Rein scratched his head as he watched Cedric, who was already getting into the Renigrad carriage.

“I’ll tell him when he gets back, I guess.”

* * *

The Renigrad carriage stopped in front of the Ronia ducal residence. The maids gasped as Cedric stepped out of the carriage.

Perhaps because the summer fabric was thin, his well-fitted shirt flowed with the movement of his muscles. The maids’ gazes followed the rolled-up sleeves, but when their eyes met Cedric’s, they hurriedly lowered their heads.

What entered their downcast gaze were fluttering petals. In contrast to his tense forearms, he held a bouquet of lilies and lilacs in his hand, creating an odd combination.

A maid, suddenly coming to her senses, ran to the Ronia ducal residence.

“Lady Bianca!”

At the maid’s urgent voice, Arne’s footsteps stopped as she was walking. When she turned her head, she saw Cedric. She could see his pupils slowly dilating as their eyes met.

“The pearl necklace…”

Arne was clearly wearing the same pearl necklace that Cedric had bought before coming here.

‘How is that on your neck?’

As his approaching steps drew closer, Cedric’s gaze never left Arne. A wry smile crossed his lips.

What is this lady up to now?

She really doesn’t give me a moment’s peace, does she?

* * *

The maid’s footsteps became urgent as she searched for Bianca.

“Lady Bianca! Lord Cedric has arrived!”

“What?”

Bianca immediately opened the window. Cedric was indeed there. A smile spread across Bianca’s face.

Last night, Arne had returned very late. It must have been long after the banquet ended, yet she came back with her arms full of books, without even reporting to the Duke.

That Arne, she’s someone who would have reported to Father faster than anyone if things had gone well!

‘She made excuses about being tired, but I’m sure she was humiliated at the banquet!’

The rumor that the Grand Duke dislikes mixed-race people is well-known. The Grand Duke, having seen Arne in person, must have been greatly disappointed in her.

Moreover, the books Arne brought that day were about mixed-race people.

‘Mixed-race, Imperial History, Monster Wars…’

Recalling the book titles she had glimpsed, Bianca immediately set her feet in motion. Despite being disappointed in Arne, why would he visit the Ronia ducal residence again?

‘Mother said she was looking for ways to continue the marriage talks between me and Lord Cedric, has she already made a move?’

With growing anticipation with each step, Bianca flung open the door. She also saw the ducal couple, who had come out surprised by the maid’s report.

Upon discovering Cedric, the Duke rushed out, forgetting his dignity. He waited for Arne to return from last night’s banquet, but for some reason, he couldn’t stop her when she said she was tired and went to her room.

‘I thought things had gone wrong at the banquet.’

The Duke’s eyes narrowed as he moved forward. The atmosphere between the two had noticeably changed.

Although Arne heard the sound of approaching footsteps, her gaze remained fixed on Cedric.

It was hard to explain, but the aura emanating from him had subtly changed.

‘Why is that?’

His face with pronounced features, straight nose, and gaze as intense as the pouring sunlight, everything was the same, and yet….

‘Is it because he’s styled his bangs up?’

As he took a step forward with a lazy smile, his movements were firm and disciplined, as expected of a well-trained knight.

‘Is it because of the bouquet in his hand?’

As Cedric stopped in front of Arne, she also lazily raised her lips and extended her hand. Cedric kissed the back of her hand.

“It’s a pleasure to see you, Lord Cedric. You’ve come early.”

“I didn’t want to be late.”

His gaze lingered slowly on Arne. Hearing the approaching footsteps, Cedric gave a light bow.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Duke and Duchess.”

“Welcome. What brings you here?”

“Due to the unfortunate incident at the banquet, the Grand Duke wishes to express his apologies and gratitude to Lady Ronia.”

“Th-the Grand Duke?”

The Duchess and Bianca, who had arrived by now, looked at each other with wide eyes.

‘Wasn’t she thoroughly humiliated at the banquet?’

As Cedric finished speaking, Warren held out an elegantly gold-decorated box to Arne.

“He said that the Lady’s great help at the last banquet was very impressive. He eagerly looks forward to your attendance at the upcoming banquet soon.”

Arne opened the box she received from Warren.

‘Twelve bottles of high-grade holy water…’

Even the Duke of Ronia could barely obtain one bottle of high-grade holy water a year. It was clear that the Grand Duke viewed Arne positively at the banquet.

“Thank you. I also look forward to seeing you again.”

Warren’s polite greeting continued. The subtly changed atmosphere wasn’t just with Cedric.

