Probably many places had proposed good conditions. But saying this meant Sorean wanted something else.

“You want to modify the conditions.”

“That’s not it.”

Sorean shook his head.

“What I want is one thing.”

He looked at me.

“I want to go on a date with Lady Rosaline.”

His face flushed. Seeing his shy expression, I pressed my lips together firmly.

I didn’t expect him to be this blatant.

At his words, Luden withdrew his emotions.

“May I ask what conditions were unsatisfactory?”

He said that and withdrew his goodwill toward Sorean. He became the expressionless face he’d worn when we first met. Like he wouldn’t let the other party read his emotions.

“Ah, that’s…”

He thought we’d accept it casually, but when Luden showed an unexpected reaction, Sorean panicked. Luden put more strength into the hand holding mine. At least I could tell he was angry.

“A date, what are you planning to do?”

I asked.

“Tell me in detail.”

Sorean smiled broadly.

“First, go to a shop and buy pretty clothes, drink tea together, take a walk, and watch opera too.”

He recited a typical date course.

“Hmm.”

After hearing the story, I asked him.

“I just need to go on the date?”

Sorean nodded.

“I’ll do my best to please you.”

To say such things right in front of my fiancé.

Actually, this kind of thing is common. In this world, marriages are made strategically, so each person freely keeps lovers. That’s why Luden asked me not to take a paramour.

“Let me talk with Luden for a moment.”

“Of course.”

I hadn’t expected Sorean’s proposal. I deliberately acted like we were affectionate, yet he’d say such things so blatantly.

Should I say he’s bold, anyway?

Luden and I got up and left our seats briefly.

* * *

We headed to a room in the tea house where we could talk alone. Unlike the open space from before, it was a private room, good for talking.

As soon as we entered the room, Luden exhaled.

“You held back well.”

“I’m truly angry.”

As expected, he was suppressing his emotions. My intuition is good.

Meeting with him continuously, I seemed to have learned a bit about him.

“About the conditions. Did the Charlot family propose something bad?”

At my question, Luden shook his head.

“That wouldn’t have been the case.”

“Then?”

“He might be saying that deliberately.”

He said that and stroked my cheek.

“To claim you.”

He smiled bitterly.

“We can change the conditions to be better. Or it doesn’t matter if we just give up.”

Luden gritted his teeth.

“Other businesses are doing well, so even if we fail once…”

“Really?”

I was worried about him.

“If you fail once, the relatives will latch on. They even tried to kill Luden.”

I’d occasionally seen him check for poison when drinking tea at the Charlot mansion.

“Showing them weakness is dangerous.”

Luden’s position wasn’t solid yet. Above all, since he had to go for knight training, he needed to prove he had sufficient ability to lead the Charlot family even in his absence.

His situation was like walking on thin ice.

“I’ll go on the date.”

Luden’s eyes wavered.

“I’ll think of it as playing for a day.”

He stared at me intently. I lightly stroked his head, which must be full of all kinds of thoughts.

“It’s not because he’s my type or because I want to date him.”

Why is he so anxious? When we first met, Luden was cold and emotionless. Now he was showing me so much.

Why has he changed so much? Does it mean he’s opening his heart to me that much?

It feels good.

“To protect Luden?”

For now, he needs to walk this path with me. He became my strength when I needed it. So this time I’ll help him.

“Hah, who’s protecting whom!”

He tried to get angry but bit his lip.

He knows too. That this matter can’t just be handled emotionally.

“You’re strange.”

Saying that, he approached me. While I was flustered, he brought his lips close and said.

“Can you promise?”

“Wh-what promise!”

The atmosphere was flowing strangely.

Why are his eyes so suggestive? Those eyes look like they’ll devour me!

He touched my lips.

“A promise not to do things like this.”

“Things like this?”

O-ominous.

My prediction was right. He put his lips to mine. Feeling the soft texture, I floundered unknowingly.

He was persistent. He poured his desire onto me.

My lips parted and he entered.

I felt hot breath. I was helplessly drawn by the sensations.

When I came to my senses, he already had me leaning against the wall, kissing me.

“Annelia.”

He pulled his lips away. Flustered, I quickly rubbed my lips with my hand.

“It’s not over yet.”

He said that and whispered in my ear. This time my ears grew hot.

“If you do things like this with someone else, you’ll be in trouble.”

He said that and put his lips to mine again. I closed my eyes and didn’t resist the sensations he gave me.

I just soaked in the sweetness.

* * *

Good thing I brought lipstick.

My lipstick got wiped off because Luden kissed me.

I was trying to straighten my disheveled clothes when Luden approached and put his hand on my clothes, seemingly to help me fix them. I grabbed it.

It’s hot. He doesn’t seem to have shaken off the heat from earlier. Same for me though.

“I’ll do it myself.”

“Annelia?”

“I-I’m embarrassed.”

