The Marquis felt his throat go dry and hastily reached for his wine glass. After taking a large sip, he covered his mouth with his hand and coughed awkwardly.

“Ahem! The truth is, my daughter has admired the Duke of Icarus for a long time.”

“Is that so? That’s delightful news.”

Calix replied smoothly.

“Since their feelings seem to align, how about proceeding with the engagement immediately?”

The Marquis suggested, unable to conceal his excitement.

“Or perhaps we could officially announce their relationship at Lilia’s upcoming birthday party?”

As Calix appeared to be gazing at Lilia while sipping his wine, he cast a subtle glance toward Ciela. Noticing her slight shake of the head, he immediately understood her intentions. Setting his glass down gently, he addressed the Marquis.

“Though I share the desire to move quickly, since this is only the first step, I’d prefer to proceed more cautiously. I hope the lady will understand.”

He raised his hand to cover the lower half of his face, as if overcome with shyness. The gesture caused the Marquise to draw in a sharp breath, her excitement evident. As a noblewoman and a mother, the situation was extremely exciting for her.

“Hoho. Taking things slowly doesn’t sound bad at all. After all, there are things you can only experience while dating that you can’t after marriage, wouldn’t you agree?”

The Marchioness directed her question toward Lilia, but before she could respond, Ciela, seated nearby, interjected smoothly.

“I think taking it slow is a good idea too. Don’t you think so, Lilia?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Lilia murmured, her cheeks flushed as she nodded eagerly, cupping her face with both hands. After a brief moment of hesitation, she shyly spoke up.

“If there were two Lady Arcels, I would’ve preferred if you had called me Lilia.”

Calix tilted his head slightly, looking thoughtful as he spoke.

“It’s not difficult, but may I take some time to get used to it?”

“…Alright.”

Though her voice carried a hint of disappointment, Lilia’s gaze turned dreamy as she looked at Calix.

‘What a beautiful pair,’ the Marquis thought, glancing between his daughter and the Duke with a satisfied smile.

“Hoho! Let’s not let the food get cold; we should continue eating!” he declared cheerfully.

The lively atmosphere in the dining room persisted until the meal ended. Although the Marquis and Marchioness clearly wanted to keep Lilia and the Duke together a bit longer, Calix declined firmly, citing important matters that required his attention. Given his reputation for a demanding schedule, they had no choice but to relent.

“I have other matters to attend to, so I must take my leave.”

Calix said, rising from his seat.

“Please visit us again sometime.”

The Marquis urged eagerly.

“I shall do so.”

Calix replied courteously before departing.

The moment Calix was gone, the Marquis and Marchioness pulled Lilia into a celebratory embrace from both sides.

“My goodness…! You’re truly going to become the Duchess!”

“And not just any duchy—the Duchess of the Icarus family! Hoho!”

The two were barely able to contain themselves, their enthusiasm overflowing despite their attempts to maintain a semblance of decorum.

“…I’m so embarrassed.”

Lilia, nestled in her parents’ embrace, smiled radiantly, fully sharing in their joy. Meanwhile, Ciela stood apart, as if in a completely different space, her presence unable to mix with theirs—like oil and water.

“Are you happy?”

Ciela asked, her voice calm and composed.

“Yes. If this were a dream, I wouldn’t want to wake up.”

Lilia replied, her eyes sparkling with playful charm. The dimples in her cheeks deepened as she beamed with joy, thoroughly immersed in the moment.

“I’m glad.”

Ciela said, placing her hands over her chest, her lips curving into a soft smile as she appeared to join in their celebration.

‘It was worth the preparation.’

Up until now, Ciela had carefully implied that Calix held feelings for Lilia. Having already shared her hopeful thoughts with them, their ears were more inclined to accept the idea. And now, with Calix himself having mentioned both Lilia’s birthday party and marriage during his visit.

‘He didn’t explicitly say who, but the urgency of his words makes people hear what they want to hear.’

After all, she was already engaged.

As she quietly observed the trio basking in their excitement, Ciela turned away, her expression unreadable.

‘I wonder what kind of faces they’ll make when they realise Calix wasn’t talking about Lilia.’

The thought intrigued her, and a faint smirk played on her lips, like a cat toying with its prey.

