Rosia barely managed to reply while looking around for an exit. Baroness Luther had long since disappeared somewhere after bringing her here. Rosia wanted to return to the mansion as quickly as possible, soak in a warm bath, and rest in her soft bed. Nigel, who had seemed completely uninterested in her while watching below, slowly turned to look at Rosia. His face suggested he already knew everything.

“You clearly look like you want to escape from here.”

“That’s not……”

Just then, a man in red clothes was hit in the head by a blunt lance and fell from his horse. Rosia almost screamed. Though they said they used wood instead of real weapons since it was just an exhibition match, why didn’t they understand someone could still get hurt from falling? When Rosia just stood there stiffly like someone who had fallen into a winter pond, Nigel stood blocking her view.

“You really are high maintenance.”

Then he grabbed Rosia’s wrist and began walking with long strides. Whether due to his quick pace, or perhaps thanks to the Grand Duke’s appearance that everyone would recognize, people cleared a path for them. Cheers erupted again. But all Rosia could see were those broad, firm shoulders and golden hair that swayed softly whenever the wind blew. In this moment, that was the only scenery that existed in this world.

After leaving the arena, Nigel finally released Rosia’s wrist. Rosia caught her breath with a bright red face. Nigel’s steps had been so fast that she had to use all her strength to keep up. Nigel slowly turned around.

“Your face is like a well-ripened tomato.”

“It’s a bit hot.”

Rosia couldn’t hide her flustered expression as she raised her arm to wipe her face with her sleeve. Despite saying it was hot, she wasn’t sweating much. Nigel clicked his tongue and pulled out a white handkerchief from his coat pocket, holding it out.

“Here.”

“……Thank you.”

Rosia hesitated whether to take the handkerchief before carefully picking it up. Then she wiped her pale hands. Was the person who fell from the horse okay? How could people cheer at such a horrific sight? Several questions rushed quickly through Rosia’s mind. Nigel stood indifferently, staring down at her blankly.

“What brought you here? With a face that looks like it couldn’t handle seeing a single drop of blood properly.”

Nigel’s words were true. Rosia didn’t want to watch anyone getting hurt. But she couldn’t bring herself to say that Baroness Luther had brought her here. That would be like spitting in her own face. While wondering what excuse to make, Rosia neatly folded the handkerchief and calmly replied.

“Just curiosity.”

“Curiosity?”

“Yes. Because I like horses.”

“You do know that’s an incredibly flimsy excuse, right?”

Nigel’s right eyebrow rose crookedly. Rosia felt embarrassed for trying to deceive Nigel with such a pathetic lie. She couldn’t answer and lowered her gaze. The shadows had grown long by now. Though it was spring, the temperature difference was large, and the late afternoon wind felt quite chilly to her in just a thin dress. Rosia lightly brushed her goosebump-covered arms.

“Thank you for helping me, Your Highness. I should go now. I’ll have the handkerchief cleaned and return it.”

Rosia planned to go out to the street and catch a hired carriage. Though Baroness Luther was probably somewhere nearby, she couldn’t wander around an unfamiliar place looking for her. Nigel gave no reply or farewell. Rosia glanced at him and turned around. She needed to return to the mansion before the sun set completely. Since tomorrow was a day to meet Rey, she planned to go to bed earlier than usual. The moment she took a step forward, a straight hand pulled on the handkerchief she held, stopping her. Rosia turned around in surprise. Nigel spoke in a calm voice.

“Let’s have dinner together.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not hungry.”

Perhaps because Rosia rejected him without much thought, Nigel frowned. He stubbornly held onto the handkerchief like a child throwing a tantrum and blurted out.

“I’m hungry.”

“……Can’t you eat after returning to the palace?”

“I helped you, and you can’t even do this much with me? What, are you uncomfortable because of that day?”

Nigel pulled the handkerchief a bit harder as if being petulant. Because of this, Rosia had to take a stumbling step back. She thought about just letting go of the handkerchief, but since she had received his help, she couldn’t act so coldly. Even though Nigel’s attitude was nothing like someone making a request. When Rosia just stood there without giving any answer, Nigel called her name.

“Rosia Berthe.”

Rosia unconsciously let go of the handkerchief. That name, spoken low and quiet, reminded her of that day hidden behind the banquet hall curtains. The distance close enough to feel each other’s breath. Nigel lightly waved the handkerchief Rosia had used. It was just like he was playing a prank. Only then did Rosia snap back to her senses and tried to get the handkerchief back.

“Give it back. I said I would clean it and return it.”

“It’s not even dirty, so why bother.”

“Because I already used it.”

Rosia’s throat burned as she reached toward Nigel. No matter what, she couldn’t let someone else casually wave around a handkerchief she had wiped her sweat with. It was an extremely shameful and embarrassing thing.

