“…Brother?”

Anthony raised his head and called out to him.

Kasha slowly turned around.

Leon stood there, irritably brushing back his platinum hair wet with sweat.

Today too, his appearance was covered in dirt and his face was grimy and haggard, as if he had just come from the training grounds.

Seen under the sunlight, he looked even more sensitive and tired.

On top of that, his expression was colder than usual as he looked Kasha up and down, as if something displeased him.

His gaze fell on the reddened handkerchief.

“What’s going on?”

“Lord Leon.”

“I asked what you two are doing.”

His eyes, scattered in the sunlight, shot a piercing look at her and Anthony.

“What we’re doing? Brother, what do you mean by that?”

Anthony stepped forward, seeming offended.

Leon and Anthony stood facing each other for a moment, as if in confrontation.

Although Anthony was tall, standing in front of Leon, who was noticeably tall with a large build, he looked like a boy.

Hearing Anthony’s defiance, Leon blinked slowly as if composing himself.

Usually, he didn’t show such a sensitive side in front of his siblings.

It was inexplicable why the scene of Kasha and Anthony facing each other irritated him so much. Despite immediately noticing that Kasha had hurt her hand.

Looking down at Anthony with unreadable eyes, Leon turned his head as if avoiding something.

“…It’s nothing. You go on inside.”

“Brother.”

“You,”

Leon’s cold gaze fell on Kasha.

“Is this always how you are?”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m sure I told you to wait until I sent a letter.”

From Leon’s violet eyes, similar in color to the swaying lavender bushes ahead, poured cold reproach and blame. Facing this, Kasha abruptly retorted.

“…Until when?”

“What?”

“The situation you and I are in is urgent. Being cautious is… good, but… you might lose everything. All that’s precious to you.”

Leon didn’t immediately respond to Kasha’s slowly delivered criticism. Emotions, whether anger, irritation, or bewilderment, overflowed in his eyes.

It was then. Suddenly the wind blew, and in that moment, the loosened handkerchief came undone and fell onto the bushes a step away from Kasha.

The red bloodstains dotted on the white handkerchief embroidered the grass like magnificent flower petals.

Anthony, who had been silently watching their confrontation, approached to pick up the handkerchief, but Leon’s hand snatched it first.

“I’ll do it.”

“……”

And Leon slowly lifted Kasha’s blood-stained hand.

Kasha looked up at him with transparent light pink eyes, offering no resistance. Even through his gloves, Leon could feel her cool body temperature seeping into his fingertips.

The air between the two seemed to grow denser.

Avoiding Kasha’s gaze, Leon quickly wrapped the handkerchief. Wondering why he felt so tense, for reasons he couldn’t comprehend.

Finally tying the knot on the handkerchief, Leon released her hand.

“Now… let’s go back.”

Towards him who spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, Kasha showed a very faint smile.

“Thank you.”

Leon couldn’t easily take his eyes off that fleeting smile that appeared on her usually indifferent face.

A moment of silence passed, and it felt as if only the two of them existed in that space.

Leon frowned as if unsure what expression to make, but his ears were strangely reddened.

Seeing this, Anthony’s eyes cast a deep shadow. However, the two were so focused on looking at each other that they noticed nothing else.

“Well, isn’t this quite successful?”

Margaret whispered, seeming pleased.

Kasha nodded emphatically towards her.

As she said, the tea party was a great success.

Even the weather was perfect.

Under the early summer sky, the courtyard of the Grand Duke’s residence was incomparably beautiful.

From the pristine white fountain, transparent streams of water continuously sprayed out, cooling the heat.

The sky-blue tablecloths and blue floral arrangements on the white outdoor tables, arranged to allow a full view of the garden’s beauty, added to the refreshing atmosphere.

The tea party menu, carefully selected by Margaret after much deliberation, also captivated the young guests’ palates.

Adorable sandwiches sized for children’s mouths. Mini cupcakes in various flavors like chocolate, cheese, and blueberry. And green grape tarts that looked refreshing just by sight.

Above all, the idea that delighted the children most was allowing them to bring their favorite dolls, seat them beside them, and enjoy the party together.

With small cups and utensils prepared for the dolls, they could even enjoy the feeling of playing house along with the tea party.

“Eve, your doll is so pretty!”

“Thank you. Your doll is pretty too, Juliana.”

“You know, this party is really the best.”

“That’s right, Eve! Please invite me again next time, please. Okay?”

Surrounded by her friends, Eve looked as happy as if she were dreaming.

Seeing her giggle with rosy cheeks, it felt worth all the trouble, even injuring her hand.

Suddenly, Eve waved brightly towards Kasha with a radiant smile. Waving back, Kasha praised Margaret.

