The words Luden said while kissing came to mind. My face heated up and I quickly waved my hands.

His words, his breath. Everything came back to me. No, I didn’t want to remember these things.

I quickly came to my senses and looked at the clothes. I stopped Lella from her enthusiastic examination and chose appropriate clothes.

I just need to dress well enough not to get criticized, right? I don’t dress up that much even when I’m with Luden, so dressing up extensively for meeting Sorean wouldn’t be good manners.

“My lady!”

Lella grumbled regretfully. When I rejected the clothes she’d chosen, she grumbled and looked at the clothes I picked, then sighed.

“Those clothes have no allure.”

“They shouldn’t have any. I don’t plan to hold hands anyway.”

I’m doing this for Luden’s mining development rights. If not for that, there’d be no reason to meet Sorean.

“Anyway, no!”

“Fine. I’ll just dress you up moderately.”

At my firm words, Lella tied my hair and did my makeup. When meeting Luden, I style my hair too, but since I’m meeting Sorean, is there really a need for this?

I looked in the mirror. I looked reasonably presentable. I dressed thinking I was going to meet a comfortable friend.

By the way, what is Luden doing? Surely he’s not investigating Sorean’s background?

He might be. He was quite angry about this matter. Whatever happens, I don’t know anything about it.

But one question arose. Why was Luden so angry? Because I’m the woman who’ll become his wife, or because this matter might tarnish his reputation?

Could he possibly like me?

He does find me appealing. But it’s not love. The person he’ll love is a different woman.

Unable to understand his behavior, I pondered briefly then shook my head.

How would I know Luden’s thoughts? Just asking him would be fastest.

Soon after, a servant informed me that Sorean had arrived. I quickly went downstairs.

Sorean stood in front of the entrance. Wearing a silver suit with his hair down, he looked incredibly handsome. I could tell he’d put effort into today.

“Annelia!”

Seeing me, he smiled brightly like honey dripping. I extended my hand toward him showing that affectionate smile.

“Shall we go?”

I smiled awkwardly. I don’t know where he plans to take me today, but his hand feels burdensome.

Probably because I have a fiancé, right?

I made a stiff expression.

* * *

Luden didn’t drink his tea, just repeatedly picked up and put down the teacup.

Then he set down the teacup, sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair.

Today was the day Annelia met Sorean. A letter came informing him of the date plans, so naturally they’d meet that way.

Luden gritted his teeth. And clenched his fists.

“Really now.”

Andre, who was organizing documents, grumbled.

“That’s why I said we should secretly plant someone there.”

“I can’t disappoint Annelia.”

“Good grief.”

“I’m not getting engaged to monitor her.”

Luden said that and pressed both hands firmly against his forehead. Applying pressure to his head, he fell into thought briefly.

“Losing your composure over something like this.”

At Andre’s words, Luden turned his head. Luden’s eyes were wavering.

“I don’t want to admit it either.”

But he knew. His head said no, but he couldn’t help his heart racing whenever it involved Annelia.

How did he fall for her like this?

He liked her kind consideration. He liked her soft lips and her scent. Smelling her body fragrance made his reason seem to drift far away.

Feeling such sensations must be because of this heart.

“But I can’t help but admit it.”

Only after being cornered this much did he realize exactly what feelings he held for Annelia.

And he recognized the cold reality.

She didn’t love him. She accepted his kisses because they were engaged.

The fortunate thing was that she didn’t think about keeping multiple men.

He could tell from seeing her uncomfortable with Sorean’s aggressive approach.

Yet Luden couldn’t calm down and kept clenching and unclenching his hands.

Luden looked at the clock. Annelia had asked to meet in the garden at 9 PM tonight. That would be when her date with Sorean ended. He was waiting for that time to come.

But time didn’t pass.

* * *

Sorean took me to a nice restaurant and prepared good theater viewing. He acted with manners and, as promised, didn’t touch me.

And the final location. I chose this place. It was a park owned by the Charlot family.

“Originally I had no plans to develop the diamond mine.”

Sorean spoke to me gently. I nodded while listening to the story. We were close but didn’t hold hands.

“How did you end up developing it?”

“My father fell seriously ill and we needed money. So I received the Count title and borrowed money using the diamond mine as collateral. With that money I cared for my father, and that’s how I came to offer the diamond mining rights.”

Sorean didn’t only say good things about himself. He didn’t exaggerate or put on airs.

It was comfortable.

But I didn’t feel the tension I felt when with Luden.

I was endlessly comparing Sorean and Luden in my heart.

Of course, Sorean is also a good man. It would be nice to have him as a lover. When Luden finishes knight training, I can have a lover or paramour. So if I’m interested, I just need to ask him to wait. But those words didn’t come out.

