“Your Highness, what’s that?”

Nathan asked with a smirk. If it wasn’t his imagination, Ian had been unable to take his eyes off the fist-sized box since earlier.

“Oh, this… It’s a gift I received.”

“A gift? What is it?”

Nathan’s curious eyes descended onto the box. Ian cautiously opened the box, revealing its contents briefly before quickly closing it. In that fleeting moment, Nathan’s eyes widened as he confirmed the item inside.

“Isn’t it a brooch?”

“That’s right.”

‘These days, it’s a trend in the capital for lovers to exchange brooches.’

“Don’t casually accept such things.”

Ian, satisfied after hearing Nathan’s thoughts, furrowed his brows and asked, “Why?”

“What if Lady Rosabelia misunderstands?”

Ian opened the box again. Nathan, who had rushed over in excitement, blinked and responded, “Green brooch.”

“What color is the border?”

“Yellow? It looks golden.”

“When you see this, can you think of someone immediately?”

Golden with a touch of green. Nathan, lifting his eyes, looked back at Ian’s face.

“Could it be who I’m thinking of?”

“Yes, exactly.”

“Your Highness, are you thinking of presenting this to Lady Rosabelia and making it known throughout the empire? I told you not to burden Lady Rosabelia.”

Ian sighed briefly, touching his forehead.

“Nathan?”

“Yes?”

“What did I say earlier?”

Nathan, scratching his cheek as he recalled the conversation with Ian, replied, “You received a gift.”

“That’s right. I received this as a gift.”

“Did Lady Rosabelia give this to you?”

Instead of answering, Ian lifted his lips slightly. Recognizing the positive meaning behind that smile, Nathan’s eyes sparkled.

“Ah, so Lady Rosabelia likes Your Highness?”

“Yeah.”

Ian chuckled as he opened another drawer. Inside, there was another box. Pretending to choose the border, he had separately purchased a blue brooch for the owner.

‘I could tell she liked the color blue, so she should be pleased when I give it to her.’

“Perhaps you were dreaming…”
‘She probably would like it if I give it to her, considering how much she liked it.’

“Did you happen to dream…”

While absentmindedly stroking the box, Ian suddenly stopped and lifted his gaze. Nathan, who met his gaze with eyes that seemed devoid of any hint of laughter, flinched and closed his mouth.

“Nathan, if you’re going to make such comments next to me, just go to bed early.”

“Oh, no. I was just surprised. Not too long ago, Lady Rosabelia was suffering and sighing about missing you.”

‘It’s my own heart, and I didn’t even know until now. Now is not the time to just peek and look inside… It keeps protruding.’

‘I like you, Ian.’

Recalling that confession from that day made his heart beat fiercely. As he thought of her small and soft body, which naturally nestled against him, heat surged through his entire body.

Ian, who had let out a breath, focused his strength on his slightly trembling eyelids.

‘…Then, can I freely like you now, Senbaenim?’

‘As much as you want.’

As he recalled Rosebelia, who had said that while smiling affectionately, laughter escaped from him involuntarily. Even though he had longed for this day, it didn’t feel real.

In his mind, all that remained was the determination to firmly protect the place she had allowed him to have.

“When is the best season?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“I mean, for a wedding. Wouldn’t the refreshing spring be nice, or the lush green summer?”

“Um, Your Highness?”

Responding to Nathan’s call, Ian, who was resting his chin on the desk, only moved his eyes to look at him. Trying to erase any signs of embarrassment, Nathan put on a forced smile.

‘Let it go. It’s a good time to fulfill your first love. No matter what I say now, it won’t be accepted.’

“If you have something to say, say it anywhere.”

“No, sir. By the way, have you heard the news?”

“What news?”

“…She passed away?”

“Yes. She attended our family gathering not long ago, and I never thought Fontaine Youngae would suddenly…”

Yes, Fontaine Youngae.

She was the woman who spoke to Reinhardt at the Illaiser family gathering, dressed in a red dress. She was also a character that appeared in the original work.

Daisy was quite surprised by the sudden and inexplicable death.

There was no time for her to hesitate. Waiting like this would not change anything.

Since then, she had struggled fiercely to find Ian, who had suddenly disappeared from the White Knights, in order to locate him.

“How did it happen? Did she stay at the mansion and…”

“No, she said she entered the palace not long ago.”

“The palace?”

“Yes. She probably entered as a lady-in-waiting for Queen Dowager. We only occasionally saw each other at gatherings, but she was healthy and lively. But to not even know the cause…”
I thought about Fontaine Youngae’s death throughout my return to the mansion after finishing the light training with Daisy. I couldn’t easily dismiss Daisy’s words, saying that even the cause was unknown.