Wait, this atmosphere… could it be?

‘No, surely not. Between Kayan and me…’

Saena thought while trying to compose her expression despite her bewilderment.

“…May I kiss you?”

“Huh?”

But Saena was wrong again.

A kiss…

Saena, who had never once thought of Kayan as a potential romantic interest, was quite flustered. Moreover, she now had Constantine, so this definitely shouldn’t happen.

Meanwhile, Kayan’s face kept drawing closer.

“Uh? Um?”

Saena frantically tried to think of some elegant way to refuse, but her mind went blank.

“Um? Ah, n…”

She only grew more flustered as Kayan’s face drew nearer.

“No!”

What finally came out was a shout that was not just firm but practically a warning.

Perhaps because of the mood just moments ago. As if he hadn’t expected such a firm rejection, Kayan apologized with a very flustered expression.

“S-sorry……”

Though it was too dark to see clearly, his face must have turned red.

“Um, that’s not what I meant……”

“……”

“I, I don’t think we should do this.”

She didn’t want to reject him so seriously, but the words just burst out. Saena tried to explain better by rambling on.

“No, I should be the one apologizing……”

“……”

“I’m sorry……”

“No. I’m sorry too……”

After exchanging apologies, they ran out of things to say.

“But… could you tell me what you mean by we shouldn’t do this?”

After a long while, Kayan carefully asked.

“Huh? Well… we’re not the kind of relationship that should kiss, right?”

“Ah, right……”

She spoke indirectly, implying what business did they have kissing when they weren’t even lovers.

As someone who had kissed Constantine first and only defined their relationship afterward, Saena felt a bit guilty, but Kayan didn’t know that.

“I, actually……”

But perhaps that wasn’t the end of it.

Suddenly Kayan made an embarrassed expression and tried to say something. Sensing the timing that seemed about to say words of confession, Saena grew urgent again.

“Kayan! You’re a good person!”

“……”

“And I think of you as a good friend.”

In truth, saying someone is a ‘good person’ or ‘good friend’ is an expression of gentle rejection. Kayan’s expression immediately darkened.

“……”

In the wave of awkward silence, Saena slowly stood up.

His coat must have slipped off when she fell earlier, as it lay alone on the floor. Saena picked up the coat, dusted it off, and returned it to Kayan.

“…Thanks for showing me around. Good night.”

Though Kayan was a good man, what couldn’t be couldn’t be.

She didn’t understand why he liked her, but she couldn’t accept him. His feelings probably weren’t too deep yet, so he’d likely forget soon. That’s what Saena thought.

Saena walked back the way she came, trying to muffle her footsteps as much as possible.

Suddenly the fact that it was winter hit her anew, giving her a freezing feeling.

She felt she would need some time in front of the fireplace.

* * *

“Why did you take him away? I was planning to hug him while sleeping.”

Evian grumbled as soon as she saw Saena, who had briefly left when saying she would take Yolly.

“Well, he’s male.”

“…So?”

“He seemed embarrassed. Since everyone’s wearing such thin clothes.”

“…Are you serious?”

She was. From Saena’s perspective, Yolly had clearly turned his head away shyly.

When Saena nodded, Evian burst out laughing.

“You’re really quite funny sometimes.”

Kirsten and Floria also laughed out loud as if they couldn’t believe it.

‘But it’s true…?’

Why did they think she was joking when she was being serious…

Her friends didn’t know Yolly wasn’t just an ordinary dog, but Saena, who knew clearly, couldn’t leave him in this room.

“Ah, this is so comfortable and nice.”

“Yeah. It’s so nice to hang out with just us girls at night like this.”

Crackle crackle.

Along with the sound of burning firewood, drinking was already in full swing in the room. Everyone was enjoying themselves, holding glasses and chatting about various things.

The circular shape they made, sitting cozily in front of the fireplace and talking softly, somehow gave off an incredibly warm feeling. The chill she had felt earlier seemed to have disappeared somewhere.

Saena smiled slowly and burrowed into their midst to find her place.

“But why did you come back so late?”

Though she was startled at the sudden question, Saena answered, trying to appear calm.

“Um… My stomach felt heavy, so I went for a walk.”

“Hmm?”

Kirsten made a nasal sound while narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

What is it, did she find out I was with Kayan?

She should have come right back. She regretted wandering around saying she was taking a walk.

But she couldn’t exactly confess to Kayan’s sister, ‘Sister, I firmly rejected your brother.’

“By the way, Saya, didn’t you say you’re against marriage?”

