She ushered us into the house while keeping her emotions in check.

“By the way, I don’t see your son.”

“He couldn’t come out because he’s preparing tea.”

Father and I entered the house and sat on the sofa. The fairly spacious living room had a small chandelier, a sofa, and a table. It was reasonably clean and gave off a tidy impression. I heard they moved in a few days ago, but it seemed they’d unpacked quite a bit.

“Fazel, the guests are here.”

Suran went to fetch Fazel. Father and I sat on the sofa and waited for Fazel to arrive. Of course, I was clutching the bouquet tightly.

A short while later, a boy carrying teacups on a tray walked over with Suran and greeted us.

When our eyes met, my breath caught.

Beneath the boy’s silver hair that shone in the sunlight were golden eyes brighter than the sun itself. The harmony of gold and silver was exquisite. That was the only way I could describe it. 

His face was so intensely handsome it was unforgettable.

I clicked my tongue. With a face like that, he could probably conquer the empire on looks alone.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Louelle Asnel.”

I smiled brightly.

“I’m Fazel Onyuran. Thank you for welcoming us.”

Fazel greeted us politely. I quickly handed him the bouquet I’d prepared.

“This is a gift.”

Fazel’s eyes wavered as he looked at the carefully made bouquet. He probably hadn’t expected the lord’s daughter to give him flowers.

“Are you really giving this to us?”

Fazel looked back and forth between the bouquet and me several times. I nodded firmly at his disbelief.

“Of course.”

I didn’t forget to smile at the end. He looked at my smile, then grasped the bouquet tightly with both hands.

“Thank you.”

Then he held the bouquet to his chest and sat down across from us with Suran.

We took care of our business briefly and stood up. Though it was a short time where we only drank a couple cups of tea, I was extremely satisfied. 

The business here didn’t take long anyway. We just had to explain the rules that must be followed in the territory and the useful systems and facilities available.

Besides, I was satisfied just from meeting Fazel.

Father and I said our goodbyes and left the mansion. I didn’t know when I’d see Fazel again, but I hoped it wouldn’t be too far off. 

With that cautious hope, I rummaged through my pockets thinking to tie up my hair. I’d left my hair down earlier to look good for Fazel. Now that our business was done, I tried to tie it back up.

But my pockets were completely empty.

Flustered, I looked at Father and asked, “Father, do you have a hair tie?”

“I don’t have one.”

“Oh no! I must have left it at Baroness Onyuran’s house. I don’t have my hair tie.”

Mother passed away long ago, and Father was the one who looked after me when I possessed this body. Because of that, the things Father gave me were extremely precious. Father knew this well.

“Did you really leave it at the baroness’s house?”

At Father’s serious question, I nodded.

“I can’t think of anywhere else. I think I need to go back.”

Father quickly turned the carriage around.

I felt good thinking I could see Fazel once more.

My heart started pounding. Fazel looked at the bouquet.

Louelle Asnel.

Long golden hair that reached her waist and blue eyes. Her white skin sparkled in the sunlight. She was clearly a young lady raised preciously and delicately. And she had given him a bouquet. She gave it as a gesture to become friends.

He knew there was no other meaning beyond that.

But strangely, it grated on him. The moment he saw this bouquet, something surged up inside him.

“It feels like she’s pitying me.”

Especially, the scent of flowers he’d smelled in the underground dungeon of his biological father’s house came to mind. The scent of red roses pressed down on his head.

“Haa.”

Louelle didn’t seem like a bad person. But he couldn’t help being wary of someone who showed him kindness for no reason. What was she planning to do later that made her go through this troublesome act to win his favor?

“Mother. I’m going to throw this away.”

“Fazel, do you really have to?”

“You know very well, Mother!”

Fazel shouted like that in a surge of emotion. Then Suran nodded reluctantly.

He took the bouquet and went outside. And without any hesitation, he threw the bouquet in the trash can in front of the entrance.

That’s when he saw a carriage approaching.

“Oh no.”

Fazel panicked and quickly rummaged through the trash can to find the bouquet. But it had already become a mess. The carriage was too fast. Fazel hastily closed the trash can to hide that he’d thrown away the bouquet.

‘They won’t find out, right?’

He had to face the Asnel young lady once more while flustered.

