“Shall we move to the dining room now? If I may say so myself, we’ve prepared a dinner that truly captures the flavors of Santero.”

Marquis Regner stepped in naturally, easing the atmosphere.

Gabriel’s older brother, standing beside their father, added with a smile,

“Our mother put a great deal of care into tonight’s meal. We’re looking forward to it as well.”

“It sounds like a special occasion.”

With impeccable courtesy, Eden followed the Marquis into the dining room.

Of course, he had no appetite to enjoy the meal.

He had only accepted the invitation because he felt it was the right thing to do.

Throughout dinner, laughter and lively conversation filled the table shared by the Marquis, the Marchioness and their two sons.

Topics ranged from the latest happenings in Santero to stories about ships that had recently arrived at the harbour.

Eden responded with polite, measured remarks whenever appropriate.

When the lengthy dinner finally came to an end, everyone moved to the drawing room at the Marquis’s suggestion.

The warmly lit room had already been prepared with freshly brewed tea.

“Please, have a seat.”

Eden accepted the Marquis’ invitation and took a seat on a comfortable sofa, deliberately surveying the room.

He longed to step outside and breathe in the cold night air, but he had to stay where he was until the evening was over.

Several paintings adorned the walls of the classically furnished drawing room.

One of them, hanging near the window, suddenly caught his attention.

It was a landscape painting of a blue sea with a lighthouse on the horizon.

For some reason, he couldn’t look away.

A chill spread through his chest.

It was a strange sensation, as though something deep inside him had begun to resonate.

Eden’s eyes gradually narrowed.

There was something undeniably familiar about it.

Yet he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was.

As the Duke’s gaze remained fixed on the painting, the Marquis of Regner looked puzzled.

Following Eden’s gaze, the Marquis realized that the painting was the source of his interest.

“May I ask what kind of paintings Your Grace prefers? Do you happen to collect a particular style?”

Sensing an opportunity, Marquis Regner skillfully steered the conversation toward the subject that had captured his guest’s attention.

After a brief silence, Eden answered without taking his eyes off the painting.

“I don’t collect any particular type.”

“I see. It simply seemed that you had taken quite an interest in that piece, so I became curious about your taste.”

With a pleasant smile, Marquis Regner casually continued the conversation.

Eden tried to focus on the strange sense of familiarity he had felt the instant he first saw the painting, but the Marquis’s steady stream of conversation made it difficult.

“It was a landscape painting Gabriel personally chose as a gift for his mother not long ago. The colors are so gentle and warm that my wife fell in love with it at first sight.”

“It’s an excellent gift.”

“Haha, it seems my youngest son made the right choice after all.”

Pleased with himself, the Marquis couldn’t help but boast a little.

Eden offered only a brief acknowledgment.

Having unexpectedly discovered a topic that interested his guest, the Marquis turned toward the son seated beside him.

“Gabriel, you said this painting came from Roche Salon, didn’t you?”

“Yes. I spent quite some time looking for a piece I thought Mother would like. I’m grateful to see it has drawn so much interest.”

Gabriel answered the unexpected question without the slightest hint of unease.

Only then did Eden shift his gaze toward him.

Meeting his eyes, Gabriel smiled warmly.

“I bought it as a gift, but I suppose it caught my attention from the beginning because I genuinely liked it myself.”

At the calm reply, one of Eden’s eyebrows moved ever so slightly.

It wasn’t unusual for two people to share similar tastes in art.

Even so, the inexplicable irritation rising within him at those simple words felt unfamiliar, even to himself.

Until then, Eden had done nothing more than respond when spoken to.

For the first time that evening, he asked a question of his own.

“May I know the artist’s name?”

Surprised by the Duke’s unexpected interest, Gabriel looked back at the painting.

“I’m afraid I don’t know the artist’s real name. They don’t reveal their identity. I was only told that Roche Salon occasionally receives paintings signed with the artist’s initials.”

Eden hadn’t meant to ask the artist’s name.

The question had slipped out before he had even realized it was on his lips.

There was nothing evasive about Gabriel’s answer.

After all, some artists chose to work without revealing their full names.

No sooner had Gabriel finished speaking than the Marquis of Regner joined in eagerly.

