After much difficulty, dinner with Nigel ended. As soon as Rosia came out of the restaurant, she bowed to him.

“Thank you for today, Your Highness.”

“You ate like a bird, are you really full?”

Nigel asked while standing crookedly. Rosia just smiled instead of answering. She felt if she exchanged more words here, they would end up bickering and wasting more time. Nigel raised one eyebrow crookedly. However, he didn’t add anything particular. Rosia left a few more perfunctory greetings in inner relief and turned around.

“Lady Berthe.”

While she was trying to catch a hired carriage before it got later, Nigel stopped Rosia. Rosia stopped walking and turned around.

“Yes? Did you call me?”

Nigel just stared at Rosia without saying anything. Though his face clearly showed he had something to say, for some reason no voice flowed from his lips. After waiting silently, Rosia slightly hunched her neck as the wind blowing through her dress felt cold. Only then did Nigel let out a faint sigh, approach her, and hold out his coat.

“Take care.”

“I’m fine……”

“Bring the clothes back cleaned too.”

As Rosia tried to say she was fine, Nigel was faster. He placed the black coat on Rosia’s shoulders and walked away without looking back. Because of Rosia’s small frame, she quickly grabbed the coat lest it fall to the ground. Nigel had already completely disappeared from view. The coat he had been wearing until just now carried a subtle scent and warmth. Having unexpectedly gained two burdens on her mind, Rosia stood there blankly, even forgetting she needed to return to the mansion.

She was at a loss for when and where to meet to return the handkerchief and coat. Even though they had an awkward relationship, she had received his help, so she didn’t feel right just having a servant deliver them. In the end, it meant they would have to meet again.

After standing for a long while on the quiet evening street, Rosia caught a passing carriage and returned to the mansion. The person who greeted her upon return was not her father, nanny, or butler, but Baroness Luther.

“Rosia Berthe! I heard everything, everything! You crafty little miss!”

The baroness screamed as if she had been waiting in front of the entrance the whole time, as soon as Rosia entered. Rosia almost dropped Nigel’s coat in surprise. She blinked her eyes quickly while staring at the baroness.

“What exactly did you hear?”

“Don’t try to deny it, Rosia. The fact that you went out with Grand Duke Gragford and even had dinner together!”

Rosia was dumbfounded. How on earth did she know? Though it had happened just a few hours ago, the baroness knew everything as if she had been watching from nearby. Rosia almost suspected that Baroness Luther had secretly followed her. Rosia stood there at a loss for words, tightly gripping Nigel’s coat which was awkward to hide. The baroness, who had particularly sharp eyes for these matters, caught that action with hawk-like vision.

“That coat, isn’t it what the Grand Duke was wearing at the arena? Right?”

The baroness’s mouth spread in an almost splitting grin. The smile was so excessive it was almost grotesque. Rosia hadn’t expected her to come to the Berthe mansion rather than her own home. So she couldn’t prepare for this situation. Since she couldn’t deny it either, she could only remain silent. The baroness, perhaps not expecting a reaction from Rosia from the start, excitedly chattered on by herself.

“Do you know how famous that restaurant is? Only royalty and their relatives can enter there, I tell you! This means the Grand Duke has his eye on you as a potential bride.”

Rosia was taken aback by this fact she hadn’t known at all. If what the baroness said was true, why had the Grand Duke done that? Come to think of it, though people would normally flood to famous restaurants nearby after the match ended, the restaurant had remained quiet until their dinner finished. Rosia had even imagined throughout dinner that it seemed like they had rented the entire restaurant. But it wasn’t just her imagination after all. Rosia looked down at the old wooden floor.

Though they say it’s hard to understand people’s hearts in general, Nigel Gragford was even more so. Why did he still have lingering feelings even after such rejection? She remembered Nigel’s frowning face as he handed over his coat. Certainly, judging by appearance alone, it would be hard to find someone better than Nigel. Though not the crown prince, being a Grand Duke who received a principality from childhood wasn’t bad. Yet Rosia couldn’t accept him while pretending not to know. Because of pride? Or because of instinctively felt fear? Ever since meeting Nigel Gragford, every moment felt like a sudden shower to Rosia. Nigel Gragford, a man like a hot summer shower that could pour down at any moment.

“Anyway Rosia, though the Grand Duke hasn’t proposed to you yet, there’s still a chance. Understand? There’s going to be a picnic at Lake Park in a few days. Not only the Grand Duke, but His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Majesty the Queen will attend, so you must go.”

