Raoul quickly traversed the forest with long strides. At some point, he began running on all fours.

‘Where is Diana now?’

He wanted to confirm the girl’s feelings right away.

Biche heard Raoul’s story and sympathized with the woman.

From that moment, Raoul’s heart began to beat wildly.

‘Does Diana really not know my feelings? Does she think I rejected her?’

The white rabbit living in his heart had been lethargic for a while.

‘What’s wrong? Say something.’

The rabbit drooped its ears to the ground and mumbled in a small voice.

‘I’m happy just looking at the handsome and cool Raoul. I don’t want anything else…’

‘No. Please don’t say that…’

He passed by the sentries and quickly headed towards the inner castle.

First, he had to go to the communal shower to wash away the smell of blood.

His hands were frantic as he undid his clothes.

He tossed aside his blackened tunic and drew water from the well.

The wooden bucket moved up and down without rest.

‘Quickly, hurry.’

His actions were so swift that by the time he finished preparing and left the shower room, the rest of the knights were just entering the training ground.

“This bastard leaves his post without orders from his superior?”

“…”

Vincent scolded him, but Raoul passed by without replying.

His gentle eyes narrowed in bewilderment.

“Huh, this guy for real. Why doesn’t he answer?! Is he going through puberty?”

“That’s enough, just go wash up quickly.”

Biche handed him a towel and pushed his back.

Raoul couldn’t hear any of the surrounding noise due to the pounding of his heart.

‘She should be finishing class by now?’

Sure enough, Diana’s laughter leaked out from in front of the classroom. It was a light and soft voice like dandelion fluff.

“Oriental paintings seem to give a subtle thrill. It’s clearly a ridiculous scene, but the letter in hand is so lovely.”

“That’s because the content of the letter is a love poem.”

“In the end, did the woman in the middle of the ceremony choose the young master?”

“If you look closely at the painting, you can find the answer. Do you see the wide-open door beyond the wall and the evening primrose hanging on the doorknob?”

“Oh my, even in the Eastern Continent, the flower language of evening primrose is ‘waiting’?”

“That’s right. Because the two families were not on good terms, the couple was secretly dating without the knowledge of their elders.”

“But it’s strange. If they weren’t on good terms, why did the man’s family send a matchmaker to propose?”

“According to legend, the son fell ill with lovesickness and was bedridden.”

“Oh my, he must have been really in love.”

“They’re a cute couple, aren’t they?”

“Indeed. When will I be able to have such a love? Is it possible in this lifetime?”

“Of course! You will be deeply loved, miss.”

“…I’m not sure. I’m used to being the one who likes someone. I can’t imagine someone liking me, and it feels a bit awkward too.”

“Such a pessimistic attitude is not good! You are as lovely as a dandelion blooming in the fields. You have a pure heart that flutters at a single painting. Surely someone who recognizes your value will appear someday.”

“Thank you for your kind words, but lately I prefer roses to dandelions. I think it wouldn’t be bad to live as a gorgeous and fragrant flower for once.”

Diana said playfully, but Raoul couldn’t breathe.

‘There’s no one who likes you…?’

The sound of packing up could be heard from inside the classroom.

“Miss, if I’ve been rude, I apologize. I think my metaphor was inappropriate.”

“No… You were just trying to encourage me, it’s my own inferiority complex. Why did I suddenly talk about roses…? Haha.”

“Inferiority complex? But you are so beautiful! Don’t devote yourself to a man who doesn’t recognize your true worth. Unrequited love? That’s nonsense. You’ll surely regret it someday.”

“Thank you for taking my side. But I’ve given up now. So don’t worry.”

Raoul froze stiffly while leaning against the wall.

‘She’s given up…?’

Even though he heard it clearly, he couldn’t accept it.

“Then I’ll see you in the next class.”

The voice like jade beads shook his heart.

Click.

When the door opened, no one was there.

“The cool scent of grass…”

Diana looked around at the familiar fragrance. But Raoul was nowhere to be seen.

“Paisar! Over here.”

Diana waved to Paisar. He was looking for Diana at the entrance of the market.

“Miss, I’m sorry I’m late. There were many similar signs, so I got a little lost…!”

“It’s alright. I just arrived too.”

Paisar, who had run over, caught his breath and smiled.

“My goodness, was there such a handsome man in our neighborhood?”

“His face is shining brightly.”

The man cutting fish heads was dazed and got hit on the back by his wife, and the woman selling flowers shyly approached and handed him a rose.

‘Even with the drought, flower prices must be expensive…’

People were overly kind to Paisar.

It was a kindness Diana had never experienced in her life. He looked down at the flower with a dazed expression.

