The problem wasn’t with them. If there was an issue, it was with herself. Clara, who had reluctantly come, found this atmosphere tedious. The navy dress she’d been forced to wear revealed a subtle glimpse of her cleavage, making her constantly self-conscious. She should have been feeling the breeze with Nyx at this time, but instead, she was wasting time at this uncomfortable gathering, which left her dissatisfied.

“How do you find the tea, Miss Brock?”

Clara turned her head at the sudden question. A man with brown hair and blue eyes smiled at her.

His name was George, the eldest son of Viscount Kensington. He was twenty-one, the same age as herself. Though this was their first conversation, she already knew superficial information about him. Olivia had recommended him several times, asking what she thought of him.

“It seems fine. Actually, I don’t know much about tea. I don’t mind as long as it’s not too hot.”

Clara preferred clean, cool water to tea. She answered honestly.

“I see, as expected.”

George burst into loud laughter. His hearty laugh drew attention from those nearby.

“The free golden goddess doesn’t like hot tea.”

George wiped away tears with a good-natured manner after barely managing to stop laughing.

“That kind of title is a bit much to hear.”

Clara cut into the soft chiffon cake with her fork. Since this was a gathering for unmarried people, at twenty-one, she was considered quite old here. She had expected to sit awkwardly until leaving, so she appreciated him starting a conversation, but she hated excessive flattery.

“I really like cake though.”

Clara added the afterthought so her companion wouldn’t feel embarrassed.

“I prefer cake to tea as well. I know a good cake shop. Would it be alright if I told you about it?”

It was an “after” request, revealing his interest in her. Even Clara, who had been so absorbed in horses and love that she’d neglected men, understood this.

“……Alright, tell me about it later.”

Clara agreed to his request after initially planning to give an empty refusal that was closer to rejection. She remembered her mother’s nagging: don’t automatically reject everything, try talking to people, no one gets engaged or married just from having a conversation.

‘If I show myself dating once, that should be fine for a while.’

After all, one date didn’t mean marriage. No need to be too rigid.

Clara took a sip of tea and set it down. Still, she couldn’t help feeling bored. She thought it would be much better to ride Nyx and feel the wind against her body than spend time like this.

“I heard you enjoy horseback riding.”

Clara’s eyes sparkled.

“Do you enjoy it too?”

“Yes, not as frequently as you do, Miss Brock, but I do like riding horses.”

“Is that so? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at the riding grounds.”

There were two riding grounds in the capital: Cheston and Willingham. Clara had been attending Willingham Riding Grounds for ten years now.

“I use Cheston. Though I’ve been thinking about switching.”

“Isn’t it more comfortable to use the place you’re familiar with?”

“Didn’t Willingham Riding Grounds change ownership half a year ago? I heard the facilities for users have improved significantly.”

“Really?”

Clara opened her eyes wide.

“If you haven’t noticed any changes, perhaps it was just a rumor. Maybe something to attract customers.”

“Oh, no. I really only ride horses there and don’t use the other facilities much, so it could be that I just don’t know.”

“You’re truly passionate about horseback riding.”

George laughed once more. Clara thought his laughter was quite loud. Almost to the point of being noisy and excessive.

“By the way, who bought the riding grounds? Do you know?”

“I heard it was the second son of Count Berkshire.”

The Berkshire family owned five mines and were extremely wealthy. But there was something that couldn’t be avoided no matter how much money one had.

The kingdom’s succession law followed primogeniture. The second son couldn’t inherit his father’s title, so he had to become a knight or find another profession to make a living.

Of course, not inheriting a title didn’t mean not inheriting money, so children of wealthy nobles generally enjoyed wealth until death without problems.

“Rumors say the Count and Countess didn’t buy it for him, but that the second son purchased it with his own abilities. But how could someone who doesn’t even show his face in social circles have such skills or money? Everyone says the Count and Countess bought it for him.”

Clara felt strangely uncomfortable with his words.

“One can have abilities even without showing one’s face in social circles.”

Clara herself wasn’t particularly active in these social gatherings or other activities. She mostly spent time horseback riding or at her horse farm. Once a month, she volunteered at an orphanage with her parents.

That alone kept her busy enough, so where would she find time to show her face in social circles? Of course, she had no intention of doing so by choice either.