“Sister, where are you going?”

Lilia called out, noticing her departure.

“Just a walk to help with digestion.”

“Didn’t you eat anything?”

“True, I didn’t.”

With nothing to eat, Ciela had only drunk water, yet strangely, her stomach felt oddly full.

As planned, she left the mansion. Although she had mentioned going for a walk, her true destination was the back door. Slipping discreetly through the servants’ entrance, she emerged into the alleyway, taking care to avoid being noticed.

“Ciela.”

At the sound of her name, she turned. Calix was waiting for her, leaning casually against the wall. As she passed him in the dining room earlier, he had whispered one word into her ear: “alley.”

‘If he means an alley, there’s only one place he could be referring to.’

And sure enough, she found him in the secluded spot—quiet and private, perfect for an uninterrupted conversation.

“You mentioned having something to say, but since I can’t walk for long, I hope you’ll understand.”

In short, she was telling him to get to the point quickly.

Calix smiled, as if amused by her directness, and pushed himself off the wall. Stretching out his long legs, he approached her with measured steps, the faintest trace of humor lingering in his expression.

“I called you because I just remembered something important I forgot to mention before.”

“Is that so? But you’re speaking formally again today?”

Ciela’s brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. For a moment she wondered if this was really Calix or someone impersonating him. His use of honourifics seemed completely out of character.

“I know speaking formally isn’t really my style.”

Calix said, rubbing his chin with one hand as a sly grin spread across his lips.

“But I’m using it because it’s you, Ciela. Didn’t I tell you that I respect my partner?”

“After three years, you mean?”

“Three years can feel like a hundred.”

Ciela’s lips curved into a bright, radiant smile, her mood unexpectedly lightened by his words.

“Well,” she said with a playful lilt, “thoughts are free.”

The fleeting sense of unfamiliarity vanished in an instant. His arrogant demeanor, no matter how one looked at it, was unmistakably that of the male protagonist.

‘He suggested trying to seduce me first, but he’s really putting in the effort.’

It was clear he was attempting to convey that she was special to him. While she had already seen through his intentions, it wouldn’t work on her.

‘He’ll tread carefully with others, no doubt.’

she thought confidently, blinking calmly, unfazed by his antics.

“I seem to have gone off on a tangent for a moment, what was it you wanted to say?”

“To make three years feel like a hundred, I must seduce you, Ciela.”

Calix replied smoothly, his words carrying a mischievous undertone.

“Yes.”

“I’ll use any means necessary to seduce you, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t push me away in surprise.”

The sunlight caught in his crimson eyes, making them shimmer with an almost tantalizing allure as they softened.

“How far are you planning to go with those words?”

“To the very end.”

Calix replied, his voice smooth and intoxicating, like the serpent offering the forbidden fruit.

With deliberate gentleness, he reached out and brushed her hair behind her shoulder. The cool touch of his hand grazing her ear made Ciela flinch, instinctively pulling back from his touch.

If this was the usual conclusion of a seduction…

After a brief pause, she let out an exasperated sigh and took a few steps back, trying to regain her composure.

Calix, however, did not give her the space she sought. He closed the distance between them once more, his gaze growing sharper and more intense with each step, as if determined to leave no room for escape.

“That seems a bit difficult.”

“What do you mean by difficult?”

With an air of unshakable innocence, Calix stood confidently before her. Ciela found herself momentarily at a loss for words, her lips parting as if to speak before closing again.

‘He’s definitely doing this on purpose.’

She bit the soft flesh of her lower lip, holding back the words threatening to spill from her mind.

The thought struck her that, if she wasn’t careful, she might find herself caught in his carefully laid trap. Yet, instead of stepping back, she met his gaze head-on, allowing her eyes to soften ever so slightly, tinged with a trace of regret.

“Even if you try to go all the way, Your Grace, you’re not my type, so it probably won’t work anyway.”

“Type doesn’t matter once you surpass it, so it’s fine.”

To emphasize his point, he clenched his fist tightly, the sound of his knuckles cracking cutting through the tension. Yet, his expression remained unchanged, radiating the same captivating charm.

For a moment, Ciela closed her eyes, her mind racing as she considered her next move. When she opened them again, her blue eyes sparkled with newfound determination, glinting faintly beneath her lashes.

