Olentia was carefully observing the mansion’s appearance, which she hadn’t been able to see in detail when she briefly visited the count’s residence before.

There was an extremely splendid chandelier hanging in Count Odor’s mansion, and each pillar gleamed as if gilded.

Moreover, the most noticeable change was the abundance of porcelain decorations. Expensive-looking porcelain pieces were on display, as if showing off to someone. The patterns were so intricate and delicate that it made her eyes spin.

After thoroughly examining the mansion’s condition, Olentia turned to Count Odor with a wry smile.

“Uncle. Didn’t you try too hard because His Highness Duke Belial is coming? This isn’t the Count Odor’s mansion I knew…”

The count scratched the back of his head, seemingly embarrassed.

“Is it that obvious?”

“Of course. I can even see some places that don’t quite harmonize.”

“I just didn’t want to feel inferior. Niece. Please pretend you didn’t notice.”

Count Odor’s face was adorably flushed red. Unlike his mother Malisa, he was a person with many weaknesses.

Olentia liked her uncle for being so approachable.

She said with a smile,

“Haha! Alright. By the way… Where is His Highness the Duke? Where is he staying?”

She was curious since Dimidius wasn’t visible in the mansion. Of course, she didn’t expect him to come out to see her. She was just curious. Where would his room be, which floor? What kind of room? What was he thinking when he called for her? Was he really worried?

Count Odor tilted his head at Olentia’s curiosity.

“Why are you curious about that?”

She had expected this reaction at some point. That Count Odor would find her relationship with Duke Belial strange.

Olentia avoided his gaze and shrugged.

“No, just. So I don’t make any mistakes.”

The count spoke to her as he climbed the smooth marble stairs.

“His Highness is on the 5th floor. You’re on the 3rd floor, so please don’t make any mistakes. Understand?”

He was very sensitive about mistakes. It was probably for the same reason that he didn’t tell her why Archbishop Werbu had come to Odor territory.

‘Right. It would be troublesome for uncle too. And for His Highness…’

Just thinking about Dimidius Belial made her face subtly flush while her heart sank deeply. It couldn’t be more contradictory. It seemed to be because there had been many embarrassing incidents lately. The peculiar feeling of being in hot and cold water simultaneously seemed likely to continue for a while.

Having reached the third floor, Olentia asked the count who was personally guiding her to the guest room.

“How did the negotiation go? Did it go well?”

The count flinched in surprise.

“How do you know about that?”

“How else? You’re not close friends with His Highness the Duke. Of course you met for business, right?”

It didn’t seem strange to deduce that much.

Count Odor grinned at Olentia’s words.

“It went well. I got what I wanted, and His Highness got what he wanted too. I’m glad it was resolved well.”

His voice was filled with sincerity.

‘By the way, if the negotiation is finished, His Highness will be leaving soon, right?’

Thinking that Dimidius would be leaving Odor territory made her feel relieved. Olentia examined the guest room with a more comfortable mind.

A bed with a gorgeous canopy, a cute table. And a cabinet full of dolls stood out.

Not much had changed since she came long ago. This room was practically Olentia’s dedicated room whenever she visited Count Odor’s mansion.

Feeling somewhat at ease with the familiar layout, Olentia changed into comfortable indoor clothes and rested as soon as Count Odor left.

She must have been quite tired. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow and woke up feeling very refreshed. It was good that she didn’t even dream.

But the sun in the sky was already high, and Bobby hurriedly brought water for washing.

“I didn’t wake you on purpose, young lady. You seemed to be sleeping so soundly.”

At Bobby’s words, Olentia yawned while fixing her messy hair.

“Yawn! You did well. It’s definitely more comfortable here than at the villa.”

“Of course. Although knights were stationed at the villa too, this place is much safer. You must have been uncomfortable subconsciously as well. I’m so glad you came to the main building as soon as possible.”

Olentia agreed. As she stretched her arms upwards, she felt much more refreshed and better.

Olentia unknowingly brought up the topic of Dimidius.

“It’s thanks to His Highness Duke Belial.”

She thought this because Dimidius had given his consent.

Then Bobby asked her with a puzzled expression.

“Did you become close to His Highness the Duke without me knowing?”

It was nonsense. Olentia quickly waved her hands.

“No! No. What do you mean close? It’s just that coincidences overlapped more than expected.”

It was always a problem that some people packaged such things as fate. If there were such people, she would really dislike it.

But it was truly contradictory that when Olentia first met Dimidius, she herself thought it was a fateful moment.

Olentia shook her head to clear her stray thoughts and muttered thoughtfully.

“By the way, I wonder when the reply will come.”

She had thought Ankedo would reply right away, but that wasn’t the case.

Olentia was now patiently waiting for the third day.

