Bella felt as though she were standing at a crossroads every day.

She now slept in a bed softer than she could ever have imagined. The days of stale bread and thin soup were long gone. Now, warm meals were prepared with care and offered freely and unconditionally. From the outside, it would have looked like a life of pure luxury. Yet, as the days passed, an inexplicable unease began to settle heavily in her chest.

The duke’s confession in Rosedale lingered in her mind, playing over and over again. He had admitted that he had initially been drawn to her because she resembled his first love, who he had lost long ago. But he insisted that his feelings had grown beyond that: now, he was drawn to her for who she truly was.

His overwhelming kindness, and the way he seemed to place the entire world at her feet, made her feel as though he had fallen hopelessly in love with her. She could not find the words to describe how she felt. She was profoundly grateful. And yet, his generosity only served to deepen her confusion.

Was his affection truly meant for her?

Or was she merely standing in the shadow of a woman he had never stopped loving?

He never spoke of his first love again. She did not dare to ask. She was too afraid of what the answer might reveal.

“What should I do, Joshua?”

Bella believed that she understood her place better than anyone else.

She knew where she came from. She knew her current standing. She knew exactly where the boundary lay — the line she must never cross. No matter the circumstances, she was certain that she would never allow herself to cross it.

That was why she had tried to pull away before her feelings became too strong. She had even tried to run.

But the duke dismantled every wall she built and closed the distance she had fought so hard to maintain.

By the time she realized that she could no longer refuse the hand he continued to offer, the distance she had once forced between them had vanished.

Now, her heart, which had quietly changed without her noticing, had become something she could no longer control.

“If we could control our feelings as we pleased, no miracle would ever happen in this world.”

Joshua, who had been listening quietly to her concerns, spoke in a calm voice. His words had more than one meaning. They were intended to comfort a friend suffering from uncontrollable emotions. But they were also tinged with quiet self-mockery, as he, like her, remained trapped behind the label of ‘friend’, unable to forget the woman he loved, who now cared for another man.

“If you like him, then don’t force yourself to reject him.”

“But…”

“The duke must truly care about you. That’s why he treats you so well.”

Joshua glanced at the guard who was watching them from a distance. The duke was clearly worried about Bella. However, knowing that she would feel suffocated if she stayed in the hotel, he had allowed her to go to the festival despite the risk. This showed just how much he cared for her.

However, there was something else troubling Joshua.

The Duke of Fraser was still formally engaged to Count Everett’s daughter. And, according to Bella, he had never spoken to her about it.

“Whatever choice you make, I will always be on your side.”

Even so, Joshua stood beside Bella without a single word of reproach. His unconditional support eased, if only slightly, the heavy burden weighing on her heart.

“…Thank you.”

“For something like this? We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Joshua smiled at her as he said it.

Friends.

It was the furthest he could allow his feelings to go.

***

While the whole city was caught up in the festive spirit, Logan sat alone in his office.

The documents spread across his desk remained untouched for hours and he didn’t even notice.

In this cool, distant space, untouched by the heat of the celebrations outside, he lost track of time until someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

The guard assigned to Bella entered with his permission. He had been ordered to accompany her to the festival and to be on the lookout for any potential danger, rather than to interfere with her enjoyment of it.

“What is she doing now?”

“She is touring the marketplace with Mr Joshua Powell.” This morning, they walked through the streets to watch the parade and attended a performance recounting the city’s founding legend. Instead of eating in a restaurant, she opted for street food.”

The guard recited Bella’s schedule without missing a single detail.

Despite Logan’s concern that she might tire in the crowd, Bella seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the festival.

As Logan could not attend himself, he had arranged for Joshua Powell to accompany her instead. Hearing the report, Logan felt reassured that he had made the right decision. Bella would surely be more comfortable with Joshua by her side than with guards trailing behind her.

In the afternoon, she shared wagashi with Mr Powell and rested at a café away from the main festival grounds, before returning to the streets. By then, the crowd had grown denser. There was some minor physical contact due to the congestion, but no suspicious behavior was observed.

As the guard continued his overly detailed account, Logan’s jaw tightened ever so slightly.

‘Shared wagashi.’

The guard did not specify whether they had cut the sweet in half carefully or bitten into it. But it made no difference.

Jealousy rose within him all the same.

Logically, he knew there was nothing improper about it. Joshua was the most honorable man he knew and the least likely to behave inappropriately towards Bella. That was precisely why Logan had entrusted him with her company.

And yet, the report unsettled him.

He resented the fact that he was not the one standing beside her.

Then, all at once, he had a realization.

What he truly longed to hear was confirmation not just that Bella was safe, but that she was thinking of him.

He wanted reassurance that her thoughts and feelings were focused on him, and not someone else.

‘I’ve completely lost my mind.’

“And…”

“That’s enough.”

Logan raised his hand, cutting the guard off mid-report.

This was absurd. He hadn’t wanted to isolate Bella from the outside world, and yet here he was, feeling jealous of the time she spent with her best friend.

“That will do. Return to Bella. When the time comes, bring her to the meeting place.”

After dismissing the guard, Logan deliberately suppressed the possessive heat rising inside him.

As the days passed, he began to realize something: What he felt for Bella would not remain mere curiosity.

However, before he could confront those feelings, there was something he had to settle first.

He lowered his gaze to the documents spread across his desk.

Everett.

Whatever truth those papers contained, it was time to sever a connection that had lingered far too long.

***

By the time the crimson sun had set behind the ridgeline, Joshua said goodbye, explaining that he needed to return to the academy.

After saying goodbye, Bella followed the guard and stepped into the carriage. Assuming they were heading back to the hotel, she was surprised when the carriage veered away from the city center and took a different route.

No explanation was given. The guard only said that it was the duke’s order.

After a long journey, the carriage finally stopped at a quiet harbor on the outskirts of the city.

Far removed from the bustling streets, the lively music of the marching band and the bright laughter that had filled the festival were replaced by the steady rhythm of the waves breaking on the shore. In that stillness, where only nature seemed to breathe, Bella gazed at the ships anchored in the water. Their lights shimmered softly, scattering across the rippling surface like fragments of stars.

“Bella.”

She didn’t know how long she had been standing there, feeling the cool night breeze, when a calm voice called out to her from behind.

Bella turned around.

It was Logan Fraser.

The man who had been on her mind all day.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No. I just arrived as well.”

“I’m glad.”

The duke, wearing a white suit, had a completely different air about him compared to when he was at the hotel.

He led Bella to the end of the pier.

Stepping lightly onto one of the many ships moored there, he held out his hand to her.

“Take my hand.”