My feet touched the ground softly. Perhaps there was some concern that I might fall, as I felt a slight vibration on his plump arms wrapped around my waist.

“Surprised?”

“I really didn’t expect you to jump down with my item.”

Bursting into laughter, I reached out and tightly embraced Ian’s neck. As I did, his eyes widened as if surprised.

“What happened?”

“…I also wanted to see you today.”

“What about yesterday? Did you not want to see me yesterday?”

I thought it was a joke, but his gaze suddenly became serious. I forced a smile to my trembling lips and said,

“I wanted to see you yesterday too. But today, I wanted to see you even more.”

This response seemed to please him, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

“I came for the same reason.”

“Are you staying at the Knights’ quarters today?”

“No, I have to return to the palace immediately.”

You have to go back right away?

“Did you really come all the way here just to see my face?”

Ian, without saying a word, lowered his gaze to my face. His deepened eyes looked at my face as if exploring.

Eventually, he released me from his embrace and reached out his hand over my face. His slow-moving hand gently touched my hair. While he was fiddling with my well-tied cloak string, he suddenly bit his lips.

“Rose.”

“Yes?”

“If you ever want to see me again after returning to the palace…”

“…?”

“So, when you absolutely can’t stand it.”

What should I do?

He said with a sigh, as if forcefully suppressing something, causing his Adam’s apple to bob up and down noticeably.

“Then… come to see me.”

“Really?”

“I’m talking about when I go back to the mansion. If you can keep it a secret…”

Ian, who was silently looking down at me, hesitated for a moment and then spoke.

“Can I really go?”

“It’s not a must, but when you absolutely can’t stand it. Then, let’s see what happens.”

I replied nonchalantly, but deep down, I secretly hoped for it. Knowing that there was no other way to meet, on days when I stayed at the tower, I thought of him more often.

If this place had magic, could Ian have appeared in front of me as if by magic? I had even entertained such a silly imagination.

While I was lost in my own thoughts, Ian suddenly whistled loudly. Following his gaze, I lifted my head, and a hawk flew towards us from nearby. The hawk that circled above Ian’s head soon landed lightly on his arm.

“I’ll send this one before I leave.”

Ian, you were serious.

Then, I have to respond sincerely too.

“By the way, my room is on the 2nd floor of the main building.”

With a dramatically widened eye gaze, Ian’s eyes showed a surprised expression. I held back my laughter as I looked into his eyes shaking like he was hesitating.

“…Rose’s room?”

“I need to know where I am to send this one away, right?”
When I gestured towards the whip with my eyes, Ian’s lips slightly parted. Examining his somewhat disheveled expression, I chuckled briefly and took a step closer to him.

Anyway, it’s cute.

“Ian.”

“Speak.”

As Ian casually shrugged off his arm, the whip made a swishing sound and flew into the air. After glancing around for a moment, I approached him and asked,

“Is there anyone around?”

“There’s no one right now.”

Embracing his waist lightly, I rested my chin on his firm chest and raised my gaze. Faint tension passed over his face.

“Then… should we try it now?”

“What are you talking about?”

At the moment when his hand reached my shoulder, my body leaned forward. As I attempted to push his chest away, my body tilted forward. Unexpectedly, he pulled my waist tightly, and twisting his head, he gazed down at me in silence.

“There’s no way.”

The hand that caressed my cheek made my eyelids involuntarily tremble. Our foreheads touched, and our noses intertwined. In the ambiguous distance where our lips seemed to touch, as I unknowingly exhaled a shallow breath, a large hand approached and enveloped my face.

Gradually, warm breath filled the space. It transmitted from the points of contact with him. Feeling the stronger aura that seeped through, I closed my eyes more vividly.

“Rose, you’re aware that Prince Chevalier’s Book Festival will open soon, right?”

Casually nodding at Olivia’s question, I replied, “Yes. I plan to go separately that day.”

“Separately?”

Hermann, who put down his wine glass, narrowed his eyes and asked.

Before Ian returned to the palace, he repeatedly insisted to me. He said he would have everything ready, and I just had to come to Violet’s mansion on the day of the festival. There, Melissa would help with my dressing.

Unable to reveal the truth, I tried to come up with a suitable excuse. However, Olivia widened her eyes and asked,

“Are you planning to come with that man? Oh my, what am I saying…”

As Olivia put down her fork, she covered her mouth as if she had unintentionally made a slip of the tongue. Seeing Olivia’s clear thoughts, I couldn’t even force a laugh anymore.

Perhaps she misunderstood and thought I was meeting a commoner, so she brought up these words intentionally in front of Hermann.

“What are you saying, Olivia?”