Kian von Larson’s daily routine had changed.

At some point, he stopped having maids serve him tea. He no longer drank tea in his bedroom.

He used to quickly reestablish his routines after returning from voyages or long outings, but he no longer felt inclined to do so. Still, he showered at the same time, checked on the soundly sleeping Vivianne, and headed to his study.

He lay on the long sofa in his study. After a brief rest, he woke up when Richard was preparing his tea. Only after drinking a cup of strongly brewed Darjeeling did he begin handling paperwork.

“Have you not been sleeping well lately, sir?”

Richard, the butler of Larson, discreetly inquired about his master’s wellbeing while arranging the tea set.

“Does it look that way?”

When Kian asked in return, Richard, true to his habit, gave a short bow instead of answering. It must seem strange indeed. Seeing concern coming from that wooden-faced man. Kian smiled faintly as he turned to the next page of his documents.

“You’re becoming quite the worrier. You must be getting old, Richard.”

“I apologize, sir.”

“Well, there’s nothing to apologize for.”

Until now, he appreciated how Richard remained unobtrusive, neither conspicuous nor bothersome. Richard, Matilda, and even Theodore. He surrounded himself with such people. Having observed them for a long time before making them his own, it made sense.

Indeed, all accidents stem from impulse. In the end, the problem was “that thing” he impulsively “picked up.” Recently, he had made some rather useless expenditures. Expenditures undertaken to erase the “picked up” appearance from that woman.

The hastily acquired clothes had inconsistent sizes. Some were too tight around the chest, while others had sleeves that were too long.

Whether she knew this or not, that woman would beam brightly whenever he simply tied a ribbon for her. He thought erasing such minor disharmonies from his sight might erase her “picked up” appearance.

Kian was carefully examining the invoice sent from the dressmaker’s shop. One dress was missing from the invoice. At first, he thought the shop might have omitted it, but soon he discovered something incongruous mixed in.

There was an additional invoice sheet. And beneath it, instead of the Larson name, the Steward name was written. It was the most expensive dress among them.

Do you like the doll clothes?

Wishing that we each do our best in our respective positions.

—Your fiancée, Penelope

Whether he liked it or not seemed like something he’d have to see after she wore it. She had been quiet for a while after the ball, but now she was starting again.

Kian placed it alongside the other invoices with impassive eyes.

“Lady Steward has gifted it to Lady Vivianne, sir.”

When Kian showed no reaction, Richard appeared rather anxious.

“I’ve learned that it’s a dressmaker’s shop Lady Steward frequently uses, and they happened to meet that day.”

“I see.”

“Shall we return it, Master?”

The typical response would be to do so. As Richard suggested, returning it would be the cleanest choice.

The problem was that Kian didn’t particularly prefer clean responses.

Ruining her preparations was one thing, but watching her trip over her own feet would be enjoyable.

“No, it’s a gift. Leave it be.”

“Understood, sir.”

“But since she has graciously bestowed such an expensive item, it would be proper to pay for the dress.”

No matter who gave the gift, it would look beautiful when worn by the woman he picked up, so it didn’t matter. If someone insisted on poking their own eyes, he had no intention of stopping them.

Kian recalled the opera tickets his fiancée had sent earlier. Penelope often urged him to accompany her to social events when he was on land, regardless of his response.

Until now, he had consistently ignored her, but since she had graciously bestowed a gift… he should show some courtesy.

“Are the opera tickets sold out?”

“You mean the ones at the Central Opera House, sir?”

“Yes.”

“Yes. They probably sold out on opening day. Would you like me to try to get some?”

Whether they were sold out or not didn’t matter. If he decided to get them, they could be obtained.

“The price doesn’t matter. Book a box. Preferably adjacent ones.”

“Understood. I’ll inquire quickly and report back to you.”

See you at the Opera House.

—Best regards, Kian von Larson

Kian wrote a brief note and handed it to Richard.

“Tell her this is my return gift.”

Richard, receiving it, seemed to understand the meaning and briefly bowed before leaving the study.

* * *

Kian stared intently at Vivianne, who greeted him dressed neatly in new clothes.

“Kian.”

She called his name with a shy smile.

“Thank you for coming. Matilda told me that if I wear something pretty and show you, you’d like it the most.”

She appeared to have chosen what she liked best, but Kian wasn’t satisfied with it.

“Is this the prettiest in your eyes?”

“Matilda chose it for me.”

