“I said I’m not interested.”

“Don’t be like that. You’ll get married eventually after graduation, right? Count Runella is not only a well-known wealthy man in the capital, but his family doesn’t even have a son. She’s an only daughter!”

“I’ll pass, Oscar.”

“Think about it. Actually, my fiancée asked me to make sure I told you, saying it was her friend’s request.”

Was it coincidence that the thought of a lovely girl with violet eyes suddenly came to mind at the unexpected mention of marriage?

‘Ignore Cassian who says no and please introduce me instead!’ Leon desperately shouted while Oscar refused, but his friend’s words no longer reached his ears.

The image of her face that had suddenly appeared didn’t disappear but circled around, dominating Cassian. And as if receiving divine revelation, she appeared across the street at that very moment.

“……Huh? Cassian?”

Florencia’s eyes widened as she spotted Cassian by chance when their paths crossed. It was the first time she had seen him outside the abandoned garden, and he wasn’t alone.

A large man with his arm on Cassian’s shoulder, and Cassian’s stiff expression as if being threatened. His rigid face actually stemmed from the surprise of meeting Florencia, but it led to her deep misunderstanding.

‘Is he perhaps in a situation where he needs help right now……?’

Florencia had experienced being surrounded and mocked by Eriendna and her friends several times. Could Cassian be in a similar situation, being bullied by other young gentlemen?

‘I’m scared……’

Though she had opportunities to encounter noble young gentlemen at the Academy occasionally, she deliberately avoided them. Her feet wouldn’t move easily as she tried to approach unfamiliar young masters who might have malicious intentions toward others.

‘But Cassian is…… my first friend. If he’s in a dangerous situation, I must help him!’

Finally crossing the street with firm resolve, Cassian and the young gentlemen around him looked surprised as she approached. Though her heart trembled with fear, Florencia bravely tugged at the sleeve of the intimidating man who had his arm around Cassian’s shoulder.

“Excuse me, please let go of me!”

“Wait, who might this lady be……?”

Leon asked with a puzzled face. Florencia held onto his collar with all her might and shook it, but to him, it felt like a small sparrow pecking at his sleeve with its beak.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes tightly, and shouted.

“……I am Cassian’s…… friend! Please stop bullying him!”

The three boys’ eyes widened as they focused on Florencia, and silence fell. A moment later, breaking that silence, Leon, looking even more bewildered than before, said dazedly.

“……Hey, Cassian. Are you being bullied at the Academy these days?”

* * *

“Thank you so much for saving me, Florencia.”

Whatever pleased him so much, the smile wouldn’t leave Cassian’s face for a long time. It seemed like the first time in his not-so-long life that he had laughed so comfortably.

“S-stop teasing me, Cassian. I really thought you were in a situation that needed help.”

Florencia had been blushing for a while. To have such a misunderstanding, I can’t believe myself!

The cat Ruby, occupying her lap, meowed as if asking what was happening.

“Actually, it’s true that I was being bullied. I was being persuaded to meet some lady who’s a friend of Oscar’s fiancée.”

“I see……”

“Ah, Oscar’s family members are all deeply versed in art, so most of the art galleries and museums in the capital are owned by his family. If you like paintings, would you like to go see them together?”

Florencia, who had been about to say something, darkened and closed her mouth again.

‘……Cassian…… was Marquis Esteban.’

The surprising fact she had just learned from his friends was still hard to believe. To think that Cassian, whom she thought was a lonely boy without friends like her, was actually that young gentleman from the rumors that had stirred up the Academy.

Though Florencia had no interest in social news, she had heard the name Esteban before. When news spread that he was returning from his territory, the ladies in her class had been busy ordering new dresses, and even the haughty Eriendna had shown great interest.

“You know, Cassian……”

She opened her mouth with difficulty. While it might have been possible when they didn’t know each other’s families and only met in the abandoned garden, it was impossible to build further friendship between the head of the Esteban family and the illegitimate child of the Hazel family. They were an eighteen-year-old girl and a nineteen-year-old boy, each with their own loneliness, but in the eyes of society, they were by no means young. People would certainly view their friendship through colored glasses.

Florencia now understood that friendship shared with a friend was a beautiful emotion different from love with a lover, but her existence would only be a burden to her first friend. This clear fact hurt her pure heart.

