He had met the Viscount several times before, although the most recent encounter was not a formal one but a passing greeting at Bonita’s birthday party.

“What… did they come here for, sightseeing?”

It was absurd for a central noble like Viscount Hyacinth to engage in tourism in such a place, but other than that, Shangje was truly a city with no worth visiting. Unless, perhaps, for a brief vacation for the three children of Viscount Hyacinth. This was the only city near the seaside.

However, even that notion dissipated when he saw the woman getting off the carriage.

“She’s alone.”

Inside the carriage was only Viscountess Hyacinth.

There were no children or her husband, as expected.
Dressed in a luxurious manner, she looked somewhat perplexed as she observed the crowd that had gathered, but soon she managed to control her expression. Each time she moved, the sea of people parted like a stream, creating a scene akin to the parting of the Red Sea. Renan’s eyebrows twitched at this miraculous sight.

It was at that moment.

Viscountess Hyacinth’s gaze discovered Renan, and she brightened. Sensing the confusion in her soft chocolate-colored eyes, Renan offered an awkward smile.

“Why would she come all the way here? What’s her motive?”

Renan and Viscountess Hyacinth had known each other since before her marriage. They were quite friendly.

Viscountess Hyacinth, or Hazel, was also a close friend of Elodie.

Renan had no choice but to navigate through the crowd and extend his hand to her.

“Lady Hyacinth, what brings you here?”

“…And you, Lord Rothwell. Is it related to business matters?”

“Haha… something like that.”

As Hazel placed her hand on Renan’s extended arm like an escort, Renan quickly led her towards a nearby store.

It was a shop selling tailored clothing for affluent commoners. The female shop assistant guarding the store was visibly astonished at the appearance of a woman who looked like a noble.

Renan promptly spoke up.

“Can you prepare ready-made clothes for her? As soon as possible.”

“Wait, sir. What are you planning?”

“If you’ve dressed up to be conspicuous, I won’t stop you. But…”

At the pointed advice, Hazel let out a sigh as if resigning. Even for her, it was unexpected to draw such attention.

“I will pay for the clothes.”

“Your words are quite stingy, sir. Since it’s the clothes the lady is going to wear, she should naturally pay for them. Shall I handle the purchase, then?”

“…You still have no luck, sir.”

“I’m a kind man only to my younger siblings, my lady.”

Renan winked.

Hazel narrowed her eyes, intentionally grumbling.

“Because he’s like that, he can’t get married even when he’s almost thirty. Elodie was the same, and even Sir Dylan Sobaek is already married.”

“…Don’t poke into other people’s sore spots.”

Although he said that, in truth, he never intended to accept clothes from her in the first place. It was already quite risky for an unmarried man and a married woman to be seen together.

Moreover, if it were revealed that the other party had paid for the clothes, there would be rumors circulating in society.

Just imagining it was horrifying.

Perhaps Renan also considered such factors when he made those remarks.

… Annoying, but that’s what an older brother of a friend is like.

“Will this do?”

The female shop assistant hastily brought a dress. It was a modest dress suitable for affluent commoners, not overly flashy. Renan praised her sense for not being too conspicuous.

“Please change and come out, my lady.”

“Ah! Shall I assist you?”
At the words of the female shop assistant, Hazel nodded.

“I can manage on my own.”

For a high-ranking noblewoman associated with three maids every time she changed clothes, Hazel displayed a rather independent attitude. Of course, considering that she lived in a rural estate before becoming a viscountess, it wasn’t particularly strange.

As Hazel moved to the changing area, Renan sat on an empty chair inside the store.

The sight of the handsome man sitting gracefully with crossed legs caused the shop assistant, who was sitting at the counter, to blush.

Renan, noticing her gaze, responded with a friendly smile.

“Is my hair color fascinating, milady?”

“Oh! Well, um…”

Renan didn’t expect much from the shop assistant’s next response. It was merely an attitude created out of habit to evoke favor from others.

“I’ve seen a child with a similar pink hair color. It’s quite rare, and also impressive…”

However, Renan’s expression stiffened slightly at the subsequent words.

In the kingdom, the only person with pink hair was someone who inherited Rothwell’s blood.

“Where did you see that child?”

“What?”

“I mean, the child you mentioned.”