The dining room was filled with an uncomfortable atmosphere. Unlike the usual simple meals, this was an overly formal luncheon.

“I’m overwhelmed by the Viscount’s hospitality.”

Henry smiled faintly as he greeted Viscount Hayworth.

“You’re too kind. I’m the one who’s honored.”

“I merely stopped by to see a friend. I didn’t expect such an elaborate meal.”

The friend he mentioned referred to me. Since the last visit, Henry and I had agreed to be friends.

“It’s quite modest as it was prepared in haste. With Your Highness personally visiting, it’s only natural for me as the head of the household to attend to you.”

Viscount Hayworth responded gracefully.

‘They said they’d assign Leon because they were worried about assassination attempts.’

Yet when Henry actually visited, that promise wasn’t kept. It seemed he was worried his daughter might fall for Henry’s schemes.

The head of the household personally attending to a royal visitor.

On the surface, there was nothing strange about this at all.

However, Viscount Hayworth was typically a merchant by trade. He was usually busy and often away from the mansion for long periods.

‘Before the broken engagement, I always met him alone. Today he must have specially cleared his schedule.’

I felt uncomfortable with Viscount Hayworth’s overprotectiveness.

‘I hope nothing goes wrong.’

I kept remembering how he hadn’t hesitated to throw a knife at Leon when he lost his mind because of me. I kept watching the Viscount’s hands as he cut his steak.

Henry, oblivious to all this, showed no signs of anxiety.

“Thank you for your consideration. I won’t forget the Viscount’s kindness.”

“As your subject, it’s only natural. I’ll attend to you faithfully until you return to the palace.”

Though outwardly polite, it probably meant ‘I’ll keep a close watch so you can’t try anything.’

“I’m full. I’ve had enough to eat.”

Henry smiled gently as he put down his napkin.

“Was the food to your liking?”

“Hayworth’s chef is quite skilled. It was a very satisfying luncheon.”

“I’m glad you were satisfied.”

The situation was already as uncomfortable as chewing on sand. Thinking this was a good opportunity, I too placed my napkin on the table.

“Viscount Hayworth.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I have important matters to discuss with your daughter. May we move to another location now?”

The implication was clearly ‘You’ve done enough hosting, now please leave us.’

“Shall we move to the drawing room together? We have some newly arrived tea leaves that are quite fragrant.”

Interpreted, this meant ‘Talk alone with my daughter? Not a chance.’

This noble way of speaking… sigh. Though both were smiling, I could see the veins standing out on their hands gripping their knives.

It was my turn to step in.

“Father. I’d like to show His Highness our newly arranged rose garden.”

“The rose garden?”

“Yes. We can aid digestion with a walk too.”

My meaning was, ‘We’ll talk in an open space, so there’s no need for excessive worry.’

Even at my request, Viscount Hayworth still wore a distinctly dissatisfied expression.

“Master. Oscar wants to see roses too.”

Just then, Oscar, who had been eating quietly, pleaded with Leon.

“Shall we, my baby?”

Leon smiled readily as he put down his napkin. It’s amazing how well these usually quarrelsome ones get along at times like this.

I had an ominous feeling about this.

***

It was a lazy afternoon.

Perhaps because the roses were in full bloom, the garden was filled with a pleasant floral fragrance.

After finishing the suffocating luncheon, Henry and I came out to the garden together.

Of course, the troublemakers came along too.

“Your Highness, how are things at the palace these days?”

Leon asked listlessly, with not a hint of real interest. While not exactly rude, the problem was that it was purely perfunctory politeness.

“Well, not bad.”

“How wonderful.”

He responded to Henry’s reluctant answer with equal disinterest, not even making eye contact.

“How about you?”

“Thanks to your concern, I’m always well.”

“Glad to hear my concern wasn’t wasted.”

There’s no way Henry had actually worried about Leon, but there wasn’t much else to say.

Their soulless, meaningless conversation continued.

What was the point of this walk…

We were walking together.

To be precise,

Me, Leon, Henry.

This order was the problem, but.

With Leon in the middle, I couldn’t even see Henry’s face, let alone talk to him.

Of course, the hatchling couldn’t be left out. Oscar, clinging to my arms, let out a groan.

‘How cute. He must be getting sleepy.’

The spring breeze must have been warm, as he was nodding off.

“Leon. Just a moment.”

When Henry turned around too, I signaled him to go on ahead.

Understanding my intention, Henry walked ahead leisurely.

Leon raised his eyebrows and asked.

“What?”

“Hold Oscar for me.”

