After spending busy days in the capital, Fazel and I returned to the territory when autumn reached its peak.

Just like I’d predicted, gifts had piled up so much they filled the castle. Quite a few gifts had come for Fazel too.

Anyway, Fazel and I wrote thank-you letters to those who’d sent gifts and organized them. Around the time we caught our breath, a letter arrived from Rucelina.

I looked at the letter Rucelina sent and wiggled my fingers.

She’s arranged a party.

“Phew.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Rucelina wants me to come. I think I should ask Fazel.”

If Fazel says no, I’ll have to go alone. Thinking that, I folded the letter.

Fazel would arrive soon. Today was a day off from both swordsmanship and lessons. I’d put a clause in the contract stating we had to have tea together on days off, and Fazel faithfully kept that clause.

“What dress should you wear today?”

Marlene was excited.

“You need to show off your beauty, my lady.”

“I’ll just wear something.”

“You say that, but you’ll be sad if you don’t look pretty.”

My heart twinged. I quickly pretended not to notice and went to the wardrobe.

Since winter was approaching, I wore a brown dress. Even though the sunlight at lunchtime was strong, a chilly wind blew, so we kept the windows closed and enjoyed our tea time.

“Louelle, your clothes always change.”

“Is that bad?”

“No, they suit you well.”

Fazel spoke casually, but at his words my heart pounded. I glanced at him.

Beautiful silver hair and golden eyes. He’d be magnificent even in middle age.

Even if I hadn’t known Fazel, I think I would have approached him first.

“Why are you staring like that?”

“Because you’re handsome.”

When I spoke honestly, Fazel set down his cup for a moment.

“Do you like my face that much? I don’t like it because it reminds me of that bastard.”

“Fazel, don’t say that. Your appearance is precious.”

“Anyway.”

When he laughed, I quickly handed him the invitation.

“What’s this?”

“An invitation from Rucelina.”

“Ah, that friend who likes handsome men?”

“Right, will you go with me?”

I looked at him hesitantly. After thinking for a while, Fazel looked at me and smiled.

“Good for building connections. I want to go.”

“Should we?”

Fazel readily agreed. Fazel would be the most handsome one there.

I hoped the young ladies wouldn’t be interested in Fazel.

* * *

Fazel, with his soft silver hair tied with a string and wearing brown formal attire, was adjusting his sleeves. Golden eyes set in a face tanned from practicing swordsmanship in the sun looked at me.

Fazel’s appearance was becoming more radiant. I almost lost my reason and pulled him into an embrace. But I shouldn’t do that.

“It suits you well.”

I gave him a cravat. It was one my father used to wear, which I’d specially borrowed. Fazel, who’d been examining the cravat with its beautifully embroidered pattern, suddenly looked at me.

“Isn’t this the Count’s?”

“Right. I borrowed it from Father.”

This cravat was very expensive because it was custom-ordered from a designer in the capital.

“Many wealthy nobles come to the parties Rucelina throws. We can’t go there looking shabby.”

I’d brought it because I wanted to see Fazel wearing it, but since I couldn’t say that honestly, I just made up an appropriate reason. It wasn’t wrong either.

Then Fazel took the cravat and put it around his neck. It suited him so well that I felt pleased.

I wanted to do more things for him to see the appearance I’d wanted to see. Fazel wouldn’t know my feelings at all.

“Louelle needs to get ready quickly too.”

Fazel looked at my hair, which hadn’t been done at all.

“That’s right, my lady.”

Marlene walked over with styling tools, smiling affectionately. I’d only watched Fazel become handsome and hadn’t styled myself, so veins popped on Marlene’s forehead.

“I should style you to match Lord Fazel, shouldn’t I?”

It meant she’d style me properly, so I should prepare myself. I couldn’t say anything and had to sit in the chair, receive Marlene’s touch, and look in the mirror.

I wanted to look at Fazel more.

“You two really suit each other well.”

Marlene whispered only to me so Fazel wouldn’t hear.

“This time you’ll both get in the carriage together, so do well then.”

“Do well?”

“You should try holding hands and such.”

When Marlene spoke specifically, my face heated up. We still hadn’t properly held hands yet. Marlene seemed to find that unfortunate.

“It’s fine if we don’t.”

“Why do you keep staring at Lord Fazel’s hands like that?”

“……”

“Though this is also part of your charm, my lady.”

Just what was Marlene seeing in me to say such things? I couldn’t understand.

* * *

Rucelina whistled. She looked at the list of those coming tomorrow and smiled happily.

She’d seen all the handsome men in the territory. It was fine to see them again, but this time she wanted to see handsome men she didn’t see often.

So she recruited friends. Since most were nobles, most of their fiancés were handsome men.

“You’ll never get married, sister.”

Royten’s red eyes glared at her. At the gaze emanating from his shining eyes, Rucelina shrugged and stood up laughing.

“I will if he’s handsome.”

“How handsome does he have to be?”

At Royten’s question, she recalled the handsome men she’d seen recently. There were many handsome men, but if asked to pick one among them, she could choose immediately.

“About as handsome as Louelle’s fiancé?”

“There’s no one like that.”

“True, I was surprised too. I’ve met countless handsome men, but that was the first time for someone like him.”

That didn’t mean her heart fluttered or anything. To Rucelina, other people’s men were merely ornamental.

But if a man was as handsome as Fazel, she thought she might marry him.

“Where did Louelle meet such a man? I was envious.”

She remembered Louelle frowning and being wary. Louelle, who was mature about everything.

“Louelle can be called Louelle, but what should I call that fiancé? Lord Fazel?”

Rucelina pondered the form of address. Then Royten agreed.

“I can’t call him just Fazel, right?”

“Right.”

“Ah, too bad. I thought I’d have a friend I could call by name comfortably.”