She eagerly waited for the reply to come. If the reply came, she would be able to know to some extent whether the prophetic dream was true or false. It also meant realizing what kind of person Ankedo was.

It would be best if it could just be dismissed as her misunderstanding.

After all, she had no desire whatsoever to have prophetic dreams that only a saint could have.

It was then, as Olentia was pouting with her arms firmly crossed.

Knock knock!

When someone knocked, Bobby opened the door, went out, and came back in.

“Um, young lady. The count says that since you’ve come to the main building, why don’t we all have lunch together in the garden? It was originally planned for breakfast, but it became lunch because you were sleeping.”

Olentia laughed in disbelief. Her uncle was surely teasing her. But thinking about whether Dimidius had waited for her too made her feel embarrassed. Her face briefly burned.

As she was examining dresses in the wardrobe, Olentia said hurriedly.

“I’ll need about an hour to get ready? Tell them it’s fine if that’s okay.”

Bobby left the room with a grin, and Olentia finally chose the dress she would wear today.

Olentia wore a dress with many flounces. The ribbon attached to the chest was white, and the overall color scheme was blue.

It was a large bell-shaped dress, uncomfortable to move in, but somehow she didn’t want to wear a comfortable style of dress. She also wore yellow diamond accessories that matched well with blue, so she would probably look quite splendid.

In the count’s garden where spring flowers were in full bloom, Olentia sat in front of a white table and looked at the food brought out by the maids. She could feel the gaze of Dimidius sitting across from her, but she pretended not to notice.

‘What are you trying to do by staring so intently? Uncle will think it’s strange.’

As expected, Count Odor sitting next to her had a puzzled expression. He looked back and forth between Olentia and Dimidius and said,

“Do you two know each other originally? Somehow it feels that way.”

Olentia flinched for a moment and looked at Dimidius.

Dimidius, seemingly having no intention of hiding, drank his aperitif under his mask and said,

“We’ve had continuous chance encounters. Three times? Four times? About that many.”

‘Please don’t say it’s fate!’

As Olentia was desperately praying, Dimidius spoke refreshingly.

“It could be seen as fate. We’ve somehow become that kind of relationship, Count Odor.”

In the end, she heard the words she disliked so much. She thought that Dimidius really didn’t match with her after all.

Olentia quickly shook her head towards Count Odor.

“No, no. What do you mean that kind of relationship. His Highness the Duke is joking! Hahaha!”

An awkward laugh was added as a bonus.

“Is it really a joke? How did you end up meeting so often?”

“We just happened to, that’s how it turned out. Meeting on the way to Odor territory was a big part of it.”

Count Odor made a puzzled expression and then pointed to the abundant food, saying,

“We can talk slowly, so please eat first. The chef has shown his skills again today.”

It really seemed so. Olentia started with a soup containing various fish, then ate duck cooked for a long time in red wine. The taste of the southern Bonus Empire lingered on her tongue.

Dimidius didn’t take off his mask even while eating. Although the bauta mask was designed to be convenient for eating and drinking, it was truly strange. Why on earth didn’t he take off the mask?

‘The reason for wearing a mask, well. His face must be terribly disfigured, right?’

‘Yes. He’s been wearing the mask for 10 years? 15 years? Anyway, what else could it be if not for that reason? I think so too.’

Suddenly, she was reminded of the voices of noble ladies at social parties, covering their faces with fans and whispering secretly. They must have covered their faces with fans because they knew they were saying bad things.

Olentia tried not to think about such words. It seemed like she could just ask Dimidius directly.

Olentia asked Dimidius, her lips trembling with curiosity.

“Isn’t the mask… uncomfortable?”

This kind of question seemed okay. It was also a bit uncomfortable trying to eat with someone wearing a mask.

Then Dimidius replied nonchalantly while using his cutlery,

“As I said on the train, the mask is my face. It seems that you’re the one who’s uncomfortable, rather. Isn’t that right, Lady?”

She was caught red-handed.

Olentia quickly turned her head to avoid his gaze. Regret for asking the question unnecessarily flooded in.

After drinking a glass of cold water, she spoke in the softest voice possible,

“No, it’s not. Why would I be uncomfortable? Please don’t worry about it at all. By the way, since the negotiation is over, you’ll be going back to the capital soon, right?”

She naturally changed the topic, but she could still feel Dimidius staring at her intently. Did Dimidius know that enduring that gaze was more uncomfortable and difficult? His gaze persistently clung to her entire body, not falling away.

At that moment, Count Odor sitting next to her said,

“You said you’re leaving tomorrow morning, right?”

‘Really? Is that true?’

Olentia unknowingly let out a sigh of relief. If he left the count’s main building, she felt she could stay more comfortably.

‘Please leave as soon as possible.’

But suddenly, Dimidius rested his chin on one hand and said mischievously,

“My plans have changed a bit. Would it be alright if I stayed for a few more days?”