Hertian traced the warmth remaining in Anette’s hand with his own.

It had been a while since she had brushed off his hand and left, but her scent and warmth seemed to linger here. He pondered over what to do, recalling Anette’s words.

“I can’t give up the duel.”

It wasn’t an impulsive decision to discard the gloves in a moment of emotion. He had been building his strength for a long time, wanting to escape the influence of the royal family directly, but he hadn’t had a direct opportunity. However, seeing Serdis grabbing Anette right in front of him seemed like the chance.

If he could separate Serdis from the tormenting lump and free Anette, he could do anything.

“Duchess Consort went to Baroness Ballosone’s residence.”

It was news from Osen, who returned shortly after going to the main house.

“Also, before going to Ballosone, she went to the Prince’s Palace, but it seems she didn’t meet the Prince or the Baroness there.”

“No one met her.”

She left the royal palace alone without meeting even Hertian.

“According to the reports from the knights, there was a disturbance at Baroness Ballosone’s before the lady entered, but she went in knowing that.”

Hertian, listening to Osen’s report, tightly squeezed the hand where her warmth had disappeared.

“Osen, my little finger feels numb today.”

“Yes? Where did you hurt yourself?”

Osen asked as if scolding him for why he was holding onto a painful finger. But what really hurt wasn’t the fingernail.

“I cut the last fingernail with peach blossom water before coming down to the capital.”

The disappointment after cutting it couldn’t be hidden.

Osen sensitively sensed the change in his master’s expression. It seemed something had happened during the days he was at the main house. But it didn’t seem like discord with the royal family. Surely, it was related to the Duchess.

“Did you reveal your identity to the lady?”

Hertian chuckled softly.

“No.”

“Then… your heart…”

Osen couldn’t finish his sentence. Hertian responded before Osen could continue.

“You said it yourself. If I guard this peach blossom water before the first snowfall, my first love will come true. I already guarded the peach blossom water, and I don’t think the timing matters.”

Osen’s face, who heard the story, was dyed with amazement.

Moreover, seeing him now with a dark expression seemed like he was rejected.

‘This is bad.’

The responsibility could now fall on him.

Hertian turned his head to look at Osen. Osen swallowed hard under his cold gaze.

He had to speak.

‘You have to tell the truth now.’

He reluctantly opened his mouth, and involuntarily, his head bowed.

“That’s… it’s a superstition. I told you the story my older sister brought back when she was young. I’m sorry for telling you an unfounded story.”

His eyes closed tightly.

While he didn’t know anything else, he didn’t pass over the story related to Anette.

‘If I had told the truth earlier, he wouldn’t have made a rash confession.’

But it was already too late to turn back time.

“Osen.”

At the sound of his name, Osen flinched. Then Hertian placed his hand on Osen’s shoulder.

Osen looked up at him with a puzzled expression. Hertian, who usually showed no signs of anger, looked the same as usual.

Osen opened his mouth slowly, and Hertian spoke first.

“Do you think I believed and confessed because of such superstitions?”

“Yes?”

Osen’s pupils reflected in his glasses trembled.

“If I could move Anette’s heart with such a superstition, I would be sitting in front of a kind witch in some village, not in the royal palace.”

Hertian patted Osen’s shoulder a few times.

“Osen, meet someone you love. Being so naive, you might get taken advantage of somewhere.”
“Tsk.” The sound of disapproval was heard.

Osen was perplexed.

“Wasn’t that something I was going to say?”

Naturally, he expected Hertian to be steadfast when it came to personally guarding the peach blossom water. And now, being left alone with his fingers tingling, he had mentioned such a thing.

“Then why, why did you confess?”

Osen asked, feeling unjust.

“There’s not much time. I don’t have time to chatter with you now. I’m going that way.”

At this, Osen stopped him.

“All this time, did you know everything and mock me?”

“It’s going to rain soon.”

Hertian turned his head towards the window. Coincidentally, dark clouds were gathering outside.

“Then what about the confession? Why did the lady reject it?”

“Osen, when did such things become important?”

Only then did Hertian respond to Osen.

Osen couldn’t offer any response, as if he had just eaten honey.

Hertian, in his words and actions, was always straightforward.

“If Anette was going to shrink back because she was going to reject it, I wouldn’t have started in the first place.”

Anette’s rejection didn’t change anything. He thought about Anette, who wouldn’t even carry an umbrella.

“It’s probably my job now to be an umbrella so that you don’t get wet.”

Having left the royal palace, Hertian waited for Anette to come out in front of Baroness Ballosone’s residence.