The Dumblin Cricket & Tennis Club boasted perfection.

It was equipped with all amenities for its members, one of which was practice partners for members visiting alone.

These were mostly retired players with awards from competitions or current players.

Olivia went to the desk on the first floor of the main building. It was to inquire about a partner to practice with.

“There’s no one available right now.”

Olivia composed her disappointed expression and politely asked again.

“How about tomorrow’s schedule? I’d like to make a reservation with someone available.”

“The schedule is already full until the end of this month.”

The employee with deeply furrowed brows answered coldly without even looking at the schedule.

“I see. Thank you for checking.”

Olivia thanked him with a polite smile and turned away without delay. She didn’t want to trouble the employee who had no authority any further.

Full tennis courts and a full schedule.

Olivia let out a weak laugh at the Dumblin Club’s trite ideas.

“Not a chance.”

Russell leaned back on the sofa, almost lying down, twirling his mustache and exhaling a long stream of cigarette smoke.

Court 12 was a pie in the sky for women. What good was high-quality grass if there was no one to play against? They’d just have to go back to hitting against the wall.

Now, what will you do, Miss Olivia Blanchet?

Heh heh, it made him laugh.

Charles called him petty, but this wasn’t just a matter of being petty.

It had been one hundred and fifty years.

It was a noble task of protecting the history that had been passed down for such a long time, and a dignified task of protecting pride that had never been trampled on.

He was the guardian of this weighty mission, and it was the destiny that his son, and his son’s son, should protect for generations to come.

So it meant that a mere woman, and a lowly bastard at that, couldn’t defile it. How dare she.

Just let anyone try to play against a woman. He’d penalize them and drive them out of the club.

His bulging eyes soon gazed at the verdant scenery visible through the large window, lost in contemplation. His mouth twitched with satisfaction.

Olivia went through her alternatives one by one. The least welcome outcome was the supply closet. No more of that. Olivia shook her head slightly.

She really wanted to smash that glass window. Remembering the man who had been leaning against the windowsill, smiling, her cheeks flushed.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the marble lobby. Sunlight poured in through the windows that stretched from the high ceiling to the floor.

Anne, worried that Olivia’s reddened face might be feverish, said,

“Let’s go back for today, young lady.”

Olivia turned her head at the voice of Anne, who had been walking quietly beside her.

“Oh, Anne!”

Olivia grabbed Anne’s arm enthusiastically, as if she hadn’t known she was there.

“Ah, young lady?”

Her large eyes sparkled brightly. Anne’s eyes also widened in surprise. But soon Olivia’s eyes sank like stars losing their light.

It would be too much.

She wasn’t confident she could train Anne and put her on the court within three weeks. There was far too little time.

What should I do?

Olivia’s despondent gaze wandered through the air. Her eyes, which had been following the reddish mahogany stairs, landed on a portrait hanging on the wall.

The men in white tennis attire were all holding silver discs in one hand with bright smiles.

As she admired the portraits of the winners one by one, her gaze fixed on the third from the last photo.

Ah!

An exclamation of delight escaped between Olivia’s bright red lips.

Edgar.

It was unmistakably that man.

His hair, wet as if sweat droplets might fall at any moment, was impressive.

She laughed at his appearance, no different from usual.

Appropriately languid, appropriately affectionate, and appropriately arrogant, it was Edgar Lancaster Lancelot.

“Anne. That’s him.”

Olivia’s voice was excited.

“Looks like he won.”

Olivia’s face was as bright as a child desperate to show off something precious.

“Impressive, isn’t it?”

Following her movement as she alternated between looking at Anne and the portrait, Olivia’s hair, which had grown to her shoulders, tickled her cheeks.

Her cheeks, which had regained their pale color, flushed once again.

Just as Olivia was absorbed in the photo, the lobby became noisy.

Olivia and Anne reflexively turned their heads.

A group of men was entering through the entrance. They saw Olivia too.

The clamorous noise disappeared, and a chilly silence descended upon the lobby along with cold gazes.

An uncomfortable atmosphere swirled as the distance steadily narrowed.

A man approached threateningly, as if about to bump Olivia’s shoulder, and barely brushed past her. He was someone she knew.

Just my luck.

Russell Junior’s mood soured dramatically. It was because he had encountered Olivia Blanchet.

“How do you lose to a woman like that? Did you kick the ball?”

The young aristocrats’ sons snickered as they entered the lounge, receiving polite greetings from the staff.