When I returned to Suran’s house, I found my hair tie along with an apology.

I asked Fazel quietly, who was frozen stiff.

“Did you put the bouquet I gave you nicely in a vase?”

“That is…”

But his voice was trembling.

“Is something wrong?”

I thought it was a bit strange. Just in case, I asked him. But Fazel’s complexion changed rapidly. Suran’s did too.

“Did something happen to the bouquet?”

Father stepped forward and asked. Then Fazel’s lips twitched.

“You didn’t throw away the bouquet, did you?”

I asked him just in case. Then Fazel lowered his head like his conscience was pricked.

“The flowers are gone.”

“Where are they?”

“In the trash can…”

He was speaking when he looked at me with frightened eyes.

“I’m sorry. There’s a reason for this…!”

“How dare you?”

Father’s voice turned cold. Wasn’t he the father who turned cold when something bad happened to me?

“You threw my daughter’s bouquet in the trash?”

Then fear flooded into Fazel’s eyes.

“I was happy to make a friend…”

When I showed sadness, Father sighed and looked at Suran and Fazel.

“Why did you throw away the bouquet?”

At Father’s words, Suran wore an anxious expression. Fazel also finally began to speak when this situation arose.

“When I looked at the bouquet, anger surged up.”

“Why?”

“Well, it was kindness far too excessive for me.”

Fazel said this and lowered his head.

He seemed to find it difficult to speak his true feelings honestly. He pretended otherwise, but his head trembled slightly, seemingly afraid of what punishment might be given.

“Fazel, you know you did wrong, right?”

Fazel nodded with a stiff expression.

“I’m waiting for my punishment.”

“Then…?”

Suran’s voice trembled thinly.

As expected, she was quick to catch on.

“I won’t drive you out.”

I had to speak first before Father could.

No matter how sensitive Fazel was, he wouldn’t have just thrown away the flowers for no reason. He was a prickly man, but he wasn’t someone who would throw away flowers given with good intentions without reason.

What happened at the duke’s house?

Because the author didn’t write Fazel’s past in detail, I only knew he experienced something bad at the duke’s house, but I didn’t know specifically what it was.

“Louelle, really.”

Father clicked his tongue and said no more.

Since I stopped him from driving them out, Father’s face was full of dissatisfaction. But even if there was more to discuss, it had to be done after leaving Baroness Onyuran’s house first.

Father seemed to judge it that way and didn’t drag out the time, bringing me out.

Inside the moving carriage, Father brought up the main point.

“Louelle, may I ask what you want from that boy?”

“I don’t want much.”

“Really? You’re being so generous it’s suspicious.”

At Father’s words, I was at a loss for words.

“Aren’t you the one who firmly dealt with the family that embezzled and drove them far away?”

Not long ago, when I found the culprit who embezzled the territory’s budget, I showed no mercy and immediately drove him out. Even though he was a long-time subordinate, I requested severe punishment. Yet I was treating Fazel so kindly.

“I don’t want much.”

“Really? Then what will you do from now on?”

“Well, an opportunity to give punishment has come, so I’m thinking about how to use it. To achieve my goal, I’ll have to use it very well.”

I answered Father’s words with a confident expression.

Then Father made a serious expression.

“Louelle, what’s your ultimate goal?”

“To make Fazel my husband.”

As soon as the words ended, Father’s eyes widened.

“What? Husband?”

Well, from Father’s perspective, it would be absurd.

“I’m serious.”

I was more honest than ever. Father held his head with his hand for a moment, then sighed.

“I think that boy would be fine as my husband.”

My little head spun busily again.

Everything was to spend time with Fazel, the mastermind.

Because of this incident, Fazel couldn’t refuse my requests anymore.

“Did you choose him because of his face?”

“Father!”

“It’s hard to say no when Fazel’s appearance is so outstanding.”

My heart stung. But he’s so much my type! Men like that are rare!

Father narrowed his eyes and observed me.

“My daughter makes this kind of expression.”

“What kind of expression?”

“The expression of waiting for delicious food.”

Ah, I have nothing to say.

“Well, if Father gets a handsome son-in-law, the grandchildren’s looks will be exceptional too. That’s good, right?”

I talked about a future that hadn’t happened yet but that I was dreaming of.

Father’s expression at that moment was really… worth seeing.