After the engagement ceremony last time, he seemed unable to trust me when I said things would be modest.

“Just us. Some servants and a few escort knights?”

Fazel looked relieved.

“That’ll be comfortable then. When many people gather at birthday parties or engagement ceremonies, there’s a lot to worry about.”

“Fazel, you’re good at noble etiquette now.”

After making a contract with me, the first thing Fazel wanted to learn was noble etiquette. He worked hard enough to satisfy the etiquette teacher. So now there was nothing awkward when he went to parties with me.

Even before formally learning, Suran had taught him to some degree, so his overall fundamentals were solid.

“It has to be perfect. I have that obsession, so I’m always nervous.”

I grinned at Fazel’s words. He was nervous in front of others like this, but comfortable in front of me.

‘Good.’

This is how we move forward, one step at a time.

“Anyway, I’ll go along for now. But since it’s just us, I don’t need to dress too formally.”

Fazel spoke like he was giving advance notice.

“I’ll dress casually too.”

He chuckled and asked me.

“Isn’t what you’re wearing now casual clothes?”

Well, that’s true, but.

“Hmm, your standard for flashy is different from mine. Anyway, I’ll see you that day.”

Since Fazel had agreed, I nodded.

With this, the preparations were complete.

I just had to count down the days until then.

* * *

The day of the trip arrived. Marlene diligently dragged my luggage.

In the past, Marlene, Father, and I would have ridden in the same carriage, but now the situation was different.

Marlene couldn’t possibly miss my desire to ride alone in the carriage with Fazel.

“Then I’ll ride in that carriage. Miss, have a good time with Lord Fazel.”

We really would be alone together.

“Marlene, see you later.”

Fazel blinked and asked. His expression, which had been indifferent until he heard Marlene’s words, changed.

“Are we riding alone together?”

I nodded.

“We’re engaged.”

I had the excuse of being engaged.

I had put a clause in the contract stating we had to appear affectionate.

“I see.”

Seemingly remembering that, Fazel looked at the carriage without any particular objection.

“Don’t worry. I won’t eat you up. Let’s get on.”

Fazel looked at me like I was ridiculous.

“There’s nothing you won’t say.”

Like that, Fazel and I left our luggage with the servants and boarded the carriage.

We were going on our first trip since getting engaged.

Without knowing what awaited us there.

* * *

Inside the carriage were plush chairs. I momentarily imagined sitting side by side with Fazel, but when he naturally sat in the seat across from me, my dream was disappointingly shattered.

It took some time, but now we could at least sit facing each other, so the day we’d sit side by side wasn’t far off.

I smiled and asked Fazel.

“Fazel, you said meat was fine for the dinner menu, right?”

“Of course. Meat is lovely.”

He licked his lips like he was salivating. Since I’d told him in advance we’d be grilling meat for a barbecue party at the villa, he looked pleased.

“It’ll be delicious meat, right?”

Fazel asked seriously. I told him.

“When have you seen me handle anything that isn’t delicious?”

Fazel firmly shook his head.

“You know. I only handle delicious things.”

Life is too short. If you’re going to eat, you should eat delicious food!

“My lady, I look forward to it.”

At Fazel’s excited voice, I shrugged my shoulders. At my special request, the chef said he’d put in a lot of effort.

“After eating the food in the castle, doesn’t the food at home not suit your taste?”

I asked jokingly.

“That’s actually been a problem.”

But Fazel said it really was true.

“Mother’s cooking skills are good too, but it’s hard to match the top-grade ingredients in the castle.”

When ingredients are good, food becomes more delicious.

“And even when I cook, it’s often difficult because it doesn’t taste like the castle’s food.”

Our Fazel was also good at cooking. Thanks to making simple things when Suran was away from home for work.

We debated how delicious the meat would be on our way to the villa.

After half a day, the carriage stopped. Should I say we arrived earlier than expected? Since it was almost lunchtime, I was a bit hungry.

Fazel and I quickly got out of the carriage. Though we hadn’t ridden in the carriage for a long time, my whole body had stiffened from being in the same position for a while.

While I stretched, Fazel turned around and looked at the villa.

A building smaller than a mansion but quite large stood before us.

Fazel, who had been looking at the gray walls of the three-story villa with its green roof, nodded.

Was he impressed?

As we passed through the wide front yard, I told Fazel.

“This is the villa. First, your room is this way.”

I took Fazel to a room on the first floor.

It was a room I’d said to give to my fiancé since I possessed this body, telling everyone not to let anyone else in.

The room was spacious. A bed, table, and desk made of solid wood were placed there. Since it was a splendid room, Fazel looked around for a while.

“The room is nice.”

He gave a brief impression.

Fazel wasn’t the type to speak with flowery modifiers. I smiled slightly, satisfied.

“Right? This room is the second-best room after mine. I’ll show you where I’ll be staying too.”

I showed Fazel my room. Beautiful landscape paintings hung on the walls, and the marble floor was polished and shiny.

The atmosphere of Fazel’s room and my room was quite different.

“The Asnel family’s rooms are always splendid. Though my room is too.”

“Your taste is more your room than mine, right, Fazel?”

“Of course.”

Fazel looked around and nodded.

After finishing the villa tour, Fazel and I came out to the living room.

In the living room were Marlene, attendants, and knights. Marlene saw me and quickly approached.

“We’ll prepare lunch, so Lord Fazel and Lady Louelle should go play at the valley.”

I’d been waiting for her words.

Though we’d coordinated this in advance.

“Fazel, let’s go.”

Finally, I’m going to the valley with him!

“Is the valley far?”

“Twenty minutes on foot.”

At my answer, Fazel thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Good. I hate walking a long time on hot days.”

Fazel was sensitive to heat. I was too, but Fazel seemed even more so.

“It’s a bit hot getting there, but you won’t regret it once we arrive. The water is very cool.”

Anticipation appeared in Fazel’s eyes at my words.

“I see.”

“It’ll take about an hour, so play and come down at the right time.”

At Marlene’s words, Fazel and I left the villa. Still, since it was mountain air, it was cooler than being in the castle.

The wind blew gently.

“Shall we go?”

Fazel led me as we walked slowly. Two knights followed us from the side.

If wild animals appeared, it could be dangerous. No matter how exceptional Fazel’s swordsmanship was compared to his peers, dealing with wild animals might be difficult.

Every time the wind blew, I felt the heat break somewhat.

Like that, Fazel and I climbed the mountain, feeling the wind.

After climbing for about 20 minutes, the valley came into view.

Fazel and I, who had arrived at the valley, panted for a moment. Then a knight handed me a canteen filled with cold water. Fazel also took out water to drink and raised his head to look at the valley ahead.

“How is it?”

Fazel looked around and was slightly impressed.

“There’s a waterfall.”

Inside the valley was a fairly large waterfall. Since the water was deep below the waterfall, a magical barrier had been set up to prevent people from entering. The magical barrier was transparent so ordinary people couldn’t see it, but Fazel’s eyes could.

“There’s magic on it.”

As expected, he noticed.