Awakening from a nap, Olivia felt her heart skip a beat.

Pale blue-gray eyes were right in front of her. The man’s hand enveloping her cheek was large and firm. Sleep vanished in an instant.

Am I going crazy?

No matter how tired or sleepy, this wasn’t normal.

Trying to hastily pull her reddened face away, Olivia found strength in the gentle touch.

!

Unable to shake off the large hand, Olivia slowly raised her gaze.

He had a gaze she had never seen before. A strange look that made her want to run away in fear, yet also to reach out and touch. It was that kind of peculiar feeling-inducing gaze.

In that moment, Edgar’s sharp expression softened. Her heart began to beat like mad.

Because of the man approaching as if his nose were about to touch hers, because of the man tilting his head as if to kiss, Olivia instinctively reached out her arm.

He grabbed her wrist. The place he held felt hot, as if burnt.

“Here.”

It seemed like the man’s lips were about to touch her earlobe.

“What’s that smell.”

A refreshing breath touched her. Olivia, pushed by an instinctive shiver that rushed from her head to her toes, pushed Edgar’s chest away.

“I, I… I did it.”

Olivia managed to speak with both hands covering her face as if to hide.

“Not there. Here.”

The flustered woman was cute in her confusion.

Edgar chuckled with a smile, pointing to his left cheek. Olivia caught on and lightly tapped her left cheek.

“Here too.”

Not knowing it was a joke, Olivia diligently rubbed her face as Edgar instructed.

It seemed she wiped everywhere, not just her face.

The already quite red face became even redder. Olivia, glaring at Edgar, who was making fun of her, was met with a teasing gaze.

Even if she drooled in her sleep, how could it end up on her forehead?

“You’re joking, aren’t you.”

Unable to bear it, Edgar burst into laughter. Unable to hold back, especially when Johan’s expression came to mind, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

The disheveled woman turned her head towards the window. Edgar stifled his laughter.

The carriage raced over the Bicheon River. Glistening droplets, illuminated by the vibrant lights of the bridge, sparkled on the river.

It was as dazzlingly beautiful as the eyes of the woman.

After the carriage passed for a while, Johan remained motionless.

The watch on his wrist glinted in the fleeting light of the lamppost, repeatedly gleaming and disappearing in the darkness.

Closing his eyes slowly, Johan’s face was refined yet somehow sharp.

‘I love you. Johan. I like you so much.’

Thinking of the woman who had shed tears while embracing him, the left side of his chest became strangely warm.

He abandoned the woman.

Even though there was Diane Brook’s fault, he couldn’t be free from responsibility, as he had given an excuse to treat his wife that way by ignoring her from the beginning.

And the result.

I don’t love her anymore.

That was Johan’s conclusion after seeing Olivia with Edgar.

A relationship that had already ended.

That was his and Olivia’s present.
Johan opened his eyes. His slow gaze captured the night scenery of Ritten. He clenched and released his fist.

It wasn’t the right time to reclaim the pink diamond necklace, an heirloom from his mother.

“To the hotel.”

His indifferent face gave a brief command, and the carriage turned its horse’s head.

“You played very well.”

The coach praised Princess Annblin, who had led to Bali’s success, and curtsied. Annblin, wearing a satisfied expression, responded.

“Take a break.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Passing by the coach, who politely lowered his head, Annblin approached the parasols where her friends were waiting.

The white pleated skirt swayed around her knees.

Annblin liked the newly tailored sports uniform. Unlike the voluminous flared skirt that reached down to her ankles, it had no constraints on her stride and felt refreshing.

After handing the racket to a maid and taking her seat, Catherine offered a soda with plenty of ice.

The weather had become quite hot. On a still, sweltering summer day, playing tennis. It was a torture that Catherine, as a maid, couldn’t understand, but she willingly cheered for her friend.

“Tennis outfits are so pretty.”

In response to Catherine’s compliment, Annblin flashed a bright smile.

“I think this design is the best this time. It feels somewhat refreshing. It really suits you, Your Highness.”

One of the maids joined in with compliments.

Madame Lauren’s dresses were famous even in Londos. After the incident with the necklace by Anne Joubert, she became known to everyone in various ways.

Catherine also had several of her dresses.

“Since we’re in Ritten, how about ordering a few autumn dresses from Madame Lauren? Can you call her later?”

At Catherine’s request, the mood at the table suddenly sank.

Catherine noticed Annblin’s faint frown. A maid sitting nearby, glancing at the princess, answered instead.

“That woman has become Olivia Blanchett’s exclusive designer now. It’s really irritating.”

Not knowing the details, Catherine asked with wide eyes.