Marcel entered the back of the store and came out holding two summer dresses.

“Both dresses are made with light, breathable materials… Since you left it entirely to my judgment, I worked with pastel tones that suit the young lady’s image. What do you think…?”

The light blue silk dress with butterfly ornaments was reminiscent of Cinderella, and the light pink muslin dress was perfect for a garden party.

“I love them so much. My eyes were not mistaken after all…”

Stars sparkled in her dark eyes.

“I’m glad you’re pleased. Would you like to try them on in the fitting room right away?”

Marcel pointed to the curtain with an almost pleading expression.

“Sure.”

As they say, clothes make the person. Diana standing in front of the mirror was a completely different person.

“I want to capture this moment in a painting…”

Angela cried out with her fist in her mouth at the princess-like figure.

Diana also couldn’t take her eyes off her brightened complexion.

She could understand why the head designer raked in money every time someone wore Marcel’s clothes.

Only after purchasing 5 neat ready-made dresses due to Angela’s excessive spending with her eyes rolled back, Diana was finally able to leave the clothing store.

“I feel so refreshed! I think I’ll completely overhaul my wardrobe while I’m at it.”

Diana shook her head and stopped Angela.

The unnamed guard knight neatly packed seven dresses into the carriage.

Just as they were about to quickly get into the carriage under the blazing sunlight.

Cheerful traditional drum beats echoed through the street.

Diana’s head naturally turned to follow the source of the sound.

Two masked men were twirling around arm in arm.

They had signs hanging from their necks announcing the evening event.

[This is the timeline separator]

Diana, seated in the carriage, faced Angela who was fanning herself and asked.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t told Father yet. About the birthday banquet, I mean.”

“Ah, I already mentioned it to the assistant. He said he’d assign a carriage and knight for the day.”

“Will the assistant report it to Father?”

“Of course. They exchange letters even on rest days.”

Angela whispered quietly while eyeing the coachman.

Diana then remembered her father’s rest day.

Once every few years, the Duke spent nearly a month near Bihern Gorge.

It was a place where the mana flowed so strongly that ordinary people would faint just getting close, but to her father, it was merely a fascinating source of power.

During this time, he completely withdrew all the mana he emitted externally and focused solely on recovery.

Diana, who had been staring blankly at Angela, hurriedly opened the window and shouted.

“Wait a moment!”

[This is the timeline separator]

Angela, holding a mask in one hand, kept looking back at Diana with a regretful expression.

“Are you really going to stay in the castle?”

The annual Goddess Festival, held only once a year, was an annual event she always enjoyed with Angela.

But Diana was also considerate.

‘Vincent must be looking forward to it so much!’

The pure-hearted man who had been steadily courting for several years was still waiting outside the castle for Angela, clinging to a thread of desperate hope.

“Don’t worry about me. Vincent will be waiting.”

Diana pushed the oblivious maid out of the bedroom and waved her hand coldly.

Although Angela looked back several times, Diana had no intention of holding her back.

This was because she also had other plans for today.

As soon as the sound of Angela’s footsteps on the stone stairs faded, Diana carefully poked her head out the door.

The castle was as quiet as a mouse.

‘Now’s my chance!’

She crept towards Raoul’s room like an assassin.

Knock. Knock.

Raoul always opened the door before the third knock.

“…You… changed clothes…”

His dazed gaze slowly moved as if engraving Diana’s appearance in his eyes.

Regardless, Diana pushed Raoul into the room and closed the door.

In Diana’s hand was a gift for Raoul.

“What’s that?”

“A present.”

The luxurious suit Diana thrust against Raoul’s chest.

He looked alternately at the clothes and Diana with a slightly surprised expression.

“…Why clothes all of a sudden?”

Diana asked with sparkling eyes.

“Don’t you feel suffocated being trapped in the castle?”

Raoul shook his head slowly, blinking.

“Not particularly…”

“But aren’t you curious about what’s beyond the walls?”

“…Not really.”

It wasn’t the answer Diana wanted. She looked at his indifferent face with a troubled gaze, sweating profusely.

Raoul seemed genuinely uninterested in the outside world. Her heart, which had been pounding with anticipation, beat anxiously.

‘Is it because of me? Have I spoiled him too much?’

Raoul was supposed to be a man who would one day escape and become a hero of the rebels.

It would be troublesome if a fleeting emotion deepened and he lost his wild nature!

Diana decided not to listen to Raoul’s answer any longer. She grasped his small hand tightly and declared resolutely.

“I’ll take you beyond the walls!”

She wanted to enjoy the festival with Raoul tonight, if only to rekindle his longing for freedom.

Raoul looked into Diana’s eyes with an unreadable expression.

“How?”

As if she had been waiting for this, top-secret information flowed from Diana’s lips. Raoul inadvertently found himself holding the Duke’s weakness.

Bewilderment filled the silent walls. He gently covered the chattering lips.

Diana, whose mouth was suddenly covered, fixed her gaze on Raoul with wide eyes.

