Sezlin quietly gazed at the vase in front of her. The flowers delivered as soon as she woke up in the morning were quite beautiful. They were elegant and refined, without anything flashy.

“Duke Brioden sent these, Your Highness.”

Sezlin uncrossed her legs. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the flowers.

They resembled someone.

Sezlin found that distasteful.

“His taste is certainly consistent.”

“Pardon?”

A question came back immediately. Instead of answering, Sezlin stood up. She went to the table and lowered her index finger. Joanna, who was watching, swallowed nervously.

A moment later, the vase was slowly pushed.

Crash—

Joanna’s shoulders immediately curled inward.

“Clean it up.”

“…Yes, Princess.”

Leaving the cleanup to her, Sezlin promptly moved away. The maids following her tactfully kept their mouths shut.

‘How unpleasant.’

She had wasted her eyes first thing in the morning.

Sezlin clicked her tongue and sat down at her vanity. Glancing at the ornate frame, she examined her reflection in the mirror. Just from leaving the Duke’s mansion, her face looked much brighter. Though she worried about April who remained at home, the Duke would protect her well. After all, Sezlin was the one sent as an offering.

For now, even Friedrich couldn’t touch April.

Rather than April,

‘He’ll come after me.’

He had sent assassins after Ludwig before. Since she had properly provoked him yesterday, he might send assassins soon. That’s why she had asked for a guard yesterday. She wondered who would be assigned to her.

While they would protect her, they would also be watching her. The more skilled they were, the more Sezlin needed to be cautious.

Sezlin gestured, and the waiting maids approached. The loosely tied ribbon was soon untied. A cool wet towel touched her cheek next.

“Today’s schedule?”

“Madam Catherine will be visiting at 3 PM.”

“Is that so?”

Sezlin blinked calmly. Last night, Ludwig had mentioned sending a madam to fit her for dresses. Moreover, Madam Catherine was quite famous in society.

For being eccentric.

“Heh.”

“…My Lady?”

“It’s nothing, continue.”

The hands that had paused briefly resumed their work. Madam Catherine. Sezlin recalled meeting Catherine in the past. What a coincidence.

Catherine Sherbet.

The eccentric of Praus.

Her skills were among the best in high society. Though she lived as a commoner, she had opened a shop in the capital Praus solely based on her talent. In terms of skill, she was unrivaled. Even the Second Empress coveted Catherine’s clothes.

But there was a saying:

Geniuses are eccentric.

Madam Catherine was exactly that type.

‘Of all people, he chose her.’

No, the fact that he managed to bring her at all was impressive. She had refused even when the Second Empress offered her a fortune. She wasn’t someone who could be compromised with ordinary bribes.

If she weren’t already famous, it might be different. Catherine’s skills had been renowned for years. Because of this, Catherine was a well-connected figure in high society.

‘Do they know each other?’

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come like this. Unless she was curious about the “wild one.” Catherine’s pride wasn’t low enough to come just because Ludwig called. She wasn’t someone who would come on just a few days’ notice.

‘If they do know each other, this isn’t just about fitting dresses.’

The more famous the madam, the more knowledgeable they tended to be about high society.

This was because they often attended not only regular parties but also private parties of the nobles they served. This meant they were positioned where information flowed.

Sezlin, who was preparing to return to society, needed that information.

“We’ve cleaned and organized the dress you wore here. I apologize that we couldn’t prepare better dresses on such short notice.”

“It’s fine. We’ll fit everything today.”

Sezlin raised her head after wiping her wet face.

“Which dress would you like to wear?”

“Hmm.”

A dress.

Sezlin’s eyes narrowed coyly.

If it was just for fitting, she could wear comfortable clothes. After all, measurements needed to be taken. Wearing cumbersome clothes would only be troublesome.

But if she was meeting Catherine, it was a different story.

‘I should stand out.’

Ordinary—that was the word Catherine hated most.

Sezlin stroked her long, loose platinum blonde hair.

At that moment, Marilyn entered.

“My Lady, His Highness the Prince would like to have a meal with you when you’re ready.”

“Alright. Tell him I understand.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

“Oh, and…”

Sezlin signaled to Asha.

“I won’t need a dress.”

* * *

Ludwig was already seated in the dining room when Sezlin arrived, guided by the maids.

“Am I late?”

“Not really.”

Ludwig sat with such perfect posture that the salad before him seemed embarrassed. His neatly arranged attire came into view. Sezlin moved leisurely to her seat.

Once seated, Ludwig spoke.

“Your wrist?”

“…It’s better than yesterday.”

