At that moment, a knocking sound was heard.

“I’m sorry, but you should leave soon,” Cedric’s voice said. Debora smiled and draped her coat over Dia’s shoulders.

“Alright. Shall we go now?”

With a rosy tip of her nose, Dia smiled charmingly, like a snowflake.

Guided by Cedric, the two headed towards the main entrance. Jen, who had arrived early, sensed their presence and looked up.

“……”

Debora, silently surprised, thought that Jen was startled because of Dia.

Today, Dia was exceptionally beautiful. There probably wouldn’t be anyone else who could carry off the subtle blue dress so well.

“I tried to minimize my efforts, thinking I might be criticized if I dressed up too much, but you look so beautiful.”

Debora was confident that everyone at the party would be amazed when they saw Dia.

“A lady as beautiful as her would surprise anyone. Even Mr. Baker was surprised.”

Debora smiled with satisfaction.

Cedric glanced at Jen’s face once and then at Debora’s smile, a somewhat regretful smile.

“Ms. Debora, she doesn’t seem to realize the gaze directed towards her.”

Cedric felt sorry for Jen, but there was nothing he could do. At this point, Debora’s misunderstanding was reasonable.

With Dia looking so pretty, anyone would naturally think that the gaze was directed towards her.

“Please have a wonderful time.”

Cedric, who had come down to the entrance, bowed his head to Jen, who seemed like he would continue staring at Debora.

Aware now, Jen belatedly looked at Dia, who was waiting for his touch.

There was anxiety in Dia’s eyes, but she didn’t avoid his gaze as before.

“Well then, have a good time.”

Jen, to see her off, addressed Debora among the various servants who had come out.

Standing next to Cedric, Debora smiled and nodded.

“Take care.”

Jen’s forehead wrinkled disapprovingly.

He wanted to say not to bow your head and not to stand next to Cedric.

But he couldn’t do what he wanted. He had spent a lot of money to employ Dia as his partner, and Dia had to raise her hand to his in the dazzlingly beautiful man’s hand.

Watching the departing couple, Debora felt pleased. They looked really good together.

“Honestly, their appearances couldn’t be matched.”

Both the distinct blonde and Dia’s pure beauty complemented each other well.

“Their personalities, well… it seems like they don’t quite match.”

Even so, who knows? Maybe their love story won’t end just by preventing an unfortunate incident.

“Oh, is this too optimistic a thought?”
However, it wasn’t an entirely impossible story. The two were young, attractive, and would likely continue to sit next to each other in the future.

‘Surely, affection will bloom even if it didn’t exist before.’

While Debora was feeling proud, Jen was quietly looking out the window.

‘Debi… It seems like she lost weight.’

Despite his efforts to fatten her up, she became even thinner in the few days he hadn’t seen her.

‘Why is she so thin? Could she be unwell somewhere?’

Jen, tensely looking directly at Dia, spoke.

“How has Debora been lately?”

“What?”

Startled like a rabbit encountering a wolf, Jen calmly asked again.

“Debora, is there any pain anywhere?”

“No. You haven’t said I was sick…”

Referring to her as a maid. It was a mistake that nobles should never make. However, Jen didn’t bother correcting him.

As long as he didn’t make mistakes in front of others.

“Why are you suddenly saying that?”

Dia asked, her tone mixed with concern.

“Because you seem to have lost a lot of weight today.”

Dia recalled the conversation she had with Debora when she heard about the party.

[For a while, I’ll eat a little less.] [Huh? Why? Do you have no appetite?] “No. It seems like I gained weight.”
“Oh my! Miss, you are still very thin, so you should gain more weight.”

Dia shook her head. Debora thought Dia hadn’t eaten properly because she was poor, and while that wasn’t entirely wrong, there was another reason.

Dia’s mother, Lady Bryce, the Countess, had managed Dia’s diet since she was young.

[You have to take care of your appearance. If you gain weight, it’s over.]

So Dia wanted to eat at least as little as possible until the party. Debora, insisting on Dia’s claim, said:

“Okay. Then I’ll do the same.”
“What? No, Miss Debora…”
“Hehe. I won’t refuse. Honestly, I gained a lot of weight.”

Debora made a slightly regretful expression. So, Debora and Dia had meals together for a while.

The amount of food they ate decreased significantly, but the mealtime got longer. They were so hungry without realizing it.

“You deliberately ate less recently. To lose weight.”

“Did Debora say that?”

Jen turned his head towards Dia. Dia held her breath for a moment.

Jen, who was backlit by the streetlamp, looked very cool.

“Yes, yes…”

Dia answered with her eyes downcast. Jen grimaced and let out a bitter laugh.

‘This woman.’

For a while, he thought she would be fine even if he didn’t see her face.

In his mansion, under his protection. However, she had to go and do something like that unnecessarily.

‘Not understanding people’s hearts.’