The baroness looked at Rosia with expectant eyes. She even gently patted the coat on Rosia’s shoulders. Rosia stared at her and nodded. Since she needed to return the borrowed coat and handkerchief, it would be more natural than meeting alone. She thought it better to consider it fortunate, for her own sake as well. She firmly gripped the coat that still retained Nigel’s warmth. Yes, she only needed to meet him because she had things to return. That was enough for the relationship between Nigel and Rosia.

＊＊＊

Today was piano lesson day. Rosia played relatively easy pieces in consideration of young Rey. Rey said he had never learned piano before. Since all his tutors had only taught subjects like history or philosophy, this was his first piano teacher. The Count had said piano must be taught. He had emphasized several times that this was the most important part of this employment. So Rosia had to play piano after a long time. Though she had learned enough to a decent level, she wanted to prepare thoroughly since she had never imagined teaching others. She practiced several pieces of appropriate difficulty for Rey Hess, who would be playing piano for the first time. The nanny even wiped away tears saying our young miss is playing piano after so long.

On the day of the piano lesson, Rosia played piano in a small room. The sheet music she had prepared for Rey turned into music one by one, warmly circling the mansion. Rey stood silently beside her, just watching her fingers tap the keys.

It was just as the third performance ended. Rey tapped Rosia’s hand. Then he moved his fingers and pointed at the piano. Rosia could now understand to some extent his language that substituted for actions. She naturally stopped playing and looked at Rey.

“Would you like to try playing?”

Rey’s small head nodded up and down. Rosia readily stood up. Rey sat in the chair with a nervous face. His tiny fingers slowly pressed the keys one by one, then soon looked up at the sheet music placed slightly higher. Rosia, who had thought he was simply curious about the piano making sounds, was shocked.

Rey played the piece Rosia had performed exactly, without even looking at the sheet music. No, he actually completed it perfectly with much richer emotion than Rosia. Rosia opened her mouth slightly in admiration.

“He must be a genius.”

“Rey?”

Aiden Hess suddenly asked, having arrived at some point. Rosia startled but nodded when her eyes met Aiden’s.

“Yes, your brother.”

Rosia looked at Aiden with a proud face. Aiden also had his eyes wide open as if surprised. Just then, the performance ended. Aiden approached Rey who was sitting blankly in front of the piano and quickly flipped through the sheet music. Then he opened to a piece that would be difficult even for Rosia who had learned piano since childhood.

Rey looked back and forth between Aiden’s face and the piano, then began moving his small fingers. At first he tapped misaligned keys as if trying to find the notes, like playing around, but soon smoothly continued the performance. Rosia looked at Aiden’s back. What expression would he be making? He must be as surprised and happy as Rosia, no, much more than her.

Aiden stood still beside him for a while before returning to Rosia. Rey remained absorbed in playing the piano, not even noticing he had moved away. Aiden muttered while looking at Rosia, yet staring intently at Rey’s back.

“My late mother was good at playing piano. This piece is also one I gave up practicing because it was so difficult. Yet he plays it perfectly after hearing it just a few times.”

“Ah.”

Rosia was at a loss for how to react.

“Rey must take after mother. I take after father and am far from musical.”

Aiden stared at Rosia with a gentle smile. His eyes were warm and kind, making Rosia smile unconsciously in return.

“I won’t need to teach him.”

“No, teacher.”

Aiden shook his head firmly. Rosia looked at him questioningly. She didn’t have enough ability to teach Rey. But he said no? Aiden caught his breath for a moment, then whispered very quietly, just loud enough for Rosia to hear.

“Please keep this secret from father. He will surely be angry.”

“Why? Wouldn’t he be happy?”

Aiden pressed his lips tightly together. And stared at the floor in silence for several seconds. He only opened his mouth when Rosia’s confusion had deepened.

“Father actually hates the piano. He probably asked you to teach piano to create an excuse to hate Rey. So please keep it secret. I’ll tell Rey myself.”

Rosia opened her eyes wide. Though Count Hess had seemed brusque, she thought he was a father who loved his son, but she hadn’t known there was such a story behind it. Could it be related to the late Countess Hess who had left this world first? Though Rey’s talent was regrettable, she had no choice but to accept in the end as Aiden repeatedly pleaded, saying he wanted to protect his brother.