The Count laughed embarrassingly with the expression of someone dying to cross swords with his prospective son-in-law, putting marriage aside for the moment. 

Given her father’s personality, she could tell how much he was considering Diana just by not bringing up swordsmanship in front of one of the empire’s most renowned swordsmen.

“Seeing my daughter and the Marquis today has made me so happy that I made some mistakes.”

“I’m also pleased to have this opportunity, but I have business at the imperial palace and must take my leave.”

Calliope set down his teacup and rose from his seat with smooth, efficient movements.

“Oh my, without even having a meal?”

When the Count hurriedly stood up as well, Calliope spoke to him with perfectly polite manners devoid of any emotion.

“I’ll come again tomorrow, so if it’s alright, could I perhaps tour the training grounds?”

Watching him dangle bait in front of the Count with that indifferent face, Diana couldn’t help but burst into silent laughter as old memories surfaced. Calliope was always like that—maintaining a cold expression while keenly responding to his people.

Even when Diana had grievances against Calliope but couldn’t bring herself to say anything, he would approach with exactly that expression and offer bait: 

“I have time tomorrow morning. Would you like to tour the territory?” 

While Diana was lost in memories and unconsciously smiling wistfully, the Count’s face flushed red with joy as he shook his head vigorously and extended his hand to the Marquis.

“Of course it’s possible! My sons have been dying to see the Marquis’s swordsmanship.”

“Then I’ll take my leave, understanding we’ll meet tomorrow.”

Calliope lightly grasped the Count’s extended hand for a handshake and turned around without hesitation.

“I’ll see you out.”

Diana hurriedly followed behind Calliope, reluctant to let him go. As they walked silently down the corridor, Calliope broke the silence first.

“Miss. Are you certain we’ve never met before?”

“Pardon? I did go to the triumphal arch earlier, but…”

“I see. You looked familiar.”

Cracks appeared in Calliope’s face, which had seemed too smooth and cold. Seeing Calliope narrow his brow and furrow his face made him seem more human, and Diana’s expression relaxed much more than before.

Being together like this truly felt like returning to ten years ago when they were innocently getting to know each other.

“I probably just have a common face.”

At Diana’s answer, Calliope suddenly stopped walking and turned to stare intently at Diana.

“Miss.”

“Yes?”

“I saw you at the triumphal arch, but I dare say you were the person who stood out most among everyone there.”

Calliope finished what he had to say and walked decisively toward where the carriage was waiting. Diana stood stunned for a moment, then quickly followed behind Calliope while cooling her flushed cheeks with the back of her hand.

Arriving at the carriage, Calliope bowed and kissed Diana’s hand with a plain attitude. Noticing that no emotion was contained within the gesture, Diana felt somewhat bitter.

The memories and emotions built up after marriage had become hers alone.

“I hope we can become a little closer when we meet next time. Since we must spend our entire lives together, please tell me if there’s anything about me that makes you uncomfortable or inconvenient.”

“I will.”

Diana couldn’t take her eyes off Calliope’s retreating figure and opened her mouth like she was entranced.

“Um, Marquis!”

At the small call, Calliope turned and looked at Diana.

“Please speak.”

“Next time, may I… may I call you by name?”

Diana clasped her hands tightly to her chest with earnest eyes. Calliope kept his gaze on Diana’s face before slowly nodding and parting his lips.

“Even now is fine, Diana.”

Thump thump. Her heart beat helplessly. Diana felt like she had truly become the young lady who knew nothing from ten years ago. Had God really helped her and given her such fortune?

If so, she would do anything to grasp and protect this fortune.

“Ah, I’ll see you tomorrow. Cal… Calliope!”

“…Why are you looking at me with those eyes?”

“Those eyes?”

“Yes. You’re looking at me with such sad eyes, like I’m going to die soon.”

That couldn’t be. Diana was truly overjoyed right now. Just seeing Calliope’s golden eyes once more made her feel like she owned the entire world.

Calliope seemed unable to understand Diana’s expression and fell into thought with his mouth firmly shut. To break the awkward silence, Diana smiled softly.

“Maybe it’s because the corners of my eyes droop. Next time, I’ll definitely…”

“I’m not telling you to force yourself to smile. I was just curious if we had some connection in the past, since you were looking at me with those eyes. Well then.”

With that, Calliope rode away in his carriage.

* * *

Diana stopped walking when she returned. The Count was clicking his tongue at the broken chair.

“Father.”

