The Grandis flag beside the barracks fluttered in the sea breeze.

The sound of leaves rustling on tree branches broke against my ears along with the gentle sound of waves.

The face of the man holding my waist and looking into my eyes felt surreal.

That this man would feel jealousy…

The man who had compared me to mere vegetable gardens, laundry, trees, wind, and boats was now saying he felt jealous.

He would constantly criticize me and act as if he didn’t care what happened to me, yet always rescue me in emergencies. The confusion was always left for me to sort out.

He was the type of person who made me think my suspicions were just my imagination.

Yet some days he made me feel like I’d been drenched in a sudden downpour, while at other moments he lifted me up as if I were floating on clouds.

Like this moment now, making me wonder if his words were sincere.

“Um… Carlo…”

I stared at him for a moment before carefully moving my lips.

“…Are you perhaps a playboy?”

His eyes widened slightly before I finished speaking.

Avoiding his gaze, I awkwardly continued.

“No, it’s just that you seem so experienced at everything. The way you can lift and drop someone with just a word…”

“Huh?”

“And your physical contact is so natural too. Look, the way you hold my waist, stroke my hair. Just from these things alone…”

Though he seemed perfectly composed, I could feel heat rising throughout my body like a scalded tomato. Even without a mirror, I knew my face must be flushed bright red.

I wanted to get off his knee, but he held me firmly, leaving me no escape.

I turned my head, pretending not to see his disapproving gaze.

“Ah, of course. I’m not really concerned about such things. That’s all in the past, right? But still…”

“But still.”

“The way you k-kiss… I mean, earlier that ki- ahem! You kiss so skillfully that I had this reasonable doubt.”

“So.”

“What?”

“Is it good or bad?”

When Carlo asked with an expressionless face, I blinked quietly.

“…Pardon? What do you mean?”

“I appreciate the compliment that I’m good at it, but are you saying you don’t like that I’m good?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“Or would you prefer that I was bad at it?”

Of course, being good at something is better than being bad at it…!

From my perspective as someone who would eventually need to escape, I couldn’t tell which would be better.

Having no other men to compare him to, the truth remained that this man was undeniably good at everything.

The problem was that I couldn’t push away this man who excelled at everything.

Even now, I didn’t dislike his attitude as he quietly waited for my answer while holding my waist.

Had I truly come to like this man?

All the numerous emotions I had felt toward him while staying at St. Berte flashed through my mind like a kaleidoscope.

“…That’s not what I meant.”

Unable to explain my feelings, I pouted and grumbled, when his hand gently lifted my chin.

His eyes, like a clear blue lake, gazed at me steadily.

“How can I make you believe me?”

It was strange. I wanted both to avoid his gaze and to keep looking at him like this.

“For someone who doesn’t even go near women, this is an unfair misunderstanding.”

Looking at me with his piercing gaze, he smiled plainly.

“I don’t entirely dislike the way you pout when you speak.”

My heart, which had just been calmed, began to thump awkwardly again.

“You can doubt me occasionally.”

“……”

“I even welcome it when you sulk like this.”

The gentle touch around my waist sent a tingling tension flowing over my skin.

“We had a similar conversation in the carriage returning from Brüpelier, didn’t we?”

I lost my words and unconsciously inhaled at the faint smile spreading across his eyes.

“It might be nothing to you, but not to me.”

“What?”

He maintained his composure as he stared at me with a blunt gaze.

I pouted my lips, finding him even more annoying.

“…All the touching, all the kissing.”

“Do you dislike it that much?”

“……”

“I asked if you disliked it that much.”

“Of course I dislike it! It’s just you getting caught up in the moment!”

The memory of glaring at him and speaking curtly on the carriage ride back to St. Berte from the Imperial Palace resurfaced in my mind.

“Ah…”

Feeling I had said something unnecessary, I wanted to return to my seat, but Carlo still had me bound with his thick arm.

“Let me make one thing clear.”

“……”

“Kissing, holding your waist, embracing you. Well, even when we do more than that in the future. I’ve never been swept away by emotions, nor will I ever be. One person is enough for me.”

