The butler hurried out toward the garden. Even so, that vagrant man had probably already left or was lurking around the party venue, targeting innocent noblewomen.

After checking everything while trying to control my mind that kept wanting to think about the man, it was time for the party to begin, and I greeted the guests on behalf of Mrs. Roland. Finally, Laura, who had finished getting ready, came downstairs around that time.

“Charlotte. Let’s talk for a moment.”

With a rather serious expression, she took my hand, led me to a corner, and lowered her voice as if something terrible had happened.

“I’m sorry, but could you go get the coral brooch from my house? I didn’t know Blair Lansard would come to the party today. I forgot to bring the brooch I borrowed from her. I promised to return it the next time we met.”

“What? You could get it yourself.”

“You know how hot-tempered Blair is. I’ll stall for time here, so please hurry and go get it. I’m begging you.”

Laura put her hands together and pleaded with me as if I could save her life. I fell into contemplation for a moment.

“I’m supposed to greet guests on behalf of Mrs. Roland.”

“I can do that.”

As I looked around while pondering, Mrs. Roland happened to be coming down the stairs. It seemed her headache had finally subsided.

“Alright, Laura. I’ll tell the madam and go right away.”

“No, I’ll tell her instead, so you go to my house. Quickly! Look, Blair has spotted me and is coming over.”

I could only leave the count’s mansion with a sigh, unable to resist Laura’s insistence. Laura was my closest friend and my lifesaver. I had no choice but to listen to her.

‘It’s not even a difficult task. I have no choice. Let’s hurry back.’

And that evening, on my way back to Mrs. Roland’s mansion, I was attacked by someone. Fortunately, people found me early enough to save my life. But after that day, perhaps due to the shock, my prophetic dreams began.

* * *

Michael Paine entered the Roland mansion wearing servants’ clothes. The butler, who somehow knew of his arrival, came out to meet him right on time and guided him.

“Marquis, we’ve been waiting for you.”

“It’s been a while.”

“Congratulations on your acceptance to the Sandmons Military Academy.”

“What congratulations? Serving the country is only natural.”

“Those clothes……”

“Ah. There’s a reason. I got drunk at a party the night before, took any carriage, and when I woke up, I found I’d been completely robbed by thieves. Haha.”

Michael had gotten thoroughly drunk with his academy friends at a tavern the previous evening. When he woke up, the thieves had taken everything except his underwear, and since his aunt’s mansion was nearby, he had urgently hidden in the garden in that state.

“I’d like to wash up first. Butler, do you have clothes here that I could wear?”

“I’ll prepare them. Let’s go up to your usual room.”

As he climbed the stairs, he briefly glanced at the servants bustling about.

“Is my aunt hosting a party today?”

“It’s a party to celebrate your acceptance to the military academy, Marquis. You sent a letter a week ago saying you would attend.”

“Oh, right. I forgot. I didn’t realize it was today.”

After a long bath, he changed into a robe and stood by the window. The day was growing dark as the sun was setting, and the servants were lighting the gas lamps in the garden.

‘Where could that woman be?’

He wished he at least knew her name.

It was simple curiosity. From her attire, she didn’t seem like an ordinary servant working at his aunt’s mansion. He just wanted to meet that spirited young lady again and talk to her—the one who blushed at the sight of him but still spoke her mind with clear eyes.

He poured wine and took a sip. He decided to soothe his alcohol-discomforted stomach with more alcohol. Too much alcohol before attending the party would earn him a scolding from his aunt. But he needed this to deal with the uninteresting women at today’s party.

‘My stomach is really churning. Should I just leave?’

The thought of standing there with a smile all evening already exhausted him.

He sat on the windowsill and continued sipping his wine.

“Marquis. I’ve brought clothes for you to change into.”

“Put them down anywhere. And tell my aunt that her nephew was beaten by thieves yesterday and is too unwell to attend the party today. Tell her I’ve already left.”

“Oh my, are you badly hurt? May I look at your wounds?”

“No, no. There’s no need for that. If she’s worried, just tell her they’re only minor scratches.”

Without turning around, Michael caught sight of the young lady he had met earlier. The brown-haired miss was busy running around before the party started. From what he had observed, she had been inspecting the garden and then returning to the mansion, working so diligently that one might think she was the host of the party.

