That evening.

Sezlin briefly summarized what had happened during the day.

“She’s quite hasty.”

Sezlin agreed with his assessment.

“Saying she’ll keep the maid close.”

“I’m curious.”

If surveillance was her goal, she should just do that quietly. Sezlin had quite a good memory.

“She smiled at me, you know.”

That crooked upturned lip corner was particularly noticeable. It was the expression someone makes when they want something. When they’re willing to do anything for it. But also when they look down on their opponent.

Just like the maids at the Duke’s mansion.

“So I want to give her a chance.”

Since she said she would serve without any shortcomings. Sezlin adjusted the shawl on her shoulders and gave a faint smile. Her elegant eyes folded beautifully. Seeing this, Ludwig leaned back against his chair.

“How pitiful.”

“Really?”

“No.”

As if that were possible.

Ludwig added curtly.

He wasn’t originally a merciful person. Nor was he patient enough to sympathize with someone who entered as a spy.

“Killing her would be troublesome.”

“She hasn’t even been assigned for a week, Ludwig.”

“So you’re not against killing her.”

Sezlin silently smiled. That answer was sufficient.

“But it’s not polite to send a guest away empty-handed.”

“You want to be polite?”

“I should show some sincerity.”

Just as Ludwig didn’t send assassins back, neither did Sezlin. If someone came of their own accord, they should bear the consequences. Sezlin mulled over the sneer directed at her. Whatever the circumstances, it didn’t matter. Coming through Duke Brioden, she was merely prey to Sezlin.

“How is the mine situation?”

“I’ve sent my subordinates. There’s a gap near there where they can enter the mine. They’ll probably start as soon as they arrive tomorrow.”

“Be careful. It’ll be troublesome if you’re noticed.”

“I’m not foolish enough to lose a gift I’ve received.”

If the mine Sezlin mentioned became his, Ludwig would gain enormous capital. Far more than any reward for winning a war.

“It’s fortunate that what comes from the mines is privately owned. I thought some would have to be given to the imperial family.”

“The Emperor would have hoped for that. He needs to earn every penny he can.”

But.

“The nobles wouldn’t have stood for it.”

They were always of one mind when it came to filling their own pockets. Moreover, among those nobles were supporters of the Second Empress. Persuading the Emperor was just a matter of time.

Just then, the firmly closed door opened. It was a servant who had left earlier on Ludwig’s order. The servant who entered pulling a tray carefully set down wine and glasses.

After placing fruit between the two, he quietly left the room. Ludwig, who first took the wine, picked up the prepared opener.

“Did you meet the Madam?”

“Yes, well. I did meet her.”

“Your reaction seems lukewarm.”

“It was enjoyable. In its own way.”

Ludwig, who had removed the cork, filled an empty glass. After filling another glass with wine, he extended it to her.

Sezlin took the glass and sipped the wine full of red hue.

“She’s not the type to stay still.”

“…She was an interesting person.”

“I heard she has a strong personality in social circles.”

“Her tastes are quite definite too.”

The problem was that she was too consistent. Sezlin gently furrowed her brow and put down her glass. The high-pitched flirtations still echoed in her ears. How she managed to say everything she wanted to say even while being threatened. She had a talent for walking a fine line.

“She seems to have taken a liking to you.”

The stiffened corner of her mouth momentarily twitched. A smile imbued with displeasure formed like a painting. This was no joke. Sezlin raised her eyelids. She saw a man calmly drinking wine.

Ha. Sezlin laughed dryly. Then, as if recalling someone else, she spoke up.

“You sent a guard too.”

“I heard he came with an assassin.”

Instead of answering, Sezlin smiled.

There was no hesitation.

“I heard he tried to kill you.”

“The Madam must have told you.”

Ludwig, who had emptied half his glass in the meantime, clicked his tongue.

“Assassinations aren’t rare. I just caught one of them.”

It had the nuance of catching some insect. Sezlin burst into laughter in disbelief. It was a lie by anyone’s standards.

“If you don’t want to tell me, you don’t have to. I’m not curious enough to need an explanation.”

Although she was surprised by Catherine’s words, she didn’t harbor any further curiosity. Or rather, she didn’t listen. Sezlin was more indifferent than expected, and there was no way Ludwig would kill her. Even if he had tried to assassinate him in the past, wasn’t that the past? He must have sent him because he was trustworthy now.

What was important to Sezlin was not that.

“The Second Prince must have been quite angry. Sending an assassin after me.”