“……Actually, I’m not a legitimate noble. My deceased mother was…… a maid in the Hazel family.”

“……”

“Though I use the Hazel name, it’s not really mine. No one in the family recognizes me as family.”

“……”

“You mentioned going to an art gallery? I wouldn’t be able to interpret the meaning of any of those precious works there. That’s because I’m not a cultured lady worthy of being your friend.”

“……”

“……So Cassian, I think it would be better for you…… if you don’t see me anymore.”

“I see, Florencia.”

Though it was the expected answer, Florencia bit her lip hard to hold back tears. Should she be grateful he wasn’t angry that she had deceived him?

“I’m sorry for not telling you earlier. I still need to feed Ruby, so I’ll come when you’re not around in the future. If you don’t like that either, I can find another way…… Anyway, then…… take care.”

“Florencia!”

Because she tried to leave too hastily, Cassian urgently called out to her, grabbing her wrist despite knowing it was improper.

“Damn it, what should I say? Sorry, I’m not good with words…… What I mean is……!”

“……”

“To me, you’re not Lady Florencia Hazel, but just Florencia. And I’m…… not Marquis Esteban, but just Cassian.”

“……”

“You didn’t acknowledge me as a friend because I’m from the Esteban family, right?”

“Yes, that’s true, but……”

“It’s the same for me. What does it matter which family you’re from? The fact that we’re already friends doesn’t change.”

“Cassian……”

“Besides, I actually have no interest in paintings either! I worked hard at swordsmanship and horseback riding, but I know nothing about oil paint textures or watercolor techniques. I just…… wanted to spend time with my precious friend.”

While saying this, Cassian couldn’t quite meet Florencia’s eyes. Especially when saying the last sentence, his voice became much quieter due to embarrassment, but fortunately, it was clearly conveyed to Florencia.

After a moment of silence, their eyes met, and the awkward boy and girl smiled awkwardly before eventually laughing together without either initiating it.

“Florencia, want to go for tea?”

After the serious atmosphere returned to normal, Cassian gathered his courage, hoping his voice would sound the same as usual. Even the wind that blew carried an unseasonably lukewarm warmth for autumn. Perhaps this was a fateful day for a first date.

“Tea? But now is…… Ah! Cassian, what time is it now?”

“Now? It’s about four o’clock, why?”

“It’s already that late? I’m sorry! I think I need to go now.”

Florencia jumped in surprise and hurriedly brushed off the fallen leaves on her skirt.

“Today is the day I go to the Temple, and I didn’t realize it was this late……”

Cassian suddenly felt suspicious.

Come to think of it, she mentioned going to the Temple last time too. Is Florencia particularly devout?

He too made large donations to the Temple and attended mass out of duty befitting a high noble, but he didn’t actually pay much attention to it.

“Florencia, why do you go to the Temple so often? I think you mentioned going last week too.”

He almost asked if she couldn’t skip today, but swallowed those words for fear of appearing lacking in faith.

“Uh….. Didn’t I tell you?”

Florencia tilted her head slightly at his question, bringing her hand to her mouth.

“Tell me what? You didn’t say anything.”

The sight of her tilting her small head was unbearably cute. Today, Cassian’s heart felt as warm as if someone had blown warm air into it.

“I’m going to become a saintess after graduating from the Academy.”

“……Saintess…… So you’re saying you’ll become God’s bride?”

“Yes, I’m planning to become a saintess and stay by God’s side for life……”

At these unexpected words, Cassian blankly opened his mouth. His heart, which had been filled with a bright smile, sank to the bottom as it turned cold in an instant.

“I’ll take you there.”

“Huh? No, I can just walk……”

“You said you’re late, and our family carriage is waiting outside. I hate troublesome things, so I had the family crest covered, so you don’t need to worry about anything.”

Though he had become somewhat depressed as if half out of his mind, Cassian tried hard not to forget the chivalry he had learned, albeit perfunctorily. Since the weather, which had been mild all day, suddenly turned bad as if reflecting his mood, Florencia, who had been hesitating, boarded the carriage with him.

“What do you do at the Temple? Pray?”

……What else would one do at a Temple besides pray?