The daffodils in my arms gave off a gentle fragrance.

They symbolized self-love, nobility, mystery, pride, and inner loneliness.

Perhaps, of all those meanings, there was one that Theodore intended for me. He always gave me daffodils.

Then again, maybe it was simply because they were the symbol of the Duchy of Reynard.

“Do you know the story of the man who became a daffodil?”

As Theo spoke playfully, my mood lifted a little. Everything that had happened before I met him felt as though it had never existed.

“Yes. The man loved by the fairy who became an echo. In the end, he fell in love with his reflection in the water and drowned.”

“That’s right.”

“Why are you asking?”

“I was wondering if you knew what you were accepting.”

Even as we stepped out of the carriage and went upstairs to the salon, I deliberately avoided bringing it up.

Because I couldn’t possibly not understand why he was comparing me to the myth of the daffodil.

It seemed Theo thought I was clinging to a futile love.

So I pretended not to know.

“I still don’t get it.”

“Haha.”

It had been a long time since I’d heard someone laugh so freely. I found myself staring blankly at the man who was pulling out a chair for me, seemingly inviting me to sit down.

As I sat down, I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

The spot didn’t get much sunlight, but it overlooked the street below. It was cool inside, but outside the town buzzed with life, as though people were just waking up from their afternoon rest.

“Think about it carefully. I find it amusing whenever you fall deep into thought.”

“That’s a terrible habit. Your personality’s gotten worse.”

Even when I frowned, his bright smile made it impossible to stay annoyed. Just like now.

On the table was a glass of sherbet—already there, even though we hadn’t ordered yet.

“Peach sherbet, right?”

“Yes.”

The way he prepared things in advance, as if he knew my tastes perfectly, was one of the reasons I could never stay angry with him.

“I heard from Becky. You collapsed yesterday.”

“Yeah.”

“You should’ve come to our estate. I heard it’s close by.”

“I didn’t have the time.”

I lowered the bouquet of daffodils onto my lap, then set it beside me. The soft rustle of the wrapping and the faint fragrance that followed eased my mood a little more.

“Was it heatstroke again? Come to think of it, you didn’t bring a parasol today either.”

“I came by carriage.”

I stirred the sherbet in the glass with a silver spoon. Despite the rich, sweet scent of peach, I had no appetite.

“Is that why you called me here?”

“Yes. I wanted to see if you were all right.”

“It’s already half past five. What if I came late—or didn’t come at all?”

“Then I would’ve kept waiting. You would’ve come eventually.”

Perhaps this was why childhood friends were so important.

They knew each other so well.

I had known Theodore since the age of five. Until I turned ten, we spent almost every day together. Then, suddenly, his family emigrated to another country and we were separated.

It was strange how he still remembered even the smallest of my habits from so long ago.

I had forgotten most of them myself.

“His Grace must’ve been worried too.”

If only he didn’t probe like this, he would’ve been a better friend.

“…Yes.”

At my subdued reply, he gave an awkward smile and changed the subject.

“Do you remember Willai?”

“Ah… the attendant who used to be with you?”

I recalled a freckled boy with brown hair who used to follow Theo around diligently.

He had been a little older than Theo, and somehow a bit clumsy.

“Yeah. That guy’s getting married soon. Do you remember Ahil?”

I remembered that name too.

A plain-looking young maid with dark brown eyes and brown hair.

“I remember. She was a maid of the Merven family.”

“That’s right. The two of them are getting married soon.”

I recalled that they were around the same age as well.

“I see.”

“So I was thinking of picking out a gift. Come with me.”

“All right.”

Before I knew it, he had already finished his chocolate parfait and was waiting for me. Mine was much smaller, yet I still couldn’t bring myself to eat it properly, perhaps because I had no appetite.

‘Should I tell him?’

That I had been poisoned by the venom of a Libitina snake.

Would he help me if I asked him?

But I still hadn’t heard back from Blake.

I was staying in the ducal residence. If the duke’s fiancée were to be poisoned, it would bring the ducal house into disgrace.

By staying there, the duke was taking responsibility for my safety.

There was no way he would simply let me die.

Besides, we had spent nearly four years together.

Four years isn’t a short time. At the very least, he should still have some compassion for me.

As a Reynard, he certainly wouldn’t turn a blind eye to his own fiancée.

Unless, of course, he intended to break off the engagement.

Unlike me, the Duke of Reynard would have no trouble finding another suitable partner, even if the engagement were annulled.

Unlike me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Hm?”

“Something’s bothering you, isn’t it?”

“…No.”

Theo was watching me closely, his gaze persistent.

Would it be easier if I told him?

And yet, I couldn’t.

Nothing would change even if I did.

Theodore Merven—the Merven barony likely had no connection to the Duke Sigmund family either.

“Theo.”

“Yes?”