“Oh, why the sudden flower?”

“I think she’s smitten.”

“That can’t be. It’s not for that reason.”

“…Don’t you experience this often?”

“Huh? If people from my hometown heard that, they’d scoff.”

Diana tilted her head and asked.

“Your hometown people are mean. There’s no way someone as kind and radiant as Paisar wouldn’t be popular.”

“Pl-please don’t tease me. You should be the one receiving flowers, miss! How could an ugly man like me receive such praise?”

Paisar covered his clear face with both hands.

‘Ugly…? Is he being sincere?’

Diana glanced at Biche, who was guarding her three steps behind. He also had a puzzled look.

“Miss, is that the store you mentioned?”

Just then, Paisar pointed to a sign shaped like a paint tube.

“Ah, yes…! I think that’s it. Let’s go in.”

As they entered the workshop, several workers were finely grinding ocher powder.

Low and wide ceramic bowls contained pigments of various colors that had completed processing.

“Wow, it’s my first time seeing the manufacturing process in person.”

“I heard that fresco mural painters often visit this place for building interiors. It’s my first time here too.”

“Oh my, what do you need?”

A woman who appeared to be the shop owner approached the two with sparkling eyes.

She pulled her long sleeve to wipe off the yellow pigment powder stuck to her face.

Tilting her head 45 degrees and blinking rapidly, she looked like a courting screech owl.

“I… I… want to buy pigments… I heard you sell them in small quantities, is that right?”

“Yes. Come inside. There are more beautiful colors.”

“Ah, miss. Shall we go…?”

“Yes.”

The workshop was much larger than expected.

Not only minerals, but also shells, corals, bone fragments, and limestone caught the eye.

The female owner kept her eyes on Paisar’s face while explaining about the pigments.

“You’ll need white too, right? I wonder what materials should be used to express such clear and clean skin?”

The woman tried to subtly touch the back of Paisar’s hand.

Diana had intervened to block her hand more than once or twice.

As this behavior repeated several times, it became increasingly predictable.

She said she would show them a special color and guided them deeper inside.

“The blue pigment made from lapis lazuli is as precious as gold. You’ll be very surprised when you see it.”

She placed Paisar in front of her and had Diana follow behind.

Paisar fidgeted uncomfortably, but the woman pushed his back with her hand and treated Diana as if she were irrelevant.

“Wow, I’ve never seen a blue so close to sky color before…”

“It’s an extremely rare mineral that came from abroad.”

Her green eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Do you like it?”

“Ah, no. Blue isn’t used in portrait coloring anyway.”

The owner blatantly looked Diana up and down and raised the corner of her mouth crookedly.

“But do they use pigments in the Eastern Continent too? Isn’t ink enough when painting portraits? Right?”

Paisar opened his eyes wide in surprise.

“Eastern Continent? This person is…!”

“It’s fine, Paisar. There’s no need to explain everything to a rude person.”

The woman blinked rapidly at the atmosphere that had suddenly turned cold.

“Oh my, I was just purely curious and asked. Don’t misunderstand.”

“I didn’t misunderstand…? Ignorance can make one brave too. Would you please package the pigments?”

“…Huh, I can’t believe this… an Eastern Continent person…”

The woman grumbled as she wrapped the pigments in paper.

She tied the string loosely, making it look like the precious pigments might spill out at any moment.

Paisar received the pigments that were held out in front of Diana.

“Miss, shall we…”

“Package it properly again, please.”

The atmosphere froze over like ice.

The woman glared at Diana intently before snatching the pigments from Paisar’s hand.

“…Is it because she’s uneducated? Is it because she’s from the Eastern Continent? No manners at all.”

Even her quiet muttering sounded very loud to Diana’s ears.

It was the first time she had experienced such discrimination after living her whole life treated as a noble lady.

Her heart beat rapidly at the blatant insult. She felt like breathing fire right then and there.

The shop owner thrust out the pigment pouch irritably.

It was almost at the level of hitting Diana’s chest. Biche, who had been watching the situation from outside, couldn’t hold back and raised his voice.

“Take your hands off her precious body!”

He blocked Diana’s front and placed his hand on his sword.

“Oh, my! Are you putting your hand on your sword right now? You’re a Primos, aren’t you? How violent towards a woman, birds of a feather. Fine, just pay and get out of here quickly!”

Biche’s ears turned bright red. Diana couldn’t stand it anymore.

Diana handed over a paper note stamped with her family’s seal.

“Write your name there and fill in the amount. Our family will handle it properly.”

The woman’s pupils shook rapidly.

Gone was the shameless rogue from earlier, and the woman’s face turned as white as a sheet.