“I’m not disappointed.”

“Well, you’re only interested in faces anyway, sister.”

Since her brother’s words were correct, Rucelina just smiled silently.

* * *

The carriage was moving quickly. After warping and traveling for about a day, they’d arrive at Count Selon’s territory. Knights surrounded the carriage, seemingly to protect Louelle and Fazel.

Since they had to travel quite a distance, they’d been in the carriage for a long time. Louelle, who’d been chattering softly when they first got on, was now sleeping.

Fazel, who’d been reading a book, closed it and quietly watched her with her eyes closed.

Getting styled at the mansion today had been awkward. He hadn’t shown it to Louelle, but it felt strange and tense, like becoming someone other than himself.

He’d been relieved when Louelle said it suited him well, but he was still anxious. What if he looked inferior compared to everyone else when they went to tea time?

Fazel knew well that not everyone would treat him as well as Louelle did.

“This territory is strange.”

Asnel territory was truly strange. People were kind and full of smiles. The Count didn’t exploit the territory’s people but provided for them, and the people respected such a Count.

People always said they wanted to live here, and there was a reason. Living here himself, he seemed to understand why they were happy.

Fazel looked at the sleeve of the clothes he wore.

He’d wanted to enter the Academy. He wanted to go there, learn magic and swordsmanship, and succeed. He had talent and didn’t want to live in poverty his whole life.

He wanted to support his mother, meet a loving wife, and live a happy life. He’d had admiration for his father.

But after meeting him directly, it disappeared. He’d only experienced terrible things.

He’d been in despair, but meeting Louelle led to strange experiences. At first, he thought she was using him. But now he knew that wasn’t the case.

She respected him. His mother said respecting someone was the best way to treat them.

This experience was so sweet. The thought of wanting to be together forever sometimes surged up.

“It would be better if she were a wicked noble.”

Depending on someone, giving your heart, was difficult. Because the moment you’re disappointed, hell begins.

“She confuses me.”

Louelle tossed and turned. Only then realizing Louelle was sleeping without even covering herself with a blanket, Fazel took out a blanket and covered her with it.

She looked beautiful sleeping soundly.

“When I’m a bit older, will I be able to completely open my heart to you?”

He murmured this and laughed alone. It was a peaceful time.

The time spent with Louelle seemed a little happy.

* * *

When I arrived at Count Selon’s castle, I got out with Fazel as the carriage door opened. I could see carriages from other noble families too. Rucelina and Royten were warmly welcoming them.

They spotted us and quickly walked over. Rucelina and Royten waved at me and tried to greet Fazel.

“You don’t have to bow. If you’re Louelle’s friend, you’re my friend.”

At Fazel’s words, Royten quickly adapted.

“That cravat, the Count used to wear it.”

Royten, who’d seen the cravat Father wore, was impressed.

“I wanted to try it too and begged, but Sister Louelle wouldn’t lend it to me.”

At Royten’s words, Fazel touched the cravat. His eyes wavered, seemingly thinking something, then he looked at me and smiled.

“Thanks to Louelle, I got to wear it.”

Every time he sent me an affectionate gaze instead of a wary one like before, my heart raced. I had a feeling he’d become my real fiancé.

Royten approached Fazel and spoke quietly.

“The men will gather later, so I’m counting on you then.”

“What are you asking for?”

“Just, we’re very curious about you.”

Royten’s eyes sparkled. I watched him, then raised my arm to stop him.

“Don’t ask Fazel weird things.”

“I won’t. I’m just curious how you got so close to Sister Louelle.”

That’s because I proposed a contract engagement. Then Fazel looked at me with wavering eyes. He seemed troubled, so I bit my lip and shouted.

“That’s because I fell for him!”

Better for me to strike first before Fazel becomes uncomfortable with this conversation. Then Royten, Rucelina, and the nobles who’d come to attend the party all focused their attention.

My face heated up and I unconsciously fanned myself.

“That’s honest?”

Royten whistled and turned the topic to me.

“Well, I would have liked him too.”

Rucelina looked at Fazel’s face and nodded understandingly.

“So Louelle is also about faces?”

When Rucelina muttered, I agreed to some extent.

“He’s just my type.”

Then Rucelina shook her head.

“With a face like Fazel’s, he’d be anyone’s type!”

That was true, but. Fazel, who’d been a bit behind, also approached me.

“I didn’t dislike Louelle approaching me.”

He appropriately went along with my words. Of course, those words probably weren’t sincere, but so what? At those words, my heart was pounding loudly.

“What, you both fell for each other.”

Royten clicked his tongue.

“We should talk while drinking tea.”

Rucelina quickly took us inside. They won’t ask any more weird questions, right? I felt relieved.

While walking, Fazel approached me and whispered.

“Thanks. You saved me.”

Fazel shook his head.

“But that’s impressive. You can even say such embarrassing things well.”

“It was hard for me too.”

I could say it because I was sincere, but I decided not to tell him yet. Because he might feel burdened.

We’re friends now.

* * *

After introducing each other and drinking tea, it became time for the men to talk among themselves and the women among themselves. He had to deal with these people alone without Louelle. Fazel’s lips were parched.

He shouldn’t make mistakes. He followed Royten with the feeling of walking on thin ice.

The place where the men were had rough furniture. But everyone sat down without saying much.

“What does Fazel usually do?”

What they’d been most curious about, how the engagement came about, they didn’t really ask because Louelle had made a public confession.

“I train in swordsmanship. I like it.”

When he used a sword, he tasted the sensation of himself disappearing. Trean said that was innate talent, and Fazel smiled thinking about it.

“Master Trean teaches me well too.”

“That person is a famous knight.”

Another noble showed interest. Then Fazel nodded.

“He was the vice-captain of the Imperial Knight Order.”