“I heard you were coming, but what brings you all the way here?”

It was a tone so cold it could freeze flesh.

Though it was a formal question devoid of any emotion, Ariana smiled brightly.

“Oh, nothing special. I was just out on an errand and about to return when I thought of the Delgado mansion. I’ve also heard rumors about how beautiful the garden here is.”

“Is that why you came?”

“Is that not allowed?”

There was no reason it shouldn’t be.

However, what puzzled Dietrich was that he and Ariana were not on terms to exchange pleasantries and engage in small talk.

He leaned back deeper into the reception room sofa.

He had heard from the butler about the Imperial Princess Ariana’s visit as soon as he returned from his outing today.

Upon hearing the news, he noticed the mansion’s servants were busy cleaning here and there.

Heidi must be busy too, preparing a banquet to entertain the princess.

Thinking of Heidi sweating profusely while working in the hot kitchen made Ariana’s already awkward visit even more disagreeable.

I swear, there was no one at the Delgado mansion who would welcome Ariana Zeneger.

Duchess Leriana strongly disapproved of his aligning with the imperial family.

If the imperial family backed him as duke, it would be disadvantageous for her.

However, Dietrich had no intention whatsoever of getting involved with the imperial family.

Especially not with the sorrowful-looking princess before him.

He crossed his legs and said indifferently.

“There’s nothing wrong with it, but it seems there’s no one here who would particularly welcome Your Highness.”

“Ah, that’s alright.”

But Ariana was a formidable opponent.

Seemingly unperturbed by the cold words, she brought the teacup in front of her to her lips.

Then, savoring the black tea with its subtle peach aroma, she leisurely began to look around.

“This is my first time in the Delgado mansion’s reception room. I’ve only been to the annex where parties are usually held, but this place is truly beautiful too.”

“…”

“What’s the name of this tea? The aroma is incredible.”

The question thrown to keep the conversation going vanished into thin air.

But Ariana continued speaking without losing her smile, even in the face of Dietrich’s indifference.

“I heard you took care of the injured at the last hunting competition. I actually thought you weren’t particularly interested in others, but you were kind.”

Dietrich’s eyebrow raised slightly.

‘Kind?’

He naturally thought of Heidi.

Heidi had said something similar to Calt, the vice-captain of the knights.

Kindness…

It seemed like a word far removed from himself. However, Heidi looked confident, as if there wasn’t a shred of lie in her words.

As if Dietrich were truly a kind person.

At times like that, it seemed Heidi knew a lot about aspects of him that even he didn’t know well.

It kept bothering him. Even when trying to act as usual, that comment made him think twice.

Once, he had bumped into a maid carrying a basket piled high with laundry like a mountain.

To the maid trembling and begging for forgiveness, he found himself saying, ‘It’s alright, you can stop apologizing.’

It was something he could have passed by without saying anything, as he usually would.

How burdensome was the gaze of the maid who had been almost in tears, looking up at him after those words.

‘Anyway, saying unnecessary things makes me uncomfortable.’

This was all because of that Heidi.

“Um, Lord Dietrich?”

“Ah, what did you say?”

“I asked if it would be alright to take a walk in the garden.”

It seemed he had been lost in thought too deeply while someone was in front of him.

Ariana was clasping her hands together with an earnest expression.

Dietrich hesitated for a moment. Have I ever walked in the garden?

Moreover, he had never once in his life taken a garden stroll alone with a woman.

Quickly noticing Dietrich’s hesitation, Ariana lowered her gentle gaze.

“I caught a glimpse while coming in the carriage earlier, and the garden looked truly beautiful. I thought it would be nice to walk together.”

“It will be hot. The sun hasn’t fully set yet.”

“I know. But it seems like a garden worth walking through even if we sweat, doesn’t it?”

He nodded reluctantly as he stood up.

Ariana was truly delighted, her cheeks turning a slight pink.

As expected, it was hot outside.

Ariana thought it was fortunate she wore a dress made of thin material today.

It would have been embarrassing to sweat in front of Dietrich.

She slightly lifted her flowing white short-sleeved dress and said.

“This dress is perfect for a garden stroll, isn’t it?”

“Is that so.”

It wasn’t a sincere answer. However, Ariana was satisfied with just that for now.