“By the way, do you know the name of that woman?”

“Who are you referring to?”

The female servant approached Michael and peered intently out the window.

“That woman with brown hair wearing the yellow dress.”

“Ah, I know her. If I may ask, why are you curious about her name?”

Michael shrugged and showed his white teeth in a smile.

“Just for entertainment. I’ll be entering the military academy and won’t be able to go out for a year. I should have somewhere to write letters to, shouldn’t I?”

The servant answered immediately.

“Her name is Laura Swilton. She’s a noble lady whom Countess Roland has taken under her wing and is educating.”

“By any chance, do you know that woman’s address?”

“I’ll write it down for you.”

Michael finally turned to look at the servant. With her head bowed, she was dressed too expensively for a servant.

‘Looks like she’s going out.’

At the time, he didn’t think much of it. He was just busy figuring out how to escape quietly without catching his aunt’s eye.

“Marquis. If you’re interested in Lady Swilton, may I say something?”

Michael turned his attention back to the servant who had spoken.

While addressing him, she seemed shy, covering her face with the clothes she had brought.

“Go ahead.”

“Lady Swilton has a slight fear of men. It might be better to build a friendship through letters first before approaching her. If you approach her directly, she’ll surely run away.”

“Is that so? You seem to know that woman very well.”

“She visits this mansion every day lately.”

He would have to pack his bags and leave for the military academy tomorrow anyway. He had thought about speaking to that woman one more time before escaping the party. But if he got caught by his aunt in the process, it would be quite troublesome.

A woman who is shy around strangers—perhaps this is for the best in the current situation.

“I understand. I’ll keep that in mind.”

He changed his clothes and left the count’s mansion after receiving a note with Laura Swilton’s home address from the servant. Not paying proper attention at this moment was the second biggest mistake of his life.

* * *

“Laura. Where is Charlotte?”

“She needs to get ready, but she left all her accessories at home. She said she’d stop by her house and come back.”

“Is that so? I could have lent her mine if she had told me. I was planning to introduce her to my nephew.”

Laura’s face stiffened slightly upon hearing Mrs. Roland’s words. She forced a smile and changed the subject.

“By the way, the servants said that Marquis Paine wasn’t feeling well and returned to his mansion. He asked them to convey his apologies for not being able to attend the party today.”

“Oh my. The guest of honor ran away? Who exactly told you this? They should have stopped him!”

“I was so busy with party preparations that I don’t remember who said it. I’m sorry, madam.”

Upset, Mrs. Roland placed her hand on her forehead and sighed.

“It can’t be helped. Michael will return to the capital in a year anyway. Surely he wouldn’t volunteer to join the war in his youthful vigor. Not when he has a sick younger sister at home.”

Laura bowed her head obediently, and Mrs. Roland patted her shoulder.

“You worked hard preparing for the party today too. Come, let me introduce you to some fine young men.”

“Thank you, madam.”

Six months later, Laura made a bombshell announcement to Mrs. Roland. She said she had been exchanging letters with Marquis Paine, and they had promised to get engaged after he graduated from the military academy.

Mrs. Roland wondered when her nephew and Laura had met and become so close. But Laura just smiled and said she would explain everything later. Having already spread rumors in social circles as Marquis Paine’s fiancée, Laura freely came and went from the marquis’s mansion and built a friendship with his sick younger sibling.

* * *

Three years later, present day—

I woke up to bright sunlight hurting my eyes and found myself lying on the sofa in my office. After breaking up with Jeffrey yesterday, I had returned to the department store to finish some work. I must have fallen asleep.

‘Maybe I should just bring a bed into the office.’

The pain in my neck and waist made me groan involuntarily.

Sniff, sniff. What’s this smell? Did I get drunk and throw up somewhere yesterday? This scent of night flowers…

“Are you awake? Drink this first.”

Cedric entered the office and handed me a cup, which I gulped down without checking its contents. The lukewarm honey water, prepared who knows when, slid down my throat.

“Ugh. Now I feel a bit better.”

“If you have a hangover, should we cancel the morning schedule?”

“No. That won’t do. The big sale event is coming up soon. Tell the chief buyers from each department to come in when they arrive. I need to check how much merchandise we’ve secured.”