To be honest, it was less uncomfortable and more bewildering. I’d never once imagined Luden would come along.

“My lady, this worked out well. You were bored, weren’t you? If the two of you are together, you won’t be bored.”

Lella must have found me tiresome. Pushing me off on Luden like this!

“Lella, I can see right through you.”

I glared at her. Lella subtly avoided my gaze.

“Actually, everyone else is a couple, so I thought of Luden.”

“Then it wouldn’t be uncomfortable if I came along?”

Luden wanted my consent.

Well, it was uncomfortable, but.

“Of course not.”

I couldn’t tell him the truth. Still, if he came along, I’d probably be less bored, which was nice.

“We can’t take separate carriages, so we’ll have to send one back.”

“I was thinking the same thing… Let’s play rock-paper-scissors, and whoever loses sends their carriage back.”

When I reached a simple conclusion, Luden’s lips curved upward.

“Sounds good.”

We played rock-paper-scissors. Luden won, so we decided to send my carriage back.

I ate a simple breakfast with Luden and went downstairs to move my luggage. The others were still preparing, so we had time to spare.

First, I planned to tell Luna that Luden would be coming along too.

“Luna might say no.”

Luden nodded.

“As long as you don’t dislike it, I’m satisfied.”

“Pardon?”

“What matters to me is that Annelia isn’t uncomfortable.”

What does he mean by that? Ah, he’s glad I’m not uncomfortable. Why is he saying things like this? You’re making your noona’s heart flutter.

Actually, I didn’t think Luna would object. Though it felt awkward to say, from her perspective, getting acquainted with Luden wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Porters moved my luggage. Just as they finished transferring everything to Luden’s carriage, Luna emerged into the hotel lobby, ready to go.

“Did you both rest well last night?”

Luna smiled brightly.

“Ah, I was just about to meet you and talk.”

I looked at Luna and said,

“Luden wants to see the villa too.”

“Marquis Charlot?”

Luna’s face lit up completely. What’s this? It’s like she was hoping Luden would join.

“Well, Luna and I are the only ones without partners.”

“It was a bit like that.”

Luna nodded readily.

“That’s fine. You can come along.”

“Thank you.”

“Not at all.”

Luna looked at Luden.

“Marquis Charlot, I look forward to your company.”

“Likewise, I look forward to it.”

And so Luden ended up going to the villa with me.

Luden and I rode together in the carriage. But we didn’t speak. I read a book, and Luden organized documents.

…He works well despite the carriage rattling around.

I glanced at him and turned the page with trembling hands.

What I was reading was a novel based on history. An adventure story set in an ancient civilization, searching for dragons—a species that no longer appeared in the human world.

I finished it and tried to read the next volume, but the book ended.

It was so good! How depressing.

“There’s no next volume.”

“Next volume?”

Luden looked up.

“It cut off at a nail-biting moment.”

“What book is it?”

Luden showed unusual interest. I showed him the cover.

<The Hero’s Great Adventure>

When he saw the title, he smiled.

“I’ve read that one.”

“Really? You read books like this too?”

“I read all sorts of books. After becoming marquis, I’ve been too busy to have time, so I’ve been taking a break from it.”

“How is it now?”

“Not much has changed.”

How unfortunate. To be so busy he can’t even read books he enjoys.

Though, seeing him working on documents now, I could guess he usually has no free time.

“Want me to help with what you’re doing? I can do simple calculations.”

Luden handed me the documents he was looking at. Since this was a world without calculators, all calculations were done by hand.

I was good at math. So I started writing out calculation formulas diligently. Luden watched me quietly.

“You’re good at arithmetic.”

“Of course.”

Annelia had learned mathematics too. She could at least do calculations.

“Really neat work.”

He looked at the formulas and expressed admiration.

I do write them pretty well, don’t I?

“The calculations are accurate too.”

“Do you like it?”

When I smiled broadly, he nodded. Then he watched me quietly and swept my hair back.

Wh-what?

When that terrifyingly handsome face came close, my heart pounded without my realizing it.

He keeps making me flutter from before. But he should be doing that with the female lead.

I swatted his hand away.

“No doing things like this.”

I grumbled with a bright red face.

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“Well, even though we’re going to be engaged, we haven’t even held the engagement ceremony yet.”

“We’re engaged on paper.”

No, he pushed right in. He smiled.

“Annelia.”

“Yes.”

I tensed up.

“We can do things like this.”

I had a strange premonition. He suddenly pressed his lips to my ear.

What is this all of a sudden!

I scrambled backward. Then he smiled broadly.

“I want to do more, but I’ll hold back for now. As long as we don’t have relations, it’s fine, isn’t it?”

“No…”

“We’re going to be husband and wife, so a kiss should be fine, right?”

Th-that’s…

I had nothing to say.

Right, we’re going to be married. In the original story, Luden and Annelia had a married life too. So doing this and that with him is natural, but.