Kirsten asked while lounging lazily.

“Mm. Sort of.”

“Why don’t you want to get married?”

“In case I meet some weird guy. Isn’t it better to just live with Dad and brother?”

“Oh my, oh my. That’s such a good idea.”

“…Sister, are you against marriage too?”

“Me? No?”

Kirsten’s answer was firm.

“Huh…?”

Then why did she say it was a good idea?

Saena tilted her head, finding it hard to follow the conversation’s flow.

“So you’re saying you’ll keep living at House Debov without getting married?”

“That would be nice. Though when brother gets married and I get a sister-in-law, well, I might have to go to a provincial estate then.”

“What? No, why?!”

“Huh? Well, it’d be awkward with newlyweds… The new sister-in-law might not like it.”

“That’s impossible! Your new sister-in-law would want to live in the same building and eat meals together with you every day!”

“Would such… a person really exist?”

“Yes! They definitely exist. Hehe, just wait and see.”

…What’s with this confident statement…

“Is brother seeing anyone these days?”

“Hehe, who knows?”

“……?”

It was strange enough to ask Kirsten if her own brother was dating, but it was even more peculiar how Kirsten seemed to know something and was being mysterious about it.

But she found herself asking anyway. Well, she couldn’t get a proper answer though.

“Floria, has Duke Aberdeen arrived at the imperial capital?”

Evian jumped into the momentarily broken conversation to ask Floria.

“Ah, he’ll probably come during the week.”

“The Week of Protection starts next week.”

“We might get to see all four Dukes if we’re lucky!”

“Well, they’re usually too busy with meetings to attend parties, aren’t they?”

“But they might attend the Moonlight Ball at least?”

“We’ll have to wait and see about that too.”

The Week of Protection…

She had awakened from her comatose state when the summer sun was bright and started her new life, and now only the last week of the year remained.

Time flows quickly, and life rushes by just as fast.

Saena became somewhat curious about what would happen next year when she turned twenty.

* * *

Constantine seemed quite busy.

It was because the Week of Protection had begun.

[Do you have any plans to come to the imperial palace?]

With consecutive meetings, Constantine seemed to be practically living at the imperial palace. Perhaps that’s why he sent such a note.

A smile crept onto her face.

[No, what business would I have at the imperial palace?

Are you very busy?]

[Yes. It’s not easy to find free time.

So you won’t come to the Black Night either?]

Though she had started dating unexpectedly and thought nothing would change much, she found herself feeling excited every time his black bird arrived with a note.

‘Is this… what being in love feels like?’

In the drawer of the console table in Saena’s room was a wooden box that had somehow become filled with their exchanged notes. Looking at those accumulated notes made her heart flutter somehow.

[I plan to attend the Moonlight Ball.]

[Then, I’ll have to endure until then.]

…What does he mean by endure?

Saena tilted her head as she added another note to the wooden box.

The empire calls the last day of the year and the final day of the Week of Protection the ‘Black Night’.

On the last day, it remains somewhat dark even when the sun rises, and at night, even with the moon out, it’s a new moon so its light is very weak. Since this peculiar darkness persists all day, they called the last day Black Night.

There were many various events nationwide on Black Night, but the ‘Moonlight Ball’ held at the imperial palace was particularly representative.

The Moonlight Ball is an event that continues from the afternoon of Black Night until dawn of the first day of the new year. Though it’s called the Moonlight Ball despite being held on a day with particularly little moonlight, she didn’t know why.

Various events were held at different times, but people’s favorite was the ‘treasure hunt’ event held at midnight. The imperial family would give out grand prizes based on the number of treasures found. Unlike hunting festivals or tournaments, women could actively participate too, so it was very popular.

‘Wow, come to think of it, I’m finally participating in this event!’

Saena also planned to participate with enthusiasm. Though she wasn’t aiming for a ranking, she intended to give it her all.

Her goal was clear, though others might laugh — it wasn’t for the prizes. She was very interested in the medium itself that was hidden as treasure. Because that medium was dolls modeled after Guardian Spirits.

Only those who had made their debut could attend Black Night events. So this was Saena’s first time.

‘I hope I can collect all 5, no, at least 4 Guardian Spirits.’

Since there’s only one imperial Guardian Spirit doll, she didn’t even expect that one.

‘No, never mind the others, I really hope I can find the unicorn doll…!’

Though it might seem like she cared more about the side dishes than the memorial service itself, what could she do? That was just where Saena’s interests lay.

Though she didn’t want to appear unsophisticated, it was true that her expectations were building up.

* * *