For now.

“The thin material keeps me from getting too hot. Though my skin might tan a bit.”

She smiled, pointing to her exposed snow-white arms.

It was an elegant and pure smile that was impossible to look away from.

It wasn’t for nothing that she was called the empire’s greatest beauty.

The fragile yet beautiful flower of the Chronotia Empire.

That was the phrase used to describe Ariana Zeneger.

But Dietrich was just staring at the ornamental trees lining the garden.

He wasn’t interested in whatever Ariana was saying.

After all, it was obvious why she had come all the way here.

He wasn’t unaware that she had personally visited the Delgado mansion because she wanted to marry him.

Unfortunately, Dietrich had no intention of fulfilling her wish.

The reason he still accompanied her was that Dietrich didn’t particularly dislike her.

To put it more accurately, he neither liked nor disliked her.

Dietrich thought Ariana Zeneger was the wisest among the pathetic imperial family members.

Ariana Zeneger’s greatest strength was not her pure flower-like appearance, but her sharp mind that quickly calculated practical benefits.

It was said that the idea of giving support funds to poor neighborhoods in each region on imperial commemoration days was also the princess’s idea.

It was natural to feel personally favorable towards the princess who took care of the empire’s people, compared to the fool of an emperor who only knew how to wage war.

But the emperor and crown prince didn’t approve of such a princess.

From the beginning, there had never been a single instance of a woman ascending to the imperial throne in the Chronotia Empire.

The emperor, like those before him, thought it was absurd for a woman to become emperor.

Because of this, Ariana couldn’t be a successor candidate despite having a sharper mind than her stupid brother.

The emperor only saw the princess as a tool for political marriage.

That she should be married to a man from a family that would strengthen imperial authority.

Thus, Ariana was on the verge of being thrown into the marriage market.

For such an Ariana, the Delgado family was the last remaining hope.

‘If she becomes tied to the Delgados through marriage, the princess’s position within the imperial family will also become more secure.’

It was a guess, but the princess probably proposed it to the emperor first.

The emperor, who wanted to grasp the Delgado family at that opportune moment, would have readily agreed.

He looked at Ariana strolling through the garden with elegant steps.

Beyond the garden, the sun was setting, burning a bright orange.

Just then, Ariana raised her head to look up at Dietrich.

When their eyes met, her emerald-like blue-green eyes widened.

His silver-gray hair reflected in the burning sunset, sparkling in various colors.

Ariana had never seen such a breathtaking sight.

As she stared at him in a daze, she lost her balance and stumbled.

“Oh, careful…”

Her delicate body swayed precariously like a falling leaf in the wind.

Thinking she would fall at this rate, Ariana tightly shut her eyes.

Just as she felt herself getting closer to the ground.

Thud. Feeling a hand grasping her waist, Ariana slowly opened her eyes.

Through her eyelids, she saw the sculpture-like man’s pupils slightly dilate.

It was the first sign of Dietrich’s agitation since coming to the Delgado mansion.

Dietrich hurriedly removed his hand that had been grasping Ariana’s waist.

“Ah…”

Letting out a short gasp, Ariana quickly straightened her clothes.

“Th-thank you, my lord.”

“It’s nothing.”

Although the heat had died down as the sun was setting, Ariana felt her ears burning hot.

‘Lord Dietrich is truly handsome.’

It was a fact she had known before, but his face up close was breathtaking.

Dietrich began walking ahead, leaving Ariana still standing in place.

In the areas without ornamental trees, rare flowers that were hard to see swayed gently in the breeze.

Ariana hurriedly caught up behind Dietrich.

She had something she wanted to properly convey to him.

“Um, my lord!”

However, he wasn’t listening to her words.

Standing at a spot where the mansion’s main gate was clearly visible in the distance, he was staring intently at something.

Ariana also turned her head, following his gaze.

“Oh, that maid is…”

On the path leading to the mansion, a maid with black hair was hopping about as if happy about something.

Then, as if she had seen Ariana, she quickly clasped her hands in front and bowed her head in greeting.

“That’s the maid I met at the hunting competition last time. Lord Dietrich, do you also know…”

Ariana’s words were cut off before she could finish.

Because Dietrich had quickly left the garden.

Where he headed was in front of the black-haired maid.