From early morning, neatly uniformed staff lined up in front of the Clayton Hotel, waiting for guests.

In front of the employees, the hotel manager paced back and forth, watching the end of the road.

The employees glanced at the manager as if this was quite unusual.

The Clayton Hotel where they worked was the largest and most splendid hotel in Bringport.
This beautiful and quiet hotel, converted from a massive mansion supposedly built by a great nobleman who loved the sea, was frequented by many nobles and wealthy individuals.
Moreover, the most famous investor in this hotel was none other than the Duke of Kent, the Queen’s son.

Because of this, even high-ranking nobles who might act arrogantly elsewhere didn’t dare raise their voices in this hotel. One wrong move could get their names unfavorably mentioned in royal ears.

The Clayton Hotel manager was someone even these nobles were cautious around. Even when well-known individuals visited, he had always been respectful but never more than that. Yet this same manager was now anxiously waiting for someone since morning.

“Who’s coming?”

“I heard it’s Lord and Lady Newhaven?”

The manager, as well as the butler waiting to greet them, tilted their heads when they heard the name.

Working at such a hotel, they had memorized the names of nobles and famous people not only from Bringport but also from the capital, Newham.

However, Lord Newhaven was a name they were hearing for the first time.

Upon investigation, they discovered he was a newly emerged nobleman whose name had been added to the nobility register published earlier this year.

‘Perhaps he received a title from another noble family?’

Though rare, there were cases where loving noble families would petition the royal family, relinquish their old titles, divide their territories, and establish new houses.

Thinking this might be such a case, they examined the register but found no detailed explanation. So he must truly be newly ennobled, but why was the manager so anxious since morning?

Ignoring the curious glances of the staff, the manager restlessly watched the end of the road.

The manager was equally curious about who Lord and Lady Newhaven were. A few days ago, they had suddenly received a request for a room reservation. They had sent several expensive telegrams, which cost a considerable amount just to send, requesting the most expensive and best room for two weeks.

Then, to ensure certainty, they had even paid a deposit in advance using a large account at the central bank as collateral.

If that had been all, he would have simply thought them to be nobles with generous spending habits.

But then a separate message had arrived by telephone.

“Lord and Lady Newhaven earnestly requested that they experience no inconvenience whatsoever during their stay.”

Who on earth could they be?

Whatever the case, one thing was certain: they had connections to the royal family.

Just then, a purple carriage appeared at the far end of the road. The manager immediately ran toward the hotel and stood in front of it.

The manager looked up at the coachman and servant in front of the carriage. By observing the attire of employees, one could gauge not only their masters’ financial situation but also their character to some extent.

In this regard, the manager instantly recognized that the arriving guests were not only extremely wealthy but also very generous to their servants, as the coachman and servant were dressed excellently.

Even hotel guests typically dressed only moderately well when getting out of carriages.

The coachman got down first and helped the servant descend, then opened the carriage door.

From inside the carriage emerged a man wearing the latest fashionable formal attire. He then extended his hand very courteously for someone still inside.

What drew people’s attention, besides his impressively graceful movements that exuded strength, was the man’s face.

At first glance, he had an intimidating impression. A man with deep lines and strong features that made anyone think he was a soldier.

Usually, people find such impressions frightening and tend to feel even more intimidated, but the man who had just stepped out of the carriage was different.

With gently curved lips, he gazed at someone still in the carriage with an infinitely affectionate
and respectful look.

In today’s atmosphere, where the mood between men and women had become much freer, men who openly displayed their emotions without shame could often be viewed with suspicion and dislike.

But this man didn’t hide his overflowing love at all, as if unconcerned with people’s gazes.

When the person inside the carriage stepped out with his escort, the corners of the hotel staff’s mouths naturally lifted.

She too was dressed in the latest fashion, and her hat, bag, and shoes were clearly all high-quality items. They were so luxurious that even the staff, who had grown accustomed to seeing wealthy nobles, were surprised.

But what made them smile wasn’t the wealth displayed by the guests.

It was the clear excitement in the woman’s steps as she descended, characteristic of someone who had just arrived at a new place.

Warm brown hair that seemed to capture all the spring energy enveloping Bringport. And deep green eyes, as if already holding the upcoming verdure, sparkled as they naturally accepted the affection being showered upon her.

“Welcome. I am Daniel Harold, manager of the Clayton Hotel.”

“We are Lord and Lady Newhaven who made the reservation.”