An unexpected statement. Well, Vivianne was also Matilda’s “precious young lady,” so from the position of someone who followed her like a mother, she would naturally wear what was chosen for her.

“I don’t know how to judge these things well. I wore what Matilda said was pretty. Does it look strange?”

Looking at the design Matilda had chosen revealed more transparently how she viewed Vivianne.

It was a dress with ribbons and lace accents. A cute and lovely design, like that for a young girl. It matched well with Vivianne’s youthful face.

“Matilda. That’s your taste.”

“Yes, Master. I’ve always wanted to dress Vivianne in something like that. She also likes ribbons. Isn’t she lovely?”

Matilda, who was standing behind, answered with a flushed face.

Could it really be that pleasing? She looked like a mother proudly showing off her child.

“Well? How do I look?”

Vivianne persistently sought confirmation. So persistent that he didn’t want to answer, just to tease her.

“I’m not sure.”

“Then will you choose what you like for me?”

“Don’t you have your own taste?”

“…I…”

She started to answer but hesitated momentarily.

“I like it when Kian tells me I’m pretty.”

Desperation shone in her blue eyes. While he didn’t particularly enjoy such earnestness, it suited this woman especially.

“If that’s what you want, I don’t think I can give you the answer you’re looking for.”

“Why? You haven’t even looked in the closet yet.”

Vivianne opened her closet door, seemingly feeling wronged. He had ordered them to buy enough to fill the closet, regardless of cost, and Matilda had indeed proven herself a loyal servant of Kian.

“Look. What suits me best?”

“Well…”

“What? You just need to look and tell me.”

Sorry, but it wasn’t worth looking at. He would rather see her not wear anything at all.

However, it seemed he needed to choose one to silence her.

“Matilda.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Which one did you say was the most expensive?”

“Ah, that one… please wait a moment.”

Matilda brought out a dress that had been carefully stored in the innermost part of the closet.

This is it.

The gifted doll clothes.

It was a dress as splendid as its price, but also a design that Vivianne could certainly pull off.

“This one. We’re going out tomorrow afternoon. Don’t go anywhere.”

“What? Going out? With whom?”

“You, me, Theo.”

Vivianne smiled brightly.

“…I’d like that, Kian.”

* * *

“Aren’t you sleeping, Vivianne?”

Late at night, Matilda worriedly asked Vivianne, whose eyes were still wide awake.

Today, she had specially asked Kian to let her sleep with Matilda. According to Matilda, although the outing was in the afternoon, they needed to prepare from the morning. Wearing such an elaborate dress required a lot of preparation.

She couldn’t quite understand why they needed to spend so much time for just one outfit, but since Kian had chosen it and said it was pretty, she didn’t mind.

“No, I can’t fall asleep.”

“You’ll get tired after tomorrow’s outing. You should store up energy in advance. Come here.”

Matilda, lying in bed, patted the space beside her.

“Will you hug me if I come?”

“Of course. Come quickly.”

“…Yes!”

Vivianne, in her negligee, got into bed and snuggled up like a puppy. Matilda looked at her with an expression of overwhelming affection.

“Thanks to you, I get to sleep in such a large bed. I’m living the high life in my old age.”

“Shall we sleep together every day?”

“What?”

“I enjoy sleeping with Matilda too.”

Vivianne nuzzled her face against Matilda’s bosom and hugged her tightly.

“What about the master? I’ll get fired at this rate, Vivianne.”

“Would Kian dislike it?”

“Of course. That would be disastrous.”

Even while scolding her, Matilda couldn’t hide her affection and stroked Vivianne’s hair.

“Will I ride in a carriage with Kian tomorrow?”

“Yes. Your wish will come true, Vivianne.”

“It would be nice if Matilda could come with us, making it four.”

“What would an old woman like me do there? Just enjoy yourselves.”

“What are we going to see?”

Come to think of it, she hadn’t told her the destination yet. This innocent young lady seemed excited just by the prospect of going out with her master.

“The opera. It’s like a play where actors sing and perform on stage. You’ll love it, Vivianne.”

“Will I watch it with Kian? What about Theo?”

“Ah, Theo is just going as a guard. You’ll be watching it cozily with the master, just the two of you. So… it’s a kind of date!”

“Date?”

Vivianne tilted her head curiously at the unfamiliar word.

“It means spending enjoyable time with someone you like. So have a good time.”

Spending enjoyable time with Kian.

Vivianne’s face was full of excitement and happiness.