“Margaret, you’re a genius.”

At Kasha’s sincere compliment, Margaret smiled shyly but seemed pleased.

“Oh come on, genius indeed.”

“Really. Those noble ladies, their noses have been flattened.”

In the direction Kasha indicated with her eyes sat the noble ladies who had brought the children, in haughty postures.

Despite their overly dressed appearances, as if not to be overwhelmed by the Grand Duke’s residence’s atmosphere, their faces looked displeased.

Especially the Baroness Fenilton, who was said to have hosted the previous party, looked even more so.

“She must have wanted to see the motherless Grand Duke’s daughter overshadowed by her own daughter. Too bad.”

Margaret whispered as if savoring the moment. Kasha nodded in agreement.

“Shouldn’t we go to that table too?”

“I don’t want to.”

“I don’t want to either, but we’re basically Eve’s guardians today. It’s for Eve’s sake.”

Margaret abruptly pulled Kasha towards the adults’ table.

Though suddenly fatigued, perhaps due to her injured hand, Kasha allowed herself to be led. While interacting with nobles was bothersome, it was unavoidable.

As they approached, the noble ladies, who had been engrossed in some conversation with their heads together, primly covered their mouths. The expressions of the other noble ladies were also rather peculiar.

The kindest-looking lady among them addressed the two.

“I heard you two helped prepare for today’s party. How sweet of you.”

“I only assisted Kasha. Aren’t those flower arrangements lovely? Kasha chose the flowers.”

Margaret deflected the praise to Kasha in a gentle tone.

However, upon hearing this, the noble ladies exchanged glances with even more unsettling expressions.

“My. I had no idea Lady Lyuschino was so close to the Grand Duke’s family.”

“Indeed. I wonder if there’s been some secret exchange between these two houses rarely seen in social circles. Hoho.”

Margaret’s expression cooled slightly upon hearing their conversation.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Oh my. Are you upset, Lady Yonder? We were just saying, we saw Lord Leon and Lady Kasha together at the last ball, and now we hear she even helped prepare for Lady Eve’s party. And besides…”

The noblewoman’s mocking gaze fell on the handkerchief wrapped around Kasha’s hand.

That was clearly a handkerchief from the Knights’ Order.

The noble ladies’ opinions were split.

Surely that deficient young lady couldn’t have any special relationship with Leon Aranias. Leon must have just shown a bit of kindness, which Kasha was clinging to like a lifeline.

On the other hand, others were sharply on alert.

It was gossip-worthy enough that a woman was frequenting the Grand Duke’s residence, known for not easily admitting people. But for it to be none other than Kasha Lyuschino. The one who had created a noteworthy atmosphere with Leon at the last ball.

Among this group, Odette Tyrot had eyes and ears. Their gazes were even sharper.

It was then. A servant approached Kasha and bowed politely.

“My lady. Lord Leon requests to see you.”

The noble ladies’ eyes flashed even more fiercely with interest and shock.

Kasha was guided to the second-floor study like last time.

The difference was that this time, instead of making her wait alone, Leon was waiting for her.

He was leaning against a bookshelf, reading a book. Like last time, his hair was damp as if he had just washed.

As Kasha entered the room, he slowly raised his eyes from the book.

“You called for me.”

When he showed no sign of moving, Kasha approached him first.

The bookshelf where he stood faced the window.

Hearing what seemed to be laughter from outside, she looked out to see the courtyard where the tea party group was, laid out below.

‘Surely he wasn’t… watching us the whole time.’

“I heard you helped prepare for Eve’s tea party.”

Leon suddenly spoke.

He was speaking more politely to Kasha than before.

Was it out of gratitude for helping Eve? Or because he had reached a positive conclusion about Kasha’s proposal?

“I suppose I should thank you.”

To his mutter, which was hard to distinguish between sincerity and sarcasm, Kasha calmly shook her head.

“No need.”

Half of it was a favor granted with the intention of getting closer to you.

Thinking this, Kasha looked down at the courtyard.

Eve’s platinum blonde hair shone especially bright under the sunlight.

Just like Leon’s had earlier in front of the greenhouse.

Leon’s hair, seemingly untrimmed recently, fell down to his eyes, obscuring them.

As she thought about wanting to tuck it behind his ear, Leon spoke again.

“I’ve thought about your proposal.”

“Yes.”

“But I still can’t trust you.”

Sensing that the conclusion might turn negative, Kasha tried to make eye contact with him.

However, he persistently avoided her eyes. As if he feared making eye contact with her. Kasha hurriedly called his name.

“Lord Leon.”

“I reject your proposal.”