“Ah, I didn’t mean……

George hastily corrected himself as he remembered Clara’s distance from social gatherings.

“That’s just what everyone says, that’s what I meant.”

Spreading rumors with such certainty when they might not be true. Clara was about to argue but just nodded instead. There was no point in picking apart every detail; it would only hurt the other person’s feelings.

“If… if you’re close to the second son of Count Berkshire, I made a mistake. Please don’t be angry.”

“No, I have no reason to be upset. I don’t even know what the second son of Count Berkshire looks like. I’ve seen the heir a few times, but……”

With platinum blonde hair, blue eyes, and a masculine face that left an impression, he looked exactly like Count Berkshire whom she had seen once before. The second son probably resembled his brother a lot, Clara thought as she gave a composed smile.

She didn’t care for conversations that could deteriorate into gossip. It was time for a change of subject.

“How many times a week do you ride?”

The conversation continued to flow after that. It flowed smoothly, but it wasn’t a deep conversation, nor was it particularly impressive.

Clara engaged with him just enough not to seem rude, then rose from her seat.

George stood up as well, offering to see her out. Clara said goodbye to the few people she knew and descended the stairs with George’s escort.

“Ah, perfect timing, he’s coming in.”

A tall man entered the tea house. His long strides and gait were fearless, almost aggressive.

Clara glanced at him briefly before fixing her gaze on his polished shoe tips. Judging by how well-dressed he was, he seemed to be here to find a marriage partner too. It was quite a late arrival since the social gathering was almost over.

From her position looking down from above, she couldn’t see his face, but his body was impressive enough to draw admiration. Broad shoulders, and clothes that fit perfectly, showcasing the advantages of his long limbs.

‘That’s a perfect body for horseback riding. Wait a minute?’

Clara stared almost entranced at his long, extended legs. The physique seemed familiar. Despite being uncommonly well-built……

“Do you know him?”

Clara looked at George and asked. He shrugged his shoulders before speaking again.

“That’s the man. The new owner of Willingham Riding Grounds, Dylan Berkshire.”

At those words, Clara turned her gaze back toward the entrance. Her eyes met directly with the second son of Count Berkshire, who was looking up the stairs.

It was him. With his hair neatly combed back, she hadn’t recognized him immediately, but it was definitely him. The rude man who always stared intently at her at the riding grounds.

To think that the owner of that creepy gaze was the owner of the riding grounds. Clara hurriedly turned her head away.

“I… I see.”

She turned her head away so quickly it seemed unnatural. Clara bit the inside of her cheek, trying not to show it. Inwardly, she felt embarrassed for having judged him as a lazy noble who only knew how to spend money, when it was actually his business.

Her face burned with shame. Throughout the conversation, she had secretly mocked George for judging others based on rumors, yet she herself had hastily evaluated and judged the second son of Count Berkshire……

“He doesn’t look anything like his brother.”

“Indeed……”

Black hair and gray eyes. He probably took after the Countess.

Clara slowly descended the stairs with George’s escort. That persistent, intense gaze continued to cling to her.

“He seems to know you, Miss Brock?”

The gaze was so intense it made her skin prickle, and apparently it was noticeable to others as well. Clara herself wanted to ask Dylan why he kept staring at her like that.

But his gaze was so burdensome that it was difficult to approach him. Honestly, suddenly asking why he was staring would only come across as picking a fight.

“Well, we’ve crossed paths a few times at the riding grounds, but we’ve never even spoken.”

“Is that so?”

George laughed once more. Clara felt the back of her neck tingling as she stepped outside.

The carriage was already waiting outside the door.

“Thank you for seeing me out.”

Before boarding the carriage, Clara thanked George and briefly glanced toward the door. Through the open door, her eyes met Dylan’s once more as he was looking in her direction.

“Don’t mention it.”

Clara felt George grasp her hand firmly for a moment before releasing it. As she shifted her gaze back, George’s brightly smiling face came into view.

“I’m very pleased to have had the exclusive pleasure of conversing with you today, Miss Brock. I hope such an honor continues in the future.”

It was an obvious confession. Clara hesitated briefly before speaking.

“I enjoyed our conversation today too. Well then, I’ll be going now.”

Clara climbed into the carriage almost as if escaping. Looking out the window, she saw George waving. Unable to ignore him, she waved back with her gloved hand.