Tiny toy teacups were neatly arranged on the little table.

Sitting up as straight as she could, Lily offered a piece of cookie to the teddy bear wearing a large ribbon pinned to its head.

“Bear-Bear, here, eat this. And here’s your cocoa!”

Placing a hand on the toy teapot, the little girl beamed.

The matching plates and handkerchiefs had all been carefully laid out by Lily herself.

“Oh, what an honored guest.”

Winter accepted the teacup Lily solemnly poured for her.

Although the cup was empty, Lily hurriedly waved her hands.

“It’s hot! You have to blow on it first.”

“Oh, you’re right. Thank you, Miss Lily.”

Winter lifted the cup to her lips, smiling playfully.

Lily pressed her lips together, trying to stifle her laughter. She soon covered her mouth with both hands, however, and burst into giggles.

She was completely absorbed in what must have been the most exciting game in the world.

On one side of the table sat Lily’s second favorite toy, a rabbit called Pupu.

“Bear-Bear likes cocoa, and Pupu likes milk. But today, I’m only giving them cocoa because it’s my favorite.”

“Oh? Isn’t there any milk today?”

“Because I said so.”

Lily responded with a bright grin as she evenly distributed the biscuits between the two soft toys.

She did so in a surprisingly neat and proper manner, much like a little hostess at her own tea party.

Winter, whose hair was adorned with all the hairpins Lily had clipped in, smiled along with her.

It was an afternoon filled with warmth and the comforting scent of home, accompanied by the innocent sound of a child’s laughter.

Winter spent her days as usual, painting and helping out at the salon, and dropping in to see Lily whenever she could.

She no longer wanted to let anyone else dictate the course of her life.

Just then, a pair of round, expectant eyes looked up at her.

“Me too.”

Winter carefully tilted the tiny teapot over one of the toy cups.

There was nothing inside, yet Lily faithfully leaned forward and blew on it.

“More, please.”

Meeting those eager eyes once again, Winter let out a light, cheerful laugh.

Mimicking Lily’s adorably serious expression, she tipped the little teapot once more.

A day as ordinary and peaceful as this was more than enough.

***

Gabriel had not visited the Regner estate, where his parents lived, since the family gathering a month earlier.

A few days earlier, his father had ordered him to visit today, no matter what.

“It’s a dinner banquet, so be here on time. I’ve invited Duke Mayer, and if you come up with an excuse to skip it, it’ll put your father in a difficult position. Understood?”

Duke Mayer.

He had already heard from his mother that an important guest would be coming to Santero.

She had also reminded him not to mention it to anyone, as the visit was unofficial.

It seemed that news of the Duke’s stay had yet to spread among the public.

“Welcome home, Young Master.”

“It’s been a while.”

The servant greeted him warmly.

Since returning home, Gabriel had been living alone, so visits to the family estate had become infrequent.

His eyes swept over the manor, which had been meticulously prepared for the occasion.

Even the servants moving through the halls carried themselves with unusual precision.

It was clear that every detail had been arranged in anticipation of an important guest’s arrival.

“I’ll take you to see the Madam first.”

The servant hurried ahead after taking Gabriel’s coat and hat, which were still cold from the winter air outside.

Inside, the warmth was almost soothing.

Opposite the roaring fireplace stood a magnificent bouquet of vibrant roses, seemingly defying the heart of winter.

“So you’ve finally decided to come. I was beginning to wonder if I’d have to send my youngest son a formal invitation just to see his face.”

The gentle voice came from behind just as he turned into the corridor.

It was his mother, the mistress of the Regner household.

Gabriel turned and dipped his head with a faint smile.

“What an unfair thing to say. I arrived well before the appointed time. I wanted to see you first, Mother.”

The Marchioness shook her head at her son’s shameless reply.

“If only you weren’t always so smooth with your words.”

“It’s one of my strengths. Even Grandfather admitted I’m good at putting people at ease, and he’s not exactly an easy man to impress.”

Still grumbling, the Marchioness couldn’t hide the smile tugging at her lips.

She reached up and gently straightened the collar of her youngest son’s jacket.

At her calm, familiar touch, Gabriel instinctively bent down a little to make it easier for her.

“I don’t know why, but this reminds me of when I was a child.”

“You were at least adorable back then.”

A quiet laugh passed between them.

Glancing around, Gabriel asked,

“Where’s Father?”

“He’s in the study with your older brother. It seems they have something they want to discuss. There’s still some time before the Duke arrives.”

“Then I’ll keep Mother company while I have the chance.”

At his perfectly straight-faced remark, the Marchioness finally burst into laughter.

Gabriel had always been warm and affectionate ever since he was little.

