It hadn’t been long since Gabriel and Breti set off walking when raindrops suddenly began to fall. Startled, they hurried back toward the mansion.

“Lady, wait just a moment—”

Gabriel suddenly stopped, quickly taking off his outer coat and draping it over Breti’s head.

“You’ll catch a cold if you get wet.”

Breti bowed her head, flustered by his kindness.

“This is…”

Gabriel, seeing her confusion, placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, drawing her a little closer.

“Let’s keep moving, Lady.”

They quickened their pace toward the mansion.

Gabriel’s hand on her shoulder felt almost unbearably warm.

As soon as they reached the front door, the rain came down in earnest. Once they were under shelter, Gabriel quickly let go of her, and Breti removed his coat from her head, bowing her thanks.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“N-no, it’s nothing, Lady.”

Gabriel stammered, trying to calm his heart as he glanced down at the hand that had touched her.

Unaware of his state, Breti looked at his rain-soaked coat with concern.

“Your Highness, your coat is drenched. What should we do?”

“It’s all right.”

Gabriel said, forcing a small smile.

Still, Breti’s worry didn’t fade, and she apologized,

“I’m so sorry, Your Highness.”

“It’s really fine.”

He assured her, but she still looked anxious. He couldn’t help but furrow his brow a little.

“You don’t need to keep calling me ‘Your Highness,’ or speaking so formally.”

“Pardon?”

Gabriel hoped he might finally hear a more comfortable tone from her.

“You can call me Gabriel, Lady.”

“Oh, no—I could never.”

Breti replied immediately, shaking her head in polite refusal.

Her answer was so firm that Gabriel couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

‘I wish she’d think of me as someone closer…’

He’d always thought he was used to being addressed as ‘Your Highness,’ but somehow, coming from her, the words felt oddly distant and uncomfortable.

“That’s not what I—”

“Oh—Mother’s come outside.”

Breti, not having heard Gabriel’s soft murmur, suddenly caught sight of Meliover sitting out on the balcony.

“It must be chilly with the rain. I’ll go fetch a blanket for her. Your Highness, please excuse me for a moment—I’ll be right back after checking on Mother’s room.”

She handed Gabriel his coat and hurried into the mansion.

Gabriel could only stand there, watching her retreating figure.

‘There’s really no need for her to be so formal…’

‘Why is it so hard for her to call me by my name?’

He let out a faint, bitter smile.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

A little while later, Breti returned with a thick blanket, walking over to Meliover and gently covering her lap.

“Mother, I brought you a blanket.”

Meliover’s lips curved into a bright smile as she watched Breti fuss over her.

“Thank you, dear. By the way, did you get caught in the rain while out walking?”

Breti wiped a few stray droplets from her hair and replied,

“Thanks to His Highness, I managed to stay dry. So please, don’t worry about me.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Meliover smiled softly.

Breti, not knowing what lay behind that smile, simply smiled back, thinking nothing of it.

A rather chilly breeze swept by. But Breti, dressed lightly, was far more worried about Meliover than herself.

“Aren’t you cold, Mother?”

“I’m fine, dear. You don’t have to worry.”

Meliover said warmly, reaching out to gently stroke Breti’s hair.

Breti couldn’t help but smile.

“It feels good to get some fresh air after so long.”

It was the first time she’d come outside since the rainy season began.

There had been days when Meliover burned with fever, her life hanging by a thread, and sudden heart attacks had left the entire household on edge. Each time, it was Breti who stepped in, calming Meliover’s condition until she returned to herself.

To see her up and about, moving through the mansion as if nothing were wrong, brought Breti a measure of relief.

‘Please, Madam, stay with us for a long time.’

‘If you do, perhaps His Grace will be at peace…’

And—

‘Maybe I could stay by his side a little longer, too.’

The thought startled Breti, and she shook her head quickly.

‘No. I shouldn’t even dare to think that. I’m someone who will have to leave this place eventually. I can’t give him any more of my heart.’

As Breti chastised herself, Meliover gazed at the flowers blooming in the garden and murmured softly,

“Perhaps it’s because of the rain, but the flowers seem especially beautiful today.”

Come to think of it, Breti realized, she’d never seen a vase of flowers in Meliover’s room—or even in her own.

‘Since Madam can’t come outside often, maybe she’d like to have a vase of flowers close by…’

With that thought, Breti jumped to her feet.

“Just a moment, Mother.”

She hurried into the garden, gathered a small bouquet of rain-kissed blossoms, and brought them back, beaming.

“Mother, I thought it would be nice to keep these in your room, in a glass vase.”

But unlike Breti’s bright, hopeful smile, Meliover’s face had gone ashen.

“Oh, dear—child, are you all right?”

“Hm?”

“Let me see your hands!”

Meliover hurriedly reached for Breti’s hands, anxiously inspecting them.

But despite Meliover’s sudden concern, Breti’s hands were perfectly fine.

“What’s wrong, Mother?”

“It’s nothing.”

Meliover replied, forcing an awkward smile as she accepted the bouquet.

“They really will look beautiful in a vase.”

Cradling the flowers in her arms, Meliover still wore that uneasy smile.

Just then, Breti coughed lightly, a sudden tickle in her throat.

Seeing her cough, Meliover finally seemed to relax, nodding to herself in relief.

“Child, you’re coughing! That’s why I tell you not to go picking flowers…”

“It’s nothing, really. Please, don’t worry.”

But as Breti continued to cough, Meliover quickly called for Rosand.

“Rosand? Could you please take these flowers up to my room?”

“Yes, madam.”

Rosand took the bouquet and left for the house.

Once the flowers were gone, Breti’s coughing subsided.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes, Mother. I’m sorry to worry you.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for, dear.”

With her coughing fit over, Breti immediately turned her attention back to Meliover.

“It’s quite cold in the rain.”

“It is.”

Meliover replied, as Breti checked the blanket draped over her knees once more.

Just then, Breti caught sight of a familiar figure standing in the rain, not far away.

She narrowed her eyes, trying to make out the hazy silhouette.

“…!”

It was Karsten.

A chill ran down her spine as she saw him grinning at her.

‘No… don’t tell me…’

Was he Adrian now?

There could be no other answer.

As if to confirm her fears, Karsten began walking straight toward her.

The closer he got, the more wildly Breti’s heart pounded.

“Mother, excuse me for a moment—”

“Laterna?”

Breti quickly hurried over to Karsten.

“Breti.”

The instant he saw her, Adrian pulled her into his arms.

There was no mistaking it—this wasn’t Karsten, but Adrian.

“Why are you…!”

Breti was startled by his sudden embrace and glanced anxiously around.

“He must have seen something that he couldn’t bear.”

Adrian said with a sly smile.

“What are you talking about?”

Adrian let her go, only to stroke her hair with a gentle hand.

“My sweet girl… what am I supposed to do with someone so innocent?”

He kissed her softly.

But once it began, the kiss showed no sign of ending quickly.

His lips deepened against hers, and Breti, her senses on high alert, tried desperately to keep her wits about her.

At that moment, she heard footsteps—someone was running toward them from not far off.

‘Someone’s coming this way!’