‘Surely not, it can’t be.’

I shouldn’t jump to conclusions based on just looks or expressions.

Kisa tried to deny the possibility that had come to mind and approached Gabriel carefully, opening her mouth.

“Um, good morning.”

“Ah!”

He jumped as if he’d seen a ghost, even though she had only greeted him.

“Oh, Lady Vanspelt.”

After calming down a moment later, he scratched his head with reddened cheeks.

“I’m sorry. I overreacted.”

“No, I’m sorry for startling you.”

“It was because I was lost in thought, that’s all.”

“…If you don’t mind me asking, what were you thinking about?”

Perhaps the question was too direct, as Gabriel avoided her gaze and gave an evasive answer.

“It, it wasn’t anything important. Just some concerns about the performance, I suppose.”

Kisa looked at his refined profile for a moment before speaking.

“Speaking of performances, may I ask you something I’ve been wanting to know?”

“Yes, if it’s something I can answer, I’d be happy to.”

Perhaps due to the great debt he owed to Seyrod, Gabriel was relatively friendly towards Kisa as well.

“Are you perhaps troubled by love?”

“What? Wh-why do you ask…”

“It’s a very personal matter, so you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. But listening to Gabriel’s performances, both at the last concert and yesterday, I can’t help but think that way.”

Kisa struggled to find the right words.

“How should I put it, the performance sounds sorrowful. Even though neither piece was specifically about the sorrow of love, as I listened, I couldn’t help but imagine the feelings of someone suffering from an unrequited love.”

Although it was said to draw out a story from him, it wasn’t exactly a lie.

What had been just a vague feeling at the concert became much more intense when she heard his rehearsal in the banquet hall yesterday.

She didn’t expect to ask the question she had been wanting to ask someday in this way.

“…”

Gabriel silently stared at the ground.

The already melancholic-looking man now had such a gloomy face that Kisa’s conscience stung involuntarily.

“I’m sorry.”

Just as she was about to apologize for asking something unnecessary, his heavy lips opened.

“To play such a poor piece for a joyous engagement ceremony.”

“Poor? It was wonderful!”

While the mood might have been a bit sad, there was no doubt that it was an excellent performance.

“Still, it’s not suitable for an engagement ceremony, is it?”

After uttering words he could hardly deny, he stared blankly at the cloudy sky for a moment.

“Actually, you’re right, my lady.”

Kisa inhaled at the sudden start of his story. He had honestly opened up about his inner feelings.

“There is someone I hold dear in my heart. But this is a love that can never be realized.”

His voice was tinged with calm sorrow.

“That person is in a place I dare not reach or even look up to. A place so high above.”

Kisa unconsciously voiced the question that immediately came to her mind.

“Is that person perhaps a noble?”

“…”

“If so, isn’t it too pessimistic? Sometimes there are cases of marriage that transcend social status, aren’t there? Although extremely rare.”

But the man shook his head weakly.

“It’s not simply a matter of that. All I can tell you is that it’s truly someone I dare not aspire to. I’m sorry. Even if this feeling were known, it would only be a burden to that person…”

“Haha, it’s alright. These things happen.”

If it’s not simply a matter of that, does it mean there’s another barrier blocking his love besides social status?

For example, gender…?

‘No.’

That was too hasty a judgment. Is Seyrod the only high-ranking noble in this world that Gabriel would feel burdened by?

Although it was unfair to Gabriel, Kisa wanted to get definitive proof that the person occupying his heart was not Seyrod.

Otherwise, the engagement ceremony would become very uncomfortable.

Having to get engaged while listening to a song performed by a man in love with her fiancé.

Even if Kisa could tolerate it for argument’s sake, it would be nothing short of torture for Gabriel.

Who in the world would want to perform a celebratory piece at the engagement ceremony of the person they secretly love?

‘If that’s really the case, we should cancel the performance even now.’

The reason Seyrod had hired Gabriel was likely because of Kisa.

He knew very well that Kisa was very fond of Gabriel’s performances.

And unfortunately, for a performer whose path to study abroad had been blocked, it would have been difficult to refuse Duke Hillan’s offer, regardless of his own feelings.

Even if Seyrod didn’t provide direct help, performing a solo at Duke Hillan’s engagement ceremony, which many influential people would attend, was an excellent opportunity to gain great fame and connections.

