“You must be tired, so go upstairs and rest first.”

“Are you going to work again?”

At Dahlia’s complaint, James briefly held her hand and let go.

“……I’ll come up soon.”

“You have to come quickly.”

Even though it was acting, he still found it difficult to skillfully handle his subordinate’s affectionate complaints. James tried hard to calm his wavering heart. He didn’t want to make mistakes with so many watching eyes. It would be troublesome if his feelings for her were discovered. After Dahlia left for the third-floor bedroom, James headed to the second-floor study with Mister Bent.

“Report.”

“Yes. I will now report on madam’s whereabouts for the past month and a half.”

When it came to matters related to her, he always had to maintain composure and have an objective perspective.

Dahlia.

She was James’s longtime surveillance target before she was his wife.

Mister Bent reported to James in great detail about how Dahlia had spent her time. Bent was an informant James had planted in the mansion to monitor Dahlia before he was a coachman. Even when he told the same content James already knew from hearing it from his wife, James listened patiently.

To confirm whether there was any content Dahlia hadn’t reported to him, he had to receive double reports. If she made independent judgments and omitted or hid some of the content she should report, it would be very troublesome.

“That’s all there is to report.”

“Good work.”

Contrary to James’s worries, today too there was no discrepancy between Dahlia’s and Bent’s reports. James sent the coachman away and sat in the armchair for a moment. The business trip schedule in Fasili had been grueling, but traveling by ship for a long time was also a tremendous burden on his stamina. He closed his eyes and tried to enjoy some time alone, even if just a little.

“Lucy.”

It seemed like they would have dinner soon, but James’s time in the study grew longer. Dahlia closed the book she was reading and headed to the study. Lucy was coming out of the study, closing the door behind her.

“Madam, you must be hungry? Dinner is almost ready.”

“That’s not it…… Is honey still working?”

“No. I went to ask if he needed tea, but he’s sleeping.”

She had been thinking he might be sleeping, and sure enough, he really was.

“I see. Thank you.”

He probably couldn’t eat properly on the ship either. Dahlia carefully entered the study. James was sleeping soundly in the leather armchair. In his uncomfortable outdoor clothes, unable to lie down comfortably. At that moment, Dahlia suddenly remembered when she first saw James.

It was still vivid. The celebrity who stood out most at the ball hosted by Marquis Pioni, James Luperton. Like the young ladies who attended the ball, sixteen-year-old Dahlia couldn’t take her eyes off him either. James was the top genius who worked at the Foreign Ministry immediately after returning from studying abroad at ‘Taylor University,’ a prestigious school in Iris. At the same time, he was also famous as Robenty’s greatest handsome man, called ‘the bluebird of high society.’

His straight nose bridge and flat forehead.

Densely embroidered eyelashes.

Sharp jawline.

Back then, she never thought she would become married to him and be able to enter and leave his study like this. Dahlia slowly sat on the footrest placed in front of the chair. Although neither of them had married because they wanted to, considering that few people marry their first love, she was lucky. She didn’t know why the director accepted this marriage though.

“Ah……”

She tried to adjust her dress briefly, but the footrest shook more than expected. James opened his eyes, sensing the presence. It was difficult to look into those cold purple eyes for long. So Dahlia gathered her dress hem without panicking as much as possible.

“They said dinner is ready.”

“You should have just woken me up.”

James only used informal speech with Dahlia when they were alone together. It was the tone Dahlia often heard when she worked with him at the company. It was just a familiar tone, but she wouldn’t know. How many stray thoughts he was having inside to maintain his composure.

“You were sleeping so well that I couldn’t bear to do that.”

“How much time has passed?”

“It’s still five-thirty. It hasn’t even been two hours since you came home.”

Dahlia was comfortable at times like this because she could reveal her true calm and quiet personality as it was. James knew her real self. That might be why she felt relieved when she heard about marrying him.

“Let’s go down now.”

When the two came down the stairs close together, people moved busily. Dinner was already prepared in the dining room. Perhaps the chef had put effort into this rare dinner the couple was having together, as prime rib was served. It was fattier and more delicious than roast beef, one of the foods the Luperton couple ate well.

