***

At the appointed time, Cardien and Winston headed towards Livia’s room.

They could have met in the carriage as usual, but Winston emphasized that they should escort her since it was a special day.

The corridor was even more quiet than usual today.

This was because Winston had mobilized all the servants for the baptism preparations.

Before long, they arrived at Livia’s door.

Cardien silently gazed at the firmly closed door.

Winston, sensing the mood, slowly knocked on the door.

Knock knock.

The sound of knocking echoed quietly through the corridor.

A brief silence followed.

Eventually…

Click.

The doorknob turned and the door opened.

The figure visible through the door was Rosanne, the head maid.

Seeing Cardien and Winston, Rosanne said with a gentle smile.

“You’ve come to escort the princess.”

“….”

At her smooth words, even the skillful Winston was momentarily at a loss for words.

Needless to say, Cardien was too.

His expression just hardened.

As if indifferent to the two men’s reactions, she smiled brightly and gestured inside.

“Please, come in.”

She stepped aside.

Winston took a step back, and Cardien slowly moved inside.

Unlike the gloomy corridor due to the cloudy day, the room was bright.

Livia was not visible, surrounded by a circle of maids.

The maids, noticing Cardien, were startled and quickly stepped aside.

Finally, after Chelsea moved away last, Livia’s figure became visible.

Soft flowing dark brown hair, milky white skin, a purple dress draping her shoulders, and finally, amber eyes lifting up.

“….”

Cardien couldn’t take his eyes off Livia.

The next moment, Livia stood up and approached Cardien.

Was it his imagination? She seemed to smell like the night garden.

***

“Your Grace?”

I tilted my head, looking at Cardien standing still like a wooden statue.

It wasn’t unusual for him to be like a statue, but it was a bit strange that he was just staring without saying a word.

By the way…

‘He’s shining even more today.’

I inwardly exclaimed in admiration as I looked at Cardien’s appearance.

The black ceremonial dress with silver embroidery and silver decorations suited Cardien terribly well.

‘It’s a different feeling from back then at the academy.’

Of course, Cardien was excessively handsome back then too, but today’s Cardien was, how should I put it…

‘He really feels like Duke Mercedes…’

He exuded a strong sense of nobility and the night that Mercedes symbolized.

At that moment, Cardien parted his lips.

“Quite…”

“…?”

“…Not bad.”

Only then did I realize he was talking about my appearance.

Come to think of it, this was the first time Cardien had seen me in a dress.

Moreover, this dress was personally chosen by Cardien.

Thinking about that, I started to feel embarrassed rapidly.

How should I put it, like a model doing a fashion show in front of the designer?

Is that not it? Anyway.

“Thank you, Your Grace looks very well-suited too.”

I meant it sincerely.

It’s not just that it suits him well.

Anyone who sees Cardien once will never be able to erase him from their memory.

Above all, the dark purple color suited him extremely well.

‘Come to think of it, it’s similar to the color of my dress.’

Although Cardien’s ceremonial dress was a bit darker, when put together, they matched like a set.

I discreetly checked the time.

We had started preparations early in the morning, but it was already well into the afternoon.

As much as I wanted to admire Cardien’s beauty more like this.

“Let’s depart quickly. The streets will be congested because of the baptism ceremony.”

For security reasons, there was only one road leading to the temple.

Even though only a select few from the empire were gathering, their number reached nearly a hundred.

Normally, it would have taken just under an hour from Mercedes mansion to the temple, but today it would take longer.

If we don’t hurry, we’ll be late for the baptism ceremony.

Honestly, Cardien probably wouldn’t think much of it, but.

‘I’d rather avoid a situation where we attract attention by entering late.’

When Cardien didn’t move, I gently grabbed his arm.

He flinched and looked at me, then moved towards the door.

Just before leaving the room, I also greeted Chelsea and the maids who had worked hard to dress me up.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Have a safe trip!”

“Conquer that baptism ceremony!”

“You two look so good together!”

The maids, who had become close in the meantime, cheered and saw us off.

Eventually, we faced Rosanne and Winston.

Winston’s eyes widened as he looked at me.

He exclaimed in admiration and said,

“You look absolutely beautiful, Tutor.”

“Thank you, Butler.”

I blushed, feeling shy for no reason, and turned to look at Rosanne.

“You worked so hard today, Head Maid.”

“It was a meaningful time for me to see you, Tutor. Have a safe trip, Tutor. And Master.”

Rosanne bowed her head.

Cardien looked at her with dry eyes and said briefly.

“We’re off.”

“We’ll be back.”

Eventually, Cardien and I moved towards the entrance where the carriage was waiting. Winston followed quietly behind.

I glanced out the window.

It’s cloudy.

‘Surely it won’t rain, right?’

Reflexively, I thought of Vincent.

Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Vincent much since the one-person protest.

