From the moment Elena stepped forward, Suharto’s lips seemed glued shut. Honestly, when Rudfelix mentioned his aide had prepared the report, he excluded the possibility that it might be Elena. He didn’t think that the Grand Duke would entrust such an important task to an aide who had just arrived.

Elena exchanged a brief glance with Suharto in greeting before returning to her place.

“Well, this is…”

For the first time, Suharto was at a loss for words and looked troubled.

“I spoke out of concern for my teacher.”

“Yes, thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”

Suharto tried to provoke Rudfelix again. However, his will to confront broke at the sight of his softened gaze.

As others were also just surprised by the Grand Duke’s changed atmosphere, the matter of Count Ephraim’s territory fizzled out.

“We’ll see.”

After saying that, Suharto went to others.

Count Ephraim also said he would arrange a separate meeting and disappeared.

Rudfelix turned and looked down at Elena. He was like a child seeking praise.

‘If that’s what he wants, I should give it.’

“You did well.”

She was willing to pat his head if he would just lower it more. Instead of lowering his head, Rudfelix raised his index finger pointedly.

“Don’t forget your promise.”

“I’ll gladly run to you whenever you wish.”

Elena smiled deeply, satisfied with how the situation was resolved smoothly.

‘It would be more advantageous to maintain the elegant image of the Grand Duke who appeared as a swan.’

“We just need to show whether we can safely bring back the people from the territory or not.”

Rather than talking about it unnecessarily, it would be better to demonstrate success through action.

“Your Highness, you’re truly dazzling today.”

A woman with unusually red lips approached with a smile. She naturally struck up a conversation while admiring Rudfelix’s changed appearance.

‘As expected, now that the Crown Prince has withdrawn, they immediately approach.’

As Elena stepped back, a wave of dresses gathered around Rudfelix like a flowing tide.

‘My work here is done.’

Detailed business discussions rarely occurred at balls. And the women were interested in other matters.

As there was no need to keep following him around, Elena leaned against a pillar and watched Rudfelix.

‘He really is handsome.’

His deep blue eyes contrasted with his red hair, drawing attention. The snow-white tailcoat he wore made him stand out even more.

She planned to quietly stay unnoticed and then leave. An aide had no right to interfere in their superior’s personal affairs.

When exactly ten women had approached to greet Rudfelix, Elena quietly turned around.

“Aide Elena.”

“Yes?”

As if he had eyes on the back of his head, his call came at an impeccable timing. The women speaking to him turned their heads as well.

“So you’re His Grace’s aide?”

“I heard she was newly appointed, so it must be this young lady.”

“She looks familiar…”

Though the women’s words came in no particular order, Rudfelix looked at Elena indifferently as if he heard nothing. Elena couldn’t say anything, not knowing why he called her.

“Do you have something for me to do?”

“No.”

“Then… shall I find Aide Quiet?”

She thought he might want her to call Quiet, who had been missing for a while.

“Come here.”

Rudfelix extended his hand.

At this childlike gesture, Elena unconsciously clasped her hands together. The women watching curiously from beside him made her uncomfortable.

“Come on.”

Seeing his determination to wait with his hand extended until she came, Elena half-gave up and approached him.

“Please put your hand down.”

Because I won’t be holding your hand.

Rudfelix looked at his large hand once after Elena’s polite rejection. But then he grabbed her wrist.

“There’s no other meaning, just come this way.”

He quickly left the ballroom while holding Elena’s wrist. Though some noble ladies called out to him, his pace didn’t slow at all. Before Elena could ask what was happening, they had already left the ballroom.

After being in such a crowded place, it felt relatively easier to breathe outside. Elena matched her pace with Rudfelix while taking a deep breath.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

Seeing his determined attitude that suggested he wouldn’t answer any more questions, Elena kept her mouth shut. As she wondered why her superior was acting this way, a hypothesis came to her mind.

“Are you going to wash up already?”

Rudfelix’s eyebrow seemed to twitch noticeably, though she couldn’t see it clearly.

“That will be called for separately.”

Though not today, it was classified as a promise to be kept. While she was admiring his thoroughness in not missing even the smallest detail, his pace slowed.

The place Rudfelix went to was a small room for rest.

A modest space with a sofa where one could fix their makeup and check their appearance.

“Why did you come here?”

“To change clothes.”

Rudfelix patted Elena’s shoulder.

‘Does he mean my clothes?’

Elena smoothed her sleeve and looked at him with disbelief.

“Do you mean me?”

There was nothing wrong with her current outfit, so what clothes was she supposed to change into?

But Rudfelix pointed out Elena’s outfit itself.

“It’s not good for a Count’s daughter to only appear as an aide.”

“I’m fine with it.”

“I don’t need you anymore, so you can go home for today.”

“Then I’ll head home first.”

“No.”

When Rudfelix pushed the wall, another space appeared behind it.

‘It’s a built-in closet.’

When the space behind the wall appeared, Elena covered her mouth in surprise. Her fingertips trembled against her lips.

‘What is that?’

A skirt fluttered on the wall. Rudfelix ran his fingers along the dress before grabbing the hanger and taking it down.

Another unexpected situation is unfolding.

“Is this… my dress?”

She carefully approached and touched the dress. The soft fabric wrapped around her fingers.

“Since the usually lazy young lady who wouldn’t have attended is here as an aide…”

Rudfelix placed the dress in Elena’s arms. Elena hugged the dress, settling it against her body.

Roughly holding it up against herself, it seemed like it would suit her well. Rudfelix’s lips curved upward.

“Since you won’t always be entering as just an aide in the future, you need to enter as the young lady of House Jellisto.”

His words made sense.

Thinking about how she would return as the daughter of Count Jellisto after two years as he said, changing clothes today would be the best approach.

Revealing both her positions – as the Grand Duke’s aide and as the daughter of Count Jellisto – would allow her to enter under either name in the future without issue.

‘I didn’t expect him to think of me this way.’

She had considered it natural to think about her superior all day due to the nature of her work.

But receiving a dress from her superior in return gave her an odd feeling. Perhaps because of this, she hesitated to change into it even after receiving it.

“Shall I help you put it on?”

Rudfelix returned her earlier question about helping with the tailcoat from earlier in the day.

“No.”

As she continued to hesitate, the pressure of him offering to help her dress made Elena clutch the dress tightly.

“Thank you.”

She received another gift this way. And since she had no choice but to accept it, she couldn’t refuse.

“I’ll wait outside, so change and come out.”

“You can return to the ballroom.”

“Then I’ll do that.”

After Rudfelix left, saying he would return immediately, Elena was left alone.

“I really didn’t expect this.”

She looked up at herself in the mirror.

A woman holding the dress tightly had flushed cheeks.

* * *

Rudfelix leaned against the wall, staring at the candle mounted on the opposite side.

[It’s ready.]

Quiet, who had been silently busy with the sudden task, caught his breath.

[Good work.]
[It’s fine since it’s for Aide Elena.]

He had quickly assessed Elena’s measurements at the Grand Duke’s instruction to prepare a dress. He figured out it was for Elena and moved accordingly without needing additional instructions.

As soon as he received Quiet’s report, Rudfelix had taken Elena away.

Her surprised face when she saw the dress, the careful way she touched the skirt, and finally, her grateful thanks while hugging the dress…

“Goodwill.”

The saying that gifts are expressions of goodwill struck him strongly. He felt something difficult to express while watching Elena’s pleased reaction.

Something subtle and unfamiliar…

“Were you waiting for me?”