The Duke’s greedy eyes shone as he looked at the high-grade holy water.

“What exactly did Arne do? She fell asleep last night saying she was too tired, without saying a word.”

“An assassin had hidden in the banquet hall with a bomb. Thanks to Lady Ronia’s quick discovery of the bomb, a great disaster was averted.”

At those words, looks of bewilderment and surprise crossed the faces of the ducal couple and Bianca. Arne was also the same.

‘I thought he would keep quiet about this, as he did about the assassin targeting Cedric. Has there been a change in the Grand Duke’s feelings?’

Warren’s gaze turned back to Arne. Unlike his previous suspicious looks, it was now extremely respectful.

“I handled it personally. If it weren’t for the Lady, the knights and servants waiting outside the banquet hall, unaware of anything, would have been seriously injured without time to prepare.”

Warren slowly bowed his head.

“The Lady could have also been in danger. Renigrad is indebted to you. Thank you.”

When Warren raised his head, his eyes were sincere. Arne couldn’t hide her puzzlement at this unfamiliar side of Warren. Was this the Grand Duke’s will or Warren’s?

It was Cedric who cleared up the confusing atmosphere.

“Renigrad will strive to ensure that the Lady faces no more dangerous situations in the future. We ask that you keep the incident at the banquet confidential for now to avoid confusion in the investigation.”

“Of course. It was a big incident.”

“Additionally, I would like to request permission to take a walk with Lady Ronia in the Ipellita Garden. I believe it will help soothe the Lady’s mind and body.”

At Cedric’s polite and smooth inquiry, a greedy smile spread across the Duke’s face. Despite hearing that his daughter had nearly died, his gaze was directed not at Arne but at the holy water and Cedric. He was consistently the same.

“A walk is indeed very helpful for calming the mind and body. Go ahead. I’m delighted that the Renigrad grand ducal family is showing such concern.”

“Thank you.”

Arne glanced at the dumbfounded Bianca before placing her hand on Cedric’s. She lightly stepped onto the carriage that Warren held open.

As the ducal couple receded into the distance, Arne asked Cedric,

“I thought I overstepped at the banquet, but this is unexpected. I’m a bit surprised.”

“Last night, Warren reported to the Grand Duke. He said that if it weren’t for you, even if the people inside the banquet hall were unharmed, those outside would have been seriously injured.”

“I’m glad what I did wasn’t useless then.”

Cedric’s shoulders twitched. He turned his head to face Arne.

“Although I don’t want to admit it, thanks to you risking danger, many people in Renigrad were not hurt.”

Cedric’s gaze lingered on Arne’s clear eyes. As Cedric of Renigrad, it was certainly something to be grateful for. But his honest feeling was that he wished she hadn’t put herself in danger.

“…House Renigrad won’t forget this gratitude.”

“Is that why you prepared these flowers too?”

“That’s right. Is there anything else you want?”

Cedric smiled lazily, with a playful look. His gaze fell on the pearl necklace Arne was wearing.

‘She asked to sell it secretly, should I pretend not to know? Or should I ask?’

Just as Cedric was about to broach the subject, Arne glared at him slightly and answered,

“You’re going to say no to an engagement, so I’ll think about it after we visit the Ipellita Garden. They say everyone in the Empire has been there at least once, but I’ve never been.”

“As the Lady wishes.”

Arne’s eyes curved in apparent joy.

* * *

The moment they arrived, Arne could instantly feel why the Ipellita Garden was famous.

“I’ve never seen such a large and magnificent garden before.”

Arne’s eyes sparkled. The entrance seemed to recreate a scene from the founding myth, with the goddess statue surrounded by the emblems of the four founding families embroidered in flowers.

“The goddess looks beautiful and enchanting.”

Beyond that, statues of golden and black dragons clashing, seemingly recreating the Great Monster War, followed. After being mesmerized by the goddess’s beauty, now her heart swelled with grandeur.

As Arne read the information board, she sensed this wasn’t the end.

‘Goddess’s Garden, Dragon’s Garden, Rose Garden, Firefly Garden, Maze Garden… It seems like a collection of small gardens, each with its own unique character!’

Watching Arne’s increasingly sparkling eyes, a smile spread across Cedric’s face like paint.

“The Ipellita Garden is quite large, so in just one day we might not be able to see everything…”

“I’m so glad we came! We can see it all, right?”

Cedric looked alternately at Arne’s fancy shoes and her shining eyes, then let out a low sigh.

“If we take it slow and rest along the way, we might be able to see everything.”