“What are you doing.”

Carlo was the one who opened the door.

Having not seen him even once for two days, I stared blankly at him as if seeing him for the first time.

Piercing blue eyes, fine golden hair, a black jacket with matching pants. Wearing an expensive cravat, white shirt, and an elegant embroidered vest, he exuded a noble, classic atmosphere.

After staring vacantly, I suddenly became aware of my half-open mouth and quickly closed it.

Just then, I caught sight of Medlin and the maids through the closing door, wearing awkward smiles, unable to announce his arrival.

“Don’t you know how to knock?”

I hastily straightened up from looking at Odin and asked him.

Seemingly displeased at being treated like an unwelcome visitor, he twitched one eyebrow slightly.

“This is my castle.”

“Of course it is. But this is still my room.”

“This is mine too.”

Though undeniable, his statement somehow felt petty.

Can a grown man just barge into someone else’s room just because it’s his house? Ever heard of privacy?

But I couldn’t voice this aloud, being essentially a squatter here.

“So what brings you here?”

“Just passing by.”

“Passing… by?”

“Yes.”

At his nonchalant reply, I glanced at the bedroom door that had just closed.

“Ah… I see you’ve taken to strolling through corridors these days…”

Ignoring my comment, Carlo began walking around the room, taking one step at a time.

What could it be? He seems like he has something to say, or perhaps he’s checking if there’s anything to criticize…

Both Odin and I turned our heads, following him as he walked halfway around the room with an impassive face.

“Hmm…”

Due to his considerable height, my head tilted gradually upward as the distance between us narrowed. He showed no interest in me, only examining the bed, cabinet, and console in the room.

“…What are you doing?”

His approach with hands behind his back, looking everywhere but at me, seemed suspicious.

Usually we met downstairs in the hall or by the carriage. Why did he come to my room today?

What is he going to say now?

“……”

At that moment, his steps halted abruptly in front of me.

His characteristically arrogant, half-lidded gaze fixed stubbornly on me.

“Is that the new dress you had made?”

“Ah! Yes, it is!”

It suddenly occurred to me that he hadn’t yet seen my newly tailored dresses.

“That fellow wants to show off. Spin around, spin!”

Odin offered advice from the side, waving his front paws as if urging me to turn.

Ah, so he brought it up to show off?

Well, I should thank the person who bought it for me, right?

I immediately smiled brightly and spun around once.

“How is it?”

But his expression remained unchanged, as if he couldn’t care less whether I spun around or rolled over.

He simply examined my face—or more precisely, my smile—with elegant scrutiny.

Huh, I asked him to look at the dress, why is he looking at my face?

“Is something wrong…?”

“Not great.”

“Um… do you mean the dress isn’t great, or my face isn’t great?”

“Both.”

Well, why answer so promptly without hesitation?

Though I hadn’t particularly expected anything, his blunt criticism was astounding.

For a moment, I felt utterly insignificant for having briefly admired him.

“Hmph, I knew you’d say that.”

“What would you know.”

When I twisted my lips in dissatisfaction, he extended the hand he’d been keeping behind his back, his face expressionless.

“If you have nothing to do, take this before you go.”

“What… is this?”

“Something I picked up on the way.”

He held a rectangular box covered in wine-colored velvet.

Was this why he’d been walking with his hands behind his back all this time?

Did he awkwardly wander around my room because he felt uncomfortable giving this?

Somehow guessing what might be inside, I couldn’t help but smile.

I’ve seen this before. I saw many pictures in my previous life!

“Could it be…?”

“Open it.”

I caught a glimpse of his lips twitching as if tickled.

Since he wouldn’t tell me, I quickly took the box from him, placed it on the table, and opened the lid.

Odin hurriedly approached to look inside with me.

“Kyaak!”

I instinctively exclaimed at the dazzling light reflecting the morning sunlight.

I nearly stomped my feet in excitement.

Never in my dreams had I imagined receiving such a magnificent necklace.

“Oh my!”

The necklace line was set with sparkling diamonds, and in the center, a large, beautiful emerald surrounded by small diamonds hung as a pendant.

Even Odin, who must have seen countless fine jewels, gaped at the necklace, confirming it was no ordinary piece.

“…Are you really giving me something this wonderful?”

Suppressing my rapidly beating heart, I looked up at him with my hands clasped as if in prayer.

He glanced at my hands folded near my chest and spoke as if the necklace were nothing special. His face wore the usual arrogant sneer, but I didn’t mind at all.

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“Whatever, if you want.”

This necklace could fund my escape with plenty to spare.

What’s this? Is my happy ending approaching?

While I gazed at the necklace with sparkling eyes, I suddenly felt a piercing gaze on my skin.

“What were you just thinking about while looking at that necklace?”

“Wh-what was I thinking?”

“Your expression suggests you’re scheming again.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Give it back.”

“Since when do people take back gifts?”

“Right here.”

“But…!”

“It’s borrowed.”

“What? …Borrowed?”

“Yes.”

Despite looking affluent enough to buy five hundred such jewels, he possessed the frugality to borrow a necklace?

“So use it well and return it to its place.”

Wait. So did he buy it or borrow it?

Everything from his mouth sounded like truth, making it difficult to distinguish between jest and seriousness.

“Did you really borrow it…?”

“Yes.”

“……”

“So don’t get any strange ideas and put it back in here immediately after using it.”

His calm tone left no room for reconsideration.

With mixed feelings, I nodded and clicked my tongue regretfully. He seemed to smile faintly, though barely perceptible. What could he possibly find amusing?

“Try it on now.”

“What if I lose it when we go out?”

“Then you’ll have to repay it for the rest of your life.”

At his increasingly outrageous remarks, I subtly glared at him before taking the box to the vanity.

Hurry up.

When he gestured through the mirror for me to try it on quickly, I reluctantly lifted the necklace and placed it against my previously bare neck.

Feeling the brilliantly shining necklace against my neck, I immediately understood why someone might want to wear it, even if borrowed.

The rental fee for such a necklace must be enormous. How much would it cost?

“Like… this…”

While trying to guess the rental fee, I reached behind to find the clasp, but couldn’t manage it.

“Um, Medl… in…”

Just as I was about to put down the necklace and turn to call Medlin, Carlo, who had been quietly watching me, walked over.

When he stood behind me, his large shadow seemed to engulf me from head to toe.

“I can ask Medlin.”

“I know.”

“……”

“Don’t move.”

Through the mirror, I could see Carlo’s calm, quiet gaze reaching my neck.

I hesitated briefly before lifting my long hair slightly to expose my nape.

My heart pounded.

Though I had merely exposed my neck to him, I felt as if I had stripped off my dress as well, causing me to bite my lip slightly. It was just an illusion, but the feeling was strange.

“……”

Carlo’s fingertips brushed against my skin, followed by a click as the sparkling necklace settled into place.

After lowering my arm that had been hesitantly holding up my hair, I raised my head and our eyes met through the mirror.

My heart sank simultaneously.

“Pretty.”

He spoke in a plain tone, gazing at my eyes in the reflection.

Caught between wanting to avert my eyes and feeling compelled to meet his gaze, I forced a bright smile.

“Do you mean the necklace or me?”

Though intended as a joke, my voice seemed to tremble slightly at the end.

He looked down at me stoically before taking a step back.

“Not the necklace.”

Just as my face began to flush uncontrollably, Carlo turned toward the door and extended his hand to me casually, almost dismissively.

“Shall we go now?”