The club lounge was quite busy as it was lunchtime. They sat around a table right under the chandelier.

“I could win even if I played with my feet.”

The men, who were casually scanning the menu, chuckled again.

“Will you shut up?”

Russell Junior snapped at his friends who had burst into laughter. The muscles in his dimpled chin tensed.

Damn it.

It had been like this everywhere lately. Precisely since that day of humiliation.

He had wanted to be recorded as a hero in Dumblin’s history for repelling a woman who dared to covet a forbidden realm without knowing her place, but in reality, he had become a pathetic fellow who brought defeat to Dumblin.

So his mood could only plummet to rock bottom.

This phenomenon was the same in social circles.

‘Lord Dixon. Did you really lose to such a woman?’

The ladies surrounding him like sparrows fluttered their eyebrows, looking up at him as if they couldn’t believe it. The shame he felt then.

‘What’s that bulk of his good for?’
‘Is he a klutz in bed too?’

He could hear them whispering behind their fans and giggling, but he pretended not to notice.

He hoped this incident would die down soon, but that seemed unlikely too. Those damn journalists were writing articles re-examining even the tournaments he had won, questioning Russell Junior’s skills.

“Whiskey. Straight.”

As the waiter who confirmed the order retreated, that woman, Olivia Blanchet, came up on the table again like a snack.

“You bastard. You didn’t lose because you were distracted by dirty thoughts in front of a woman, did you?”

“I told you I let her win!”

Russell Junior shouted in protest, unable to bear it any longer.

“Wow! Now you’re lying too. Your father said you were running around like a dog!”

They were all laughing so hard they could barely breathe.

Damn it.

Russell Junior was just trembling with his fists clenched. The bulging veins looked like they might burst at any moment.

It was then that the expressions of the friends mocking Russell Junior hardened.

“Hello, gentlemen.”

The surroundings fell silent at once. Everyone’s gaze turned to the woman who had approached without a sound.

“Oh, Olivia?”

Someone dropped the cigarette they were holding in their mouth as they called out the woman’s name.

Even Russell Junior, who was about to explode, just stared blankly up at Olivia, stunned by her sudden appearance.

As attention focused on her, the surroundings began to stir, but Olivia took another step forward with graceful steps and stood in front of Russell Junior.

“I wanted to greet you, and I’m glad we met like this.”

The woman said, her transparent blue eyes twinkling.

Fearless, in a place like this.

Russell Junior, momentarily captivated by her mysterious eyes, came to his senses and regained his composure.

He was about to open his mouth to say something while glaring at the woman, but she was faster.

“Thank you so much for conceding victory to me that day.”

“……”

Russell Junior, who couldn’t grasp the situation, became dazed again.

“I know you lost to me on purpose.”

Huh?

Now with a stupid expression, Russell Junior looked up at Olivia with his split chin hanging open unattractively.

“What? Was that what happened?”

The eyes of the men who had been mocking him just moments ago began to change in an instant. They were looks of suspicion.

“Really? Did you lose on purpose, Russell Junior?”

Dubious gazes flew at Russell Junior all at once.

Whatever this woman was up to. As he was still unsure and just moving his thick lips, the woman spoke.

“Of course. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to practice here. I was lucky to meet someone as thoughtful as Mr. Dixon.”

The woman’s expression couldn’t have been more sincere. Now even Russell Junior was starting to get confused.

Did I do that?

It seems like I might have, but maybe not…

Russell Junior’s face filled with confusion as he looked at the woman.

“When you hit that unexpected Irving shot, my heart really froze. It was so intense that I still can’t forget it.”

The woman’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

“Ahem. …Well, that’s nothing much.”

Russell puffed out his chest and held his head high for the first time in a while.

“Nothing much? You’re being too modest.”

See that, you guys?

Feeling smug, he glared at each of them one by one with his fierce eyes. It felt like his wounded pride was recovering a bit.

Russell Junior turned his head back to Olivia Blanchet. His movements were full of composure.

“You played well too, Miss Blanchet?”

Olivia smiled brightly like a child being praised and said,

“No, not at all. It’s all thanks to Mr. Dixon guiding me well.”

Russell Junior shrugged as he leaned his upper body against the backrest.

“It’s nothing. Usually, beginners don’t understand such detailed consideration. The fact that you noticed means you have that level of skill, Miss Blanchet.”

He was now showing off a bit.