“Is it okay to reveal such an important secret?”

It was a reasonable question.

No matter how much her father changed, she had no intention of defending an unethical villain.

Above all, the rest days were irregular and short.

Unless Raoul’s curse was completely lifted, the time he could stay outside the castle and plan his actions was very limited.

‘This level of weakness is nothing for the strongest ability user in the world.’

She nodded, pulling down the wrist holding her.

“Yes. What’s important to me right now is for Raoul to live freely, even if just for a day. So it doesn’t matter.”

“…”

Quiet eyes silently gazed at the clear face. The staring gaze was prickly.

Ahem, ahem. The longer the contemplation time, the more serious Raoul’s expression became.

She was prepared to quietly give up if he refused here as well.

“It’s a masked festival, so no one will recognize us. Let’s just enjoy it quietly together and come back.”

She pleaded one last time. But Raoul didn’t answer. ‘Did I fail to persuade him?’

“Can you turn around for a moment?”

“Huh?”

“The clothes.”

Finally, after a long silence, Raoul raised the white flag.

Diana quickly turned around before he could change his mind.

The soft sound of fabric rustling was gentle.

Diana clasped her hands over her chest and lifted her heels.

‘It’s nothing much. But I’m kind of looking forward to it…’

“I’m done changing.”

The turned body stiffened. Her cat-like eyes widened roundly and her jaw dropped.

Without exaggeration, it was otherworldly beauty.

“…Oh my. You’re really, really handsome.”

“…Do you like it?”

“Very much.”

The neat navy uniform looked like a custom-made suit just for Raoul.

It would be made longer than average height to allow for alterations, but it fit Raoul perfectly.

“You look like a prince.”

Diana murmured as if entranced.

They say you lose your memory when you see something beautiful, and it was true. She repeated what she had said over and over.

“But really, it suits you so well.”

“You said the same thing earlier…”

“How can you be so handsome…?”

“That’s enough now…”

Raoul blushed at the shower of compliments. His shy gaze fell on Diana’s small hands.

As the appreciation time grew longer, Raoul finally couldn’t stand it and grabbed her hand.

“We’ll spend all night at this rate.”

Raoul opened the window wide and securely held Diana’s knees and back.

“Hold on tight.”

The wind brushing against her face was cool. Raoul didn’t let go of Diana and ran all the way to the castle wall.

Every second was precious for Raoul as well.

[This is the timeline separator]

Since it was an official holiday, there were only minimal guards on duty.

The two easily evaded their eyes and slipped through a hole in the castle wall, then surveyed their surroundings.

As expected, it was quiet behind the slave camp.

“It’s intact…”

Raoul murmured, touching his neck. Diana’s eyes crumpled at the pitiful words.

‘How much must he have wanted to come out?’

For once, Diana took the lead and pulled Raoul towards the brightly lit streets. She first bought cool assorted fruits from the nearest tent.

“Try this too. And this.”

Diana popped sweet fruit flesh into Raoul’s mouth one after another.

It was cute and lovely to see the red fruits endlessly disappearing between his beautiful lips.

“Is it delicious?”

“Yes. Don’t just feed me, you should eat too.”

As they visited dozens of tents one by one, a sweet night dessert that Raoul used to like long ago caught her eye.

‘He really enjoyed eating that back then.’

She approached it as if entranced.

“Do you want to eat this?”

“What is it?”

“It’s a dessert made with red beans and chestnuts. It’s soft and sweet, so you’ll like it.”

Raoul swallowed hard. Diana wasted no time in quickly pulling out a silver coin from her money pouch.

“One bag, please.”

“Yes!”

The red bean snacks shaped like small chocolates tasted similar to the yanggang she had eaten in her previous life.

She quickly took one out of the bag and handed it to Raoul.

Diana savored Raoul’s face as it subtly changed while tasting the flavor.

At first, his expression was dubious, but as the sweet red bean aroma spread in his mouth, he immediately raised his eyebrows.

‘The expression he makes when something’s delicious…!’

“How is it?”

“…It’s delicious.”

“Want another one?”

“Yes.”

It was really unexpected to see him open his mouth first before even reaching for it.

As she kept feeding him, the bottom of the bag was already visible. Diana unconsciously wiped around Raoul’s mouth.

“Thank you…”

“Ah, sorry…”

Raoul shook his head. Though his expression wasn’t fully visible behind the mask, Diana could still feel it.

‘You’re enjoying this right now.’

That alone made today’s outing a great success.

After that, Diana and Raoul continued to enjoy the festival with excitement.

At a dart game booth they happened to enter, Raoul won the first prize on his first try and received applause.

Afterwards, people lined up asking him to draw prizes for them in exchange for money.

By the time they left the store with a large rabbit doll as a prize, loud voices were exchanged.

“Why use a substitute player in a game meant for enjoyment? What’s the fun in that?”

“The little kid in front didn’t say anything when they used a substitute!”

Diana quickly left the area, worried that trouble might break out.