Dillan pressed his right cheek against mine, then immediately moved to the left.

Everything happened so quickly that I could only move like a puppet under Dillan’s hands.

The kissing sounds echoed repeatedly in my ear.

Just as I was feeling bewildered, Dillan straightened up.

Carlo’s bluish eyes, which had been watching us the entire time, were now frighteningly wide, sending chills throughout my body.

“It seems this will be my last chance to talk with my sister today, so I exchanged greetings.”

Dillan spoke respectfully as if he couldn’t read Carlo’s fierce gaze, then took a step back.

“The Grand Duke and I are family too, but you wouldn’t want to do this between men.”

“Are you insane?”

“I knew you wouldn’t like it.”

Dillan bowed politely, then smiled triumphantly.

“I’ll return to my seat now.”

“……”

“It was an honor to see you after so long.”

Dillan deliberately added those final words before returning to his seat.

“Haa…”

I finally relaxed my stiff back and leaned against the chair.

In the confusion, I seemed to be the only one startled by the sudden cheek greeting.

It must be a common greeting between family members or close friends, as even Violet showed no sign of surprise while eating her dessert.

Dazed by the unexpectedly intimate greeting with Dillan, I blinked in confusion and suddenly met Carlo’s eyes.

“……”

What’s this?

While I remained confused and flustered, Carlo appeared quite displeased with the situation.

Wondering if I had misunderstood, I rolled my eyes briefly and then pointed at the spot Dillan had just vacated.

“…It’s just a greeting, right?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“But your face looks really angry right now.”

“Huh? Not at all.”

“But…”

“I said no.”

He cut me off coldly and stared down at me with an arrogant gaze.

“Why would I need to get angry about a greeting between family members?”

“…N-no?”

“Do I look like someone who would get irritated over such a trivial matter?”

“N-no?”

“Then there’s no problem. Right?”

What’s this? He still looks angry though.

He downed his champagne while wearing an ice-cold smile that made him look vicious.

I leaned slightly toward Violet and whispered.

“Do people do that often?”

“…That?”

“The greeting Dillan and I just exchanged…?”

“Oh, we do it frequently. Especially between family or close friends. More often for happy occasions.”

“Ah, I see.”

“As long as you don’t actually kiss the cheek, it’s fine.”

What?

At Violet’s additional comment, I unconsciously touched my cheek.

I think he actually kissed my right cheek, which the Grand Duke couldn’t see…

Or was it my imagination?

The cruise glided smoothly through the water, circling the river as a magic show unfolded on deck.

With the night sky as its backdrop, the magic show manipulated fire and light as skillfully as a circus performance.

When a dove suddenly flew out of a previously empty hat with a bang of fireworks, everyone gasped in amazement and applauded.

After dinner at the restaurant, everyone had come up to the deck and found their preferred spots to watch the performance. It seemed like everyone aboard the cruise had gathered on deck.

“Did you see that?”

“What.”

But here.

One person appeared to be in a bad mood.

Carlo stood expressionless, watching the performance with a stoic face.

I naturally sensed he wasn’t the type to enjoy such performances, so I had initially tried to pretend not to notice.

“Wow!”

When the magician blew into his hand, flames suddenly shot up into the air.

Startled, Violet and I reflexively jumped up and down, bursting into laughter.

Everyone marveled, unable to close their mouths.

But one man beside me was different.

Feeling embarrassed for laughing so enthusiastically by myself, I looked up at Carlo, who was radiating a dark aura next to me.

“…Are you in a bad mood?”

“No.”

“Don’t you like this kind of performance?”

“I don’t usually seek them out.”

“…Would you rather go downstairs and have some tea?”

“Why?”

Why? Because instead of standing here emitting a terrifying chill, you could go to the onboard café and relax.

It makes me self-conscious while I’m trying to enjoy myself.

Hiding my true thoughts, I smiled brightly and narrowed my eyes.

“Well, you don’t seem to be enjoying it…”

“And what are you planning to do here?”

What’s that supposed to mean?

His expression, looking down at me with cold eyes, resembled the dark river water that seemed capable of swallowing anything.

“…I’ll stay here and watch the performance.”

“……”

“With Violet?”

Feeling intimidated by his chilly gaze for no apparent reason, I tried to link arms with Violet, but he immediately pulled me toward him.

As a result, before I could even properly stand next to Violet, I found myself standing right beside him again.

I rubbed my arms, which had gotten goosebumps from the river breeze.

“The river wind is cold.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than he took off his jacket and tossed it to me.

“Hold this.”

“Are you giving it to me because I’m cold?”

“Of course not.”

“……”

“It’s cumbersome, so I’m giving it to you.”

“……”

Would it kill him to just pretend he was being considerate and gave it to me because I was cold?

“Fine.”

I answered with clenched molars and draped his jacket over my shoulders.

Despite his irritating attitude, the pleasant scent wafting from the jacket on my shoulders gave me mixed feelings.

