I liked it. The flowers he’d been bringing lately were incredibly pretty. That’s why flower vases were increasing in my room.

I held the bouquet and smelled it. The fragrance wafted gently.

“Annelia.”

He approached me.

“I’m sorry for coming without notice.”

“Luden…?”

Luden seemed nervous, unable to keep his hands still.

Seeing him like that, I laughed.

“Luden can come anytime.”

“Annelia.”

“You’re my fiancé. But I need time to get ready, so just let me know when you’re coming.”

When I spoke affectionately, he nodded. Then he slowly approached me holding the bouquet.

Huh? Why is he doing this?

His face cast a shadow over mine.

“Annelia.”

He called in a sweet voice. Like craving something. Exactly like the sound that called me in my dream.

He kissed me again. Engulfed in heat, I slowly closed my eyes.

If I’d accepted him awkwardly the first time, I definitely accepted him in the second kiss.

After kissing, Luden turned his head.

“If Annelia dislikes it, you can refuse anytime.”

Luden bit his lip. Dazed, I quickly shook my head.

“I didn’t dislike it.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Luden turned his head back toward me. He stared at me intently, then smiled.

That smile was innocent and pretty. Entranced by it, I quickly shook my head.

I’m being swayed by his smile again.

I can’t be swayed by a handsome guy.

Whispering to myself, I quickly changed the subject and told him.

“Count Root sent an opera invitation.”

“Opera.”

“It was nice when I went with Luden.”

Then Luden looked at me.

“Do you like opera more than meat?”

The answer to his question was predetermined.

“No.”

Luden smiled brightly.

When did he start smiling so radiantly in front of me, when he always hid his emotions? I couldn’t remember either.

But it suited him so well that I unconsciously raised my hand and touched his cheek.

“Annelia?”

“It’s nice when Luden smiles.”

“I’m glad to have someone I can smile for too.”

He said that, took my hand, and kissed it.

Luden feels comfortable with me.

He said he trusted me. Though not love, he was giving me his heart.

If I hadn’t known the future, I might have unknowingly had my heart stolen by Luden bit by bit.

Unaware of my complicated feelings, Luden approached me again.

“May I do it once more?”

At his affectionate words, I closed my eyes. Silent permission.

He kissed my forehead, my eyebrows. And finally touched my lips.

Not a deep kiss. Our lips just touched, but it was hot.

Luden.

While kissing, I called his name inwardly.

“Annelia.”

He called my name and kissed me again.

* * *

The opera was in progress. The protagonist came out singing, drawing enthusiasm from the audience.

Since it was a VIP seat, we watched alone together without mixing with other audience members.

I stood up excitedly and clapped. They seemed to see where I was from the stage, waving and cheering.

I’d seen opera in person only after possessing this body. Such things were luxuries for me, who’d always lived busy and poor.

No, I could have seen them, but I had too many burdens to carry, so I had to give up unavoidably.

Anyway, the actor is really handsome.

I suddenly looked at Luden while watching the actor. The problem was that Luden shone brighter.

I sat back down and spoke to Luden, who was watching me.

“Luden is more handsome.”

“I thought you’d like that type. You couldn’t take your eyes off him.”

“Me?”

“Yes, Annelia must have an ideal type too.”

Of course I do. But Luden is handsome enough to transcend that. Probably no matter what ideal type appeared, no man would satisfy my aesthetic sense like Luden.

Should I say preferences melt away before supreme looks?

“That opera actor is handsome too.”

Let’s think with Luden as an exception for now.

Handsome man!

“I like people with strong features and sturdy shoulders. Someone who looks manly.”

Should I say more knight-type than scholar-type?

Luden briefly looked at his own shoulders.

Why is he doing this? He looks like he’s concerned.

“Luden has a good physique too.”

I complimented him for now. Then Luden shrugged his shoulders.

“I trained in preparation for knight training.”

“For things like this, you need to be born with it too.”

I quickly added and compared the actor with Luden.

Luden’s shoulders were broader, and Luden’s face was more handsome.

Luden’s win.

“Comparing the two, Luden is more my type.”

When I spoke, Luden’s expression hardened. Then he quickly turned his head.

“I know you’re saying that out of courtesy.”

But I’m not.

I shrugged my shoulders. Then I drank the tea that came out as dessert.

“Few men can match Luden.”

I spoke finally and looked at him. Then his hardened face relaxed.

“Thank you.”

I’m serious though.

But Luden didn’t seem to believe it.

* * *

VIP seats had separate spaces. And they were places where two people could sit each.

“Why am I here?”

Anok grumbled.

He wanted to lament his situation of coming to see opera with a man.

“Just watch quietly.”

Then Sorean told the grumbling Anok.

“You’re watching for free.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Lady Annelia was truly beautiful today.”

Sorean looked toward where Annelia was with a hazy gaze. Annelia wore a pastel-toned sky-blue dress today. Her curly hair hanging down innocently was pretty.

