Winter woke up early and got straight to work.

She needed to hurry if she wanted to buy the brioche and small bread rolls that Lily liked.

Fortunately, she arrived just as the freshly baked bread came out of the oven, so there was no queue.

While waiting for her turn, Winter ran through everything she needed to do that day in her mind.

After visiting Lily, she would need to collect her painting supplies and go out again.

‘At this rate, I probably won’t finish working until evening.’

Thinking about the exhibition due to open at the salon over the weekend, Winter decided to stop by, even if it meant arriving late.

Although Madame Roche had repeatedly insisted that she did not need her help, Winter still wanted to contribute in some small way on a day like this.

“Here you are. Enjoy.”

After choosing some bread that Lily would like, Winter left the bakery at once.

As it was still early, few shops were open and the streets were quiet.

A cool breeze carrying the ever-changing colors of the sea brushed gently against her cheeks.

Winter quickened her pace along a route that had long since become familiar.

The thought of seeing Lily’s face soon brought a gentle smile to her lips.

***

After several days of constant movement, Winter finally sank into a chair late that evening.

The library on the third floor of the salon had been quiet for some time.

With an exhibition underway in the main hall on the ground floor, all the staff had gone downstairs, leaving the upper floors deserted.

After only a brief rest, Winter got to her feet once more and resumed organizing the handwritten manuscripts and art collections stacked on the shelves, carefully sorting them by subject.

Madame Roche had told her to go home early, but Winter wanted to spend a little more time studying the various painting styles.

There was simply too much work to finish in a single day.

She planned to organize as much as she could before slipping out quietly through the back door.

As she reached for the highest shelf, she realized that she needed something to stand on.

Glancing around the library, she saw nothing suitable nearby.

With no other option, she searched the corridor several times before finally discovering a small footstool in a storage room on the opposite side.

Carrying it back with her, she stepped into the corridor —and unexpectedly came face to face with someone who had just climbed the stairs.

“Ah!”

Startled, Winter nearly slammed the footstool she was carrying into the person’s chest. She jerked back in alarm.

“I’m sorry.”

Winter quickly set the footstool down and apologized.

When she looked up, she realized that the person standing before her was not a salon employee as she had expected, but a stranger.

Or rather, not entirely a stranger.

He was the man who had picked up her paint box for her not long ago.

Instead of complaining, he asked,

“Are you alright?”

“Yes. You just startled me a little… Are you looking for something on the third floor?”

Winter blinked rapidly, quickly regaining her composure.

If he wasn’t an employee, he must be a customer.

Aside from a few locked rooms, most areas of the salon were open for visitors to explore at their leisure.

Assuming he was a guest, Winter intended to point him in the right direction and leave it at that.

Just then, another set of footsteps approached.

The person coming up the stairs was Madame Roche, her hair elegantly pinned up.

“Lord Gabriel, I’m sorry I’m late. That conversation took longer than expected.”

After spotting Winter and Gabriel standing together, Madame Roche hurried over.

She had brought Gabriel here after he had shown an interest in seeing the salon’s collection of art books.

However, she had been stopped by a guest along the way and had to talk to them, leaving Gabriel to come upstairs ahead of her.

“There’s no need to rush.”

A faint smile touched Gabriel’s lips.

Standing beside him, Madame Roche extended her arm towards Winter.

As one of the salon’s most valued patrons, she could hardly allow the son of the esteemed Regner family to leave without introducing him.

“This is my relative, Winter. Winter, this is Lord Gabriel of the Marquis Regner family.”

Winter inclined her head politely.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

As she had first suspected, he was no ordinary man.

The name Regner was familiar to her; she had heard it mentioned many times at the salon.

“The pleasure is mine.”

Gabriel responded to her brief greeting with a bright smile.

He was genuinely pleased to meet her again.

She looked different in the bright sunlight.

Perhaps the warm glow of the lamps softly illuminating her hair and eyes gave her a completely different appearance.

This thought lingered in his mind for a moment before being interrupted by Madame Roche’s voice.

“I’ve gathered the art books over here. Would you like to come take a look?”

“Why not?”

