“What? Is that true?”

In all his life, even Kisa, who had lived under the same roof, could count on one hand the times he had seen the Count so astonished.

“Could there have been some mistake?”

The secretary jumped at his employer’s question.

“It’s true! I confirmed it with my own eyes and read it over several times.”

“That’s preposterous. Kisa has already…”

The Count suddenly stopped speaking, looked at his daughter, and furrowed his brow.

“Kisa, you may go now.”

“Pardon?”

“Go and attend to your business.”

“But Father, you just—”

“I said leave.”

Faced with his stern and resolute tone that brooked no dissent, Kisa had no choice but to exit the Count’s office.

“What on earth is this about…”

It was difficult to guess why her father’s attitude had changed so abruptly. What news had the secretary brought?

It was certain that it related to Kisa, given that the Count had carelessly mentioned her name, but she couldn’t think of anything.

“Well, if it truly concerns me, I suppose I’ll find out eventually.”

At any rate, it seems she won’t have to send an insincere reply to Melissa for the time being. Taking comfort in that fact alone, she returned to her room.

It was late the next morning when the Count unexpectedly barged into Kisa’s room.

Kisa, who had been playing the violin to soothe her gloomy mood, was startled as she greeted her father.

“Father? What brings you here?”

It was a surprising visit, as the Count usually summoned his daughter to wherever he was when he had business with her. There was an unsettling air in the Count’s scrutinizing gaze.

“I hear you went to the opera house a few days ago.”

The Count began the conversation with an unexpected opening. No matter how strict he was, he wouldn’t reprimand her just for enjoying an opera that many nobles indulge in. Could it be that he had caught wind of something about the source of the tickets?

If the Count were to find out that his daughter had met a strange man twice at the Royal Library and received opera tickets as a gift from him, he certainly wouldn’t remain silent.

Not wanting to cause any trouble for Seyerd, Kisa answered carefully.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Did anything special happen there?”

She carefully searched her memory, but there was nothing particularly noteworthy to report to the Count.

“No, not really.”

“So you didn’t meet Duke Hillan?”

Duke Hillan? Her eyes blinked at the unexpected name. Come to think of it, he was at the opera house too.

“I heard that the Duke was there, but I didn’t get to meet him. It was too crowded to do so.”

The Count’s elongated eyes narrowed, as if trying to verify the truth of her words.

“Is that true?”

“It is.”

“You’re not lying?”

“Why would I lie to you about something like this, Father?”

“…Alright. I’ll believe you for now.”

After staring at his daughter for a long while, the Count turned around. It seemed he hadn’t found anything particularly suspicious.

“Wait, Father!”

But Kisa couldn’t let him leave like this.

“What’s this all about? Does it have anything to do with what the secretary said yesterday?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

Cutting off Kisa’s question as ruthlessly as he had arrived without warning, he left the room. Left alone, Kisa found it difficult to guess what was going on.

Why suddenly Duke Hillan? Had the Hillan family complained because she didn’t greet him first at the opera house? She could only think of such absurd possibilities.

This wasn’t the only event troubling Kisa’s mind.

The same day, in the afternoon. A fairly large box was delivered to the Ransfeld townhouse, and as soon as Kisa confirmed the sender’s name, her face crumpled.

“Daniel Lowens…”

Wow! The nanny examining the contents of the box alongside Kisa exclaimed.

“My, what a beautiful dress!”

Inside the box was an evening dress with a soft blue tint. It came with matching gloves and shoes.

“It’s from Young Master Daniel, isn’t it? He must want to see how lovely you’ll look in it.”

Without giving much of a response, Kisa roughly tore open the envelope of Daniel’s letter that came with the box.

“Oh my! You should use a paper knife!”

Ignoring the nanny’s scolding, she read the letter. Its contents were utterly simple.

Dear Kisa,

The time for Count Havertz’s charity ball is approaching once again this year. I’ve sent you something I thought would suit you well. I hope you’ll wear it and show off your beautiful figure to your heart’s content.

Your loving fiancé, Daniel.

P.S. Surely you’re not still upset about that incident? While that side of you is cute too, I like your smiling face the best.

Her teeth gritted. This crazy bastard, this shameless jerk. No, shameless doesn’t even begin to cover it. How can he be so brazenly flippant?