“Do you happen to know anyone from the Duke Sigmund family?”

“…No.”

I was slightly disappointed, but I supposed there was nothing that could be done about it.

After all, it was pure luck that my family had ever become connected to a ducal house in the first place. Becoming a fiancée on top of that was nothing short of a miracle.

Besides, this was the South.

It would have been strange to ask a southern noble if they were connected to a northern duke. The terrain between the regions was so harsh that even southern merchants avoided travelling there.

“Why do you ask?”

“It’s nothing. I just thought I’d like to visit the North someday. It’s too hot here.”

“It is.”

“I’m curious about the snow, too.”

If my father were still alive, perhaps I would have traveled north at least once.

I had only ever seen the North’s eternal snow and gentle snowfall in books. In the South, even in winter, there was only cold rain—never snow.

“Then shall we go on a trip to the North together?”

“…You know we can’t.”

A betrothed woman could not possibly travel alone with another man.

The public would never have viewed it kindly. Besides, I wasn’t the duke’s cherished fiancée, so I wasn’t granted such freedom.

This meeting was only possible because there were attendants watching nearby.

Being alone together was out of the question as long as Theo was a grown man and I was a woman already engaged to someone else.

My eyes drifted to Andrea, who had followed me in silently and was now standing at a distance, watching.

I hadn’t thought of it as surveillance before, but it certainly felt like it now.

“I know. I was just saying it, hoping it might lift your spirits.”

He smiled brightly, and a small sense of guilt stirred in me.

Theo had only said it out of concern.

It hadn’t meant anything more.

And yet, I had responded too sharply.

“Theo, you know……”

“Mm.”

He leaned closer across the table, meeting my eyes as if to listen more carefully.

‘Should I just tell him?’

But if I did, Blake wouldn’t like it.

Blake might already be looking into it in his own way. If I sought Theo’s help before anything was certain, I might only end up drifting even further away from Blake.

Blake had always hated it when I relied on others.

“I’m listening, Elaine.”

At the gentle tone of my childhood friend’s voice, it felt as though the words might slip out on their own.

For a moment, the image of Theo from three and a half years ago—at my engagement ceremony—overlapped with the present.

Just like now, his hair had been neatly swept back, his attire impeccable. In his br*ast pocket had been the embroidered handkerchief I once gave him.

The wine we drank in the waiting room that day had been unusual. Not red like most wines, but orange.

Come to think of it, I had dozed off briefly after drinking it.

“When the poison is first ingested, you will fall asleep for three days. Is there truly nothing you can recall?”

But back then, I had only slept for a short while.

“Elaine.”

“Hm?”

For some reason, the words wouldn’t come out.

It had only been an hour—just a brief sleep.

Perhaps the reason Theo suddenly seemed suspicious was because Becky—whom I had trusted the most—had lied to me.

I looked at Theo again, trying to speak.

Outside, it was still bright, the sun high in the sky. Theo was watching me, his golden eyes shining like sapphires.

“Theo.”

“Yeah?”

I drew in a deep breath and finally spoke.

“Theo… what would you do if I died?”

“Then I’d follow you.”

Thud.

My heart trembled with fear again. It felt as though my throat had closed, preventing me from saying what I had meant to say.

If I told Theo that I might truly die—

“Don’t joke.”

“Mm, I was joking. So relax that expression.”

“Ah… okay.”

The serious look he had worn disappeared, replaced by the Theo I knew.

But my chest still quivered with unease.

I didn’t want Theo to die because of something I said.

He was like the only warmth in a world of thin ice—and I didn’t want to be the one to extinguish it.

“I’m done eating. Let’s go pick out the gift now, Theo.”

“Alright.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

We left the café and headed toward the fountain in the central plaza.

Around the fountain were shops perfect for buying gifts—boutiques, gift stores, and perfume shops lined the streets. Being the capital, there were even people who came out to sing as the sun began to set.

“What do you think would be a good gift for newlyweds?”

“I don’t know. A house?”

“Haha. I’ve already taken care of that.”

“If you’ve already given them a house, what more is there to give?”

Unlike the Edenber barony, the Merven family was wealthy, owning several gold mines. They had originally been royalty from another country before being absorbed into the empire.

“I was thinking……”

“Your Grace, this way!”

A familiar voice rang out in the distance.

Turning toward the sound, I saw Becky and Blake walking side by side.

Perhaps because of the fountain, they hadn’t noticed me. Their voices overlapped faintly with Theo’s.

“……I was thinking of getting them—”

“Your Grace, if we go this way, we’ll reach that jeweler. The piece we ordered before wasn’t to my liking, so I already had it sent back!”

“Well done.”

“Oh, and—ah!”

Walking while looking back at Blake instead of ahead, Becky nearly stumbled.

Blake caught her before she could fall.

“Careful.”