“Did you enjoy today?”

“Of course. The meat was especially delicious.”

That restaurant’s steak was divine.

“Maybe because it’s summer, the weather isn’t cold even at night.”

At Sorean’s words, I nodded. Then I looked at the sky briefly.

Stars were shining countless in the sky. The gently glowing stars seemed like they’d pour down on this place.

“Sorean, if you want to keep me by your side, it’s only possible as friends.”

I told him quietly.

“Annelia?”

“I have no intention of having a lover while I have a husband. If you like me, could you just see me favorably as a person, not as a woman?”

Sorean’s eyes widened.

“I’m grateful you see me favorably. But I’m a woman with a fiancé. And I don’t want to have a lover.”

Sorean was silent for a moment. Then he made a slightly disappointed expression.

“You want me to see you as a person? Not as a woman.”

“Yes.”

“Well then.”

He crossed his arms and pondered. After thinking for a while, he shrugged his shoulders.

“I understand for now.”

I hoped Sorean wouldn’t have feelings for me. Seemingly understanding my heart, he couldn’t let go of his attachment to me, but he also didn’t look at me with covetous eyes like before.

“It’s been a while since I was rejected.”

“Really?”

“Still, wanting to remain friends means you saw me favorably, right?”

“Of course.”

I said with a low laugh. Then he laughed along. It was a somehow bitter and sad laugh, but I ignored it.

“I’ll escort you back.”

“No.”

Before my words finished, a carriage was coming.

“A carriage in this place?”

Sorean was flustered. Because no one could bring carriages into the park.

Who would be able to do this?

The door opened and Luden got out. His flowing black hair suited the night well.

“Marquis Charlot.”

At Sorean’s call, Luden said with an expressionless face.

“Was the date enjoyable?”

Sorean shrugged and raised both arms.

“It was very good.”

“I see.”

“But the ending was disappointing. I was rejected.”

Charlot looked at his watch.

“It’s unfortunate the date time is over.”

Sorean looked at me and smiled.

“Then I hope to see you again next time.”

Sorean said that and passed by me. Luden, who’d been watching him walk away alone, turned his gaze to me.

He looked over my outfit carefully then smiled lightly.

“You dressed simply.”

“You noticed well.”

“Sorean probably prepared very hard for the date.”

“Well, that.”

I didn’t hide it.

“My wife is quite charming.”

I couldn’t tell if Luden was being sarcastic or complimenting me.

When I glared at him, he raised the corners of his mouth.

Luden appeared here because I told him I’d end my date with Sorean here, so please come pick me up.

“But why did you tell me to come here?”

“Because I wanted Luden to come get me.”

Luden’s eyes were wavering. Like he was thinking many thoughts. I could read his complicated feelings.

“Why are you making that expression, Luden?”

At my question, Luden looked at me.

“I was thinking that maybe Annelia liked that man.”

“I keep my contracts.”

“Regardless of that, I just thought you might have liked him.”

Luden said that and lightly kicked a stone at his feet.

“I know Annelia isn’t a woman who’d break contracts. But when my knight training ends, you can have Sorean as a lover or paramour.”

Luden held my cheek.

“You’re the woman who’ll become my wife. Yet a lover. I don’t think I can be a husband indifferent to his wife.”

I understood Luden’s words. I knew he had some affection for me. Otherwise he wouldn’t say such things.

He’ll love another woman later, but he wasn’t without affection for me.

“Want to walk holding hands?”

At my suggestion, he quickly took my hand. The hand he held was hot. Like my heart.

After confirming he had affection for me, my heart was beating.

I pressed down on my heart. Emotions surged with the heart beating like it would burst.

Being with Luden was comfortable and good. And it made my heart flutter. But Sorean was different.

Maybe I was more firm and sharp because I had no heart to give back to him.

The gently flowing stars touched the lake.

“The stars are pretty.”

The Milky Way flowed. I looked at the sky and told him. When I smiled shyly, he watched quietly then approached me.

Stopping at a distance where our breaths could touch, he kissed me again.

It wasn’t a kiss done swept up in passion like before. Quietly approaching emotions led me to the kiss.

I felt hot breath. He held my shoulder and explored me frantically. I too was intoxicated by the breath and sensations he gave.

The long kiss ended and I collapsed into his arms.

“Annelia.”

He whispered to me while catching his breath.

“I’ll move up the engagement ceremony.”

Like he couldn’t let go, he pulled me strongly into his embrace.

Why am I happily kissing Luden? I felt suddenly scared that I should examine what my heart was like.

Surely I don’t have feelings for Luden, right?

Anxious, I nodded in his arms. His embrace was incredibly warm and good.