At that moment, there was a knock.

“I apologize, but you must depart soon.”

It was Cedric’s voice. Deborah smiled gently as she picked up the coat and draped it over Dia’s shoulders.

“Alright. Shall we go now?”

Dia, with a reddened nose, smiled as prettily as a snowflake.

Guided by Cedric, the two headed towards the main hall. Zen, who had arrived earlier, raised his head upon sensing their presence.

“…”

Deborah, seeing Zen’s quietly surprised eyes, thought he was stunned because of Dia.

And rightfully so, for today Dia was exceptionally beautiful. There couldn’t be anyone else who would look so good in such a soft blue dress.

‘I tried to restrain myself when dressing up, thinking they might criticize me if I overdid it, but she’s still so beautiful.’

Deborah was certain. Everyone at the party today would be surprised to see Dia.

They would wonder how such a beautiful lady could exist.

‘Men and women alike will all be surprised. Even Mr. Baker over there was stunned.’

Deborah wore a satisfied smile.

Cedric glanced once at Zen’s face, once at Deborah’s smile, and then smiled regretfully.

‘Miss Deborah, you don’t realize those eyes are directed at you.’

Cedric felt sorry for Zen, but there was nothing he could do. Deborah’s misunderstanding was reasonable right now.

Of course she would think the gaze was directed at Dia, who had come so beautifully dressed up.

“I hope you have a wonderful time.”

Cedric, who had come down to the entrance, bowed his head and spoke to Zen, who looked like he might keep staring at Deborah.

Zen, coming to his senses, belatedly gazed at Dia, who was waiting for his touch in front of him.

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

“Well then, shall we go?”

Zen spoke towards Deborah among the many servants who had come to see them off.

Standing beside Cedric, Deborah smiled and bowed her head.

“Please take care on your way.”

Zen’s brow furrowed, disliking that sight.

He wanted to tell her not to bow her head or stand next to Cedric.

But unable to do as he wished, he had to extend his hand to Dia, whom he had hired as his partner for a large sum, and Dia had to place her hand on that of the dazzlingly handsome man.

Watching the two leave, Deborah felt pleased. They were truly a good-looking pair.

‘Honestly, their looks couldn’t be more well-matched.’

Their different charms of blonde hair complemented each other well, and Zen’s sharp features contrasted nicely with Dia’s pure and beautiful appearance.

‘As for their personalities… hmm… they don’t seem to match well.’

But maybe, just maybe. This might not just end with preventing an unhappy story, but could be the beginning of love between the two.

‘Ah, is this thought too meddlesome?’

But it wasn’t entirely impossible. They were both young and beautiful, and would likely find themselves side by side like this in the future.

‘Even non-existent affection could spring forth.’

While Deborah was feeling quite pleased, Zen was quietly staring out the window.

‘Debbie… She seems to have lost weight.’

Despite trying hard to fatten her up, she had gotten even thinner in the few days he hadn’t seen her.

‘Why on earth has she gotten so thin? Is she perhaps sick somewhere?’

Zen spoke to Dia, who was tensely staring straight ahead.

“How has Deborah been doing lately?”

“Pardon?”

Hearing her startled voice like a rabbit facing a wolf, Zen calmly asked again.

“Deborah, is she sick anywhere?”

“No. She hasn’t mentioned being ill…”

Using honorifics towards a maid. It was a mistake nobles should never make. But Zen didn’t bother to correct her.

As long as she didn’t make mistakes in front of others, it was fine.

“Why do you suddenly ask such a thing?”

Dia inquired. There was concern in her tone.

“Seeing her today, she seems to have lost a lot of weight.”

Dia recalled the conversation she had with Deborah on the day she heard about being invited to the party.

[I’ll eat just a little for a while.] [Pardon? Why? Are you perhaps not feeling well?] [No. I think I’ve gained weight.] [Oh my! Young lady, you’re already so thin, you should gain more weight.]

Dia shook her head. Deborah thought Dia hadn’t eaten properly due to poverty, and that thought wasn’t entirely wrong, but there was a bigger reason.

Dia’s mother, Countess Blaise, had managed Dia’s diet since she was young.

[You must take good care of your appearance. If you get fat, it’s over.]

So at least until the party, she wanted to eat only the minimum. To Dia who insisted on this, Deborah had said.

[Alright. Then I’ll do it together with you.] [What? No, Deborah…] [Hehe. I won’t take no for an answer. Honestly, I’ve really gained weight.]

