Even while drunk, the young lord who recognized her frowned.

“What’s this. Why are suddenly interfering, Lady Sharofe? And what do you mean let go, this bastard ignored what I said and even twisted my arm!”

“So are you hurt? Then I’ll give you medical expenses.”

Shailyn replied coldly while narrowing her brow. To say that what had happened was entirely Carl’s fault, she had seen something.

“If you’re drunk in the first place, go inside nicely and rest. I saw everything—you picked a fight first and grabbed his collar.”

“No, I……”

“Is it okay to treat someone else’s knight so carelessly? I wouldn’t have anything to say even if I formally complained to the young lord’s family, would I?”

At the clear threat, the young lord was flustered. If he had known Carl was Shailyn’s knight, he wouldn’t have touched him.

There would be nothing good about causing conflict with her, who was the owner of a magic mine and connected by blood to the ducal family of Diart.

Even when he first learned the facts, he had tried to intimidate her out of pointless pride, but when Shailyn pressed back in return, his spirit quickly died.

“Huh……”

Unlike just before when he had been acting tough, the young lord let out a deflated breath.

It was absurd and ridiculous, but as Shailyn pointed out, he had indeed picked the fight first, and a formal complaint would be troublesome, so he couldn’t say anything.

Slowly, strength drained from the young lord’s hand that had been grabbing Carl’s collar.

Only then, grabbing the now-freed Carl’s wrist and dragging him, Shailyn said.

“Bondservant, let’s go!”

The two moved to the front of the deck where there were few people, leaving only the young lord behind.

Shailyn, who had been silently dragging Carl, released his wrist with a snap and got angry.

“What are you, stupid? Why did you just take it? You should have said I’m your master. Why couldn’t you speak!”

She wasn’t completely oblivious either, so she had noticed that Carl had kept his mouth shut and endured it thinking of her.

But seeing such behavior made her feel hurt rather than proud.

Carl, looking down at the small face making an indignant expression with her lower lip rolled and bitten, quietly sighed.

“How could I do that.”

Reaching out his hand to press down on her wrinkled white forehead, he continued.

“What if that caused trouble for you, Master. I’m already a pathetic bondservant.”

“What’s pathetic about you!”

Shailyn immediately shot back indignantly. Humility to this degree was a disease.

Who would dare describe Carl as a pathetic bondservant.

But Carl, whose own thoughts were completely different, gave a bitter smile and said.

“I am pathetic, of course. Even today, I could have jumped into the sea to save you, but I couldn’t because of the mask.”

A voice mixed with self-loathing and guilt flowed out low.

“I prioritized myself over my master’s safety.”

Shailyn stared up at his shadowed face.

At this moment, Carl turned his head slightly, unable to meet her clear eyes.

Then Shailyn grabbed both his cheeks and turned them toward her.

“Carl, look straight into my eyes.”

“……”

“It’s true that your duty is to protect me, but that doesn’t mean you should put me first in every situation.”

Even if Carl had really prioritized himself in a situation where she had fallen into the sea, Shailyn had no intention of saying anything about it.

The help she had received so far was countless, and just because she had employed him as a bondservant didn’t mean she wanted to easily push Carl around.

“If it’s a situation where you might be in trouble or danger, put yourself first, not me. That’s right.”

“But……”

“Hey, it’s your master’s order.”

Shailyn, who had stood on tiptoe to bring Carl’s face close, warned sternly.

Suddenly, seeing him showing off his handsome features against the backdrop of the night sea, one curiosity arose.

“But why do you hide this face with a mask like that?”

“…… I’m scared there might be someone who recognizes me.”

“Why is that scary? If someone who knows you appears, you might be able to recover your memories, and that’s good.”

At the innocent Shailyn’s words, who knew nothing, Carl chuckled and wrapped his hand around her slender wrist.

Soft moonlight gently illuminated both their faces.

Shailyn’s silver hair fluttered slightly in the wind. Gazing down at that sight, Carl slowly opened his mouth.

“Do you really want that, Master?”

His long fingers reached beyond Shailyn’s wrist to touch the back of her hand.