After applying the medicine Ludwig had given her, the pain had definitely subsided. Sezlin unconsciously pulled down her sleeve. At her answer that she was fine, Ludwig calmly continued the conversation.

“You seem to have trouble sleeping too.”

“Not as much as you.”

While the maids were setting the table, Sezlin looked at him. It was obvious he had just washed up.

“You may leave now.”

At his quiet command, the servants and maids in the room quickly withdrew. Not even the sound of the door closing could be heard. After confirming they were alone, Ludwig finally picked up his utensils.

Following suit, Sezlin picked up her fork and asked,

“Did you wake up at dawn?”

“I always train then.”

It wasn’t something decided by anyone else. He had trained to survive, and wielding a sword earlier than others suited his temperament.

At Ludwig’s words, Sezlin briefly added, “I see.”

“Today’s schedule?”

“Nothing except the madam coming in the afternoon. What about you?”

“I’m planning to meet the Emperor. We need to announce the engagement.”

“When are you thinking?”

“Today.”

“That’s quick.”

Well, the sooner the better. Rather than postponing it day after day, it was better to proceed like this. Delaying would only create unnecessary rumors.

“And in ten days, there’s an event.”

“An event?”

“Marquis Lasmonte is hosting a party, I hear.”

The fork poised over the lettuce stopped mid-air.

In ten days—that was exactly the day of the Marquis’s party. The day “that person” would attend the party. After briefly holding her words, Sezlin moved her fork again.

Marquis Lasmonte was related to the Second Empress’s maternal family. Moreover, if such a high noble was hosting a party, many nobles would surely attend.

“We should attend the party then.”

“Of course.”

Sezlin put vegetables in her mouth to hide her satisfaction.

“If you have a better date in mind, tell me. We can change it if it works.”

“No, I think that time is good too.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Well-cut cheese entered Ludwig’s mouth. Sezlin quietly observed him. As she had noticed at yesterday’s meal, there was not a single unnecessary movement in his actions.

For someone who hadn’t been in the imperial palace long, his etiquette was remarkably natural.

“It’s uncomfortable when you stare like that.”

His previously smooth brow furrowed. Seeing his slightly knitted eyebrows, Sezlin asked,

“How did you persuade Madam Catherine?”

“Persuade?”

“Yes, I heard she’s extremely difficult to engage.”

Though she had a general idea, Sezlin pretended not to know. But his reaction was somehow strange.

A question appeared on his composed face. He seemed not to understand why Sezlin had asked such a question. His somewhat puzzling reaction made Sezlin curious as well.

After a long pause, Ludwig moved his lips. In truth, it hadn’t taken much effort to summon
Madam Catherine.

“During the war, Madam Catherine served as my ears.”

“…What?”

It was an unexpected answer.

Sezlin pondered his words again.

Serving as Ludwig’s ears meant she had relayed news from the capital while he was at war.

Naturally, it wasn’t something just anyone could do.

Which meant…

“Is the Madam your person?”

“Ludwig.”

‘No, really.’

Sezlin laughed at his bold self-assertion.

“Answer me first. Is the Madam really…”

Sezlin let her words trail off. There was no need to finish the sentence for him to understand.
Ludwig nodded.

“What you’re thinking is correct.”

“!”

Her full lips parted reflexively.

“When I was moving from one battlefield to another, I saved the Madam’s life once.”

“Her life?”

A completely unexpected answer came out.

But she had no grounds to refute it. While Catherine was known for being unbiased, there was one thing: Sezlin remembered that she had never directly revealed her past.

Only her age, name, and origin were known. No details about her past had ever been disclosed.

“While I was at war, my aide relayed information from the palace, and the Madam provided
news from the capital.”

Ludwig put down his fork.

“She will be of great help when you return to society.”

“…Thank you.”

Sezlin quietly expressed her gratitude.

Regardless of how they knew each other, Catherine was certainly someone with merit in high society. If she was responsible for information, she must be quite intelligent. From various perspectives, she was someone Sezlin would appreciate as well.

“I can introduce you to your guard this evening. Until then, knights from the Prince’s Palace will protect you.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll have my aide send the contract today as well. We might see each other often from now on.”

“I’ll review it. We’ve already settled the main points.”

“If there’s anything you want to add, feel free.”

At Ludwig’s words, Sezlin’s shoulders relaxed slightly.

“Do you need me when you meet the Madam?”

“No.”

She didn’t need Ludwig’s help.

“I hope your meeting with His Majesty goes well.”

Sezlin took a sip of cool water from her glass. Tap—she set down the empty glass and lowered her long eyelashes.

“I’ll take care of everything else myself.”

At the same time, her lips curved up elegantly.