This man isn’t mine anyway. I don’t want to do things like this with someone who isn’t my man.

“I-I still need to prepare myself mentally.”

I stammered.

“This doesn’t feel appropriate.”

I shouted from the corner of the carriage. Then Luden put down his documents and approached me.

Why, why is he coming?

“Annelia.”

He spoke in a low voice.

“No man with a fiancée behaves entirely ‘appropriately.’ around his fiancée.”

His eyes were different from before. He was suppressing something. I didn’t know what it was, but.

“Well, since you say you need time.”

He moved away. Though he spoke in a dry voice, his eyes were hot.

“I’ll wait.”

He walked back leisurely and picked up his documents again. With my face still red, I huffed and looked at the documents he’d given me and did calculations.

* * *

The carriage finally stopped.

We arrived at the villa around lunchtime. Luna guided me and Luden to the room where we’d be staying.

The villa was a three-story building. And it was so spacious that rooms would be left over even with all the guests staying there.

‘Nice.’

I looked around the villa in admiration. Though not as much as the Charlot family’s, it was a building with an antique feel.

This time too, I ended up sharing a room with Luden.

“I’ll use the big bed.”

I agreed with Luden’s words. He was much taller than me, after all.

“The bed is so fluffy.”

I sat on the bed and rolled my body around. Then Luden laughed quietly.

“Annelia likes meat.”

“I’ve come to love it!”

“And you’re good at calculations.”

“That’s right.”

But why is he saying this? He stared at me intently.

“What?”

“You’re quick to notice other things, but slow about yourself.”

He said that and chuckled.

Come to think of it, he smiles more often in front of me than before. That’s a good thing, right?

I clasped my hands together tightly.

“There’s a barbecue party today. At lunch!”

“That’s right.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

I suddenly turned my gaze to Luden.

“Are you done with work?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go out.”

I quickly approached Luden and held out my hand.

“I’ll escort you. I’ve wanted to try it.”

I smiled cheerfully and took his hand, leading him out.

Then he, being pulled along by me, leaned in close and whispered in my ear.

“Annelia’s hand is warm.”

Well, of course, I’m a living person. But why does it sound so suggestive? We didn’t even do anything indecent.

I was flustered.

Ah, he’s figured out that my ears are my weakness.

He looked wicked.

* * *

Coming outside the villa, I looked at the valley in front and gasped in admiration. It was the perfect place to play on a hot summer day.

A waterfall was cascading into the valley. Other people had also come out of the villa and were at the valley.

I wore a light dress in the morning. Which meant I could go into the water.

I lifted my hem and stepped into the water.

“It’s really refreshing.”

Then Luden watched me quietly.

“Is it?”

Luden took off his shoes and socks and rolled up his pant legs. Then he entered the water and stood beside me. The cold water soaked our feet.

“The Charlot marquis family also has a villa like this.”

“Really?”

“Let’s go when the hot summer comes.”

“Sounds good.”

He smiled quietly. He was smiling like that, seemingly comfortable. The sight was heart-flutteringly wonderful.

Mm, the male lead’s appearance is lethal.

At this rate, I might fall head over heels… I shouldn’t.

I have to not. He’s another woman’s man. He’ll leave someone like me behind. So I won’t give him my heart.

I stood beside him like that and made that resolution.

* * *

Coming out of the water, I tied my hair with a string and pinned it up. But I felt people’s gazes.

Hm? Why?

Then Luden approached and undid the hair I’d just tied up.

“Your nape is showing. You’re drawing attention.”

He said that and put my string in his pocket.

No, I just tied up my hair, why is he like this?

I didn’t understand his behavior. Luden looked at me like that, sighed, and turned around. Luna approached us.

“I bought good meat. I’m not sure if it’ll suit your taste, but I prepared it with my best effort. Please enjoy!”

Saying that, she went to other guests.

We walked to the long table. On the table were freshly grilled meat and vegetables, and individual dipping sauces.

I put meat in my mouth and chewed slowly, a smile spreading across my lips.

It’s really delicious.

Admiration came out naturally.

I became happy eating the meat. Not just me—everyone else seemed satisfied too, smiling as they ate.

After eating the meat, the table was filled with beverages and alcohol.

Of course, I didn’t drink alcohol and had a beverage instead. Luden wasn’t touching alcohol either, saying he hadn’t finished his work.

“Annelia can drink.”

“But you can’t, Luden. I can’t drink alone.”

I said this.

“You say things like that without wanting anything in return, like breathing.”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“It’s scary because it’s unconscious.”

He touched my cheek. No, why are his actions so suggestive?

“I’m comfortable with you.”

He said that and firmly grasped my hand under the table.

His hand is hot.

When I tried to slip away, he gripped me tightly.

“Luden.”

“At this rate, really…”

He grumbled.

Tell me what you’re thinking!

He only released my hand gently after a long while. After my face had turned red.

Luden looked at Luna weaving among the various people and said,

“Do you know why Luna invited people here?”