After countless thoughts, she defined Raoul’s feelings like this:

‘A puppy love of youth that will pass.’

The love Diana knew was much spicier than this.

It was a passionate romance worth risking one’s life for, desperate enough to abandon family and fortune.

‘What would young Raoul know about love?’

At best 13 years old, an age where the boundary between friendship and love was blurry.

“Shall I carry you on my back?”

Raoul, who was walking hand in hand, asked while observing her pale complexion.

Diana silently shook her head.

“We’re almost there.”

Lifting the curtain-like foliage to create an entrance, a white buckwheat field spread out below their feet.

“Wow…”

Diana was momentarily entranced by the enchanting scenery.

“I wanted to bring you here as soon as I saw it.”

The two sat on a grassy mound, overlooking the picturesque landscape while listening to the forest swaying in the wind.

Raoul opened the conversation first.

“Have you found the land imbued with holy power?”

“Yes. Thanks to Sebastian…”

“I didn’t know there was such a place within the castle.”

“I was surprised too… Let’s go together next time.”

After that, they exchanged a few more words on other topics, but silence soon fell.

Not wanting to act awkwardly, but somehow less talkative than usual.

Raoul didn’t feel comfortable at all.

As she hugged her knees listening to the wind, suddenly a face came close enough for their foreheads to touch.

“You’re red.”

Startled, Diana quickly leaned back, and Raoul also seemed surprised.

“I thought… you might have a fever.”

“…I’m fine.”

“Don’t you like it… when I get close?”

‘Ugh…!’

She felt guilty even though she hadn’t committed any sin.

Raoul looked down dejectedly, carefully tapping her pinky finger.

‘I’m doing this all for you! You shouldn’t get seriously caught up in feelings that will pass…’

Diana rolled her eyes around and suddenly buried her face in his shoulder.

‘This way, he won’t be able to, to lunge with his mouth, right?’

As she linked arms and restrained his limbs, Raoul’s body flinched.

“…Diana?”

“I don’t dislike it…”

“Then…”

“But we still can’t.”

The body that was about to turn back was firmly held. Diana, wrapping her arms around him, carefully soothed his swelling heart.

“Such things are for when we become adults later. You understand, right?”

Raoul didn’t understand.

‘Why can’t I express it?’

Lycans were crazy about brides from a young age.

Raoul’s cousin would carry his bride on his back almost every day since he was 10.

When the quiet and gruff boy carried the human girl on his back, all the neighborhood aunties would come out to watch.

“My, he’s doing exactly what my husband does!”

At that time, Raoul couldn’t understand that sight either.

‘What are you doing, so embarrassing?’

But this was a Lycan’s instinct.

‘I don’t want to be apart from you for a moment. I want to be closer.’

However, he could also restrain himself if Diana wanted.

‘If Diana wants, I don’t mind approaching slowly. I don’t want to be hated.’

Raoul nodded slightly and rested his cheek on Diana’s head.

“I understand. I’ll be careful.”

“Thank you.”

This was good enough for now.

“Can I hold your hand?”

“Hmm, I think that would be okay.”

The space with just the two of them was quiet, peaceful, and lovely.

Carrying the sleeping Diana out of the forest, Raoul thought over and over again.

How he wished to become an adult soon.

[This is the timeline separator]

Several days passed since then.

Diana took care of Dunkel during the day and went on night walks with Raoul in the evening.

He was very displeased that Sebastian had intruded into Diana’s daily routine.

Whenever Sebastian was mentioned, blue flames flickered in his calm eyes.

If he disliked it so much, he could just not listen, but it was troublesome that he still wanted to know everything in detail.

So she spent enough time doting on Raoul separately. And this method was effective.

When Diana unconsciously held his hand first, Raoul’s cheeks would quickly turn red.

When his naive, swollen heart floated around like soap bubbles, it was difficult for Diana to keep her composure as well.

‘Raoul looks like he’s about to burst.’

Even though he tried to stay calm, his eyes and actions betrayed his anxiety. Like a puppy who just learned ‘wait’, he was restless, wanting to approach Diana.

‘Cu, cute! Ugh…’

Although that feeling was welcome and lovely, she tried to maintain boundaries.

‘I’m someone who will only be with Raoul until he finds true love. So that I can let him go without attachment then, I need to control my heart well.’

Tidying up her busy thoughts, Diana stuck the shovel in the ground.

It was time to get ready to go out.

This morning, she received two letters. The senders were Anthony and Phenice, whom she had connected with at the ball.

With the birthday party approaching soon, she hurriedly opened Phenice’s letter first.

As Diana slowly read the words, she threw the letter aside and hugged Angela’s waist right away.