He felt an impulse to kiss there.

If not for Luden, he would have sat in the seat next to her.

He’d heard rumors about Annelia. That though beautiful in appearance, her personality was foolish. Then recently she’d become smart. Stories circulated that she moved the Marquis Charlot family with her own hands.

So he’d heard the name often, but meeting her like this, he was captivated and excited. She gave him no opening, which made him yearn more.

“What’s the way to win her heart?”

Anok chuckled.

“Wouldn’t you just need to be more handsome than Marquis Charlot?”

Then Sorean deflated. He grumbled with drooping shoulders.

“That’s impossible.”

Luden Charlot. He was called the man with the best looks in the Duke Empire.

When he actually saw him, he was truly shocked. Should I say he wondered how a person could look like that? So he felt intimidated.

“Before that, Lady Annelia isn’t interested in me anyway.”

Anok told him.

“How about using the diamond mine as bait to date Lady Annelia?”

“What?”

“Just tell her you’ll proceed with the contract with the Charlot family if she goes on one date. The conditions the Charlot family proposed aren’t bad either.”

“But!”

“You shouldn’t be picky about means and methods!”

Understanding his words, Sorean pondered for a moment.

“Marquis Charlot will allow it too. The diamond mine mining rights will come in from this deal!”

“You seem right.”

To win over Annelia, he needed to move Luden Charlot.

Offering a wife or husband in exchange for something wasn’t unusual in this world.

* * *

After the opera ended, I shook hands with the actor and came down with Luden. Below were Sorean and Anok. The two men approached Luden and me.

“The opera was quite worth watching, wasn’t it?”

Sorean said that.

Actually, this opera was sponsored by the Root family. So he seemed to have pride in the opera.

“It was fun.”

I said with a smile.

“It was interesting.”

Luden said that and settled his expression.

Even when dealing with people, he didn’t show emotions.

He only smiled when formally necessary.

Except when dealing with me.

“Thank you for the invitation.”

“Not at all, I’ve been uncomfortable about the carriage incident, so I’m grateful you contacted me first like this.”

Sorean extended his hand to Luden.

“I’d like to talk about the diamond mine, shall we move to another place?”

At Luden’s words, Sorean nodded.

“Good.”

I linked arms with Luden’s arm. Luden stared at me blankly.

“I wanted to do this.”

Luden stroked my head.

He looked at me with different eyes than when he looked at Sorean.

A gaze definitely different from dealing with people for business. This gaze told of his feelings.

It was fascinating how he changed like this.

“Shall we go to a tea house then?”

The men moved to the tea house with me.

Anok left midway saying he had business.

Actually, I wanted to go to a bar.

But I kept my mouth shut thinking I might make mistakes drinking alcohol. I didn’t want to give Sorean an opening to approach me.

Seeing him look at me intensely today gave me strange feelings.

It’s fine that he’s interested in me, but I have no intention of having a lover until I divorce Luden. So Sorean’s gaze was just uncomfortable.

To refuse him, I need to deliberately show that Luden and I are affectionate.

I smiled and walked slowly with my arm linked with Luden’s.

The tea house wasn’t far away. After riding in the carriage for about 10 minutes, the tea house appeared.

“The family operates it.”

At Sorean’s words, I raised my head and looked at the shop. The building made of wood was only one story. It was a place with a deeply antique atmosphere.

A strange place that gave a quiet feeling in the noisy capital.

“I sent everyone away to invite you two.”

Sorean looked at me and smiled broadly. Then, seemingly knowing I liked this place, he smiled and guided us to our seats.

But I only like this place.

Meaning I have no interest in Sorean. So don’t look at me with those eyes.

Inside, yellow lights imbued with magic were shining.

‘This would be good for photos.’

The charming interior caught my eye.

“It’s a nice place.”

Luden also turned his head and looked around. Then he looked at me.

“Do you like tea houses with cozy atmospheres?”

The places I’d gone with Luden until now weren’t this atmosphere. Most were private rooms and narrow spaces rather than open ones.

“I like the places I went with Luden too.”

I’m not just matching your preferences. I went because I liked them too.

I said that inwardly and sat down while gripping his hand tightly. Then strength entered Luden’s hand.

After we sat, Sorean brought the menu. When we ordered tea, dessert came out separately. Round cookies were placed on a plate. Chocolate pieces were visible here and there.

Those are really sweet.

My favorite.

I quickly took a sip of tea and ate a cookie with chocolate. Luden drank tea while waiting for Sorean to speak.

“I read the proposal the Charlot family sent well.”

Sorean said that and looked at me.

“I do like it. But not enough to hastily sign a contract. There’s a place that gave a better proposal.”

Sorean put forward the diamond mining rights. He was looking for a merchant group to participate there, and he and the merchant group would sell gems from the diamond mine and split the money.