Plus, perhaps because I felt warmer now, my mood seemed to improve despite his rudeness and dismissiveness.

“……”

As I stretched my neck to watch the performance, I felt someone’s intense gaze studying my face.

Glancing up on a hunch, sure enough, Carlo was looking at me.

“That was a greeting.”

“Pardon?”

Greeting…? Wondering what he meant, I remembered how Dillan had pressed his cheeks against mine twice earlier.

“…Are you talking about the cheek greeting with Dillan earlier?”

“……”

“…It’s just a greeting, right? I heard it doesn’t mean anything special. Just a sign of familiarity, something like that…”

“……”

“It’s just like child’s play.”

“I don’t do that sort of thing.”

Of course you don’t!

I couldn’t imagine Carlo giving such a friendly greeting to anyone.

The probability of this man treating someone kindly approached zero.

“You seemed to enjoy it quite a bit.”

“Me? When?”

“You didn’t refuse.”

“How can anyone refuse a greeting?”

“I do.”

Yes, yes, I could easily imagine that.

Wasn’t this man someone who could refuse and decline as naturally as breathing?

I was about to nod in agreement but caught myself and stared at him with my head held high.

“Of course I had to smile. If we want to discover anything, I need to maintain a good enough relationship with Dillan to keep the conversation going.”

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t do that sort of thing.”

“Then how am I supposed to find anything out?”

How would they approach me if I put up walls right away?

“Dillan said we were close. He was about to say more before we were interrupted, but if I meet him again, surely…”

“Meet again, you say.”

“Yes, I need to meet him to discover anything. Isn’t that why we came today?”

After bringing me all this way, he’s being capricious again.

Looking at Carlo, who was staring down at me with indifferent, chilly eyes, I suddenly felt something strange.

Could it be…

“…Are you jealous?”

“Huh? What did you just say?”

“Jealous. Otherwise, why are you so irritated? Though Dillan and I are siblings?”

“Ha!”

He let out a bitter laugh as if the idea wasn’t even worth considering.

A blue flame seemed to ignite in his eyes.

“Jealousy? I don’t even know what that is. First time I’ve heard of it. How dare you attach such a word to me.”

“Um…”

Just then, Violet carefully interjected, looking back and forth between me and Carlo.

She cautiously raised her eyes only to Carlo’s neck before turning her gaze back to me.

“Should I excuse myself for a moment?”

“…Why? Are you uncomfortable?”

“No, that’s not it. Well, I could go to the powder room… excuse myself briefly.”

“But… why…?”

“I don’t even have a date, but you’ve made me watch your lovers’ quarrel for too long.”

Violet’s expression was quite complicated as she reluctantly revealed the truth.

Come to think of it, she had been with us all day since the afternoon, so she must be tired. Though this wasn’t a lovers’ quarrel or anything like that.

“Go ahead and rest if you’d like.”

When I smiled brightly, she bit her lip with an awkward smile, as if she needed the Grand Duke’s permission.

“No resting. Just go briefly.”

At Carlo’s words, I immediately frowned and looked up at him sharply.

“Have you forgotten I said I can’t leave you alone?”

He roughly adjusted the jacket around my shoulders and spoke in a cold tone.

“No, I was just going to step away briefly. I’ll be right back.”

Violet quickly waved her hands, then left the deck with a sigh of relief.

I watched her disappear into the crowd and spoke softly.

“…Violet is suffering because of me.”

“Only Violet…?”

“Sigh… You too.”

Right. I’m being a nuisance, a complete nuisance.

A bitter feeling washed over me. With one hand tightly gripping his collar, which felt too large, I brought the champagne glass in my other hand to my lips.

The finale fireworks show began.

“…Ah. I’ve already finished it.”

As I muttered to myself in disappointment, Carlo took the empty glass from me.

“Stop drinking. You’ve had enough.”

“I barely drank anything, and I’m still thirsty.”

“……”

“I just want one more glass.”

Though his tightly closed lips suggested he was reluctant, I could see his bluish eyes scanning the surroundings indifferently.

The serving staff had gathered mostly at the front of the performance area.

It would take quite some time for them to reach our position at the railing.

“Can you wait?”

When I shook my head, he slightly furrowed his brow and looked over.

Violet was making her way through the crowd. She’s coming back really quickly.

“Stay here, then.”

As Carlo walked forward after confirming Violet was coming, his figure, taller than others, flashed and disappeared repeatedly under the fireworks.

Violet, who had been walking toward me waving her hand, paused briefly to greet an acquaintance.

When she began conversing with the acquaintance, Violet hurriedly glanced at me, and I smiled to indicate I was fine.

While Violet chatted with another young lady, I leaned against the railing and looked up at the fireworks.

Vibrant fireworks decorated the sky brilliantly, accompanied by loud explosions.

“Huk…!”

That’s when it happened.

A damp arm from behind wrapped around my neck.

Bang! Bang!

As the loud fireworks drowned out my voice, my body was pulled away from the railing.