The moment they entered the library, they ran into Dante sitting by the window across from them, like they’d made some kind of arrangement.

Acknowledging him first didn’t appeal to her much, but pretending not to know him seemed too cold toward someone who’d explained he hadn’t meant anything by it.

Her gaze, which had turned toward the floor, left, ceiling, and right, met Dante’s again, and Rayenne gave a slight nod.

It was the answer she’d chosen after much deliberation.

But Dante buried his face in his palm and lowered his head. His rounded, hunched back trembled rhythmically.

There was no way Rayenne couldn’t recognize what that movement meant.

‘I go out of my way to greet him and he laughs?’

“I’ll sit down first.”

While Rayenne looked at Dante askance, Jin moved ahead.

He quickly selected a book and took a seat.

It was a window seat two spaces away from where Dante sat.

‘Do handsome men like photosynthesis…’

The sight of beautiful men reading books while bathed in sunlight streaming through the window was truly a blessing.

‘It’s a scene I’d love to stare at in a daze, but I need to get to my own business.’

Besides, unlike usual, Jin was waiting today.

Though no one was rushing her, her heart couldn’t help but feel increasingly hurried.

Rayenne quickly scanned the bookshelves with her eyes, keeping in mind how to become a tutor and what noble children mainly learned.

[Education of Noble Children – Tutor Edition]

Though it was less than half the thickness of the Academy edition stuck right next to it, the title immediately captured Rayenne’s attention.

‘This is it!’

Delighted, Rayenne grabbed the book and opened it right there.

In the quiet, the slight noise of turning pages actually enhanced her concentration.

Rayenne’s steady breathing and the rhythmic sound of turning pages continued for quite a while as she became absorbed in the book without realizing it.

“Rayenne.”

If Dante hadn’t deliberately called out, she might not have noticed until he was right in front of her.

Dante stepped into the space between the bookshelves where Rayenne stood.

Anyone could see he was tall, and looking closely, his solid build filled the space.

While Rayenne looked up at him quietly, Dante took another step closer and bent his head.

After examining the book cover and raising his head again, Dante tilted his head to one side.

A strong, refreshing fragrance spread around them, following his movement.

“Why are you reading that?”

“Why are you always so curious about everything?”

It was Rayenne’s pointed protest as she closed the book and held it to her chest.

“I’m naturally curious about everything.”

Saying this, Dante chuckled.

At that face, Rayenne furrowed her brow.

It was because he overlapped with the image of Dante she’d seen in her dream.

Seeing Rayenne’s expression become complex and subtle rather than simply frowning, Dante brought his face closer.

“What’s wrong?”

Rayenne’s violet eyes wavered, not knowing what to do, just like in the dream, then slowly turned downward.

But this wasn’t a dream—it was reality.

Instead of falling like a star, her violet eyes rose like the sun.

“I remembered.”

The deep green eyes that met her risen gaze rippled and widened.

Eyes that had been the color of grass crushed by a child playing house changed to the color of a forest covered in summer foliage.

“I remembered—you.”

A butterfly flew into the forest.

The flutter of the small butterfly’s wings was stirring up wind in the quiet forest.

Though only a very small breeze had begun, the forest swayed like it had met a gale.

“We really weren’t close after all.”

Just as she’d known, Rayenne wasn’t close with anyone.

Dante had spoken to her first too, but Rayenne hadn’t answered.

“…Right.”

Dante, who answered in a lowered voice, smiled again.

With that same smile she’d seen in the dream, like wind leaking through.

Since she hadn’t expected him to accept it so readily, Rayenne found herself examining Dante’s expression without realizing it.

His expression was the same as usual, yet somehow subtly different.

The emotion that had seeped in delicately was blurred beyond recognition.

“That’s too bad.”

At the words that came out without context, Rayenne looked up at Dante quietly.

Dante’s hand, wearing a languid smile, slowly rose and came to rest on Rayenne’s shoulder.

“I’d like to talk more, but I don’t have time right now.”

“…Right. No matter how solid your family backing is, you should spend your time productively. Stop just killing time in the library.”

For Rayenne, it was something she said to avoid constantly running into him at the library.

But Dante immediately wiped away his languid smile and burst into laughter.

“You’re really strange today.”

Even at Rayenne’s words that came out like a rebuke, Dante’s laughter showed no signs of stopping.

Since he kept bursting into laughter looking at her, Rayenne’s eyes narrowed upward, feeling like she was being teased.

“You were seeing me as some common wastrel, weren’t you?”

He asked himself, then burst into laughter again. Like he was pulling out all his hidden laughter, Dante laughed for a while before finally catching his breath.

“Everything you said is right. That’s why I came to say goodbye since I’m going to work now.”