The lingering feeling of being held in his arms and kissing hadn’t faded yet. But I get nervous when he approaches.

My hands are trembling.

He might be able to organize his emotions quickly, but I wasn’t.

I quickly removed his hand and adjusted my clothes. Then I looked in the mirror and fixed my outfit.

I think I know why there’s a mirror in the room.

Ah, embarrassing!

I quickly fixed my clothes and told Luden.

“I must be precious to you.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, you got angry instead of immediately handing me over to Sorean.”

Then Luden stared at me. After doing so for a while, he shook his head and pulled me into his arms.

He pressed my head with his chin and said from above.

“You’re my fiancée.”

“But we’re free to date, aren’t we?”

“Still, I’m not strange enough to sell off my fiancée.”

He patted my back soothingly.

“You’re precious.”

His words reached me gently.

“Enough to make me angry.”

His words strangely reassured me.

“I’ll just date Sorean. I need to be firm with him.”

First, I need to go to Sorean. He’ll be waiting.

Sorean saw Annelia and Luden return to their seats.

Annelia had the same peaceful expression as before. Luden was also expressionless, but his atmosphere had stabilized.

The discussion seemed finished.

“I’ll go on the date.”

Annelia said readily.

“However.”

As expected, she attached conditions.

“Just a date. No hand-holding or physical contact.”

“Hmm…”

“If it means hanging out like friends, I’ll allow it.”

When Annelia came out like this, Sorean hesitated.

She must know he wasn’t trying to approach her as a friend.

“If you don’t like that, let’s forget this whole thing.”

Then she picked up her teacup. She was incredibly elegant. Enough to naturally draw attention.

“Honestly, when conditions are too good, there’s usually a trap. Compared to that, the Charlot family has reputation and credibility, and the conditions aren’t bad either.”

She hit the nail on the head.

“If you don’t work with the Charlot family, you’ll lose out too.”

Annelia smiled sweetly.

“So make a good decision.”

She threatened gently.

Sorean hesitated. Of course, if she didn’t want it, he wouldn’t hold hands or do such things, but to come out so firmly! He felt a bit disappointed.

But he couldn’t miss this opportunity. Honestly, working with the Charlot family would be more comfortable too.

“Understood.”

Then Annelia nodded. Luden also smiled again.

For now, Sorean had gained the opportunity to meet Annelia alone.

* * *

In the carriage returning home, Luden looked at Annelia.

Earlier, he’d lost his reason and claimed her lips. Thinking of her doing this with another man, he couldn’t stand it.

Until now, no matter what happened, he’d cut off his emotions well. After his father’s sudden death, watching what the relatives did and the changes in those around him, he’d become accustomed to killing his emotions.

But why couldn’t he do that with matters involving Annelia?

Earlier, he’d almost just stormed out. If Annelia hadn’t stopped him.

Moreover, her lips were sweet.

Today he didn’t just covet her lips. He blushed remembering his runaway self.

The sensation from that time lingered on his lips. It remained on his fingertips too.

Rather, Annelia had handled things coldly. Still, he hated that she was going on a date with Sorean.

As soon as he arrived at the mansion, he went downstairs.

“You’re here?”

“Yeah.”

“How was the date?”

Andre asked casually while working.

“It was good. If only that bastard hadn’t been there.”

Saying that, Luden sat in a chair. Andre raised his head.

“That bastard?”

“Sorean Root.”

“Ah, the Marquis’s rival?”

Andre, who said that, looked at him. Still an emotionless face. Yet he instinctively sensed Luden’s complicated feelings.

“The diamond mine mining rights contract will go through well.”

“That’s good.”

“And find out about Sorean Root.”

Andre tilted his head.

“Is there something that’ll interfere with work?”

“Annelia is going on a date with Sorean Root.”

It wasn’t surprising.

“Compile everything related to him and report it.”

“To ruin him?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“I need to step in if he tries anything near Annelia.”

Luden said that and bit his lip.

Before Annelia likes him, he’ll make the first move. So she won’t fall for him!

If she came to like Sorean Root, he might go crazy.

* * *

What are all these clothes?

I looked at the displayed clothes and smiled awkwardly. Lella smiled and brought clothes, holding them up to my body.

“As expected, my eye is perfect. They suit you so well, my lady.”

Lella seemed excited. Humming, she chose various clothes to dress me up and picked out cosmetics too.

No, why are you excited?

When I narrowed my eyes absurdly, Lella grinned.

“Marquis Charlot is wonderful, but Count Root is wonderful too.”

“Right?”

“Captivate both of them.”

Lella’s eyes sparkled.

“Then you’ll have handsome men in both hands.”

Here, they think a woman with multiple handsome lovers is charming. I understood Lella’s words were praise. But I don’t want to do that.

“If you do things like this with someone else, you’ll be in trouble.”

Why did those words suddenly come to mind!