“They must have prepared this because you came home after a long time. Thanks to you, I’m enjoying all the luxury.”

After eating a little salad, Dahlia began her ‘lovely chatter.’ Until she became accustomed to acting, she named and practiced every action. Today’s lovely chatter was the usual.

“Tomorrow I’m going to the department store with sister. No matter how I think about it, I need gloves that match the dress.”

“Is it because of the year-end charity fundraising event?”

“Yes. All the gloves I had before don’t match and look strange.”

Next weekend, the biggest charity fundraising event will be held. The two couldn’t miss the time when all the big shots of high society participated.

“What dress are you planning to wear?”

James very skillfully played along.

“You know, the blue dress I wore when we went to see the opera.”

Dahlia raised her voice tone even higher, pretending to be excited to create more atmosphere. For James, who knew her real appearance, he could see all her efforts and struggles. Perhaps that’s why. James found himself smiling slightly without realizing it, even without trying hard to act.

Dahlia’s green eyes looking at James widened slightly. The director is smiling. Even though it disappeared immediately, it was definitely a smile. I thought he was very tired. Did his mood improve? How unusual. Maybe it’s because we’re having dinner together after a long time. Somehow it’s a strange dinner, Dahlia thought.

⁕⁕⁕

“I was just thinking of buying shoes, so this worked out well.”

Catherine casually linked arms with Dahlia. Her only sister was bright and cheerful, someone who could win anyone’s favor.

“Brighton’s birthday is tomorrow. You know Joy’s friend, right?”

“I know.”

“Close friends are gathering for a party, but I don’t have shoes that match the dress.”

“The sky blue dress you had made last time? You had gloves and shoes all made to match then.”

Catherine, who was cutting salmon steak, tilted her head back slightly. Then she looked at Dahlia with an expression of disbelief.

“So what. Terry spilled grape juice and it got completely soaked. I mean, why drink juice right in front of the shoe closet?”

Even while eating brunch, the sisters’ chatter didn’t stop. Catherine had two sons, Joy and Terry, with Colonel Cael. Unlike the relatively well-behaved Joy, Terry was a reckless troublemaker. The meal ended with the story of when Terry was even younger and had completely overturned the vanity table.

Dahlia and Catherine went to Blossom Department Store right next to the place where they had brunch. The first item to look at was gloves. In some countries of the Europa continent, including Robenty, ‘ready-made products’ began to appear. With the new invention of steam engines and the discovery of energy minerals throughout the continent, mechanical factories were established.

Then ready-made products mass-produced in factories were sold. Therefore, in high society, unless it was a very important event, wearing ready-made items like gloves or fans became fashionable. That’s why the two headed to the department store to buy gloves and shoes.

“I need to look around a bit more.”

But Dahlia couldn’t find gloves that she really liked. The two quickly moved to the shoe store. At least one of them needed to make quick progress so the atmosphere wouldn’t drop while shopping.

Actually, Dahlia and Catherine could have shopped in the VIP room. Then they could have taken care of business faster and more easily. Nevertheless, the two continued shopping in the store. Sometimes this kind of troublesome shopping was enjoyable, and Dahlia didn’t particularly want to run into her former colleagues.

“When you used to work, it was nice because we could get discounts. It’s a bit disappointing.”

Catherine tried on white shoes and looked at herself from various angles.

“Should I get a job again?”

“Oh, never mind. I was just saying.”

Dahlia sat leaning against the sofa and smiled softly. On Catherine’s left foot was a white shoe with a small ribbon, and on her right foot was a white shoe with lace decorations. Dahlia’s preference was the left one.

“Are there other designs?”

“There are ones with beads too. Shall I show you?”

“Yes. Please show me.”

Looking at how things were going, it seemed like shopping would be long. Dahlia took out a hand mirror and swept her side hair back. Then she unconsciously checked the people behind her. When would this occupational disease disappear?

That’s when it happened. Someone familiar entered Dahlia’s field of vision.

That person is……

“Sister.”

“Yeah. What?”

“Ahem.”

When Catherine didn’t look at her, Dahlia cleared her throat. To her who only turned her head, Dahlia gestured with her mouth to look behind her.

“What?”

But Catherine didn’t notice at all.

“Ahem. Behind me.”