‘I’ve been so busy.’

I felt sorry for not paying much attention to Vincent relatively, as I was so busy with baptism preparations and whatnot.

Vincent didn’t seek me out either, so I hadn’t even thought about it.

‘Come to think of it, I didn’t even say goodbye.’

Should I go say goodbye now?

But we had already almost reached the entrance.

Instead, I turned to Winston and asked.

“How has Vincent been lately? I haven’t been able to meet him at all.”

Winston answered.

“Young Master…”

That’s when it happened.

Thud thud thud thud!

Just as urgent footsteps seemed to be approaching, Vincent’s figure appeared.

He had rushed over so hurriedly that he was still in his pajamas with his hair disheveled.

Winston’s eyes widened upon seeing Vincent.

“Young Master?!”

However, Vincent didn’t respond to Winston’s voice.

Upon spotting me, Vincent ran straight towards us.

I reflexively opened my arms, and soon Vincent, slowing down, fell into my embrace with a soft thud.

“Vincent?”

Vincent buried his face in my chest.

Vincent’s appearance was disheveled.

As I was blankly staring at Vincent, Winston approached and whispered quietly in my ear.

“Actually, he’s been studying alone all this time, saying he wanted to surprise you when classes resumed.”

“What?”

I looked at Winston in surprise and then back down at Vincent.

So the reason he hadn’t been seeking me out all this time was…

‘Because he was studying alone?’

To surprise me?

Oh my…

People of the world, look at our Vincent!

‘He’s too lovable…!’

He’s nearly eleven – how can he still be this adorable?

No, eleven isn’t old at all.

‘Even when he’s fully grown, Vincent will always be this lovable.’

Just as I thought this, Vincent lifted his head.

His red eyes were brimming with tears.

Seeing those eyes, my heart melted.

“Tutor Via, do you have to go right away?”

It seemed he had rushed over after hearing the news that I would be leaving the mansion briefly while he was studying.

I stared at his face, which had turned strawberry milk color from running, and then hugged him tightly as I said,

“Yes, yes, I’ll be back soon. And…”

I glanced out the window.

The clouds had grown darker.

It looks like it might rain…

I would return today, but it was likely to be late at night or early morning.

I hesitated, then looked into Vincent’s eyes and said,

“If it gets difficult because of rain, would you wait in my room since it’s cold outside? I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

At my words, Vincent’s eyes widened.

He hesitated, then nodded.

“…Yes. It’s a promise.”

“Okay, then.”

We linked fingers and made a firm promise.

Vincent stared at me intently, then smiled brightly and said,

“Tutor Via is the prettiest in the world today.”

At that sight, I choked up and covered my mouth.

“Thank you… Vincent is so cute too…”

This was sincere.

Vincent, who laughed sheepishly, left my embrace.

Eventually, he went to stand in front of Cardien.

Cardien quietly looked down at Vincent.

Vincent clenched his fists, then bowed his head towards Cardien.

“Have a safe trip, Duke.”

Winston’s eyes, who were watching nervously from the side, widened, not expecting Vincent to greet him first.

I was also inwardly surprised and looked at Vincent.

But how should I put it?

‘It’s not that surprising.’

Maybe it’s because I already knew their relationship had grown much closer than before.

Still, knowing how much courage it must have taken just to give that greeting, I was simply proud of Vincent.

And soon, Cardien parted his lips.

“…Right.”

It was a short, indifferent, perhaps even bleak response, but Vincent seemed happy with just that, smiling brightly.

Eventually, Cardien and I headed towards the carriage.

The carriage was more splendid and majestic than ever before.

I wonder if it’s just my imagination that it seems to upgrade every time I see it.

As I was about to board the carriage, Cardien extended his hand.

A hand in a black glove.

I hesitated, then placed my hand on top of his.

Somehow, I felt extremely burdened, feeling like Winston was gleaming his eyes behind us.

“…Thank you, Your Grace.”

As I quietly expressed my gratitude, Cardien responded indifferently.

“It’s nothing.”

Soon after I took my seat, Cardien sat opposite me.

After exchanging final greetings with Winston, the carriage left the Mercedes mansion.

Clunk…

Although the road was rough, the carriage was so good that I hardly felt any shaking.

During the journey, I admired the gray streets that matched the cloudy sky.

‘As expected, the road is congested.’

While other roads were wide open, only the road leading to the temple was crowded.

When I slightly poked my head out to look at the street, it was packed with enormous carriages.

There were already many visiting carriages, and each one was as big as a house, making the road even more congested.

‘At this rate, it will take well over an hour.’

Thinking about that, I suddenly felt drowsy.

I had forgotten for a moment while being tormented by the maids, but I hadn’t gotten much sleep last night.

As I was nodding off like that, like a sick bird.

Suddenly, Cardien’s voice was heard.