Deep, black eyes like the quiet sea locked gazes with her as if binding her.

Shailyn lost her words for a moment and stared at him.

“What if I have to leave your side then?”

“……!”

Her blue eyes widened and her small shoulders flinched.

Carl smiled faintly and lightly pressed his cheek against her white hand.

“I don’t want to part from you, Shailyn. Without you, I’ll be alone again.”

Like when they first met, when he was wandering the streets aimlessly.

Hearing his sincere words, Shailyn felt her chest area throb.

She was someone who would have to leave someday.

Someone who could only form relationships where parting was predetermined, no matter who the other person was.

But thinking of leaving behind the bondservant with a somehow lonely face…… her mouth already wouldn’t open.

Shailyn barely moved her lips that had become parched.

“Carl, I……”

Seeing her unable to easily continue her words, Carl obediently stepped back.

“That’s just how I feel, I have no intention of forcing it on you, Master. It’s better than you being alone.”

“…… Thank you.”

At the greeting that clearly showed her complicated feelings, Carl stared at her for a moment.

At first, he thought she was just an eccentric whose goal was to marry a handsome blond man.

Why did she start feeling like someone with many secrets at some point?

‘If I said I wanted to know everything inside her without missing a single thing, would she be shocked?’

Of course, since Carl had no desire to frighten Shailyn, he also released her wrist.

Shailyn, who had forced herself to come to her senses, smiled awkwardly and said.

“Ah, I’ve been outside too long. I think I should go in now.”

“Alright.”

He just watched Shailyn return to the banquet hall.

Carl’s figure standing quietly could be seen for a long time through the slowly closing door gap.

Meanwhile, Johanna was trying to win Linus’s heart in order to make their engagement happen again.

She thought it was fortunate that Shailyn didn’t immediately return to the banquet hall following him.

“Your Highness, being with me isn’t bad, is it?”

“Ah, is that so?”

“How are you feeling? This is a dinner party held for Your Highness, are you enjoying it?”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Would you like to try this too?”

“Ah, is that so?”

In reality, Linus only had his body by her side, but he openly showed signs that his mind was elsewhere.

No matter what she said, he consistently responded with “Ah, is that so?” so proper conversation couldn’t even take place.

‘He’s not even joking right now……’

Johanna’s insides boiled up as she tried to please someone for the first time in a long while.

The sight of him not even looking at her and acting without sincerity reminded her of the time before she became Lady Celsior, when she was Lady Dempsey, which hurt her feelings.

Moreover, Linus, who had been acting half-heartedly without soul, immediately brightened his eyes as soon as Shailyn entered the banquet hall.

“Lady Sharofe, haven’t you eaten yet? Come here and eat.”

Even though Johanna was right by his side, he called Shailyn to sit down and turned his body completely toward her.

Thanks to that, Johanna, who could only see his broad back built with lean muscle, had her expression harden in real time.

She could feel too vividly where Linus’s heart was.

‘What exactly makes a mere count’s daughter such a great existence……!’

Since she had once been a count’s daughter herself, she knew better. How shabby and wretched that position was, being noble only in name.

But when Shailyn dared to attract attention and receive interest with her status as Count Sharofe’s ‘daughter’, unbearable anger arose.

‘Ha…… But that will end tonight too. When morning comes, Shailyn Sharofe will fall miserably.’

Johanna raised her glass to hide her twisted lips and smiled.

The last gift prepared for Shailyn had not yet been opened.

Just imagining what expression Shailyn would make upon receiving that gift, and what reaction Linus would show, was enjoyable.

And Raviel, who had been sitting across from Johanna, narrowed his eyes once again at the smile that felt full of dark schemes.

The dinner party, with everyone harboring different thoughts and feelings, passed like that.

***

It was bedtime.

Mandy, who had taken care of my bedding, left for the maids’ cabin. Carl did the same.

I lay my weary body on the bed and closed my eyes.

I was sleeping deeply without even dreaming when.

— Beep!

【※Warning】

【※Warning】

【※Warning】

【※Warning】

【※Warning】

The system window woke me with a loud alarm.

What, what? What is it!