“So it seems like I’m jealous or something.”

It wasn’t jealousy.

Jealousy would have to be preceded by a certain emotion. He swore to the heavens that he had no such feelings for Elleon.

Of course, he always treated Elleon sincerely. He didn’t hypocritically treat him as if he was just a character in a book, not a real existing person.

He wished for Elleon to meet his fated partner, Carina, open his eyes, and be happy.

Wonyoonji would then capture that sight in her eyes and happily return to the original world.

Although Elleon was handsome, cool, sometimes pitiable and sorrowful, it was only the heart of a reader watching the protagonist. At least, he had thought so until now.

“I thought it was going so well when Carina came to ask for help.”

Didn’t he promptly agree to arrange a place for Elleon?

But then his mood suddenly falls.

Why? Why?

Yet at the same time, a forbidden sense of rejection arose, as if he shouldn’t concentrate on that emotion.

“Because Elleon and I live in different worlds, it’s only natural.”

However, that was not enough to explain his uncomfortable feeling.

“No, stop thinking about it.”

Right. This is resentment. It’s the emotion a motherinlaw might have when sending her wellraised son to get married.

Elycia found a similar emotion and forced herself to believe that was her current state.

“Is it time already?”

Elycia looked at the slightly slanting sun and stood up, brushing the dirt off her skirt.

When she returned to the garden where the tea table was, Carina was sitting there, drinking tea alone.

“Did the Duke leave?”

“He said he had something busy to do and left earlier.”

Carina’s fresh smile made Elycia feel like something went well. Elycia forced herself to hide her bitter feelings and asked,

“Did you have a good conversation with the Duke?”

“Yes.”

Carina blushed slightly.

“I can’t speak in detail.”

I see. Yes. They must have had a good conversation.

Elycia swallowed a sigh and forced a smile at Carina.

(This is a time separator.)

Returning to the Harrington Earl’s mansion, Carina nervously took off her hat and dress.

“Welcome back, Miss. Just a moment. Let me help you. Ouch!”

Carina swatted away the maid’s hand that approached to help.

“I can do it faster with my hands.”

“But still…….”

The maid, who saw the silk ribbon that zigzagged across the back of Carina’s dress and was torn by Carina’s rough touch, sighed momentarily at the thought that her work had increased. However, she soon picked up the discarded clothes and petticoat and went along with her mistress’s mood.

“Did you enjoy tea time today?”

“Enjoyed?”

The maid closed her mouth as Carina scoffed.

“Leave.”

“Yes, Miss.”

The maid, at a loss for what to do due to Carina’s sensitive reactions, quickly disappeared with the gathered dress.

“Phew.”

Alone now, Carina felt anger well up from within.

Since she had met Elleon in front of Cafe Cardinal, Carina had been agonizing, wanting to meet him again.

But there was no connection.

She didn’t even realize that he was the famous blind beast, Duke Clément, even after seeing his beautiful appearance and the red eyes of Oder, the symbol of the empire.

At the palace ball, when the empress asked for the first dance, Elleon took Elycia to the floor in an instant.

It would have been nice if she had stepped out to dance with him then.

Unfortunately, she had missed the opportunity, too angry at glaring at Saviel, whom she regarded as an enemy.

“Then let Carina dance the first dance with the crown prince.”

In the midst of all this, she was specially debuted in society by the empress, and had no choice but to dance with Saviel as directed by Seraphina Empress.

The very ‘first dance’ at that.

“Congratulations on your debut in the capital’s social world, Carina.”

Dancing and speaking to me, Saviel looked at me, and Carina sneered.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince is truly remarkable. I thought at least an apology would be in order.”

“Apology? An apology. What wrong have I done to you?”

His nonchalant demeanor seemed to make her blood boil. She wanted to stomp on his foot and storm out of the place, but she realized that doing so would only embarrass herself at this event where she had just started to make her debut.

“You’ve tricked naive me. Your Highness’s fidelity is indeed cheap. Even ardent vows cool by the time the sun rises after one night.”

At Carina’s words, Saviel chuckled as though greatly amused. The people twirling around them dancing, glanced over at her and Saviel.

“Naive? Weren’t you the one who first requested the night?”

“What did you say?”

“You didn’t express your determination not to send me away?”

Carina’s face turned red.

“And it’s not that my fidelity is cheap, but rather the opposite. Aren’t you the cheap one who couldn’t handle the affection I poured on you for even a day, and grew bored of it?”

“…….”

Carina was at a loss for words at the absurd insults.