“It worked… I got invited! Phenice wants me to come to her birthday party!”

“It’s your first friend, young lady! Congratulations…!”

‘That’s not it… I’m crying because of the money.’

Diana checked the venue again. It was the Hyperion family’s summer villa located on the Brion coast.

‘Finally, I can meet the genius painter I’ve been looking for!’

Angela and Diana’s eyes welled up with tears for different reasons.

“That’s great, young lady. Tomorrow is your dress fitting day anyway. Since we still have a week left, you can try it on and quickly alter any uncomfortable parts.”

“I’m so happy. Let’s go out together to celebrate Marcel’s opening.”

Angela went to find Benjamin with an excited expression. They needed a carriage, coachman, and escort knight to go into town.

Meanwhile, Diana read the letter sent by Anthony.

Anthony had promised to persuade his parents early to get Sebastian back at the birthday party.

Looking at Sebastian, Diana hesitated without being able to write a reply.

‘Will Sebastian want to go?’

Remembering how he was wary of Anthony on the first day, she couldn’t easily bring it up. But surprisingly, Sebastian was the one who declared he would leave first.

“He says to go to the birthday party with you.”

Is it the voice of a goddess? Saying he couldn’t go against the revelation, he clung to Diana’s chest and sniffled.

Until a bewildered Angela returned and peeled Sebastian off the dress, he wouldn’t let go.

[This is the timeline separator]

While Sebastian took a nap time, heavily drunk on holy power, Diana spent a cozy afternoon with Raoul.

Raoul had been quiet for a while.

At 2 PM on a midsummer afternoon with the scorching sun blazing, the duke’s library was sizzling.

Diana closed the book on different races and sat next to Raoul, fanning him with a hand fan.

“I think we should put a winter magic stone in your room.”

“It’s fine. I can endure it.”

“I’m having a hard time just watching you.”

Raoul turned the page nonchalantly, but he couldn’t control his natural bodily reactions.

Damp bangs, sweat trickling down his temples, flushed face.

Even Diana felt suffocated.

There aren’t many ways to escape the July heat.

Soaking feet in cool ice water, fanning oneself, or hiding in the shade to avoid the midday heat are the only options.

You could also place a winter magic stone, but the room would freeze solid, likely resulting in an ice age experience.

‘Still, would that be better for Raoul?’

Diana wiped Raoul’s forehead with a handkerchief that had become essential, wearing an expression so upset her eyebrows were deeply furrowed.

“I told you I’m fine.”

“Your neck and ears are red too. This could really become serious.”

Raoul quietly bit his lip while keeping his gaze fixed on the book.

He had been glancing at Diana’s outfit from the corner of his eye for a while.

The puffy sleeveless dress with its rounded shoulders was clearly dressed up for anyone to see.

As Raoul was about to part his lips, someone knocked on the library door.

Diana gently turned her head and smiled.

“Must be Angela. Come in.”

Angela, wearing an outdoor dress more ornate than usual, raised her cheeks in a smile.

“Young lady, the carriage is ready.”

Then, Diana pushed her chair back with a scrape and shifted her gaze to the clock on the wall.

“It’s already this late.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going down to the village for a bit. Do you need anything? I’ll buy it on the way back.”

“I’m fine.”

A hint of disappointment flashed across his face as he said that.

Touched and saddened by the eyes hiding his dejection, Diana soon whispered in his ear.

“I’ll be back soon. Let’s go for a walk together in the evening. It’ll be cool then.”

“Okay. I’ll wait.”

Though the weather was sweltering, Raoul’s smile was as refreshing as a gentle breeze.

Her heart couldn’t take it because of the beautiful Raoul every day.

[This is the timeline separator]

The black carriage adorned with gold trim stopped in front of the clothing store.

Diana grasped the black dress and moved her steps with difficulty.

The summer dress that revealed her arms fully was a gloomy color more suitable for an evening party.

With so many decorations attached, it was hard to even take a step.

As they entered the building located on the outskirts, Marcel hurriedly ran out and bowed politely.

“You’ve arrived!”

“Congratulations on your opening. Here you go.”

Diana handed over a money tree plant while complimenting the exterior design of the building.

“The glass display window is definitely nice. It’s clean, and the clothes stand out well too.”

The store’s display featured representative products for the season.

Among them, a short-sleeved suit worn by a child-sized mannequin caught her eye.

The navy suit with luxurious gold buttons reminded her of the uniform worn by the imperial guard.

‘If I put this on Raoul, he’d look just like an idol.’

Wiping the beads of sweat that had formed on her forehead, she sat down on a spacious leather sofa following the guidance.