Why would I have no ambition? My ambition is to get a reasonable amount of money when I break up with the male lead, date around, and live well. That’s a pretty big ambition too.

“That’s what I’m saying.”

But there’s no need to tell Lella about that. It’s my precious secret.

I thought that while waiting to arrive at the Charlot estate.

* * *

When I arrived at the Charlot estate, the first person to greet me was Andre. He said he was the knight commander of the Charlot family.

“Where’s Luden?”

“He’s stepped out for a moment. He also gave orders to escort you to your room.”

Andre said to me with a smile. I remembered the look in his eyes when we first met, studying me carefully.

I still don’t know why he looked at me so deeply. Maybe it was just because I’m the woman who will become Luden’s wife.

While I was thinking that, Andre guided me. He was doing what a butler should do.

When I opened the door and entered, I saw the Marchioness’s room. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, and various geometric patterns were painted on it. The walls were papered in a soft white tone, and the floor was hard. A magically-made temperature regulator was glowing. Coming from a hot place into a cool one improved my mood.

“I wish Luden would hurry back.”

He said he had something to tell me. What could it be?

Andre smiled and whispered.

“Lord Luden has a bouquet he selected some time ago.”

“A bouquet?”

“He couldn’t bring himself to give it to you, so I’ve been keeping it.”

I was flustered by Andre’s sudden words. He smiled and continued.

“Shall I show it to you?”

“Of course.”

Luden still gives me flowers often these days. But flowers he couldn’t give me?

Andre quickly brought the flowers. The beautifully dried flowers seemed to give off a fragrance. Seeing the delicate flowers gathered prettily together, I received the bouquet with both hands.

My trembling hands spoke for my heart.

This seems like something prepared long ago.

“Luden couldn’t give me this?”

“You went to play at the valley, my lady.”

“But I received a bouquet after that.”

“He prepared this beforehand, but it wilted, so he prepared a new one.”

I couldn’t understand Luden’s thinking, so I frowned. But the flowers were very pretty and I liked them very much.

I’d often thought that the flowers he gave me until now might not have been personally selected by him.

“The Marquis cherishes you very much, my lady.”

I know that well. We get along very well. That’s probably why I accept his kisses without resistance.

I hung the bouquet on the wall and sat on the sofa. When Andre bowed and left, Lella immediately made a fuss to me.

“It’s not just fancy! Even Her Majesty the Empress’s room would be less fancy than this.”

“Really.”

I’ve never been to the Empress’s room. As a Duke’s daughter, I’d normally be qualified to attend parties for noble ladies hosted by the Empress, but Annelia found such occasions awkward and didn’t go.

So I’ve never seen the Empress’s room, but the Marchioness of Charlot’s room was so magnificent that I thought it wouldn’t be as fancy as this place.

“Our young lady will be living in a place like this.”

Lella was moved.

I was more distracted by the bouquet than the room. The bouquet Luden said he couldn’t deliver because I went out to play. I kept looking at it because I felt sorry about it.

“My lady, do you know something?”

“What?”

“You only think about the Marquis of Charlot these days.”

Well, every time we meet, things happen that make me keep thinking about him, so I can’t help it.

I got up from the sofa, walked to the bed, and lay down. Lying alone on the wide bed made it feel empty.

“I don’t like him.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course!”

“But it wouldn’t matter if you did like him.”

Lella doesn’t know the future.

That’s why she can say such carefree things without a second thought.

If I didn’t know the future, I would have fallen for Luden too.

“I don’t know.”

I grumbled and turned my head.

Since I had to wake up at dawn tomorrow, it seemed better to sleep until Luden came. I was a bit sleepy too.

Seemingly understanding my intention, Lella quietly stood up.

“Call me if you need anything.”

“Okay.”

Red curtains hung around the bed.

If I marry Luden, we’ll do things even more intense than what we’ve done so far, right?

I remembered the part of his waist I briefly touched when we kissed.

It was firm.

“Ugh!”

Why do only these thoughts come to mind!

I snapped at myself and closed my eyes. I roughly swept my hair back with my smooth hands, then eventually rang the bell to call Lella.

I really wanted to drink.

* * *

Luden was having an audience with the Emperor. Since the engagement ceremony would be held tomorrow, he had personally visited the imperial palace to receive the Emperor’s approval.

He had notified them in advance about holding the engagement ceremony, but strangely, the Emperor didn’t process the related documents quickly. In the end, they were only processed when he went in person the day before the engagement ceremony.

By the time he finished his private audience with the Emperor, evening was approaching. It seemed he could have dinner with Annelia.

He should prepare her favorite meat for the dinner menu.

He boarded the carriage and looked at the sky. Brilliant stars were shining.

Tomorrow he would hold an engagement ceremony with Annelia.

It was the moment when a new connection would form between Annelia and himself, not just a contract.

That’s why he was looking forward to tomorrow.

It’s been a long time since I’ve looked forward to something like this.

He remembered what Andre said with a smile.

“Let her stay at the estate after the engagement ceremony.”

If he could face Annelia every morning, those days would become special.

Annelia probably has no idea how deeply he’s fallen.

A bitter emotion lingered at the corner of his mouth.

She doesn’t know what he feels when he kisses and touches her.