The man said this and then glanced at his wife. His expression showed how immensely pleased he was just to say “Lord and Lady.”

Daniel thought they were truly a loving couple and smiled as he guided them.

“It is a sincere honor to host you both. Now, I’ll show you to your room.”

****

“Wow!”

Eloise stood on the balcony, holding her hat to prevent it from flying away in the wind, and let out an exclamation.

It was a beautiful building constructed on a cliff. And their room with a balcony was in the spot with the best view.

Below the balcony, the cityscape of Bringport and the harbor were visible at a glance.
Perhaps because there were no factories unlike in the northwest, Bringport’s seawater was incredibly transparent, making even the bottom clearly visible where the waves broke deeply.

Ryan wore a gentle expression as he openly watched Eloise.

Even though it had been quite some time since the manager had explained the hotel facilities and left, Eloise showed no intention of leaving the balcony. As if she could look at this scenery for a lifetime without getting bored.

***

‘I should probably write a letter at some point.’

In fact, from the moment the manager greeted them at the hotel entrance, Ryan had suspected that someone had contacted the hotel separately.

Sure enough, before leaving, the manager had quietly told Ryan, “We have received instructions from the palace. Please feel free to ask for anything,” and then departed.

In any case, the treatment seemed excessively attentive, even for an expensive room. Moreover, where they were guided was practically a separate building rather than just a room.

Ryan didn’t feel particularly good about this. Despite the attentiveness, it meant that the palace was openly monitoring him.

But seeing Eloise so excited, his irritation instantly disappeared, and he felt a sudden surge of patriotism.

Ryan approached Eloise from behind and embraced her waist.

Eloise no longer startled at this. As if she had completely grown accustomed to his touch.

“You must be tired from the long journey. How about resting for today?”

Ryan said this while stroking Eloise’s shoulder.

Although Bringport was a warm place, it would still be chilly if she continued to stand in the wind like this.

Eloise was about to nod in agreement when—

“What? What are you saying?”

Eloise’s voice rose as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“There’s so much I want to do in Bringport. First of all, there are so many things I need to buy.”
Eloise said this and then pulled out a long paper list from her bag.

“What is that?”

“What do you mean, what is it? It’s a gift list. I organized everything I want to buy for everyone before coming.”

He had seen her writing something late into the night before their departure—so this was it.

“Come on, let’s go out again. I want to visit several shops along the way!”

Eloise cut off Ryan’s words as if she wouldn’t accept any objections.

“But…”

Seeing the flustered Ryan, Eloise knew exactly what he was worried about.

“I’m fine. Can’t you tell by looking at my face?”

Indeed, Eloise’s face showed no signs of fatigue. From the moment they arrived, no, from the moment Bringport came into view across the sea, hadn’t she been too excited to contain herself?

Moreover, thanks to their appropriately paced journey together, she hadn’t experienced any carriage sickness.

Still, Ryan couldn’t easily agree to go out. For him, Eloise’s health took precedence over everything else.

Just then, Eloise reached out toward the wrinkle that had formed between his eyebrows.
Ryan unconsciously lowered his head. It was natural to yield if Eloise wanted it.

Eloise seemed to touch his wrinkle, then extended her hand further to wrap around his neck and pull him closer. His large body followed her touch, bending down further.

Eloise pulled him down to her height and pressed her lips against his instead.

Then, with sparkling eyes, she spoke in a voice more lovely than birdsong:

“Are you really not going to go out?”

Ryan stared at the green eyes before him as if entranced.

From the moment he first saw Eloise, she had always been a radiant presence. But now she looked so dazzlingly beautiful that it was almost blinding.

So much so that he wanted to embrace her and kiss her right now…

Ryan desperately gathered his wits. No. He shouldn’t…

“Hmm? Ryan? We can just go out, walk around a little, and return before dinner, right?”

Saying this, Eloise now pressed her lips against his stiffened cheek.

At that moment, Ryan resented God.

‘Are you testing me now? Why do you want to see me succumb to her lovability? Are you confident?’

Ryan recalled Eloise at Blissbury, her face turning bright red at his comment that it wasn’t so small.

She was someone who didn’t know what to do with just one such remark. Yet despite saying she would do everything, she entrusted her body without hesitation to his desire-filled gaze.

As if she had no idea what he was thinking.

Ryan agonized:

‘What would happen if I gave in to this temptation?’