“If you’re interested in works of a similar style, you might enjoy visiting the salon yourself. Vartz has many renowned salons, of course, but here in Santero, Roche Salon enjoys quite a distinguished reputation.”

“…I see.”

Despite his indifferent response, Eden felt the tightness in his chest, which had only just begun to ease, slowly return.

The salon.

The painting style.

None of that was what interested him.

He simply wanted to have that painting placed before him so he could study it closely.

He needed to understand what this feeling was……and where it had come from.

But Marquis Regner, determined to be the perfect host, gave him no opportunity to dwell on it.

“Your Grace, please have some tea before it grows cold. The aroma and flavor are quite exceptional.”

Seeing that the Duke’s attention had returned to the landscape painting, the Marquis de Regner quickly diverted it by offering dessert after dessert.

Mindful of the occasion, the Duke finally looked away.

After all, it was absurd to become so fixated on a single painting when he wasn’t familiar with every artist and style in Karten.

The moment he lifted his teacup, a dull ache tightened around his temples.

Eden concealed the now familiar pain behind a forced smile.

Lowering his gaze, he quietly decided when he would excuse himself.

Once the headache began, it never subsided easily.

***

“I can’t possibly let a guest leave like this. If you turn around and leave so quickly, I’ll be disappointed.”

In response to Vincent’s playful complaint, Winter gave a faint smile.

She had stopped by the office at Mrs. Roche’s request.

She had planned to hand over the ledger and leave immediately, but Vincent stopped her, insisting on buying her a cup of tea before showing her upstairs.

As soon as she stepped inside, she was greeted by a pleasant voice.

“Welcome. What a nice surprise to see you here.”

It was Gabriel, who had arrived before them.

He had been looking for an opportunity to see Winter anyway, so he immediately stood with a warm smile.

“Hello, Gabriel.”

“Miss Roche, please have a seat over here. The second floor is reserved for guests, so you can make yourself comfortable anywhere.”

“Thank you.”

At Vincent’s hospitable invitation, Winter removed her thick coat and hat and hung them neatly to one side.

By then, Vincent had returned with a fresh cup of tea and continued the conversation.

“As it happens, we were just discussing the Regner family’s upcoming charity event. I heard Roche Salon will also be participating in this year’s festival.”

“Yes. As far as I know, Mrs. Roche is very happy to be taking part.”

Winter took a sip of the fragrant lemon tea and answered as best she could.

Every year, the Regner family held a charity event during the Santero Festival.

This year, Roche Salon was organizing several activities too, including an art class for young children.

As the conversation continued, Vincent excused himself, saying that he had something to take care of.

Before long, only the two of them remained at the table.

Winter gently set down her teacup.

For some reason, Gabriel seemed different today.

There was something restrained about him, as though he were deliberately choosing his words.

Sensing the change, Winter also found herself unable to speak first.

After a brief silence, Gabriel finally asked,

“When’s your birthday?”

“…My birthday?”

“I suddenly realized we don’t even know each other’s birthdays. Mine is in March.”

Slightly caught off guard, Winter let out a soft laugh before answering.

“My birthday is in spring too. Early March.”

Since birthdays had never been something she paid much attention to, the question left her feeling a little awkward.

Unlike Winter, Gabriel’s face brightened with genuine delight.

“That’s perfect. Then let’s celebrate each other’s birthdays. You’ll celebrate mine, and I’ll celebrate yours.”

Although she had never given much thought to a birthday that was still months away, there was no reason to take the suggestion too seriously.

Winter nodded readily.

“Alright. I’d like that.”

Pleased by her answer, Gabriel smiled and said that he would certainly remember it.

He shifted slightly in his seat, turning his body towards Winter, who was sitting diagonally opposite him at the round table.

With her head lowered slightly, she looked beautiful.

Whenever she smiled, the gentle curve of her lips and her crescent-shaped eyes seemed to warm his heart.

Until now, Gabriel had always lived exactly as he pleased.

But whenever he was with Winter, he didn’t feel like he was truly being himself.

He had convinced himself that maintaining an uncertain friendship was better than becoming distant strangers.

However, if someone were to ask him if he truly wanted to remain just friends with the woman he loved, he would say no.

After swallowing countless unspoken words, Gabriel’s gaze settled on the slender fingers lightly curled around the handle of her teacup.