In fact, it wasn’t unusual for Kisa to receive attention from people.

Though she thought it was an excessive compliment, she was often called the top beauty of high society, and the Vanspelt count’s family was quite well-known, so many people approached her first.

‘But…’

This was on a different level. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that everyone in the restaurant was watching them.

“I’ll guide you to your seats.”

At that moment, as if he had been waiting, one of the waiters quickly approached them and politely said.

Seiyed turned to Kisa and asked.

“Shall we go?”

“Ah, yes.”

The two followed the waiter to the seats he said were reserved in advance.

People’s gazes followed their every little movement.

The various pairs of eyes held different emotions.

Curiosity, interest, envy, jealousy, and hostility.

Just as Kisa was about to shrink from the sensation of all those gazes constricting her chest, a gentle touch wrapped around her shoulder.

“It’s especially crowded today.”

Seiyed said this as he naturally guided Kisa closer to himself.

Certainly, some people who had just finished their meals were getting up from tables a bit farther away and coming in this direction, but not close enough to touch Kisa.

She glanced down at his left hand resting just below her face. Strangely, it made her feel a bit calmer.

Seiyed is an amazing person. Thinking that such an amazing Seiyed was supporting her from behind made her feel much more at ease.

Right, there’s no need to be scared by mere stares from others.

No matter what difficult situation may come, she could surely overcome it together with him.

The seat Seiyed had reserved was the most popular VIP seat in this restaurant.

A river flowed alongside, and as rumored, the view out the window was breathtaking.

The food was also impeccably delicious, allowing them to enjoy the meal twice as much.

Especially, she liked that the VIP seat was somewhat separated from others by partitions and pillars, freeing them from others’ gazes.

However, since there might be listening ears, the two only exchanged casual conversation, avoiding sensitive topics like their marriage contract.

“Is it to your taste?”

“Yes, it’s excellent.”

“I’m glad. It seems I chose the restaurant well.”

“Oh, did Seiyed choose it personally?”

“Why, is that strange?”

“No, not strange, I just thought you’d be too busy with other things to have such leisure.”

“I did ask someone else to do the research, but I was the one who chose from among a few candidates.”

“Ah, I see.”

“More than that, I’m a bit hurt.”

“Pardon?”

“That you thought I was an insensitive man who would just follow someone else’s plan for our first date.”

“N-no, that’s not it.”

“I’m joking.”

Looking at the chuckling man, Kisa thought he seemed to enjoy jokes more than she’d expected.

After finishing the dessert that came last, the two took in the lively streets of the capital once more before rising from their seats.

“Oh my!”

But as Kisa was heading towards the restaurant exit, a woman entered her view.

As if soup from her stew had splashed on her dress, she was hurriedly wiping her skirt with a handkerchief.

It was an ordinary scene at first glance, but for Kisa it served as a reminder of a certain object she had momentarily forgotten.

Of course, it was that handkerchief still safely tucked away in her handbag.

Come to think of it, she seemed to have heard from Melissa that these VIP seats at the restaurant were so popular that even with a reservation, you’d be lucky to get one two months later.

Before they fell out, Melissa, who was quite well-connected and had many interests, often brought Kisa various pieces of information.

Some of it was rumors, but she probably wouldn’t be wrong about this kind of information.

‘Seiyed prepared not only all those gifts for me, but even this wonderful lunch…’

And she had just been wasting time fussing over handkerchief embroidery.

She should have used that time to spend all her allowance on a better gift.

Kisa left the restaurant with Seiyed, her heart heavy once again.

Afterwards, the two took a carriage to their next destination, a clothing shop.

It was actually within walking distance, but they had to take a carriage because of the reporters who had already appeared, having heard the news of their arrival.

Still, perhaps because they were dealing with the great Duke of Hillan, or maybe Seiyed had made some arrangements, they didn’t cross any lines.

The clothing shop they arrived at shortly after was considered the best in the kingdom, famous for even the queen and princesses favoring its dresses.

To be honest, Kisa had also secretly admired the dresses from this shop like other young ladies her age, but never had the right opportunity.

The number of dresses made was limited to maintain quality, and after the royal family took priority, there were hardly any spots left.