“As long as it’s not forceful, I’m fine with it.”

Given his unwavering confidence, it was clear her answer was exactly what he wanted to hear. And, if she were honest, it wasn’t a bad option for her either.

‘Whatever happens, if he insists it’s not forced, then I can just deny it and stop it at any time.’

Ciela thought, her eyes lowering to carefully mask her true emotions.

As expected, Calix nodded in agreement, his expression calm and composed.

“It’s only natural that something you truly desire can’t be forced.”

“Desire?”

“Yes.”

Ciela pressed her hand to her lips, lowering her head to hide the flicker of understanding that crossed her face.

‘So that’s not what he meant by going all the way.’

She realized, her earlobes burning with embarrassment as the truth sank in.

“And there’s one more thing I need to say.”

Calix added, his voice steady yet tinged with something deeper.

When Ciela looked up, she saw Calix smiling down at her, his expression unreadable. But then, unexpectedly, his face changed and the smile disappeared.

‘Is this really the main point?’

As she noticed him no longer smiling, Ciela focused her attention, listening carefully.

“If I find out you haven’t eaten the Sirka, I’ll make sure you eat it myself. So be sure to do so.”

The nuance in his tone, as if he already knew she planned to sell the Sirka, made her heart drop momentarily. But she quickly recovered and smiled brazenly, running her fingers through her hair.

“I’ve already eaten it, so there’s no need for that.”

“…That’s a relief. That concludes my business here.”

Calix stepped back, his earlier words a roundabout way of urging her to eat it. However, as he looked at her, still showing no signs of intending to follow through, his eyes narrowed slightly.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave. I’ll see you at Lilia’s birthday party,” he said before adding, “Lady Ciela.”

Calix stopped her in her tracks with a dazzling smile and an alluring voice.

“Be cautious of your eyes, whether it’s day or night. Whether it’s a person or a beast.”

If she absolutely refused to take it, he would have to resort to other means.

“Then, I bid you a safe return.”

With those words, the duke passed her by first.

‘Be cautious of my eyes?’

Ciela stood frozen, replaying their conversation.

‘No matter how much of a ‘protagonist’ he was, he couldn’t possibly know whether or not I’ve eaten it. As long as I don’t get caught with the Sirka.’

Through Uncle Ken, she would ensure the seller remained unidentified. Moreover, no matter how rare Sirka might be, it wasn’t exclusive to the Icarus family.

‘Still, just in case, I should be extra careful to ensure the real seller can’t be traced through multiple intermediaries.’

Resolving to take precautions, she too left the alley. However, Ciela was still unaware that the very yellow beast she needed to beware of was right by her side.

***

With the help of her maidservants, Lilia slipped out of the constricting dress and changed into more comfortable indoor clothing. Her clear, sky-like eyes stared quietly at the dress she had just worn.

“…Calix.”

As her fingers gently traced the fabric, Calix suddenly came to mind—his gaze, his smile, and the deep, pleasant voice that had praised her. Those words still lingered in her ears.

“If there were two Lady Arcels, I would’ve preferred if you had called me Lilia.”

The mere thought of someone else being referred to as Lady Arcel twisted her stomach, and she clenched the fabric in her hands.

‘Ciela Arcel.’

Thinking of her only sister, Lilia crumpled the hem of the dress. Of course, there was no way Calix would ever notice her sister, but it still bothered her, like an out-of-place eyelash that irritated her vision.

“If it weren’t for Father, it would have been long ago.”

The Marquis, highly protective of his reputation, was determined to marry Ciela off to a noble who had already established themselves in the capital.

‘That stubbornness of his.’

‘Why couldn’t he see that even a noble from a remote area was already too much for her?’

As Lilia pondered and brushed back her hair, she suddenly broke into a sweet and affectionate smile.

“Well, I suppose I have no choice.”

Letting go of the collar she was holding, she opened a drawer filled with stationery that looked perfect for sending to a lover. With practiced ease, she wrote “Turtlik” in the recipient field.

“Sister will have to be grateful to me for the rest of her life.”

Since she had helped her this time, she’d even throw in a special gift.

“After all, I’m such a kind person.”

Lilia genuinely believed it.