“At least you know how to say the right things. It does make me happy. I’ve been so busy these past few days preparing the house that I haven’t had a moment to breathe. Come, we still have some time. Tell me how you’ve been.”

Gabriel slowed his long stride to match his mother’s pace.

While the Marchioness was clearly taking great care in preparing for their distinguished guest, Gabriel remained relaxed and natural.

This dinner might have been an important occasion for his parents and older brother.

To him, however, it was just another family gathering.

***

Golden sunlight filtered through the gently swaying curtains.

Inside the moving carriage, Eden sat with his eyes closed.

Traces of the dream that had ended all too soon before dawn kept returning to him.

He saw a lone figure sitting before an easel with her back turned towards him.

It was her.

Winter.

Every detail was vivid.

Even the tips of her fingers.

Even the single strand of hair that had slipped free from her ponytail.

That was all.

She didn’t say a word.

She never turned around.

Yet he knew without a doubt.

It was Winter.

No matter how desperately he had wished for it, even meeting her in his dreams had always been impossible.

And yet, after leaving Vartz and coming to Santero, she had appeared in his dream for the very first time.

Without opening his eyes, Eden found himself recalling a morning from long ago.

“I don’t think I’ve seen this color before.”

When he pointed to one of the glass bottles on the table, Winter turned to look at him.

“I don’t think I’ve seen this color before.”

“I mixed it myself. It’s a gray with a hint of blue.”

“You made it yourself?”

“Yes. I mostly use it when painting shadows or dawn.”

“Dawn?”

“You know that time of day, don’t you? When it’s still dark, but everything has a faint bluish tint. The moment just before daybreak, when the whole world seems to be holding its breath.”

As she answered gently, Winter began arranging her paints and brushes one by one.

Eden never forgot that moment.

To Winter, dawn was remembered as a color.

To him, it had become inseparable from her.

Back then, he hadn’t known.

He hadn’t known that those endlessly peaceful days would one day return as an unbearable sense of loss.

She spoke casually.

A simple gesture.

Everything he had once taken for granted came back to haunt him.

Each insignificant fragment resurfaced, threatening to consume him entirely.

Just as the carriage lurched around a bend in the road, Eden, who had been chasing the lingering image of Winter, slowly opened his eyes.

The carriage rounded the curve.

Parker, who had been waiting quietly for the right moment, finally spoke.

“Your Grace.”

He would have preferred not to interrupt Eden’s silence.

“I’ve prepared a summary of the Regner family, whom you’ll be meeting today.”

Instead of answering, Eden gave a slight nod.

The lingering haze of the dream finally dissipated.

Reality had returned.

Taking that as permission, Parker opened the notebook in his hands.

Part of his duty as the Duke’s secretary was to brief him on the people he was about to meet.

Even the smallest social misstep could tarnish the Duke’s dignity, so no detail was too insignificant to overlook.

“…The Marchioness actively participates in charitable events and salon activities. The eldest son, the heir to the Regner family, currently assists the Marquis with most of the estate’s affairs. He is well educated, enjoys a good reputation, and has recently begun pursuing independent ventures related to trade.”

He turned the page.

“The second son, Gabriel Regner, is twenty-four this year. He is known for his outgoing and easygoing personality. Although he holds no official position, he inherited a considerable fortune from his maternal grandparents. He has a respectable reputation and has never been involved in any notable scandals.”

After delivering his speech, Parker waited briefly for questions, but none were forthcoming.

He turned towards the window and saw that the carriage was slowing down.

After passing through the iron gates and into the gardens of the estate, the carriage gave one final jolt before coming to a smooth stop.

Realizing that they had reached their destination, Parker quietly straightened his posture.

***

“I’m Gabriel Regner.”

“I’m Eden Mayer.”

Eden offered a brief greeting and extended his hand for a handshake.

He had already been introduced to the Marquis, the Marchioness and their eldest son.

As always, Gabriel greeted his guest with a bright, welcoming smile.

The duke, whom Gabriel had only ever seen in photographs, was even more striking in person.

He had pure golden hair.

Clear blue eyes.

Even Gabriel, who had met countless people through his travels, could not deny that the duke was a man of extraordinary beauty.

After the handshake, Gabriel instinctively sensed that the man before him was not someone with an easy temperament.

His manners were impeccable.

Elegant.

Flawless.

Yet beneath that polished exterior was an intense tension that seemed on the verge of snapping.

Such contrasting impressions rarely coexist so vividly within the same person.

A brief silence settled between them.

It wasn’t awkward.

But it wasn’t entirely comfortable, either. It was the kind of quiet that carried an unspoken tension.