She didn’t desire dresses enough to engage in fierce competition with other women for the remaining spots, and given Count Vanspelt’s frugal nature, there were limits to how much money she could spend.

So she had given up on wearing dresses from this place, half involuntarily and half voluntarily.

But as expected of Hillan. The head of the family second only to royalty in this country was different.

“Kisa, this dress looks nice. What do you think?”

“Yes, it’s really beautiful.”

Kisa nodded as she looked at the sample piece his finger was pointing to.

Currently, the two were looking at the clothes worn by mannequins lined up in the shop one by one.

Seiyed made a slightly troubled expression.

“You’ve been saying everything is good since earlier.”

“What? That’s because they really are all good…”

“Is that so?”

At his gesture, a clerk standing a few steps away approached and held out a catalogue.

“Besides these, we have dresses of these designs. Please take a look.”

Kisa carefully turned the pages of the catalogue filled with various dress designs.

They were all excellent dresses, so she liked them.

She took her eyes off the catalogue and looked at Seiyed.

“Which of these is to Seiyed’s taste?”

“Unfortunately, I didn’t come here today to choose a dress for myself.”

Seeing him make that same troubled expression again, Kisa responded in a fluster.

“No, I really do like them all.”

“Still, you’re the one wearing the dress at the engagement ceremony. Even if you like them all, you should wear the one you like best.”

“I appreciate your words, but for something as important as an engagement ceremony, isn’t it more important to match with Seiyed?”

“If that’s the issue, I’ll match myself to Kisa’s dress. Does that solve it?”

“Match to me? Is that alright?”

“There’s no reason it wouldn’t be.”

“But the Hillan family traditions and such…”

Usually, families with long histories like Hillan would have rules about what the head of the family wears on important occasions.

But Seiyed gestured as if telling her to bring her ear closer, and when Kisa hesitantly followed his instruction, he whispered in a playful voice.

“I don’t like Hillan, so it doesn’t matter. I’ll spend the family fortune recklessly.”

…He really was consistently trying to ease Kisa’s burden.

“So Kisa, choose what you like. As many as you want.”

No, that’s too much. There wasn’t much time left until the engagement ceremony anyway.

However, Seiyed’s words had the power to make even the impossible seem possible.

Was it thanks to the prestige of Hillan that he carried, or because he himself was such an amazing person?

“Alright then, thank you.”

Whichever it was, it wouldn’t be polite to keep refusing when Seiyed was insisting like this, so Kisa looked at the samples and catalogue and chose about three dresses.

“This way please, we’ll help you try them on.”

As she was following the clerk to the changing room to try on the dress that had a sample, a thought suddenly struck her.

‘I see. I was allowed to choose.’

It might be natural for others, but Kisa had always matched with Daniel for important events if there was nothing special.

Even for the recent charity party, hadn’t Daniel sent her dress without her asking?

So this time too, she thoughtlessly assumed she should match with Seiyed.

Moreover, it was all thanks to him bearing the Hillan name that she could wear dresses from this haughty clothing shop without even a reservation, so she thought it was only natural.

After all, the only thing Kisa could do for him was something like that.

‘But if I can’t even do that…’

What should she do with this apologetic feeling?

Swish. The curtain of the changing room was drawn back, revealing Kisa who had changed clothes.

Seiyed, who had been sitting in a chair, stood up.

“…It suits you very well.”

After being momentarily dazed, he soon smiled.

“You’re beautiful, Kisa.”

For some reason, it was a smile that was sweet like dark chocolate, yet slightly bitter.

“If it’s alright, may I take a walk with you in the garden?”

When the carriage returned to the Vanspelt townhouse after completing all the planned schedules, this was Seiyed’s proposal.

Shortly after, the two were strolling through the garden where spring flowers were slowly fading, shoulders side by side like before.

The only difference from last time was the silence between them, which had started in the carriage.

“Kisa, perhaps you didn’t enjoy today’s date?”

Suddenly Seiyed stopped walking and looked at Kisa.

“It’s alright, I’d like you to tell me honestly.”

He spoke with a face less confident than any she had seen so far.