“Oh right. You should prepare to go to Belvyrund.”

“Pardon?”

Hughies asked back. The King gave no other answer. Hughies watched him disappear quickly with long strides. He felt like he couldn’t breathe.

* * *

The invitation Alissa had brought was a letter of greeting that briefly included news about a concert a week later and a simple inquiry about her well-being.

Perhaps thinking it wasn’t proper etiquette to suddenly send an invitation to someone she’d only met once last fall, Countess Ilva briefly asked after her health and explained the concert to be held at her estate.

Ann quickly read her letter and checked the location and date of the estate where the concert would be held. Her country house wasn’t very far from Belvyrund. 

Moreover, a week later meant she’d have plenty of time to prepare for attendance. Nevertheless, Ann couldn’t easily muster the courage.

“Get it together, Ann…”

She whipped herself while moving her parched lips, swallowed a sigh, then moved to the dressing room.

The dresses Alissa and Monica had neatly arranged were incredibly colorful. From cool summer dresses made of muslin to ball gowns made of satin. The beautiful dresses infused with the rich scent of rose water were dazzlingly gorgeous.

Ann scanned the dresses with a parched gaze, then opened the jewelry box on the vanity. She lifted pearls and sapphires, large diamonds and rubies. They all suited her perfectly, but she hadn’t chosen any of them herself.

“Lennox…”

Though some were things Ingrid had occasionally given her, saying they were from her maiden days, most were all gifts from Lennox. Things that ended up adorning her hair and chest even though she’d adamantly refused to accept them.

Even without considering status and position, the act of an unmarried man giving flowers and jewels to an unmarried woman couldn’t be called pure by anyone’s standards. 

Lennox’s gift giving in particular had intensified after they’d slept together.

“Miss, may I come in?”

Monica’s voice came from outside the door. Ann whirled around, startled.

“I knocked several times but got no answer…”

“Oh my, did you?”

“Yes.”

“I was just, just thinking for a moment…”

Ann stammered and forced her lips into a smile. Monica stared at her, then entered the dressing room. Monica’s gaze landed on the pearl earrings in Ann’s hand. Ann’s cheeks flushed red.

“Are you choosing a parure to wear to the ball?”

“Huh? Yes, yes. That’s right. I was thinking of these pearl earrings then…”

Her fumbling lips stopped. Monica raised her gaze and stared at Ann. Her contorted eyes were flushed red.

“Miss…”

Startled, Monica approached her. Ann huddled, hugging herself with both arms.

“I’m sorry.”

Her tear-soaked voice trembled miserably. Monica stammered, unable to place her hand on her shoulder. Ann’s cheeks began to dampen.

“Miss, is something wrong?”

Monica’s voice, full of concern, scattered at Ann’s ear. Ann shook her head with her lips bitten. 

Nothing had happened. Ann was fine. Yes, everything was fine. The past was just something that had passed. It had no power. But why…

“Come here, Miss. We’ll choose the jewelry later. First come here and have some tea.”

Monica wrapped her arms around her shoulders and returned to the bedroom. Ann sobbed frantically. Her chest ached. She felt like she was getting a fever again.

Lennox kept burrowing into her mind. Fragments of the past… Memories of him multiplied madly. Ann sat on the bed with her lips bitten. She covered her face with both hands and her shoulders shook.

“Wait. I’ll bring some tea.”

Flustered, Monica left the bedroom. The loud sound of her running down the stairs pounded at her ears. On this bed… She’d lain with him on this bed. 

His long fingers had rummaged through her hair and his beautiful eyes had gazed at her.

Ann knew what Lennox’s lips felt like. She still hadn’t forgotten how persistently he’d burrowed into her.

Yet she had to lie on the bed where she’d rolled around with him in his villa and prepare to become another man’s wife. Wearing the gifts she’d received after sleeping with him in her ears…

‘What reason is there not to do that?’

She thought through the pouring tears. What reason was there not to do that? 

Lennox hadn’t abandoned Charlotte even after doing all those things together. Even while caressing her thighs, he’d thought Charlotte would be the woman who’d become his wife. So…

‘I’ll get married. I will…’

She raised her head and wiped her drenched cheeks. She bit her lips to hold back the scattering tears.