“If you want it back, have dinner with me. There’s a quiet restaurant nearby.”

“Your Highness, please……”

Rosia made a tearful face. She could almost imagine the faint scent of her own stale sweat lingering on the handkerchief. But Nigel’s face showed no concern at all. He even held it up high as if daring her to snatch it. Finally, Rosia couldn’t withstand the pressure to surrender quickly and nodded. Though Nigel was waving the white handkerchief like a flag of surrender, the one who had actually been defeated was Rosia.

“Alright. But you must return the handkerchief.”

Fortunately, Nigel hadn’t been lying, as the elegantly decorated restaurant was very quiet. Whether conscious of others’ gazes, they were the only two customers. After entering the restaurant and choosing the menu, there was continued silence. Rosia was quiet because she was worried about the handkerchief still in Nigel’s possession, and Nigel was quiet because he was staring intently at her with his chin propped up. Just then, the waiter brought water and appetizers. The savory smell of bread wasn’t bad. Though she had said she wasn’t hungry, Rosia was actually a bit famished. After the waiter bowed and left, Nigel suddenly spoke up.

“Are you eating your meals properly?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“You seem thinner than when I first met you.”

“I suppose that’s because I’ve been having a hard time lately thanks to someone.”

“My, my. Eat plenty.”

Nigel pushed the bowl of bread toward her as if bestowing a favor. Rosia glared at his brazen face but instead of arguing back, she quietly tore off a piece of bread and ate it. Indeed, perhaps because it was a restaurant the Grand Duke frequented, even something as simple as bread was excellent. It was soft, fluffy, and very savory. Nigel was elegant even when picking up bread. He asked again while cutting his bread in half.

“What’s your relationship with Aiden Hess? Are you really going to marry him?”

“I don’t know why Your Highness is interested in my marriage, but you don’t need to concern yourself with my affairs.”

“I am concerned.”

The answer came without any hesitation, and Rosia almost dropped her bread. She looked at Nigel with a surprised expression. Nigel continued speaking with a face as blank as if covered in plaster.

“I’m concerned about what kind of low-level person you chose over someone as great as me.”

Rosia was so dumbfounded she slightly opened her mouth and couldn’t say anything. He was convinced there was no one better than himself in this world. Though she knew he had this personality from the start, it was disconcerting to have it confirmed again right in front of her. Nigel, seemingly unconcerned with Rosia’s reaction from the beginning, calmly continued speaking while tearing small pieces of bread and dipping them in soup.

“Think about it, Lady Berthe. People are wondering now whether I will marry you or not. But let’s say you marry someone else instead of me. What do you think they’ll think?”

Rosia’s lips moved to answer, but Nigel was faster.

“My reputation would hit rock bottom. I would be known for a while as the man you didn’t choose. The Grand Duke, turned down by none other than the daughter of a mere Viscount Berthe. How could I not be concerned, right?”

“Isn’t that Your Highness’s excessive worry? People will think Your Highness rejected me. Because we weren’t of the same level.”

“It feels bad that they would think I rejected you when I didn’t. Then I would become less than human, unable to take responsibility for even one woman.”

She didn’t know what he wanted her to do. Rosia was having the strange experience of getting increasingly tongue-tied while trying to maintain proper etiquette in her responses. She really couldn’t communicate with Nigel Gragford. He seemed like someone who didn’t know how to have a proper conversation. Could it be that the Principality of Dianta was an extremely closed-off country? So much that he didn’t even have a single friend to talk to.

“Think carefully.”

“About what?”

“About Count Hess’s eldest son. His eyes looked quite suspicious, didn’t you notice?”

Rosia hadn’t known Nigel was so fond of gossip. He had picked on Aiden last time too, and now again. Though she knew there were no other connections between the two men, by this point she worried if Aiden had done something wrong to Nigel. The Aiden Hess that Rosia knew was kind and gentle, and a good person who loved his brother more than anyone. Moreover, he didn’t act like a twisted child like Nigel did. But she couldn’t quite say all that. Rosia pretended to think for a moment before slowly shaking her head.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t really know. Why do you dislike Count Hess’s eldest son?”

“I don’t dislike him.”

“……”

“I just don’t like him.”

Though it meant the same thing, Rosia forced a smile. Since everyone feels and thinks differently, she decided to try to understand even Nigel’s bizarre remarks.

“Then can you tell me why you don’t like him?”

“Just because.”

“Pardon?”

“Just because.”

No, Rosia would never fully understand Nigel Gragford even if she were born again. Rosia quietly replied “I see” and closed her mouth. Fortunately, the dishes they ordered started coming out one by one, and their conversation was also cut off under the pretext of eating. Rosia thought it would be fine if she just filled her stomach moderately, got the handkerchief back, and returned to the mansion. Not knowing that would be just a vain hope and expectation.

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