In other words, it meant that Kisa might be one of the causes driving this poor Gabriel into pain.

Kisa’s heart became indescribably urgent with unexpected guilt.

“Um, by the way.”

Enough to blurt out such an unexpected question.

“What do you think about Seyrod?”

How could this be? Kisa was most startled by her own question.

She had intended to probe his true feelings in a much more roundabout way, but her mouth moved on its own.

“Pardon? Duke Hillan?”

Gabriel also looked visibly flustered.

“No, I… I just wanted to hear another man’s opinion.”

Kisa tried belatedly to cover up her mistake.

“With the engagement ceremony being the day after tomorrow, I guess all sorts of thoughts are coming to mind. I’m not sure if I can handle it well, you know…”

“Ah, I see.”

Thanks to her desperate floundering, Gabriel seemed to accept Kisa’s words.

“I understand. It’s natural to feel uneasy at times like this.”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“But don’t worry too much. From what I can see, the Duke is a very good person. He’s kind, generous, manly, and highly capable. He deserves the love of many. Compared to him, I…”

Somehow, his voice gradually became more subdued as he praised Seyrod.

“Compared to him, I’m so insignificant that I dare not…”

“Um, Gabriel?”

At that moment, Kisa froze.

She had witnessed the moisture that had formed in Gabriel’s eyes, glistening in the sunlight.

He quickly wiped it away with his sleeve and turned his head to avoid Kisa’s gaze.

“I’m sorry, my lady. I just remembered an urgent matter, so I must go now. I hope you have a pleasant walk.”

“Wait a moment-”

“I’ll see you again later.”

The man hurriedly left without giving Kisa a chance to speak.

What urgent matter? To anyone watching, it looked like he was running away because he didn’t want to talk anymore.

Kisa remained in place for a while, staring in the direction Gabriel had disappeared.

She didn’t know what to do. It seemed that Gabriel really did like Seyrod after all.

…Until about an hour ago, thinking about the engagement ceremony had made her heart flutter, but now it felt heavy.

“What? Gabriel Williams?”

Seyrod’s eyes widened at Kisa’s question.

It was already evening. Seyrod, who had returned from the palace late in the afternoon, invited Kisa to dinner just like yesterday, and Kisa accepted his invitation without much thought, also like yesterday.

However, there was one difference from yesterday: today, only the two of them were sitting at the table.

“Why are you suddenly asking about him?”

Kisa had tried to mention Gabriel’s name as naturally as possible while observing Seyrod during the meal, but it seemed awkward to him.

“…No, I was just curious.”

“About my thoughts on him?”

“Yes, well, something like that. I was wondering what you think about Gabriel, after all.”

Kisa added a lame excuse.

“Seeing as you’re even helping him study abroad, I was curious if you liked him quite a bit.”

“Well, I think he’s a talented fellow.”

Despite the sudden question, he answered with a serious attitude.

“Objectively speaking, it’s quite unfortunate that his talent hasn’t blossomed due to some pointless jealousy.”

But, Seyrod continued.

“I don’t have any particular feelings that could be called affection for Gabriel Williams.”

“…I see.”

Thinking that the answer was colder than expected, Kisa nibbled on her food.

“Kisa.”

Suddenly, he whispered in a subtle voice.

“You seem to be quite concerned about that man, both at the concert and now.”

A crooked smile appeared on his lips.

“I’m starting to feel threatened. I might even get jealous.”

“…”

“Kisa?”

When there was no reaction from Kisa, Seyrod erased the ambiguous expression he had been wearing until now and looked at her with worried eyes.

“Did something happen?”

He seemed surprised that Kisa, who would normally panic and restrain him or slap the back of his hand when he played such mischievous jokes, was silent.

After a moment of silence, she called his name.

“Seyrod.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t think that’s a good trait of yours.”

“Which trait?”

“The way you charm people at every opportunity.”

“Me?”

“And if we’re to argue which side should be feeling threatened, I think it’s me who should be feeling that way right now.”

Seyrod just blinked, looking as if he didn’t understand.

It was quite a fresh look for him, who usually seemed to see through everything.

Haah, Kisa let out a deep sigh.

“You know, about the performance Gabriel was supposed to do. It’s too late to cancel it now, isn’t it?”

“I’m afraid that would be difficult. We’ve already sent out invitations to the guests mentioning his performance.”

Kisa’s sigh grew even deeper.