Does she know he always approaches her with an anxious heart?

Annelia will never know that he’s hiding this enormous thirst.

Luden exhaled, and as soon as he arrived at the estate, he headed to the room that had been used by Marchionesses for generations. Annelia would be waiting there.

He quickly stood in front of the Marchioness’s room door. When he knocked, he heard a sound from inside.

“Who is it?”

He heard Annelia’s voice, but it was somehow different from usual. Luden’s eyes twitched.

The door opened and Annelia poked her head out. Recognizing Luden, Annelia smiled brightly.

“You’re here?”

Her smile seemed somehow relaxed. Her eyes seemed unfocused too.

And the scent wafting out was the smell of alcohol.

“Did you drink?”

Luden asked in a slightly surprised tone.

“Of course!”

Annelia waved her hand like it was obvious.

“It’s the red wine you like, Luden.”

Annelia grinned. That smile was heart-meltingly cute and luscious.

“Why did you suddenly drink?”

Annelia didn’t like alcohol. Since he didn’t drink often either, they rarely drank when they went on dates.

But suddenly wine?

“Do you drink often?”

“I used to drink often in the old days.”

When would “the old days” be? He sometimes thought he wanted to know everything about her.

Who are you? Where did you come from? What kind of person were you? He wanted to ask.

He opened the half-open door wide and entered. Walking with long strides, he saw the wine bottles placed near the sofa.

“You drank three bottles?”

“So what? I can drink!”

Annelia spread both arms and hugged Luden tightly.

“You’re warm.”

“It’s hot summer right now.”

“I know. But Luden is warm all year round.”

Annelia was giggling. She kept laughing indiscriminately.

“Are you drunk?”

This question finally came out.

“Not at all!”

She shook her head.

She denied it strongly, but she was already staggering and walking like a drunk person.

What on earth happened?

“Let’s talk.”

He should ask her first. No matter how skilled Andre is at gathering information, he can’t know everything about Annelia.

* * *

I knew Luden was staring at me. My face grew hot and I found myself fanning without realizing it. The temperature regulator in my room was working hard. Unlike when I was at the ducal estate, this place was very cool.

Yet I was feeling hot right now. Being in the same space as him made it even worse.

What does he want to talk about?

I sat on the sofa with a nervous heart. I’d drunk quite a bit of alcohol, so my body had no strength. I leaned against the back of the sofa without realizing it.

Luden looked at me, then took out wine and drank it. After drinking little by little, he grimaced.

Does it not taste good?

“The one with the highest alcohol content.”

Luden’s gaze turned to the wine I’d been drinking. Under his intense gaze, I unconsciously turned my head slightly and put down my wine glass.

“Don’t drink any more.”

He spoke in an affectionate voice, but he was strongly pressuring me not to drink more. Something welled up inside me.

I started drinking like this because of someone. I glared at him drowsily.

“Why did you drink?”

“I just felt restless. Tomorrow we’ll have the engagement and all.”

Thinking about that, there was no way to calm my racing heart, so I put alcohol to my lips.

“Is that all?”

Luden asked sharply. His eyes were glaring at me like they would devour me.

“It seems there’s more.”

At his interrogation, I almost sobbed. These days, my feelings are very complicated when I think about Luden. But that doesn’t mean I can be completely honest.

“It’s a secret.”

I blushed and lowered my head. Then Luden narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, then picked up his wine glass and came to sit next to me.

“Then I won’t ask anymore.”

Why did he sit next to me?

I grumbled and looked at him. Just in case he tried to kiss me, I prepared to refuse.

When I covered my mouth with my hand, Luden’s shoulders shook.

“I won’t do it today.”

I showed my hand too clearly. At his words, I relaxed my shoulders and giggled.

“Really?”

“Of course. If I did, I wouldn’t be able to hold back.”

He was suppressing something. I could feel it in his eyes.

I quickly stroked his eyes with my hand. I pressed down on the wrinkle area with my hand as he frowned with his handsome face.

“You’re handsome.”

“Are you seducing me?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Then you shouldn’t do things like this.”

He removed my hand and exhaled.

“Annelia.”

He called my name affectionately. When did we become this close? Since I couldn’t remember, I pressed down on my head.

“After the engagement ceremony ends, shall we consummate?”

He smiled suggestively.

“C-consummate!”

It was a polite word, but desire lingered in it. Reading his heart wanting to possess me, I tried to back away, but he was faster.

He grabbed my hand and prevented me from moving my bottom backward.

“We’re engaged, and now it doesn’t matter what others say, does it?”

I know Luden wants me. I’m not unaware that when we kiss, he’s always suppressing his heat and holding back his desire to have me.

“Not after we get married?”

I said in a small voice, almost crawling.

“I’ll have you here tomorrow.”

He said that and kissed my ear.

“Alcohol is forbidden then.”

“Alcohol should be essential!”

At my outcry, Luden took the glass from my hand and placed it on the table.

“I won’t tolerate you not remembering that day.”

He came on strong. I lowered my head slightly and blushed.

Actually, I told Luden I wasn’t very drunk, but I know.

I’m drunk, very much so.

I grabbed Luden’s shoulder and glanced at him, then remembered what Andre said during the day.