“Daniel!”

Kisa hurriedly distanced herself from the man who had been clinging close to her.

“Why are you here?”

Daniel shrugged at the question tinged with wariness.

“I came to buy handkerchiefs at the handkerchief store. What else would I be here for?”

This arrogant bastard came to buy such a modest gift as handkerchiefs in person, without even sending a servant?

While that might be believable for his beloved Hazel, it was hard to accept that his timing just happened to overlap with Kisa’s visit.

“You’re lying. You followed me, didn’t you?”

“What? My lady certainly has a strong sense of self-importance.”

Daniel mocked her like that, but this place was a bustling area full of high-end shops that he frequently visited as well. Surely he had come by chance and then followed Kisa after spotting her.

“Go about your business. Don’t bother unnecessary people.”

“I told you, I came to buy handkerchiefs. And give you some advice on choosing my gift while I’m at it.”

“Your gift?”

Kisa blinked a couple of times before fully understanding Daniel’s meaning. A sound of air escaping came from her mouth, so absurd did she find it.

“What nonsense are you spouting? There’s no way I’d give you a gift in the first place.”

However, her words had no effect on the man full of arrogance.

“Don’t try to deny it. From what I can see, it’s a men’s handkerchief. Who else would you be buying a handkerchief for, if not me? Coming all the way here to choose it personally, no less.”

“It could be a gift for my father.”

“But the Count’s birthday is still far off, isn’t it?”

“Is there a rule that says I can only give gifts on birthdays?”

“Ah, I see. Has your relationship with your father improved dramatically without my knowledge?”

His mocking tone clearly showed he didn’t believe it at all.

In an instant, Daniel snatched up one of the handkerchiefs on display that Kisa had pointed to earlier and held it out to her.

“I told you this one suits me, didn’t I? Come on, pay for it quickly.”

“If you want it so badly, buy it with your own money.”

“It’s strange for me to buy my own gift, isn’t it?”

“As I said before, it’s not your gift.”

“Then whose gift is it? Actually, when you first came in, I heard you asking the clerk to recommend handkerchiefs suitable for a young man to use.”

“You have a nasty habit of eavesdropping on others’ conversations.”

Although it was a sarcastic retort from Kisa, Daniel only said what he wanted to say.

“Don’t put on unnecessary airs. Don’t I know you? Besides me, what young man are you close enough with to give such an intimate gift?”

“There is one.”

“Who? Your younger brother who lives in another region and is on awkward terms with your sister? Or perhaps a cousin you haven’t seen in years?”

Damn, Daniel knew her circumstances too well to simply deny it. In fact, until recently, his words would have been correct.

Although she frequently attended social events, she had kept her distance from men, perhaps excessively so.

The conservative Count had taught that this was the duty of a woman with a fiancé, and Kisa had faithfully followed her father’s teachings.

No… Even if the Count hadn’t done so, she probably would have acted the same way. For the sake of that damned man.

Looking back now, it made her furious. While she had maintained her fidelity alone, her fiancé had even made eternal vows to another woman. She must have been crazy. What kind of wealth and glory did she think she would gain?

“Tell me. So who is it?”

Her mouth itched to speak in front of that irritating, smug face. She wanted to burst out that she would soon break off the engagement with him, that the owner of the handkerchief was not someone like him.

Of course, it goes without saying that this was not to be. Patience was needed to achieve a more favorable breakup for her side. She couldn’t allow the Lowens side to respond if they sensed something was amiss.

“Oh, are you ignoring me?”

Kisa decided that ignoring him was the answer and turned away abruptly, prompting a whistle from Daniel’s lips.

“Still as haughty as ever, I see. Even though you came all this way to choose a reconciliation gift for me.”

Ah, this was truly unbearable. Kisa finally turned to glare at Daniel and asked.

“Reconciliation? Us?”

“Yes, isn’t that right?”

“Are you really insane? I can’t understand it with my common sense. Why would I give you a reconciliation gift?”

“I reached out first, so you thought you’d reluctantly accept, right?”

“When did you ever reach out?”

The answer to that genuinely curious question was unexpected.

“You received the dress I sent, didn’t you? The dress for you to wear to the charity gala.”

Only then did she recall the dress with its bluish tint. Daniel drooped his thick eyebrows, making a decidedly playful sad face.

“To be honest, I didn’t feel good about parting with you like that either. I didn’t mean to say things that way, but you kept bringing up Hazel.”

