What on earth was he going to say, to build up such suspense.

Vincent recalled the day he first heard news about Yuriel.

That Yuriel’s birth mother had collapsed.

He could imagine how shocked she must have been, considering how she had staked her entire life on her mother.

Because of that, he unusually hesitated about whether to visit that infirmary.

To be more precise, he had gone as far as below that infirmary.

Of course, in accordance with his usual belief of not meddling unnecessarily, he eventually turned back.

On his way back, he bought sleeping pills as usual, and then discovered a huge nutritional supplement explanation posted by the pharmacist.

That high-priced item, boasting an extravagant price, was contained in a noble box that quite caught the eye.

Noticing Vincent’s gaze fixed there, the pharmacist enthusiastically promoted that medicine.

While listening to the enticing explanation, Vincent’s opinion was clear.

Nutritional supplements be damned. Isn’t that just a marketing ploy aimed at nobles playing games?

Normally, he would have thought that and moved on.

Vincent was someone who always believed only in numbers he verified with his own eyes and proven results.

However, that day he listened to the pharmacist’s explanation for quite a while.

Then he impulsively ended up buying that medicine.

Even as he entered the administrative building holding it, seriously pondering if it was meddling, he set it down on Yuriel’s table.

‘Well, she can throw it away or take it as she pleases.’

With that sentiment.

“Take one pill a day, after dinner in the evening, they said.”

At Vincent’s unbelievable answer, Yuriel just blinked.

To think the person who gave that medicine was really her superior.

The past days when she always had to be someone’s check and balance, and also had to be an exception, flashed through Yuriel’s mind one by one.

She had thought her life was just unlucky.

For the first time, she has this thought.

That perhaps a little bit of luck is allowed for her too.

Before her eyes could turn red, Yuriel deliberately lowered her head.

“Thank you… truly.”

Her trembling voice was filled with moisture.

Yuriel’s appearance as she bowed so low her body folded was pitiful.

Watching that sight, Vincent clicked his tongue.

He thought she was only half-done, but her face was even pale, tsk.

It was impressive she came to work looking like she should be admitted to the infirmary.

She had clearly been suffering greatly as expected after what happened to her birth mother.

“You should be the one taking the medicine.”

“Pardon?”

Vincent turned a mirror towards Yuriel.

Confirming her haggard appearance, Yuriel sighed and then meeting Vincent’s eyes, gave another awkward smile.

Vincent thought there was no smile more foolish as he slightly shook his head.

Even so, a faint smile already lingered on his lips.

That appearance of his was nakedly captured in the mirror. Confirming that, Vincent let out a bitter laugh.

‘Have I smiled since she disappeared?’

His smiling face was unfamiliar to him.

At the same time, it was absurd.

What right did he have to smile when he hadn’t even found her yet.

Vincent’s expression hardened again as he shifted his gaze to the documents.

Until sunset, only the sound of pens rolling across paper echoed in the space.

Yuriel completed the documents one by one, quickly but without a single error.

Thanks to her superior organizing much of it, there wasn’t too much work left to do.

After handing over the documents, Vincent ordered her to go home, as she said she would stay to work on a project.

As usual, in a curt tone, Yuriel was pushed out of the administrative building without even properly expressing her thanks.

The steady footsteps that moved stopped in front of the sunset enveloping the distant building.

The tallest building against the sunset background caught the eye as always.

That place with the Blanchet seal prominently displayed was the Blanchet mansion.

Just seeing that seal naturally made one think of that man.

No matter how much she struggled to push him away, in the end, like returning to the starting point, that man revealed his presence here and there at all times without warning.

As the sunset deepened, those memories became more vivid.

That night filled with moans, and that dawn filled with sobs.

That man who looked at such things as if they were nothing.

As the sunset covered the sky, fear covered her heart.

‘I made it through safely this time, but next time…’

Will he give her medicine next time too?

If he doesn’t give it, what should she do then?

Her steps, mixed with heavy thoughts, moved aimlessly and soon reached the dormitory.

After that, an ordinary daily life no different from any other home continued.

Things like having a few squabbles with her mother who came to greet her, eating together, and sleeping.

The nutritional supplement her superior gave seemed quite effective, as her mother’s complexion was much brighter than before.

Just as much as her mother’s color returned, anxiety was stoked within Yuriel.

Every time her mother improved, every time she smiled, while it was good, a corner of her heart remained uncomfortable throughout.

Afraid that the ordinary life she yearned for more desperately than anyone would become an unattainable blessing for her.

As each night covered in anxiety passed, Yuriel gradually withered away.

Of course, there was no contact from him.

Time was already approaching a month.

The doctor’s advice rang in her ears like tinnitus.