Upon hearing his quick agreement, Madame Roche stepped forward to lead the way.

Winter, a few steps behind, had every intention of excusing herself quietly and leaving.

However, a few minutes later, it was Winter who found herself entering the spacious library with him.

“Madame Roche, I think you need to come downstairs for a moment.”

At the call from an employee who had come up to the third floor, Madame Roche looked troubled.

Seeing that expression, Winter could not simply walk away.

“You should go downstairs. I’ll assist the guest.”

“Ah… Are you sure?”

“Of course. I’m the one who organized this section today anyway.”

Before Madame Roche could hesitate, Winter quickly reassured her.

The task was well within her capabilities.

Throughout the entire exchange, Gabriel remained leaning casually against the doorway.

Under normal circumstances, he would have waited until another day to look through the art books and accompanied Madame Roche downstairs.

There was nothing urgent enough to need doing tonight.

Yet instead of leaving, Gabriel chose to stay where he was and silently observe the situation unfold.

A short while later, the woman he had met for the second time that day stood before him once again.

“I’ll show you this section first. I was in the middle of organizing the art collection by subject, so some areas are still a bit mixed up. If there’s a particular style or artist you’re interested in, I can check the library to see if we have any examples.”

After giving a brief overview, Winter continued calmly.

Having graduated from the Royal Academy of Arts, she clearly had a solid understanding of painting.

Having seen countless works over the years, guiding the conversation came naturally to her.

The question came just as she reached for one of the art books.

“Do you enjoy painting as well?”

“I’m sorry?”

“I thought you were carrying a paintbox that day.” Have you forgotten? It was me who picked up the case after it rolled away.”

Gabriel found himself wondering whether she actually remembered him.

Judging by the composed way she continued her explanation, it seemed as though she had forgotten their encounter entirely.

“…Thank you again for that. I only paint as a hobby.”

After a slight pause, Winter lowered her eyes, concealing the rest of the truth.

She intended to exhibit both her completed landscapes and future works without revealing her name.

“I see.”

Gabriel smiled faintly.

“I only recently returned to Santero. I’ve been away from my hometown for several years.”

After a brief introduction, he held out his hand to her.

For a moment, Winter failed to understand the gesture.

Then, a moment later, she realized what he wanted.

Gabriel took the art book from her and smiled faintly.

It was more pleasant than he had expected that the woman he had met by chance actually remembered him.

“I like paintings. I’ve loved this collection since I was young. Its delicate attention to detail has always fascinated me. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm far exceeded my talent, so I never became a painter.”

A hint of amusement entered his voice.

“I was terribly bad at drawing. My heart was willing, but my hands refused to cooperate.”

“…Ah, I see.”

Winter offered a brief response to Gabriel’s childhood story, which flowed naturally.

For the son of a prestigious noble family, Gabriel was remarkably easy-going.

In fact, Winter found herself unsure of how formal she was supposed to be with him.

Her confusion did not end there.

“May I call you Miss Roche?”

“Pardon?”

“I mean how I should address you.”

“Please use whatever you’re comfortable with.”

“Can I really choose freely? To be honest, I find names much more comfortable than formal titles.”

The conversation felt far too casual for a guest and guide of the salon to have.

Winter absentmindedly smoothed down the rolled-up cuff of her sleeve.

She had very little experience of this kind of interaction.

Gabriel looked down at her as she stood before the towering bookshelf.

Even he could tell that he was being rather informal.

Then again, he had always been that way.

It was simply part of his nature.

“Gabriel, honestly, where did you get that friendliness from? If only you and your sister had inherited it equally. Getting a word out of her takes all day.”

Even his mother would often shake her head at how quickly he befriended people.

However, he had never approached a woman he barely knew quite like this before.

There was no hidden motive behind it.

No special intention.

He simply wanted to know a little more about her.

At the same time, it would hardly be gentlemanly to keep her there when she was so obviously uncomfortable.

With that thought in mind, Gabriel looked away and handed the art book back to Winter.

He had already noticed her stealing glances at the wall clock several times.

“Miss Roche, thank you for showing me around today.”

At his words, she quickly took the book from him and returned it to its place on the shelf.