‘No ability at all.’

I stroked the necklace that Hertian had put on me, gazing at the scenery outside the carriage.

He had said that there was no ability in this necklace.

“If that’s the case, why not buy a real jewel? Why choose an enchant?”

I grumbled as if my mouth had moved too much.

‘I wanted an ability too.’

But now that it was said to be nonexistent, I felt disappointed.

“He didn’t put a tracking ability on me, did he?”

If that were the case, I wouldn’t appear to have any ability.

I looked suspiciously at the necklace.

Even if it had a tracking ability, it didn’t matter.

I had nothing to hide from him.

‘I’m not cheating or anything.’

“No, it’s nothing. What cheating are you talking about? We’re not even real lovers…”

Whether I met a man or not.

But there was a slight discomfort in one corner of my heart.

Perhaps it was because Hertian had confessed to me.

“Annette?”

Continuing to think about Hertian, I had unknowingly arrived at the meeting place with Michael.

“What are you doing there?”

“Huh?”

When I came to my senses, I found myself tapping my head under a large tree. No wonder my forehead felt sore.

“Is your forehead okay?”

Michael took out a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped my forehead.

What was he doing with an unwet handkerchief? It seemed like he wanted to show concern but didn’t want to bother with actual trouble.

“You… You’ve been through a lot.”

As he handed me back the handkerchief, Michael patted me gently. His face showed that everyone knew why I was struggling.

“Don’t worry. I’ve solved everything.”

Instead of answering, Michael vigorously nodded his head.

“Indeed, Michael. You’re the one who understands me the best.”

I spoke with a bright smile, saying meaningless words without any affection.

“Don’t worry. I’ve always been concerned about you. I’m relieved that I could be of help.”

Contrary to his humble words, his face looked proud as he patted his nose with the handkerchief, a proud expression different from his modest words.

“Oh, by the way, Annette.”

But his smile faded faster than mine. He hesitated and looked at me, gauging my reaction.

“Yes?”

“Actually, his Highness the Prince wants to have a clean conversation with you instead of completely giving up on the duel.”

Of course. Serdis would never willingly permit it.

As my expression stiffened, Michael added some explanation.
“You haven’t been meeting me lately, so it seems you can’t even have a proper meal. Of course, I know you’re not interested in meeting me, but still, how about having a brief conversation, considering Prince Serdis made a significant decision? You won’t be at a disadvantage at all.”

If Micael truly believed that I was Casian, he might have been deeply disappointed upon hearing these words.

I am representing Serdis’s perspective, not my own.

“Sure.”

Still, thinking of him as an impostor made it easy for me to accept his proposal.

‘Now one thing is done.’

Now, he has only one thing left to do.

“Micael, actually, I have one more concern.”

I immediately muttered with a darkened face.

Micael blinked his eyes.

“What’s the matter? Just tell me. If there’s something I can help you with, I’ll help you.”

To him, lying seemed to be nothing.

“Actually, I’m not getting along well with the Grand Duke these days.”

I wrapped my false bait skillfully to throw it at him.

This time, it was the prophet and the location where he could contact her again.

“What happened?”

“I guess we rushed into marriage too hastily. It happened this time too; we keep clashing.”

Micael’s eyes sparkled.

“Actually, I don’t understand why you married the Grand Duke. You suffer every time because of him.”

“Do you think so too?”

I pursed my lips with a serious expression. As I did, Micael became more spirited and started mumbling curses about Hertian. The bait was perfectly cast.

“I never liked him from the beginning. His gaze is sinister, and last time, you left the dining table, and he picked a fight with me for no reason.”

“The Grand Duke said that?”

He blinked his eyes widely and nodded.

I put on a confused expression and sat down as if contemplating.

“If I break up with the Grand Duke, will there be someone to meet me?”

“Of course. There are many good men in the Empire.”

“Micael, will you marry me just for now?”

Micael’s eyes trembled.

“Do you dislike it?”

Seeing that I couldn’t even spit out empty words, I must have looked extremely displeased. How did I end up playing the role of a close friend to him? Now I was starting to doubt Serdis’s judgment.

“Huh? Can you help me a bit?”

But I pretended not to notice and took one more step toward him.

“Annette… Even if you break up with the Grand Duke, why do you have to get married? Tell me that first.”

Micael turned the conversation, trying to hide his confusion.

‘He’s not good at acting like this.’

I laughed sarcastically and took a step back from him.

Micael immediately arranged a meeting with Serdis.

When I arrived at the appointed place, Serdis was already there, as if waiting.

‘Is he deliberately calling me to this place?’

It was the famous patisserie in the capital where we first met in private.

There, where there was always a hustle and bustle, Serdis was alone.

Whether he rented the entire shop or not, he was the only one there.

And on the terrace where we first met, Serdis was waiting with a table full of desserts.

The desserts were excessively luxurious.

“It seems His Highness had a big appetite.”

Serdis lightly smiled in response to my words.

It seemed like he paid extra attention to his attire today, and his face looked slimmer than usual.

Micael’s words weren’t just empty.

And my body felt surprisingly light, as if lying.

“You’ve been through a lot preparing for this.”

There was also a lack of strength in my voice. And Serdis’s empty teacup.

It seemed like he had been waiting for quite a long time.

I sat down in the opposite seat. As I entered, a staff member came in and handed me a new cup of tea. The tea was the same type we had last time.

Everything was the same as that time.

However, as if indicating that many things had happened during this time, there was a momentary silence between us.

It was Serdis who broke the silence first.

“Do you remember that day?”

The day we first met here.
I naturally remembered.

It was the day my life completely changed. All the memories from the past returned, and I knew that I would face an unhappy life, so I ran away to avoid it.

“It’s already been almost three months.”

Now, the scent of spring from that time had vanished, leaving only an awkward silence.

And Serdis, exuding a completely different atmosphere than back then, uttered a word.

“Did what you saw back then involve my future?”