While people outside were gossiping about the news of Kisa and Daniel’s broken engagement, Kisa spent a peaceful time cooped up at home for once.

Still, moment by moment, memories with Daniel would come back without warning, and remembering that those innocent times would never return again made her heart ache.

However, as Seyad advised, when she honestly acknowledged her feelings, she didn’t become as listless as when she had just broken off the engagement.

If she disliked Daniel, she disliked him. If she missed the old days, she missed them. If she felt pathetic for naively giving all her love, she felt pathetic…

Kisa tried to let her emotions flow freely like a flowing stream.

When she did that, even if negative thoughts came, she would be down for at most an hour or two before returning to a normal state.

After that, she consciously did things that made her feel good. She ate delicious desserts, strolled through the spring garden, and enjoyed leisure time she couldn’t before.

Whether because he was busy with his own affairs or simply uninterested, Count Vanspelt also left his daughter alone. It was tremendous luck for Kisa.

However, not everyone acted like the Count.

“Oh, poor thing! Our young lady! Such a flawless lady having her engagement broken! I don’t understand what the Count is thinking at all! Where will he find another good match like Young Master Daniel…”

Upon hearing the news of the broken engagement, Kisa’s nanny hugged her and made a huge fuss, crying and wailing. Kisa thought she had received a terminal diagnosis.

But apart from the excessive dramatics, her concern for Kisa was genuine, so Kisa spent quite a long time that day comforting her nanny.

That it was no big deal, that she was fine. The nanny was just an old-fashioned person who thought a woman’s life was over if an ongoing marriage talk fell through.

Other servants were equally unaware of the inside story, so they had been treating Kisa quite carefully lately.

Though the unfamiliar atmosphere was awkward, she couldn’t tell everyone about the new engagement plan, so she just had to keep her mouth shut.

Outside the mansion, many people were still desperate to dig up information by sending letters. Thanks to them voluntarily delivering social information without being asked, she could clearly see what was happening.

The name most frequently mentioned in the letters was undoubtedly her ex-fiancé, Daniel.

Apparently, he suddenly began actively attending social events shortly after breaking off the engagement with Kisa.

It was an unexpected move for someone who had previously only shown his face occasionally, keeping some distance from high society.

What wind had blown for someone who had secretly looked down on people too immersed in social activities? To Kisa, the reason was clear.

It was to show Kisa. That no matter what she did, he was fine. That her desperate actions couldn’t leave a scratch on him.

So hurry up and break your useless stubbornness, come back to me, and wear a leash like before.

Daniel’s words and actions described in the letters supported this. He was openly saying that the magazine article was false reporting and that the Vanspelt family had made a hasty choice.

Therefore, he said he was willing to take her back if Vanspelt changed their mind even now.

He was still a shameless guy who didn’t know how to reflect at all. But there was no need to keep thinking about such a person and eat away at herself.

Kisa didn’t try to suppress her anger and hatred towards Daniel, but she didn’t dwell on it either.

And in the letters, there was also a name that was welcome to Kisa, unlike Daniel who only provoked anger.

It was Seyad. They say he finally made his first appearance at an official event.

In fact, Kisa had heard it directly from his mouth when they met last time.

“I think I need to start engaging in social activities before people’s gazes get any stranger. Hmm, I’m not sure if I can do well.”

Perhaps because he had spent a long time in the monastery, he didn’t seem to like high society at all. Or maybe it was in his nature, as his brother Viscount Hillan also kept his distance from society.

Anyway, despite his weak words then, Seyad’s belated social debut seemed to be a great success.

Even though it wasn’t particularly news related to Kisa, his name was mentioned in several letters sent to her without exception.

The handsome Duke Hillan. He seems gentle, unlike the previous duke. He didn’t seem as frivolous as the rumors. His smile was beautiful, making my heart flutter.

These were all expressions written along with Seyad’s name. Even Kisa, who had been enjoying her seclusion, felt a vain regret that she should have attended the party of some family that he had chosen as his debut venue.

If she had attended, she could have congratulated him…

Still, she felt proud that Seyad received positive evaluations from many people. What was all that superstition about twins?

For Kisa, Seyad Hillan was a person who brought luck, not misfortune. Without him, she would never have been able to break free from Daniel.

