The head maid opened the door and entered.

“His Grace has been shown to the guest room.”

Amel nodded as she removed her gloves while looking out through the terrace doors.

“This place hasn’t changed.”

“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

“Mm. I mean that it’s still just as lovely.”

The head maid was an elderly woman who had worked at the villa for nearly fifty years. With her fluffy white hair, she let out a soft chuckle before speaking.

“My lady, you look even lovelier than before.”

“You shouldn’t tease someone who was sent into exile after having her engagement broken.”

“I’m not teasing you. You truly look more radiant than you did before.”

“Hasn’t my face gotten a little tanned?”

“Hmm. I think that can be taken care of by applying plenty of moisturizing cream.”

Just then, Lilline arrived with the moisturizing cream.

“My lady! I brought your moisturizing cream!”

With a bright smile, Lilline asked,

“You’re going to wash up right away, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I should. Head Maid, you must be busy, so you may go. Thank you for your help.”

“Then I’ll go check whether the meal preparations are going smoothly.”

“Mm.”

“When shall we have your meal served?”

“About an hour from now.”

“Yes. I’ll let the dining room know. Oh, wait…”

The head maid let her voice trail off before turning back to Amel.

“…As for our distinguished guest, is there anything in particular we should know?”

“Ah, that’s right.”

Amel set her removed gloves down on the table and continued.

“We encountered a landslide on the way here, and our carriage was swept away, ruining all our luggage. Some of His Grace’s belongings were in there, too. Please make sure he has everything he needs during his stay so that he won’t experience any inconvenience.”

“Oh, my. That must have been terribly dangerous.”

The head maid nodded.

“We’ll make sure to take good care of everything.”

***

“My lady, they said the meal is ready.”

By the time Amel had finished washing up, the sun had set completely. She had been resting when someone came to tell her that dinner was ready.

Amel rose, gathering the hem of her dress. The villa had a sufficient supply of clothing and accessories, including lightweight house dresses, evening dresses, and negligées, all of which were stored separately.

As she stepped outside and closed the door, she spotted Cervel.

He was also wearing lightweight homewear.

“Your Grace.”

Hearing her call from behind, he turned around.

Cervel stopped and waited for Amel to catch up.

“Have you had a comfortable rest?”

“Thanks to you.”

“Do the clothes fit well?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a relief. Shall we head to the dining room?”

The dining room was located on the first floor. Since it was a seaside villa, the ocean was visible directly from the dining room as well. One entire wall consisted of floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

“Please, have a seat.”

On the table were onion soup as an appetizer, lamb steak, and red wine.

After they had eaten for a while, Amel gently dismissed the servants.

The head maid gauged the situation before leading the remaining maids out of the room.

“Did you enjoy the meal?”

“Yes.”

“I heard the chef took special care with the preparations. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“Was the lamb braised in wine?”

“Yes. I believe the chef mixed red wine with citron syrup.”

“Ah. So that was the citron syrup I tasted in the aftertaste?”

He continued eating neatly.

“This is a beautiful place.”

“Yes, isn’t it?”

“Do you use this villa often?”

“Not that often. I visit from time to time, but it’s too far away to come regularly.”

“That must be unfortunate.”

“Yes. Still, it’s my mother’s hometown, so I come to stay occasionally. My maternal uncle takes good care of the place in my absence.”

As beautiful as the villa was, it required considerable effort to maintain. Yet the process of preserving its beauty was important in its own right.

“Do you like your room?”

“Yes.”

“Since it’s by the sea, sunlight will stream directly into your room in the morning. The sun rises from that direction, so please draw the curtains before going to bed.”

“I will.”

“You said you plan to stay in Bliana for about a month, correct?”

Cervel brought his glass to his lips, seeming to consider the timeframe, before answering briefly.

“I expect to stay for about a month, though I may remain a little longer.”

“If you need anything during your stay, please feel free to let me know.”

They continued eating afterward. Once they had finished, Amel dabbed her mouth with a napkin and began clearing the table.