* * *

Countess Ilva was the beloved daughter of Marquis Finley, who had served as Lord Chancellor during the era of Charlemagne V, grandfather of the current King. 

Her aunt was Countess Valetis, the longtime maid to Queen Margaret—who was mother-in-law to Queen Dowager Ingrid and grandmother to the current King Lennox.

She had kept her distance from central politics, so she held a limited position in Rosbon society. 

However, she was a noblewoman who had made a name for herself in Saphoras society with her refinement and culture, and above all, she was well-connected and recognized in aristocratic society as a madame.

Ann had met her only once last fall. The lady with a plump face and petite build had a lively and sociable personality compared to her high title and noble status. 

However, now that Ann had stepped into Saphoras society alone, whether she could see that kind demeanor from back then was uncertain.

At six in the evening, a week after receiving the invitation, Ann, who’d diligently dressed from head to toe, boarded the carriage with the help of her two maids. 

Though Countess Ilva’s country house wasn’t far from Belvyrund, it seemed good to arrive early and show some initiative by making an impression on the host.

“Have a good time.”

Emma and Belvyrund’s servants, including the two maids, greeted her. Ann waved her hand in greeting to them. The carriage door closed and the coachman drove the two horses. After about half an hour, Countess Ilva’s country house came into view.

Ann clasped her two hands in white gloves tightly together. She needed to maintain composure so the makeup she’d spent so long carefully finishing wouldn’t smudge. The carriage stopped. Ann adjusted the pure white marten fur draped over her arm and got out of the carriage.

“Oh my.”

Countess Ilva, who’d been greeting guests from afar, spotted Ann. Ann, who’d been hunching her shoulders in the cool breeze, met her gaze and straightened her posture.

“Countess Ilva.”

“Miss Rosenthal.”

The petite woman hurried down the steps and stood before her. Ann smiled gently and greeted her. The woman welcomed her with a smile not much different from last fall. Ann thought it was fortunate and exchanged bisous with her.

“You must have worked hard coming from far away. I heard your health wasn’t good, so I secretly thought you might not be able to attend.”

“Not at all, Countess. I’m grateful you invited me to such a wonderful occasion. My health has improved a lot. It was a tragedy caused by Rosbon’s hot weather.”

“Rosbon is hot indeed. Ah, let’s not stand here and go to the garden.”

Countess Ilva led her to the garden where the concert was being held. Ann rolled her eyes and surveyed the interior. It was her first social gathering in a while, and it had been truly a long time since she’d attended without the Queen Dowager’s two maids.

Ann looked at the banquet hall decorated with summer flowers. Though called a concert, it was ultimately an evening party for Saphoras nobility, and everyone seemed excited. 

She saw round tables decorated with blooming summer roses, a pure white grand piano, and orchestra members holding violins and cellos.

Ann turned her gaze to see nobles gathered in small groups. The men in tailcoats were all young and fine-looking. 

At an ordinary banquet, there would be quite a few elderly gentlemen and middle-aged noblewomen, but seeing that the majority were men and women of marriageable age, the purpose of the gathering was very clear.

Her heart pounded. Ann habitually adjusted her marten fur and looked around. There were no familiar faces. Naturally. Ann had no experience with Saphoras society. 

To think she had to find a husband in a place like this…

She was about to bite her lip in dismay when she saw a familiar face. 

The reaction of the young nobles surrounding him was unusual. Ann stared at the King striding toward her, parting the crowd.

* * *

Ann was incredibly beautiful. She seemed to grow more beautiful by the day, like she’d drunk some potion made by a witch. Her hair pinned up low. 

The mimosa-shaped pearl ornament adorning that hair… Damnably dazzling. Especially that pearl hairpin—wasn’t it something he’d gifted after spending the night? A crooked smile came.

He gazed at the woman for a long time like he’d devour her, then lowered his gaze. The aquamarine necklace adorning her neck was a perfect oval cut, forming a parure with the earrings shining on her round earlobes. That too was something he’d given her.

Everything she wore and carried to a place where she’d come to scout for a man was things he’d given her… 

His stomach hurt so much he felt like he’d lose his mind. Barely maintaining composure, he stepped toward the woman one step at a time.

Ann was frozen pale. Lennox took in the woman who was incomparably more beautiful than all the women at this picnic combined.