“…And so?”

“So I thought. That I should extend the olive branch first.”

His voice became somewhat insinuating as he bent down to whisper in her ear.

“You know, Kisa. Let’s go back to being on good terms like before. What good would it do for us to keep being at odds with each other?”

His arm naturally came around her shoulder.

“After all, you and I are going to be husband and wife, right?”

The nape of her neck prickled. Because the restraining touch was horrible, and because it wasn’t entirely horrible.

As soon as she realized this, she hurriedly escaped from his hand.

“Don’t touch me. It’s disgusting.”

For the first time, Daniel wiped the leisurely smile from his face.

“Your way of speaking has become quite rough?”

“Yeah, I learned it from someone who called their fiancée stupid and beneath their level. I feel good now, to the point where I regret only using polite language all this time.”

“Are you going to bring up that old apology again?”

Kisa thought she had never received an apology from Daniel, but thinking about it again, maybe she had. Very insincere, like a passing remark.

Daniel’s expression hardened as if he was starting to get annoyed.

“I apologized and reached out first. What more do you want from me?”

“To never appear in front of me again.”

“You still haven’t given up? We’re engaged, whether you refuse or not.”

That engagement was set to be broken soon. Completely unaware of this fact, the man was under the delusion that he could always maintain the upper hand.

“I guess you’re angry because you’re embarrassed about being caught choosing a gift for me, but be smart. Think about what attitude would truly benefit you.”

It’s advantageous not to speak with someone who won’t listen to reason. Kisa left Daniel to ramble on his own and resumed looking at the handkerchiefs.

She was able to decide on a gift quickly. The plain navy handkerchief that Daniel had said he liked didn’t look very pretty upon second glance.

Kisa called the clerk and paid for a black handkerchief with a sophisticated pattern on the other side.

“I’ll take this one too.”

But no sooner had the transaction finished than Daniel, who had been quiet until then, called the clerk. In his hand were two women’s handkerchiefs, white with red ribbons attached.

Barely listening to the price, he tossed the clerk a gold coin that was excessive for the cost of handkerchiefs and approached Kisa.

Then he arbitrarily placed one of the handkerchiefs he had bought into her hand.

“Here, a gift.”

“…What?”

Daniel raised the corners of his mouth as he watched her react a bit slowly, not understanding what was happening.

“A reconciliation gift, I said. The dress wasn’t enough, it seems, so I’ll give you that.”

He put the remaining handkerchief in his pocket and headed towards the exit.

“See you next time. Ah, don’t forget to come to the charity gala. And be sure to wear that dress.”

Kisa quickly realized why Daniel had bought two women’s handkerchiefs. She also knew who he intended to give the other one to.

That man couldn’t rest until he had returned the favor in full if his feelings were hurt.

Angered by this attempt to provoke her, Kisa shouted at his retreating back.

“I already threw away the dress you gave me!”

“Sure, sure. I’ll come pick you up that day.”

Believing it to be bravado, Daniel only waved his hand without looking back.

“Who says I’ll go with you?”

“Well, we’ll see about that when the time comes.”

It was a voice full of confidence, not doubting for a moment that everything would go according to his wishes.

They say life is a series of good and bad events alternating. The day after Kisa returned home in a low mood after encountering Daniel while shopping for a handkerchief to give to Seyerd…

Count Vanspelt called his daughter to his study as usual and showed her a magazine.

It was a magazine that specialized in low-quality gossip about celebrities, one that Kisa normally wouldn’t even glance at.

“This is…”

Kisa’s eyes flashed as she scanned the open page.

The daring affair of a young master from a prestigious family with a fiancée? The shocking identity of the woman who captivated him!

An article clearly referring to Daniel occupied a rather large space. For reference, there was even a kind illustration depicting Daniel and Hazel below it.

“Although it’s a third-rate magazine, there’s a clear difference between a rumor remaining as such and being printed on paper. Moreover, I hear many nobles secretly read this magazine.”

His face was extremely businesslike.

“I plan to send the official engagement dissolution notice in exactly two days.”

It was incredibly welcome news. Kisa waited eagerly for time to pass quickly with a pounding heart.

Two days later, the Count sent the engagement dissolution notice to the Lowens town house, just as he had said.

And less than half a day after that, Daniel came to visit. It was the first time she had seen him look so flustered.