“Shall we call it a night, then?”

***

“Then get some rest, my lady!”

After Lilline left, the door clicked shut.

Amel changed into her nightclothes and prepared for bed.

She rested in her room after dinner, but her body gradually grew heavy.

‘Why do I feel so drained?’

Once the tension finally left her, all her strength seemed to drain away.

Perhaps it was because she had spent two whole weeks on the road. She had been stranded by torrential rain, caught in a landslide, slept outdoors, and even abandoned her carriage. The carriage they had rented afterward had been so bumpy that they had needed to stop frequently because of her motion sickness.

Looking back, far too much had happened over the course of just a few weeks.

It had been more than enough to leave anyone utterly exhausted.

Amel draped a robe over her negligee and opened the terrace doors.

The sea breeze brushed against the tip of her nose.

The night air was chilly.

She had only ever visited during the summer. This was her first time coming in late autumn, and the weather was certainly cold.

Amel closed the terrace doors and drew the curtains. She removed her robe, laid it on the sofa, and went to bed early.

Yet despite her exhaustion, she couldn’t fall asleep.

It was ten o’clock at night.

Amel lay in bed, staring blankly into the darkness. After tossing and turning for an hour, she finally sat up, her hair tousled from sleep.

She put on the robe that had been left on the sofa and stepped into the hallway.

The villa was quiet, as though everyone had gone to bed.

As she walked down the hallway, she came to a seating area.

A sofa and a side table stood at the far end. Paintings adorned the walls, and vases were arranged throughout the room. The atmosphere was reminiscent of an art gallery exhibition.

Cervel was sitting there with his legs crossed and his chin resting on one hand.

Perhaps sensing her presence, he turned his head away from the window.

“Didn’t you sleep?”

Wasn’t that normally something the owner of the house would ask?

“I couldn’t sleep. Why are you still awake, Your Grace?”

Amel tightened her robe and sat on the sofa.

Somehow, she had ended up asking him the same question.

“Couldn’t sleep.”

He had given her the same answer.

“Where did you get the dice board?”

“It was already here.”

“Oh, really?”

There was a dice board on the side table.

“Have you ever played dice racing?”

“Is that the game where you move your piece according to the number you roll?”

“Yeah.”

“I have.”

A map was drawn across the dice board. Players rolled the dice, moved their pieces, and tried to make their way back to the starting line.

“Want to play a round?”

Amel looked down at the dice board. A tablecloth had been spread over the table, making its surface soft.

“Then shall we play just one round before turning in?”

Cervel was also dressed in homewear beneath his robe. When the front of his robe fell open, his collarbone became visible.

Sitting like this together made the atmosphere feel remarkably private and intimate.

“It won’t be much fun if we just play. How about we make a bet?”

“What kind of bet?”

“How about we each get to claim one thing we want from the other?”

Amel’s eyes rolled thoughtfully for a moment before she asked,

“Something specific?”

“Hmm. Anything. A brooch, gloves… You could even ask for an item.”

“My brooch?”

“That was just an example.”

As they spoke, Cervel rolled the dice, starting the game. He rolled a five and moved his piece five spaces.

“Your turn, Miss Amel.”

Amel took the dice and rolled a two.

The game continued, and Cervel emerged as the winner.

“I lost.”

Cervel removed his piece from the dice board.

“Luck isn’t on your side.”

“I suppose I’m just a little less fortunate than most people.”

“Indeed. You seem to fall into every trap there is.”

“That’s why I lose seven out of ten games.”

As Amel cleared away the game pieces, she asked.

“What shall we bet on?”

“What should I take?”

Cervel neatly set the dice aside before speaking in an even tone.

“I think a kiss would be nice.”

“…Pardon?”

He lightly tapped his knee.

“Come here.”

Still dressed in his robe and homewear, he spread his legs and gestured toward his thigh.

Amel couldn’t help glancing down the hallway.

“Here?”