Count Havertz’s charity ball requires accompanying partners. And for the past few years, Kisa had been attending the charity ball with Daniel. Countess Havertz was his aunt.

In short, Daniel, who had been ignoring his fiancée all this time, was now demanding Kisa’s presence because he needed her. As if there had never been any conflict between them.

Who does he think will go? Kisa crumpled up Daniel’s detestable letter and then pointed at the box containing the dress to the nanny.

“Throw this away.”

The nanny was aghast.

“No, why would you throw this away? It’s such a waste!”

“I don’t like it.”

“How can you not like it! Miss, you’ve always liked dresses like this, haven’t you? Young Master Daniel chose well and sent it.”

“…I didn’t wear them because I liked them.”

She wore them because Daniel liked them. To look good for the man she loved.

“Is that so? Well, even if that’s the case, we can’t throw away a perfectly good dress. I’ll keep it in the wardrobe, so you can wear it if you change your mind.”

With those words, the nanny left the room, holding the box to her chest. Completely ignoring her mistress’s instructions.

Yes, that’s all there is to it. Although she’s said to be like a mother to Kisa, the nanny was still one of Count Ransfeld’s people. Hired by the Count’s decision and paid by the Count.

Once again realizing that there was no one in this mansion who cared for her more than the Count, Kisa flopped down on the bed. She was just tired.

It was on a day when Kisa still didn’t know the contents of the news the Count’s secretary had brought, and the nanny had hidden the dress so it couldn’t be thrown away.

As Kisa was returning to her room after a walk in the garden, a carriage came into view.

It was a black carriage standing in front of the main gate. Though no family crest was visible, its size and luxurious appearance suggested it wasn’t the kind of carriage a supplier of groceries or other mundane goods would arrive in. It seemed a guest had come to visit the Count.

There was nothing particularly strange about this, as they didn’t always inform Kisa when guests arrived.

But why? For some reason, Kisa began to feel curious about the identity of this unknown visitor.

Kisa’s footsteps led her towards the Count’s study, where he was likely receiving the guest. As she approached, she encountered a man lingering in front of the study.

“Oh, Miss.”

Though it was just a brief moment, the Count’s secretary wore a startled expression upon seeing Kisa. She instinctively felt that the guest behind that door was somehow related to her.

“The Count is currently with a guest—”

“Who is it?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked who the guest is. Is it someone I know?”

“I’m sorry. For professional reasons, I can’t disclose that…”

Before the secretary could finish speaking, Kisa approached the door, and faint voices could be heard.

The louder of the two, Count Ransfeld, mentioned his daughter’s name. Saying that Kisa already had a promised partner.

The other person replied something. Being calmer than the Count, it was difficult to make out the exact content.

But strangely, it seemed like a voice she had heard somewhere before.

“Miss, this is putting me in a difficult position.”

As Kisa pressed her ear against the door to concentrate, the secretary approached to restrain her.

“Just wait a little longer.”

“Please return to your room immediately. If you refuse, I’ll have to report this to the Count.”

“Are you threatening me now?”

As she was arguing with the secretary, Kisa suddenly lost her balance. The door she had been leaning on opened.

Kisa let out a small gasp and nearly fell, but fortunately, she didn’t collide with the floor. Thanks to the person behind the door who supported her.

A fresh citrus scent wafted from the strong arm that enveloped Kisa’s shoulders. This too felt somehow familiar.

“Oh my, are you alright?”

Kisa slowly raised her head to look at the owner of the scent. Her blue eyes trembled uncontrollably.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

The man worrying about her in an elegant voice while looking down was someone Kisa knew. Because she had met him at the library not long ago.

It was Seyerd. But why was he here…

“Kisa!”

At that moment, Count Ransfeld’s startled face appeared behind Seyerd’s shoulder. His eyes widened.

“Don’t tell me you were eavesdropping on our conversation?”

But Seyerd restrained the Count, who seemed about to unleash a few more sharp words.

“Count, would you allow me to introduce myself to the young lady?”

“Ah, yes.”

Surprisingly, the Count’s anger quickly subsided. Seyerd took the puzzled Kisa’s hand and lightly kissed the back of it. It was a touch so light it was barely there.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ransfeld.”

The man looked at Kisa with gently curved eyes.

“I am Seyerd Hillan.”