He seemed to have a hasty temperament like the Duke. Ordering assassinations just because his pride was scratched once. Indeed, this wasn’t the work of someone who had done it only once or twice.

“Weren’t you surprised?”

“What is there to be surprised about?”

Sezlin wasn’t faint-hearted. She was just a bit startled at first. She would see this frequently from now on, so there was no point in being surprised now.

‘He might try to kill me every time we clash.’

Where would that ill-mannered temperament go?

Sezlin seriously considered whether she should build immunity to poison in advance. There were plenty of methods even without sending assassins. It wouldn’t hurt to prepare in advance.

“He thought attacking you would be more effective than attacking me.”

“That’s not wrong.”

Rather than attacking a sword master, it was better to attack a lady with only a guard. The probability of a successful assassination would be much higher too.

Friedrich’s judgment was correct.

“Vincent is skilled, so at least the lady won’t be harmed.”

“I’ll trust that.”

Sezlin reached for the fruit next to her glass. Then her eyes fell on the empty glass. Unlike her, who had taken only one sip so far, Ludwig’s glass had been emptied several times.

She felt he had drunk at least one bottle already.

“You seem to like alcohol.”

“Ah.”

Ludwig, who was holding the wine bottle, silently filled his glass. As if he had never discussed this before, a slightly awkward explanation followed.

“Rather than liking it, it’s closer to another purpose.”

“Another purpose?”

“Primarily to sleep, I suppose.”

It was a kind of habit. Drinking before bed. For Ludwig, who had spent his entire life on battlefields, sleep was almost a luxury. Because one could be attacked the moment of carelessness. But since he needed to live, he had to sleep somehow, and Ludwig solved that with alcohol.

The increase in wine bottles was a natural progression.

“Don’t drink too much, though.”

“You might die young.” Sezlin murmured before eating the fruit she had picked up. Ludwig, who had heard this perfectly, raised one eyebrow.

“Quite a fierce warning.”

“It’s true, isn’t it?”

Sezlin put a strawberry in her mouth and chewed it lightly. Ludwig chuckled and filled his empty glass with more wine.

“I heard you met His Majesty today.”

“He said the marriage will now be formalized. The engagement documents will be exchanged soon.”

“That’s quick processing.”

“Because it’s the Brioden family.”

‘Because it’s the Brioden family.’

She wasn’t sure why that phrase sounded so peculiar. Sezlin unconsciously grabbed her glass. Simultaneously, Ludwig, who had taken a sip of wine, lightly swirled his glass.

This was precisely why he had come to see Sezlin.

“There’s one more thing we need to discuss.”

“Discuss?”

“The upcoming auction will probably be our first official event where we move together.”

“And?”

Sezlin knew that too. The auction was just a week away. Since she had no intention of attending tea parties in the meantime, the auction day would essentially be their first official public appearance.

‘It will be a place where we receive all kinds of attention.’

She could vividly imagine how many would flock like a pack of dogs. They were the type who loved gossip, after all. Among them would be those coming to confirm if the rumor about them falling in love was true.

“After the auction, there will be a party in the grand banquet hall.”

“How troublesome. Correct that.”

“It seems like it’s time for your joints to break.”

The hand about to drink wine momentarily stopped. Sezlin glared. Feeling the reproachful gaze, Ludwig raised one corner of his mouth.

“Don’t worry, I won’t act like this elsewhere.”

It’s not that you shouldn’t act like this, but that you mustn’t. Sezlin shook her head. No matter how she thought about it, he seemed more dangerous when it came to running his mouth.

“For the party, we’ll need to appear affectionate.”

“Yes.”

Publicly, their engagement was born out of mutual love. A hero who roamed battlefields and a heretic of social circles. It was a perfect setup for people’s gossip. Given that love had supposedly blossomed between such a pair, they would pay attention to even the smallest actions.

Even just holding hands.

“Especially the Second Empress’s side will be monitoring us.”

“Then we’ll need to be even more natural.”

“Indeed.”

Having claimed they fell in love at first sight, any awkwardness would be immediately exposed. It would be fine if no one cared, but with the Second Empress watching, they had to be careful with every word. It meant they couldn’t appear inexperienced.

“So I’d like to propose something.”

“Please speak.”

Eyes reflected in the candlelight gleamed coldly. Ludwig put down his empty glass.

“How about we practice?”

For instance,

“Starting with holding hands.”

All the way to kissing.