Hearing Diana’s voice, Count Cloud immediately turned toward her and smiled brightly. Beloved family—someone whose heart had been sincere even though he had acted for his family within this world’s twisted framework.

Complex emotions crossed Diana’s face. Should she call it love-hate? Should she call it pity? Her father was an innocent person who knew only swordsmanship.

Since he was a noble who knew neither politics nor economics, the Cloud Count family’s pride was naturally high, but they weren’t as wealthy as other Count families. 

In the distant future, he would fall ill upon learning that his son, despite having outstanding abilities, couldn’t become an official imperial knight because of other noble children who had paid bribes.

“So, Diana. How is your marriage partner? Excellent, right? This father put in some effort with the Aquitaine family.”

The procession she had just seen came to mind—the knights who had been drafted for subjugation for the sake of this arranged marriage. The atmosphere darkened.

“Who was sacrificed for this marriage?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I understand that our Count family sent a large number of soldiers to support this war in order to proceed with marriage to the Aquitaine family.”

“For a knight, dying on the battlefield is an honor. Didn’t you also learn swordsmanship under this father?”

The Count answered casually. Diana suddenly touched her arm, which had been strengthened by swordsmanship, and recalled why she had learned swordsmanship under her father.

Diana slowly raised her head and began speaking to the Count with a gentle expression.

“My thinking has changed. Now that I think about it, swordsmanship wasn’t created to k*ll people.”

“Diana. Has something happened? Or perhaps you don’t like this marriage?”

The Count approached with a worried face and grasped Diana’s hands. His hands, hardened with calluses, made her vividly feel how much he had crossed between life and death, active on battlefields.

“I like the marriage.”

“But why…”

“Father. You said that comrades remain comrades even in death. So, I think it would be right to hold a memorial service before the wedding.”

Diana met the veteran Count’s gaze without flinching and smiled with upturned lips. The Count suddenly felt that his daughter had changed quite a bit—like the person inside had been replaced.

* * *

As Diana wished, they decided to hold a small memorial service before the wedding. Thanks to this, the workload doubled. Everyone in the household had to step forward to replace her deceased mother.

Diana was also buried in piles of documents, checking ledgers and setting budgets. Since everything was proceeding urgently, all preparations were rushed. 

Diana, who had only briefly closed her eyes at dawn the next day, quickly finished preparing to go out upon hearing that Calliope had arrived.

Going downstairs with Bell, she saw a carriage waiting. On the side of the carriage was painted the red lion emblem symbolizing the Aquitaine family.

“…Calliope.”

The man standing in front of the carriage turned around. Unlike yesterday’s armor, the uniform with a navy base and red accents made Calliope look a bit colder and stiffer.

“Diana.”

Calliope naturally extended his hand. Diana grasped his hand with the feeling she might cry and climbed into the carriage. The interior of the carriage was decorated in muted red, giving an antique yet luxurious feeling.

Somehow it didn’t suit her, so Diana deliberately kept looking only out the window. Perhaps it was because she feared that her everything might be discovered by those golden eyes that persistently watched her, rather than the luxurious interior.

“Have you eaten?”

Calliope, who had been quietly watching Diana steadfastly avoid his gaze, spoke first.

“No. Not yet.”

“Then let’s go to a new restaurant nearby.”

Diana felt awkward about Calliope’s emotionless gaze and turned her head while speaking haltingly.

“There’s… a place I’d like to go, though.”

* * *

The place Diana wanted to go was a shabby, cozy tavern in the neighborhood.

“Ah, you two, please sit wherever you’re comfortable.”

The owner seemed quite flustered by customers who appeared in brilliant clothes in broad daylight. Diana, who had familiarly finished ordering, looked at Calliope sitting across from her and smiled brightly.

You wouldn’t know—that when I was feeling depressed, you would come with me to Count Cloud’s territory. And that we would sit right here with cheap beer and snacks in front of us, talking until dawn without realizing it.

“…Are you really alright with this place?”

“Yes.”

Calliope stared intently at Diana with suspicious eyes, then soon let out a hollow laugh.

“I feel like I understand you, yet I don’t.”

“You would feel that way. But I really did want to come here. I like places like this—small, cozy, and they smell a bit like wood too.”

Diana smiled and tapped the wooden table. Diana much preferred wooden tables to those made of marble—a point on which she and Calliope had always agreed.

“I also prefer this to the white marble that’s fashionable these days.”

The owner carefully approached the table and set down appetizing snacks and beer.