Deborah wore a needlessly worried expression. And so, Deborah ate with Dia for a while.

The amount of food decreased significantly, but meal times became longer. Making them forget they were hungry.

“Recently, she ate less on purpose. Said she was losing weight.”

“Deborah did?”

Zen’s head turned towards Dia. Dia held her breath for a moment.

Because Zen, backlit by the street gas lamps, looked incredibly handsome.

“Y-yes…”

Dia answered, avoiding his eyes. Zen frowned and let out a dry laugh.

‘This woman.’

He had thought she would be doing well even if he couldn’t see her face for a while.

In his mansion, under his protection. Yet she was doing such unnecessary things.

‘Not understanding people’s hearts.’

Throughout the journey, Zen pondered how he could feed Deborah well.

He wanted to sit her on his lap and feed her directly.

Even if Zen acted crazy like that, Deborah probably wouldn’t open her mouth.

‘Anyway.’

Dia raised her head and saw Zen’s profile as he smiled slightly.

Then, worried he might have noticed her gaze, she quickly lowered her eyes. Her heart was pounding.

‘It feels too close.’

Her heart was in turmoil, as if she were in his embrace again. Why was she feeling this way when she wasn’t even that close to Zen right now?

‘Ah.’

It seemed to be because of Zen’s cologne.

His body, which seemed to have been born in a warm mansion in the city, somehow smelled of a snow-covered forest, and that scent was faintly permeating this car now.

That’s why she kept feeling as if she were in his arms.

“Um, uh.”

Dia, wanting to stop these strange thoughts, called out to Zen.

“What is it.”

Zen’s gruff reply came back. But strangely, his voice didn’t sound as cold as before.

“…When will the party end?”

Looking out the window, Zen raised one eyebrow.

“The party will end around midnight, but we’ll be back soon.”

“I see…”

“And let me tell you in advance.”

Zen’s head turned back to Dia. His golden eyes shone brightly in the darkness.

“You might end up being alone. I don’t intend to leave you alone for a long time, but in any case, I hope you’ll endure well.”

Remembering Deborah’s request, Zen asked, uncharacteristically gentle and earnest.

“Yes.”

After hearing Dia’s answer, Zen looked out the window again. Dia quietly placed her hand on her chest.

Her rapidly beating heart wouldn’t calm down.

[This is the timeline separator]

Dia thought there couldn’t be a more beautiful mansion than the Baker estate.

Indeed, the Baker mansion was more impressive than those owned by most nobles.

But it was no comparison to the Delta Marquis’s mansion where they arrived.

“Let’s go.”

Zen extended his hand to Dia, who was swallowing dryly while looking at the mansion emitting bright light.

Dia recalled Deborah.

‘Keep your posture straight, and hold your head high.’

As Dia composed herself and extended her hand to Zen, he guided her hand to link arms.

Though Dia knew it was the natural course, she still blushed.

At the entrance, when Zen handed the invitation to the footman, he examined it with a serious expression.

“I will guide you personally.”

Originally, it was extremely rare for a footman to guide guests directly.

The reason the footman guided Zen like this was because of Bellus’s orders.

The footman found Bellus, who was shining like a jewel in the crowded party hall.

“I have brought them.”

Bellus passed by the bowing footman as if he couldn’t hear his voice.

“What? I thought you’d come earlier.”

Bellus smiled broadly and extended his hand.

“I apologize. I thought there might be many people to greet Duke Delta, so I deliberately came late.”

“If you can’t even say that much.”

Bellus laughed softly and glanced at Dia as he spoke.

“Is this lady the daughter of Count Blaise?”

“Yes.”

Bellus gently bowed his head in greeting.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Blaise.”

Dia grasped her skirt and bowed her head as she had practiced hundreds of times.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

“I was curious about who had taken this man’s side, and it turns out to be such a beautiful lady. I envy you, Mr. Baker.”

Bellus extended his hand. Dia calmly placed her hand on his, and Bellus kissed the silk glove.

“Hehe. I’d like to say let’s at least wet our throats with champagne, but grandfather is about to leave.”

“I came too late, it seems.”

“Hmm. No, the timing is good. It’s much better to greet him last than when everyone is crowding around, right?”

As Bellus took the lead, Zen and Dia slowly followed.

People’s gazes turned to Bellus, and then to the two following him. Dia consciously held her head high, not yielding to their gazes.

“Ah. Damn. He’s still here.”

Suddenly stopping and grumbling softly, Bellus quickly composed his expression and said,

“Duke Buin. You’re still here.”