That this time, she absolutely must not be late.

The terror of seeing her collapsed mother that day was vividly engraved in her whole body, in her blood.

So now, as always, it was her who had to ponder how to catch his eye.

Not him.

As usual, Yuriel who left the administrative building on time, headed to the shop she had reserved.

The sign with the name Calypse Shop prominently engraved boasted a glamorous atmosphere.

This shop, famous for noble young ladies often coming for makeup and hair before the social season, was fortunately quite empty as it was the off-season.

“You’re the one with the reservation, correct?”

“…Yes.”

The employee showed quite an enthusiastic smile as she diligently performed her duties.

The interior of Calypse Shop seemed to have that kind of atmosphere overall, with everyone appearing passionate about their work.

“Please follow me.”

Despite the kind guidance, Yuriel flinched and looked around.

On the way passing through the long corridor, her hunched figure reflected in the full-length windows looked no different from a caught criminal trying to steal.

The employees politely guided her shrinking self to a private space.

After that, designs she had never seen before appeared in succession.

Countless makeup and hairstyles she had never heard of in her life rippled past Yuriel’s vision.

Names like cat eye and white candy stuck in her ears and then slipped right out.

They say you need to know about adornment to do it, and indeed that saying was true.

What was she thinking, coming here?

No, actually there was an excuse.

It ended up like this because she was trying to do something out of desperation.

Still, seeing most young ladies do this, she thought it would be quite effective.

What is there that she can’t do now?

If there was something she could do, she had to do it, whatever it was.

What did that man like again? She stared blankly at the mirror, lost in thought for a moment.

There was no answer to be found just by looking in the mirror.

How could she guess that man’s crude interests?

“Just… please make me pretty.”

That man is also a man, so in the end he’ll like a pretty partner.

It is her job to bloom gorgeously like a flower before him, so she must bloom more beautifully than anything.

The kind employees did not frown even once at the vague order.

The skilled hands quickly added vitality to her face.

While numerous worries passed through her mind, the Changer was also activated, instantly overlaying an image on her face.

This magical tool, famous for being developed by a queen named Calypse of some country in the past, was still renowned among noble ladies and young ladies even these days.

They say it’s a magical tool that applies makeup in an instant.

Indeed, the appearance in the mirror had changed as if it was a different person.

They say even most nobles can’t afford to own one because of its high price and rarity.

Yuriel, who had been blinking at the appearance that didn’t seem like herself, bowed her head without knowing why and went back outside.

On the chilly breeze-swept street, a carriage stopped at her signal.

“Where shall we go?”

He had sent a reply last night to her letter begging to see him.

Saying to meet at that place from before.

“The Marriott Hotel, please.”

Yuriel, who arrived at the Marriott, let out a long breath.

The towering building that overwhelmed her whenever she saw it resembled that oppressive man.

Yuriel calmly walked inside.

The sights of that day when she had been dominated by fearful trembling despite having seen the path once before had long been erased from her memory.

The path that felt awkward as if seeing it for the first time continued for quite a while following the employee’s guidance.

At the end of taking the moving stone, passing through corridors again, and walking on carpet.

With the words that they had arrived, the guide stepped aside and the room where that man would be appeared in the distance.

It suddenly crosses her mind that it’s the same room as that day.

That room with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the outer bridge made her feel like the people of the world were watching her.

She would become dazed seeing all of her and that man’s blatant actions reflected in the transparent windows.

Of course, she knew the pitch-black windows wouldn’t even show silhouettes from the outside…

Still, she couldn’t do anything about the vague feeling.

For her, who came with her hat pulled low like a criminal, it was all nothing but an ordeal.

That man would know that better than anyone.

So he must enjoy even that.

There is something she has learned from experiencing this man.

The more she tries to shake him off, the more cruelly he tramples, and the more she wails, the more cruel he becomes.

So being violated according to his will is actually the less miserable path.

As he wishes, as much as he is reassured.

And so she will obtain what she wants.

Just as he does.

She has learned sufficiently over the years that nothing changes no matter how much she resents and wails.

Yes. One year.

It’s only one year.

The time that will flow under him.

No, in fact, even that would be decided according to his whims.

If her usefulness runs out, he will discard her without mercy.

So she must engrave herself by enveloping him in a dazzling light that won’t be forgotten.

Until that day one year later, when she will abandon him and leave.

Her heavily made-up appearance was reflected in the mirror on the wall.

Her appearance, which she had checked several times since leaving the shop, looked quite plausible with its fabricated vitality.

As she took off the fedora pressed on her head, her red hair flowed down softly.

Yuriel felt like a different person at her unfamiliar appearance.