“Nanny, where is His Highness Grand Duke Gragford staying?”

“I heard he’s staying at the royal palace. Why, why do you ask such a thing?”

The nanny asked while sniffling. Rosia approached the window full of bright sunlight and threw it wide open. A sparrow that had been grooming its feathers flew away startled to a distant tree where green buds were sprouting. Breathing in the clear, cool air made her feel much better. She held the window frame tightly with both hands and answered.

“I think I need to meet him soon.”

“What? You’re going to visit him?”

“Since I received such a precious gift, shouldn’t I thank him in person?”

“But without permission, the way to enter and leave the royal palace……”

As the nanny said, a mere viscount family’s daughter couldn’t enter and leave the royal palace without an invitation. But Rosia smiled slightly while staring at the mansion’s main gate.

“There’s no need to go visit him, Nanny.”

The royal flag attached to a carriage fluttered in the wind. The nanny came up beside Rosia and stretched her head out the window, then silently screamed.

Rosia took the tiara box she had received as a gift and went downstairs. She moved her steps so lightly that not even her footsteps could be heard. Nigel was already inside the house. He was in the middle of handing his coat to the butler when he looked up at Rosia standing on the stairs.

“Did you know I was coming?”

“How could I? Though I appreciate you overestimating me, unfortunately I don’t have such abilities. I was just looking out the window and happened to spot the arriving carriage.”

Rosia smiled softly and came all the way down the stairs. Nigel’s gaze moved to her hands.

“Did you like the gift?”

“I brought it to return it to you.”

“……Was it not to your liking?”

Nigel frowned. Rosia noticed who had chosen this gift when he turned around. Nigel’s aide looked at Rosia with a troubled expression. She let out a light sigh and pointed to the reception room while saying.

“I’ll show you to the reception room. I have something important to tell you, so it would be better if you came alone.”

The aide’s sickly blue complexion brightened a bit. Though Nigel looked puzzled, he followed Rosia without saying anything. He leisurely examined the frames hanging in the corridor. Some of the paintings were ones Rosia had drawn when she was young. Rosia felt needlessly embarrassed and quickened her steps slightly. Nigel observed the paintings with a strange expression and casually asked a question.

“Is Viscount Berthe absent?”

“Yes. He’s away from the mansion briefly.”

Rosia calmly replied and entered the reception room first. As Nigel closed the door and turned around, Rosia guided him to a chair. Sitting down with an arrogant posture, Nigel asked with a subtle expression.

“Why are you receiving guests? What about your other siblings?”

“Because Your Highness is my guest. And my brothers have temporarily left the kingdom.”

“Ah. Right. I heard the Berthe family has been struggling lately.”

Nigel shrugged his shoulders and stared directly at her. Rosia’s brothers each had clear professions. The eldest was a navigator and the second was the owner of a small merchant group. The two of them had failed in trying to expand their business to the Southern Continent along with Viscount Berthe. It had been too hasty a decision. Their greed to proceed with business faster than others had tripped them up. As a result, they had suddenly accumulated debt that couldn’t be repaid even in several decades, so the Berthe family’s fortunes naturally declined. Though Nigel’s attitude of trying to confirm already widely spread rumors was annoying, Rosia waited silently. As expected, Nigel spoke first.

“So what was the important thing you wanted to say?”

Rosia pushed the tiara box all the way in front of Nigel. Nigel looked down at it with disinterested eyes before staring at Rosia again. Rosia sat with a proper posture and spoke clearly.

“This is something I don’t need.”

“I don’t think returning this was such an important matter.”

“I would like you to respect me.”

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

Nigel completely failed to understand what Rosia was saying. Rosia hadn’t expected much consideration from him, but she had mistakenly thought he would at least have basic common sense. She decided to explain carefully so it wouldn’t become a big issue.

“Even though we came to meet due to Your Highness’s sudden proposal, I would prefer it if you didn’t visit unexpectedly.”

“……”

“The same goes for gifts. Your Highness doesn’t need to do anything for me.”

Rosia smiled gently. She didn’t utter a single sentence about it being burdensome or uncomfortable. She also didn’t add that this relationship would end cleanly after one month. She judged there was no need to provoke Nigel’s strong pride unnecessarily.

Nigel remained silent for a long while even after Rosia finished speaking. He simply stared straight at her face, his thoughts unknown. After waiting for a while, Rosia called to him again.

“Your Highness?”

“Are you free tomorrow?”

“Pardon?”

Rosia was a bit taken aback. It felt similar to when she received a marriage proposal at their first meeting. However, Nigel calmly tapped the tiara box with his fingertip and spoke again.

“I’m asking you on a date right now.”

“I have prior plans tomorrow.”

Rosia finally came to her senses and answered. Though it might sound like a lie to Nigel, tomorrow was the day she was supposed to meet her old friend Betty. Nigel frowned as if by habit. His long eyelashes slowly lowered. He stared at the box containing the tiara as if it were an enemy.

“Was the gift really that bad?”

“……I’m not refusing because of the gift, Your Highness. I really do have plans with a friend.”

Nigel was much more petulant than Rosia had expected. How long was he planning to act so childishly just because she wouldn’t accept his gift? One of Nigel’s eyebrows raised.

“This friend would be Lady Odor?”

“How did you……”

“Did you think I knew nothing about you?”

“It seems you’ve investigated me.”

“Let’s call it an expression of small interest.”

Nigel replied nonchalantly and threw the tiara box in the trash. Rosia’s eyes widened in shock.

“What are you doing?”

“Since it was a gift prepared for you, it’s no longer needed. So I simply threw it away.”

Nigel looked at Rosia with eyes devoid of any emotion. Rosia’s lips parted slightly at his playboy-like attitude. How could such a foolish man exist? Rosia quickly regained her composure. She placed both hands neatly on her thighs and said.

“Even so, you didn’t need to throw it away right in front of me. It makes it seem like it was thrown away because of me.”

“It was thrown away because of you.”

Nigel retorted firmly. Rosia was dumbfounded. This man seemed to lack any basic manners or common sense. Due to her weak heart from birth, Rosia who frequently suffered from minor illnesses tried to live a life avoiding surprises. But whenever Nigel acted like this, that resolution flew away somewhere. Though Rosia was typically calm in all matters, she couldn’t organize her bewildered emotions as she wished in front of Nigel.

An unhelpful man.

That’s what Rosia thought of Nigel. That he was merely a blemish that had appeared in her perfect life. Though they had become entangled due to bad luck, it was a relationship that shouldn’t be dragged out no matter what. This man would clearly have a bad influence on her.

“If you feel sorry for the tiara, you could pick it up and keep it yourself.”

Nigel blurted out suddenly. His attitude seemed as if he was testing Rosia. But Rosia had no intention of falling for his test. Fortunately, a servant knocked on the door to announce that the carriage was ready. Nigel looked out the window full of dark clouds as if he had already lost interest.

“It looks like it will rain again. I should head back now.”

“Take care on your way back, Your Highness.”

Rosia didn’t try to stop him. Though freshly brewed tea had been placed on the reception room table, Nigel rose without any lingering attachment.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow. No need to see me out.”

“Tomorrow……”

Rosia, who had been holding the warm teacup, paused and looked up. Nigel simply threw out his words and disappeared outside.

He’s a really strange person, maybe not even human. Rosia hurriedly chased after Nigel. Just because he said no need for a send-off didn’t mean the etiquette they should maintain between them disappeared. Rosia knew this better than anyone, and her resolve to avoid creating any weaknesses that could be exploited remained valid, so she quickened her steps to follow Nigel.

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