“No. I’m busy. I need to catch up with His Highness.”

“Stop lying. Since when were you close? You don’t even have anything to talk about.”

“Does sister have something to talk about? Still harboring lingering feelings?”

Leon’s eyes bulged.

“Shh. Lower your voice.”

“Ah~ I don’t want to. Oscar likes Sister more than me anyway. And I like His Highness more.”

“Hah… really.”

Henry, walking ahead, turned back with concern. I flashed a sweet smile while grinding my molars.

“Leon Hayworth. Are you going to keep embarrassing me like this?”

“What’s embarrassing? If they’re sister’s friend, they should be close with me too.”

“Am I a child? I’m an adult. What happens to my dignity when you’re this overprotective over nothing?”

“Why should I care about that?”

He was being completely unreasonable.

“Father told me to guard you properly. Do you know how much he yelled at me after that fireworks night?”

“This isn’t guarding, it’s interfering.”

“You’re just pretending you can’t forget him anyway. You think I’m doing this because I want to? What’s wrong with just killing time and leaving?”

Leon had a point.

But today Henry said he had something important to tell me.

As someone who needed to hear that, I couldn’t help but feel troubled.

I pleaded with Leon again with an awkward expression.

“Leon. I really just need 5 minutes to talk. Please watch Oscar.”

“You two have 5 minutes worth of things to talk about? Are you that close? Huh?”

“What do you mean ‘that close’? How could you say…”

I almost raised my voice in excitement too. Quickly checking on Oscar sleeping in my arms, I lowered my voice.

Leon would keep insisting like this anyway. It seemed better to persuade him with a legitimate reason.

“I told you it’s about the rose maze. Don’t you remember?”

“….”

“I need to hear about the imperial court and social circles. You and Father are completely useless in that area. So am I.”

It wasn’t wrong.

Usually, the lady of the house handled social activities, but Hayworth only had me.

Besides gossip magazines, Henry was the only source of news.

“…Fine. But only 5 minutes.”

“Thank you.”

“You must stay this far apart while walking.”

Leon spread his arms wide to show the distance we had to maintain.

I narrowed my eyes.

“…Then how are we supposed to talk?”

“Why can’t you? Do you talk with your shoulders?”

Leon clenched his molars and glared. Talk about being overprotective.

“Please stop saying such improper things.”

“Anyway, keep your distance. The moment you get unnecessarily close, I’ll step in.”

Leon reluctantly took Oscar in his arms.

“Okay. I get it. You’re the one who shouldn’t get unnecessarily close.”

“What secret conversation could you be having.”

“I’ll tell you everything after we’re done. Just walk twenty paces away. Come any closer and you’re dead.”

I glared at Leon. After handing over the sleeping, limp Oscar, I hurried over to Henry with quick steps.

“I’m sorry.”

“Lord Hayworth seems to care a lot about his sister.”

“Ah, well. He’s a bit overprotective.”

“It feels like we’re being watched.”

Henry whispered to me with a faint smile. I felt the same burning sensation on the back of my head.

I sighed deeply and glanced back. Leon was glaring at us with fire in his eyes while holding Oscar.

This was actually better because I made a fuss about being embarrassed. If I had stayed quiet, he would still be walking between Henry and me.

‘Looks like he’s awake.’

Oscar was flailing his arms while being held by Leon. When our eyes met, he shot me a desperate look like a rain-soaked cat.

‘Sigh. I shouldn’t look.’

I shook my head as I kept feeling my resolve weakening.

Sometimes I thought it didn’t matter, but then I’d remember how he had spoken rudely to Henry last time and shudder. It was probably better to walk separately from the start.

“By the way. Didn’t you say you had something important to tell me?”

I pressed Henry, who had been staring at me for a while.

“You’ll soon receive an invitation from Duchess Arwen.”

“An invitation?”

I had read about Duchess Arwen in the tabloids. The Emperor’s sister and queen bee of social circles had returned to the capital after several years. The article predicted a hotter social season than usual.

“A masquerade ball. My aunt is mischievous, she always starts with that when she returns to the capital.”

A masquerade ball. This party where high nobles wear masks was the most talked-about event of the social season.

Because faces are hidden, all sorts of romantic incidents tend to occur.

“…I can’t just not go, right?”

“How many times do you think you can refuse like that?”

Henry questioned my casual response.

‘Well, it’s not something I can avoid by hiding.’

There must be a reason why Henry brought up the masquerade ball.

“So?”

“I’d like you to be my partner that day, Nuna.”