The Grand Duke Ruvellio, who casually brushed back his well-groomed silver hair, was staring out the window where the moonlight shone.

“Duke, about today’s bedroom arrangements…”

Standing beside the Duke with a straight posture, a delicate woman carefully asked.

It was Duchess Hermia, the companion of the Grand Duke.

Without turning his gaze towards her, the Grand Duke spoke indifferently.

“No need for corsetin tonight.”

In response to the Duke’s words, the Duchess politely nodded her head.

It might have seemed strange for the Duke’s companion woman to be indifferent to arranging corsets to face her husband’s bed, but it was not an issue for them.

Originally, it was such a marriage of convenience with such implications…

At that moment, a knock was heard outside the study door.
When the Grand Duke gestured, the Grand Duchess immediately seemed to notice and lowered her head, quietly heading towards the door. As the Grand Duchess opened the door and left the study, a man clad in a somber robe, as if waiting for her departure, entered.

Seated in the study, the Grand Duke leisurely shook a glass containing a honey-colored liquid and opened his mouth. “Have you looked into Antonio?”

In response to the Duke’s question, the man, quietly lowering his head, spoke in a subdued voice. “On paper, there was nothing to criticize.”

Seemingly dissatisfied with the man’s response, the Grand Duke, wrinkling his brow, swallowed a sip of the honey-colored liquid in the glass. “But there’s something strange… Rumor has it that Antonio was nothing more than a troublemaker just a few months ago.”

As the man spoke, the Grand Duke, who lowered the glass, raised one eyebrow. “Go on.”

“There were unfavorable rumors in the alley. He was known as a carefree noble rogue who loved to play.”

The Grand Duke tilted the glass into his mouth. As soon as he emptied the honey-colored liquid, the sound of clinking ice echoed in the study as the Grand Duke put down the glass.

“The person who was like that seems to have changed like a person…”

After saying so, the Grand Duke pursed his lips. “People find it hard to change. Unless the sky turns upside down.”

“…….”

In response to the meaningful words of the Grand Duke, the man lowered his head and maintained silence. The Grand Duke, dryly glancing at him, continued indifferently, “Anything else to report?”

The man, hesitating for a moment at the Duke’s words, cautiously opened his mouth. “While investigating the alley, I found a suspicious individual.”

“A suspicious individual?”

At the man’s words, an interesting light flashed in the golden eyes of the Grand Duke. Showing interest, the Grand Duke maintained his silence, prompting the man to continue indifferently.

“It would be better for the Duke to see and judge first, so I brought him along.”

With the man’s words, the Duke nodded as if he would see for himself without a need for further explanation. Then the man, looking towards the study door, spoke quietly, “Come in.”

As the man’s words fell, the door of the study opened, and a somewhat cowed-looking male entered. The man appeared like a back-alley bum or a slave, with one sleeve hanging loose as if one hand were missing, staggering as he entered.

Claudius, who was examining the documents on the Grand Duke’s investigation, suddenly recalled the back view of the lifeless Antonio he had passed by in the morning. Annoyed, he nervously put down the documents.

Although he had deliberately avoided it, thinking it would be fine if he didn’t see it, strangely, the image of Antonio kept lingering in his mind. Despite his efforts not to think about it rationally, the image kept coming up, and it was becoming unbearable.

Grabbing his throbbing forehead, as if a headache was coming on, Claudius let out a long sigh. It seemed that this way, he would not be able to focus on the documents or anything else.
Despite making an effort not to think rationally, subconscious thoughts continued to surface, causing Klaus’s head to ache as if it were about to explode. Klaus, rubbing his throbbing forehead, let out a long sigh. It seemed that documents or anything else would not register in his mind in this state. Eventually, with the thought of needing to clear his mind, Klaus left his office.

Considering a stroll through the garden, Klaus soon changed his mind and redirected his steps towards the lake. Although it was situated within the Grand Duke’s estate, the lake was so vast that it extended beyond the mansion. To circle the lake, one would have to walk for at least an hour with an ordinary pace.

Walking along the edge of the lake, Klaus suddenly recalled the day about a month ago when he rescued Antonio from the lake. Antonio, soaked and frightened, had tearfully shed tears.

Since then, perhaps?

Maybe that was the beginning.

The indescribable subtle emotions began to bud…

While contemplating these thoughts, a refreshing breeze from the lakeside swept over Klaus. At the end of the blowing wind, a familiar scent seemed to brush against him.

Turning his head absentmindedly, Klaus suddenly stopped in his tracks. Near the lakeside, Antonio was lying on the grass, fast asleep.

Initially intending to avoid him by turning his head, Klaus cautiously turned his head back after a moment. The sight of Antonio, peacefully sleeping under the warm sunlight, entered his eyes.

To think that he was sleeping so obliviously, even after throwing such an enormous bomb in the Grand Duke’s mansion. What if the Grand Duke harbored evil intentions? Klaus’s brow furrowed unconsciously.

Perhaps it would be better to wake him up, Klaus thought, turning his steps towards where Antonio lay. However, his cautious footsteps did not match his intentions, fearing Antonio might wake up.

Standing in front of Antonio, Klaus gazed down at him for a while, then sighed deeply and sat down beside him.

It should be fine to let him sleep a little.

Thinking this, Klaus looked at the lakeside, and the sight of water lilies sparkling on the sun-drenched surface caught his eye.

Unexpectedly, the thought crossed his mind that the lake was beautiful. And before he knew it, his gaze was naturally drawn to Antonio.

Long eyelashes resting on his closed eyelids and plump lips were captured in Klaus’s eyes.

Then, a gentle breeze carrying a pleasant fragrance brushed over Klaus and Antonio as it passed by.

Antonio’s bangs were tousled on his forehead by the wind. Without even realizing it, Klaus reached out to smooth Antonio’s forehead.

In that breeze, Antonio’s face, which kept appearing in Klaus’s eyes, became even closer.

The pleasant scent and the gentle breeze seemed to coax him.
And, before he knew it, Klaus, as if being drawn by a magnet without his own awareness, quietly approached the sleeping Antonio’s face.

Do you know?

What feelings I harbor.

What thoughts I have as I look at you right now.