His voice, quiet and calm as if reading a book, lingered in my ears.

“I’ve simply been waiting for the right moment. Like now.”

“……”

He smiled faintly and gently stroked my hair before kissing me.

His tone seemed quite amused as he calmly looked at me, who was so surprised I couldn’t breathe.

“If you don’t like it, push me away.”

Though his words were playful, his eyes were fiercely intense, leaving me staring at him like a broken machine.

“Do you dislike it?”

At his question, I hesitated with my hands resting on his chest.

My racing heart seemed to pound loudly in my ears.

Thoughts began to jumble together.

The attempt to kill Carlo was made by a brainwashed Lea who participated in the attack without her own will… That might not have been her intention…

The cowardly thought that this might provide some excuse to him in the future kept rising like greed.

I gathered my courage, placed my hands on his shoulders, and carefully pressed my lips against his before pulling away.

His pupils froze chillingly.

“I don’t dislike it at all.”

Someday the truth would be revealed and I would have to leave this man.

“Next time, I’ll try to be more mature about my jealousy.”

But I didn’t want that right now.

I looked at him with a bright smile in my eyes.

Simultaneously, I felt him pause for a moment, inhale sharply, and his chest swelled greatly.

He devoured my lips as if he couldn’t hold back any longer.

Eventually, he gazed at me steadily with his deep blue eyes lowered slightly.

“What do you want to do?”

“……”

“Do you want to keep your eyes open?”

At his mischievous smile as our lips touched, I finally snapped back to my senses.

Just as I tightly closed my eyes, I heard a low laugh resonating from his throat.

There was no helping it.

I liked this man.

His languid gaze when looking at me, his lips forming inexplicable smiles, the half-joking truths he casually dropped, and his fierce eyes that made me believe he would firmly protect me anywhere.

There was no point in denying that all my clumsy emotions and jealousy originated from this man.

He massaged around my eyes with his rough fingers and caressed my face.

My heart seemed to flutter at his breath, warm yet penetrating with frightening persistence.

So all I could do was wrap my arms around his neck.

While Lea was bathing, Carlo went outside to wait and spotted Joseph walking toward the barracks.

Why is he coming at this hour?

As a childhood friend who knew his personality, Joseph should clearly understand that Carlo disliked having his personal time interrupted, yet here he was sauntering over, which felt somewhat suspicious.

Moreover, he was carrying something large in his hand.

Carlo frowned slightly, glanced back at the barracks where Lea was, then looked at Joseph.

Just as bright red flames crackled and leapt over the lit bonfire, Joseph finished his respectful greeting and set down the object.

“This is what the Grand Duchess requested.”

“What is it?”

At Carlo’s question, Joseph looked at him with a puzzled expression for a moment before straightforwardly answering.

“A portable bed.”

As Joseph said, a folding bed, a ready-made product, was placed beside the bonfire.

“Who’s going to use that?”

“The Grand Duchess…”

Joseph trailed off briefly before composing his expression again.

“She asked if the Grand Duke’s bed was a single, and when I told her it was, she requested a portable bed. Fortunately, there was a spare among the items used by the trainees…”

“The Grand Duchess ordered this?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Joseph answered calmly as he looked at Carlo.

Carlo’s expression appeared nonchalant, but somehow conveyed a sense of discomfort.

This was detected through the keen sense that only a longtime friend could possess.

“Should I take it away?”

“No.”

Carlo shook his head lightly and smiled meaningfully.

“I intend to grant whatever the Grand Duchess wants. You may go now.”

Joseph flinched, finished his greeting, and headed toward the barracks where the middle managers gathered, while Carlo looked down at the folding bed Joseph had left.

Given Lea’s lovely personality, it was obvious she had asked Joseph for a portable bed because she didn’t want to impose on him in a place with only single beds.

She would feel relieved seeing that…

But he had not the slightest intention of bringing it to her as is.

Snap. Snap.

He opened the large bag containing the folding bed and easily broke off two of its legs.

“Perfect.”

After neatly covering the bag again, he effortlessly picked up the portable bed that his wife would be looking for and headed toward the barracks.