Having been caught red-handed thinking of him as a ‘common wastrel,’ Rayenne felt a prick of guilt but pretended to be calm and nodded.

“Mm. Okay. Well then, take care.”

When she raised her palm to show him, Dante also chuckled.

“Yeah. Hope to see you again soon.”

He patted with the hand he’d kept on Rayenne’s shoulder all this time.

Dante, who turned around without hesitation, made eye contact with Jin as he was leaving the library and just nodded slightly.

After that brief greeting, Dante finally left completely, leaving only an unsettled feeling behind.

‘Nothing’s changed at all. Enough that I understand why he’d be disappointed I didn’t remember.’

The unreadable emotion in his lightly made smile, the farewell pat on the shoulder that felt unexpectedly affectionate, the sensitive words he offered contrary to the impression he’d treat things lightly—all of it was exactly like what she’d seen in the dream.

‘More importantly, what kind of work does he do?’

Seeing how he appeared here and there all the time, he didn’t seem to belong somewhere like a knight order, so she couldn’t guess at all what kind of work he did.

“My lady.”

A quiet call broke through her thoughts.

Jin, who had approached at some point, stood where Dante had been standing moments ago.

“I’m planning to return now.”

“Ah, yes! I’m coming.”

When she came out holding only one book, Jin examined the book in Rayenne’s arms.

“Are you only borrowing one?”

“Yes. This is all I need.”

“I see.”

Jin, who nodded, stood first in front of the table placed at the library entrance.

It was a book loan ledger Rayenne hadn’t noticed because she hadn’t paid attention.

“One moment.”

When she handed the book to Jin’s outstretched hand, he filled out the loan ledger quite skillfully.

Jin, who returned the book to Rayenne, extended his hand.

It clearly wasn’t to ask for the book again.

Her deliberation over whether to hold his hand wasn’t very long.

Since the imperial palace had many eyes, she judged it would be good to show the appearance of a ducal couple on good terms publicly.

***

After returning to the ducal residence, they ate a late lunch together and spent an ordinary day no different from usual.

Jin probably went to handle work, and as Rayenne, left alone, headed to the study as usual, Velma suddenly appeared from somewhere again.

“My lady!”

Velma approached Rayenne quickly, holding a basket full of candles with both hands.

Having seen her a few times now, this cute maid had become quite welcome.

“Miss Velma.”

When Rayenne remembered and called her name, a blush bloomed over her fair skin slightly tanned by the sun.

At the clear smile as clear as her skin, Rayenne smiled along with her.

“I just need to replace all the candles and then go down to the kitchen—should I bring you a snack? Would you like some tea?”

Looking at Velma, who had a youthful face and was about half a head shorter than her, Rayenne didn’t want to send her on errands.

Rayenne, who was about to decline with a smile, asked instead of refusing due to a thought that suddenly occurred to her.

“Is that all you have left to do?”

“Yes.”

The thought ‘Why are you asking that?’ showed plainly on Velma’s face.

Being so honest like this.

Rayenne held back the laughter about to burst out and made a mischievous expression.

“Then how about resting with me over tea?”

“What? With you, my lady?”

“Mm… Is that a difficult proposal?”

When she asked that with a slight smile, Velma, whose eyes had widened in surprise, quickly shook her head.

In doing so, a few strands of hair stuck out from between her neatly braided updo.

“No! Not at all! I’d love to!”

It was an intense answer matching the joy that appeared on her face.

***

Age nineteen. Parents currently running an inn in the back alleys of the commercial district. Has reddish-brown hair and eyes because she takes after her father. And she’s the youngest who receives abundant love from three older brothers and her father.

All of these were facts Rayenne learned in less than 30 minutes after starting to have tea with Velma.

“They all opposed it, saying how hard it is to pass as a maid. Ugh… If I hadn’t been accepted to House Daihan, they might not have allowed it to the end.”

“They do that because they cherish you so much.”

Velma smiled brightly while crunching on a cookie.

“I actually know that.”

Her giggling appearance was quite adorable.

Rayenne wondered if this was what having a younger sister would feel like.

Only after eating all the cookies in her mouth did Velma speak again.

“Oh, please speak comfortably to me, my lady.”

“Hm? I’m fine with this though.”

Velma’s slender fingers fidgeted with the teacup handle. She spoke with a rarely hesitant air.

“Actually, all the maids at the ducal house are much older than me…”

“Is that so?”

Since they all came and went so quietly without a sound, Rayenne had rarely seen maids other than Velma.

Moreover, it wasn’t just the maids—she couldn’t see other servants either.

Sometimes at night she even had the pointless thought that perhaps only Rayenne, Jin, Stark, and Velma lived here like in a ghost mansion.

Velma, who nodded with a gloomy face, looked around unnecessarily.

After examining the study door particularly carefully, Velma spoke sulkily.