012

“They seem to have exceptional family bonds. The Duke and his wife must be heartbroken.”

For a grand noble family, they were unusually close. Most aristocrats entrusted their children’s upbringing to wet nurses, resulting in distant relationships between parents and children. By adulthood, siblings fought ruthlessly for their share regardless of birth order.

The eldest daughter of the ducal family had received abundant parental love, and despite occupying a position that could easily provoke rivalry among siblings, even her blood relatives genuinely worried about her. For Sion, who had moved through aristocratic circles to the point of nausea, this was quite unexpected.

“I just received a reply from the master yesterday. The letter was a bit damp—surely not from tears…”

“……”

While Adollo muttered to himself with a serious expression, Sion couldn’t hide his astonishment. Though the Duke’s affection for Agate was good news for him, concerns crept up about accidentally crossing the Empire’s second-in-command and ruining his life.

“The afternoon tea set has arrived. You’ll be today’s tea mate.”

Just then, a tray so enormous it seemed fit for a party came winding down the curved garden path.

At the words “tea mate,” cracks appeared in Sion’s handsome face.

On this warm spring day, Ponten’s weather was perfect for spending most of the day outdoors. Agate always wanted to enjoy her daily tea time in the pergola, and each time, one of the servants became her tea companion.

This lady was truly abnormal. What aristocrat in any country would enjoy tea and desserts with servants? It was an unheard-of spectacle.

“What’s with that lukewarm reaction? Surely you’re not dissatisfied?”

“Not at all. Taking tea with the young lady is always an honor.”

When Adollo glared at him, Sion feigned innocence and put on a pleasant smile.

“Our young lady has always taken special care of the servants since childhood. She never hesitated to share her precious tea and desserts and sit together with them.”

Adollo’s lavish praise sounded like unfavorable gossip to Sion’s ears.

So this lady had been peculiar even before her depression made her strange. To package such a lack of aristocratic pride and dignity this way—shouldn’t such eccentric behavior have been corrected through proper home education from childhood?

Not just the servants, but the Duke and his wife must be abnormal as well.

“Miss, it’s almost time for tea. Today we’ve prepared a variety of scones with hyacinth tea personally sent by the Duke.”

Though he was extremely reluctant, he had to do what he was told. She was the employer, and he was the employee.

Sion draped a white cloth over one arm and skillfully set up the tea. Sensing his presence, Agate closed her book and watched as the empty table quickly filled.

“……”

And as always, once the setup was complete, she extended her hand, inviting him to sit.

Sion reluctantly sat across from Agate. At first glance, having tea alone with her seemed like optimal conditions for getting closer. Of course, Sion had thought so too when he first became a tea mate.

Until the actual tea time began.

‘Today is the same as always.’

Sion, whose tea pouring and drinking technique was flawless as if copied from an etiquette book, glanced sideways at Agate.

Sure enough, today too, her eyes were fixed on the villa gate whenever she had a chance to look. Only her location had changed—Agate’s seemingly worthless daily routine remained the same.

Had she only realized that she didn’t need to imprison herself in a lonely world while waiting for her lover? Or was she unable to break the inertia that had solidified over three years?

Agate allowed servants to be by her side as before, but that was the extent of it. What completely monopolized her time, attention, and emotions was that firmly locked cold iron gate.

Sion couldn’t bear that he had been outranked by mere iron bars. The first opponent he had ever lost to wasn’t even a person but an insignificant inanimate object.

This time was extremely difficult for him to endure—she showed not a trace of interest in him, merely permitting tea and cookies as if giving alms. Though she would never dream of it, such treatment was nothing short of punishment for Sion.

She had allowed him to get closer, yet somehow she felt more distant. Sion was extremely uncomfortable with the lady’s one-sided material generosity.

His resentful gaze pierced sharply into the lady. Whether she knew it or not, she ignored Sion completely, staring endlessly at one spot like a sunflower facing the sun.

‘Come to think of it… she’s gained a little weight.’

Though still far from having enough flesh, her sunken cheeks had filled out, and the shadows under her eyes had disappeared. Her hair, once so dry it could hardly be called straw, now had a glossy sheen. Her platinum blonde hair, flowing down along her shoulder line, gleamed with a lustrous color.

Her hair looked so beautiful that he sometimes wanted to brush it instead of Kanna.

Her lips, once as dry as a dying winter in the midst of spring’s vitality, now held appropriate moisture. At least outwardly, her appearance had stepped into the realm of healthiness.

‘I’m glad she looks healthier.’

It was unavoidable concern for someone who had seemed ready to break at the slightest touch. The only concern he couldn’t abandon.

Today was definitely the limit. Being treated like a stone had gone too far—if these useless days continued to repeat, he would honestly complete a full year and leave this place. No, his pride couldn’t tolerate it even before then.

“You look well.”

Sion was the only one who spoke to Agate first during tea time. Even then, he only managed it with difficulty after confirming they were alone.

When Sion broke the silence, Agate’s delayed reaction followed. His image reflected in her focused pupils. Having successfully caught her attention, Sion added more.

“The way you’re eating well. It makes me happy as a butler.”

Agate, now fully turned toward Sion, nodded her head. Then she began writing in her notebook, which had become an essential item.

[I knew you would have tea with me today.]

“How so? It seemed like Butler Adollo chose spontaneously.”

[Just a feeling.]

Sion wanted to write back, but he had left his pen in the villa. While choosing his response to her words, Agate scribbled something else.

[I have something for you.]

‘Something for me?’

A brief spark of interest flashed in Sion’s indifferent eyes. There were many things he wanted from her, but she already had something to give without him even asking. Though surely not the extraordinary thing he desired, the fact that “Agate Irone” had prepared it made him curious in a different way.

Without showing it, Sion maintained his composure as Agate fumbled to take something out. Soon, recognizing the object placed before him, Sion’s gaze grew even more indifferent.

“Ah… a fountain pen.”

Just as he reached for the fountain pen, Sion’s gaze sharpened as if appraising its value.

The black fountain pen decorated with gold plating was clearly a high-priced product unavailable to commoners at first glance. Looking closely, intricate patterns were engraved on the pen barrel.

‘It’s made by the Fellen Workshop in the capital.’

After confirming the emblem at the end of the pen, Sion completed his appraisal and carefully placed the pen in his front pocket. It was a gift of such value that he couldn’t be disappointed by “just” a fountain pen.

A fountain pen from a workshop dedicated to royal supply—how many people could casually hand over this luxury item worth easily more than a carriage without even calling it a gift?

Sion hid his emerging laugh with a cough. He absolutely could not show that he recognized the pen’s value.

“Thank you, Miss. I wonder if I should accept such a precious gift…”

[It’s just a pen, nothing special.]

This wasn’t false modesty—she truly thought so. It was quite a talent to unintentionally embarrass others with such pure goodwill.

[A small token for someone who volunteered to be my conversation partner.]

Perhaps because he only saw it in print, the lady’s manner of speech seemed quite informal and unpretentious. He became a little curious how these words would sound in her voice.

“We haven’t talked as much as I’d like since then.”

Sion immediately retorted. He indirectly expressed that she should stop staring at the iron gate. She would probably understand his meaning even at this level.

[Then we can do so today.]

Contrary to Sion’s expectation, Agate didn’t seem flustered at all and immediately shot back without hesitation.

“I want to converse with you today, tomorrow, and the day after, continuously.”

It was an unyielding conversation without a moment’s gap.

[I want to hear your story, Daniel.]

Agate, who had written his name with particular emphasis, raised her head and waited for Sion’s answer. She showed confidence that she would soon learn who he was and what kind of life he had lived.