“Ah.”

Why did she only think of it now?

While reading the letter, Kisa suddenly thought of him and opened the desk drawer to take out some stationery.

She was going to write a letter to Seyad. A letter belatedly congratulating him on his successful social debut.

Contact with Seyad was a matter that required caution, but if she asked Count Vanspelt, he would probably have a way to safely deliver a letter or two.

“Young lady, are you there?”

Knock, knock, knock. But at that moment, someone called for Kisa from outside the door along with a knocking sound.

She knew the owner of this voice. It was a young man who worked as Count Vanspelt’s secretary.

“Is Father looking for me?”

When Kisa opened the door and went out, he scratched his head as if feeling sorry.

“No, that’s not it. A guest has come to the mansion, and it seems you need to come out to greet them.”

“Me?”

Usually, guests visiting Vanspelt’s town house were the Count’s guests, and if there were guests Kisa had to greet, she was told in advance.

But today she hadn’t received any notice.

“Did you forget to tell me?”

“No, it’s not that, but it’s a sudden guest…”

“They came without an appointment? Who on earth is it?”

She thought it might be Daniel again, that guy, but the name that came out of the secretary’s mouth was someone completely different.

“It’s Lady Melissa Dos.”

When Kisa entered the reception room, Melissa was sitting calmly in her seat, drinking the tea brought by the maid.

“Kisa!”

Seeing Kisa, Melissa hurriedly stood up and approached her.

“It’s been a while! How have you been? I-”

“That’s far enough, Lady Dos.”

Kisa raised her right arm to prevent her from approaching any further.

“Now, sit down. You’re a guest who came to visit Vanspelt, so I should at least give you that much hospitality.”

“You really…”

Melissa frowned and sat back on the sofa. Kisa sat across from her and formally sipped the tea that had been prepared in advance.

“Are you still angry at me? How long are you going to ignore me like this?”

A sigh escaped involuntarily at her attitude, like a whining child.

“Lady Dos, what do you want from me?”

“Why are you calling me that? And since when did we start using formal speech?”

“Isn’t Lady Dos the person who visited this mansion in the capacity of Lady Dos? You came as the daughter of Count Dos, not as my friend Melissa, didn’t you?”

“…”

Melissa bit her lip tightly. It was she who had committed the rudeness of visiting someone else’s house without an appointment, under the pretext of accompanying her father.

The guest who was supposed to visit here today to discuss matters with the Count was clearly Count Dos, and there was no mention of Melissa at all.

Well, from their perspective, it’s understandable. If they had mentioned it and we refused, they would have even less reason to visit here.

Moreover, if Kisa, knowing about Melissa’s visit in advance, had conveniently gone out, everything would have been in vain. Most likely, her main purpose was to meet Kisa.

By barging in without warning like this, Kisa had to deal with her out of courtesy. The Count, who needed to talk about business with Count Dos, couldn’t deal with her, could he?

“…Tch, that’s too much. How can friends treat each other like this? Aren’t you holding onto your anger for too long?”

If it had been the old Kisa, she would have found Melissa cute, puffing up her cheeks like a child, and pretended to give in, but not anymore.

“I see. So you’re saying you came as my friend. Then this ends here.”

“What?”

“I have nothing to say to you. I don’t have a friend like you, so you’re not a guest of this house.”

Therefore, there was no reason to deal with Melissa, who wasn’t even a guest.

“Just drink your tea and wait for your father. When he comes out, go back with him. I’ll give you as many cups of black tea as you want.”

“Wait, Kisa!”

Melissa panicked and grabbed Kisa’s hand as she was about to head towards the door.

“Calm down and listen to me. I came all the way here to apologize to you.”

“Apologize?”

“Yes, if I sincerely apologize, you’ll accept it, right? Your anger will be gone, and we’ll be good friends like before, right?”

“Well. I’ll know that after hearing your sincere apology.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Whether I accept the apology or not depends on my feelings.”

“No, I came all the way here…”

“More importantly, are you really here to apologize?”

Kisa looked straight at the trembling Melissa.

“Aren’t you here because you’re curious about the news of my broken engagement?”

At that moment, her eyes widened.