When Khalid was young, he was already beautiful, so how handsome must he be now as an adult?

‘He must have forgotten someone like me by now.’

There was a time when Alice thought Khalid liked her, but not anymore. She hadn’t seen him for six years, and there must be many pretty ladies in the capital. With his looks, wouldn’t Khalid be the star of any ball?

‘No, maybe he didn’t grow tall like me. He might still be short.’

Tom would pat Alice’s head and say, ‘You’re cute, so small I want to put you in my pocket.’ When he did this, Mariam, the maid, would look at Tom strangely. Then she would whisper to Alice.

[“Be careful of Tom, Noel. He must be having strange thoughts about you.”]

[“…?”]

[“Good grief. You’re both men. Does it make sense to say he wants to put you in his pocket? That’s something you’d say to a woman!”]

[“…No way. It’s Tom. We’ve been together since we were children.”]

[“…Just be careful. You have feminine qualities!”]

‘Well, I am a woman.’

But she couldn’t tell the truth. If she had, she might have already become the Count’s concubine.

Just then, the Countess’s sharp voice was heard.

“He’s my son. If there’s to be a party, I’ll arrange it. This is not a place for a concubine to step forward, Leah.”

Her voice sounded like she was barely containing her anger.

Leah shed tears. When she cried, the Count approached her and patted her back.

“What’s wrong, Leah? Don’t cry.”

The Count, who had taken a girl young enough to be his daughter as his concubine, looked very satisfied. Leah was a beautiful slave, and he had paid a high price for her. So her treatment was bound to be different.

“Vanessa.”

The Count called his wife’s name. When the Countess glared at him, he chuckled and said,

“Leah is my concubine, so shouldn’t she be able to attend the party? Please arrange a dress and shoes for her.”

“…What did you say?”

At the Count’s words, the Countess gritted her teeth. When the Count wasn’t looking, Leah stuck out her tongue. There was a silent battle between the Countess and Leah.

After some time passed, the Countess finally surrendered.

“Fine. Managing concubines is also my duty.”

Vanessa would also see her son after a long time. Since the Count’s title would eventually be inherited by her son Khalid, Vanessa decided to endure.

Leah maintained an angelic face in front while mischievously playing tricks behind. Even with other concubines, the Count had never been so captivated.

Vanessa feared a little that Khalid might eventually become the same.

* * *

“She’s a fox. A fox. A hundred-year-old fox.”

“She’s only 20, isn’t she?”

Alice questioned Mariam’s statement. But Mariam wagged her finger.

“Beauty alone can’t keep the Count’s favor for that long. She must have incredible bedroom skills.”

“…What are bedroom skills?”

Mariam looked around and then whispered in Alice’s ear.

“s*x. She must be excellent at s*x.”

“…Oh. Really?”

Mariam looked Alice up and down.

“You’re a virgin, aren’t you?”

“What?”

Seeing Alice’s reddened face, Mariam grinned.

“I knew it! Oh, how cute.”

Mariam, her friend, stretched Alice’s cheeks. Alice, a bit annoyed, replied curtly.

“You’re a virgin too! Aren’t you?”

“Oh my.”

Mariam briefly looked elsewhere. Watching her avert her eyes, Alice’s mouth fell open.

“Mariam! You…!”

Mariam put her index finger to her lips, worried someone might hear.

“Shh.”

“…Did you have a lover?”

Mariam flipped her red hair back slightly and said primly,

“Of course, do you think I’d have no lover at 22?”

“…Is it someone I know?”

“Hmm. There are too many for you to know even if I told you.”

“What?”

“s*x partners! s*x partners! Meet, have s*x, and part ways cleanly!”

“…”

Tom also visited brothels without dating anyone. He even recommended it to Alice.

Alice didn’t understand why both Tom and Mariam were like this. It seemed they were complicating simple matters when they could just have lovers. Alice tilted her head in confusion.

“Why not just have a lover?”

At Alice’s words, Mariam pretended to think deeply, then smiled helplessly.

“I like how things are now. I’m going to enjoy myself thoroughly until I get married.”

It seemed neither Mariam nor Tom wanted specific partners. Perhaps that was better. However, since Alice couldn’t reveal she was a woman, she had no choices to make.

* * *

While talking with Tom, Alice sat on a garden bench waiting for him because a woman had approached him.

When Tom was young, he wasn’t popular, but after growing to 180 centimeters, he became sturdy with firm muscles and strength. Tom often received confessions from women.

“Tom. Will you date me?”

“Sorry, Rosa. I don’t take lovers.”

“…So the rumors are true. That you don’t date specific people.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Sob.”

Rosa, also a popular beauty, turned away tearfully after Tom rejected her.

Tom approached Alice, who was waiting on the bench. He scratched his head awkwardly.

“Did you wait long?”

Alice stared at Tom intently. No matter how she looked at him, he wasn’t her type.

“…Why on earth does Rosa like you?”

Tom’s lips protruded in a pout.

“I’m popular, you know.”

“…That’s what I don’t understand.”

Suddenly, Mariam squeezed between them.

“I don’t understand either! Tom wasn’t popular when he was young!”

Wait, where did she suddenly appear from? Confused, Alice noticed the basket Mariam was carrying. She had brought snacks for Tom, who was chopping firewood.

Alice quickly joined in.

“Right?”

“Hmph.”

Tom looked back and forth between Alice and Mariam, seemingly wronged. As the two glared at each other in argument, Alice laughed.

Then, feeling something cold behind her, she turned around to find a familiar person standing there.

Mariam spotted him first and quickly bowed her head.

“K-Khalid, sir!”

“…You’ve arrived.”

Tom’s tone showed no welcome at all. Khalid was looking at Alice with cold eyes.

Alice couldn’t take her eyes off Khalid. His golden hair fluttered in the wind, and his blue eyes looked like embedded sapphires. In them, Alice’s bewildered face was reflected.

Khalid opened his blood-red lips against his snow-white skin.

“Noel.”

Alice stood up abruptly after being momentarily dazed. Khalid’s height of 180 centimeters seemed similar to Tom’s. However, his face was far more beautiful and delicate than Tom’s.

Khalid stretched out his arms. Seeing his posture inviting her to come and embrace him, Alice’s lips turned slightly downward.

They were no longer children but adults. Alice was no longer Khalid’s playmate, yet he was asking her to come and hug him.

Alice walked toward Khalid and bowed her head slightly while keeping some distance.

“Master Khalid. Welcome back.”

He was no longer the 14-year-old boy. The person before her was already a robust man.

Khalid frowned at Alice, who seemed unmoved by his presence. He looked down at her with his arms crossed.

“…It’s been a while.”

His voice had deepened after puberty. Khalid was no longer just a child to be protected but a man one would want to lean on.

Alice was extremely nervous but tried not to show it. Her face felt hot, and she kept wanting to avoid Khalid’s gaze. The more she felt this way, the more she told herself not to. After all, they were destined to walk different paths.