Sediloy gently embraced Ariante and Swan, putting an arm around each of them. Then, he kissed each child’s smooth forehead once.

“When early summer comes, let’s go to Waseng again. During the summer, they install a huge fountain in the gardens of Waseng. When water spurts up, it creates a rainbow as it catches the sunlight!”

Ariante raised her hand and shouted, “Rainbow! I know! Ash taught me. He said sunlight is like a tiny piece of glass that reflects light in various directions, and that’s why we see sunlight in different colors.”

“There’s an item called a prism that allows you to see rainbows, sir.”

Sediloy nodded his head.

“That’s right. If we have a chance to visit the capital, I’ll buy you a prism.”

The children cheered, raising their hands. At that moment, Maiana, who had dragged Vainty into the Turret Room earlier, appeared. This time, she held the door and dragged Vainty backward.

Wearing a grape-colored dress with puffed sleeves, Vainty looked lovely, but her expression was grim, as if she had just chewed on mud. Ariante, seeing her robust face, grabbed her belly and laughed again.

“Vainty! If you make such a bad face, no one will come to request a dance!”

Vainty said, “How can I dance properly when I can’t even breathe properly, my lady! If any man asks me to dance, I’ll step on his foot.”

Then Vainty, with her hand on her visibly flattened belly, took a deep breath as if she had tied a ribbon tightly, making her internal organs seem to gather in the middle.

Maiana chuckled and said, “That’s exactly how I feel every morning, Vainty. Do you understand now?”

“Madam, please don’t talk to me right now. I beg you.”

Vainty, panting, couldn’t bear it any longer and jumped back into Maiana’s Turret Room. When complaints could be heard from inside, Swan and Ariante laughed.

Maiana said, “Now, Ariante, and Swan, it’s time for you to go to bed. Evi, Bridget!”

Immediately, Evi and Bridget came to fold the partitions and get ready to take the children. Ariante, who was held in Evi’s arms, did not whine, but puffed up her cheeks with a dissatisfied expression.

“I want to play more!”

Maiana gently touched Ariante’s round cheek.

“We need to sleep early to have fun again tomorrow, don’t we?”

After kissing Ariante’s forehead and giving a light goodnight kiss on Swan’s cheek, Maiana said, “Well, it’s time for bed now. Sleep well, both of you.”

Once Evi and Bridget took the children to their bedroom, the living room finally fell into a quiet stillness. Maiana, sighing deeply, untied the ribbon of her necklace and said, ”
“I’ll change my clothes.”

Then, Sediloy stood up from the sofa.

“I’ll help you.”

Maiana turned to him with a strange expression. She, who had been silent, blinked her eyes and smiled, nodding her head.

“Okay.”

Maiana’s Turret Room was filled with dresses. Those made in the capital, those made by Rosana… Famous tailors eagerly wanted to sew dresses for Maiana, signifying her considerable status in the social circle of the capital.

“Turn around.”

Facing away, as Maiana showed her back, Sediloy began to unbutton one by one, starting from just below the back of her neck.

Every time his fingers lightly touched the skin through the thin fabric, Maiana took a light breath, smiled faintly, and repeated the gesture of pursing her lips.

“Your neck is like a stem of lily of the valley.”

Sediloy whispered. His breath felt so close that it could be felt directly in the ear… Maiana’s waist tensed with anticipation. She turned her head slightly toward Sediloy, pulling her red lips against his warm breath.

“Last time, you said it was like a lily, right?”

“That’s right. I look forward to seeing what it will look like next time.”

His slightly warm upper lip touched Maiana’s neck and then withdrew. After undoing all the buttons, the dress finally fell down. Sediloy, who exposed the white undergarment, then untied the ribbon attached to her petticoat.

“Countess Alt gave advice on the tea party. It’s better to invite the nobles of the Duchy first.”

Maiana said as she took off her stockings. Sediloy, stepping back for a moment, looked at her silhouette revealed under the dim light.

“What do you think?”

Taking off the delicate lace stockings carefully, Maiana, looking for a negligee, put it on starting from her head and turned it over.

“It sounds like a good idea. They are friends of Ariante… and their parents. I’ll only invite the ladies. But writing invitations is making no progress at all. Maybe I should take writing lessons from Jemero.”

Sediloy chuckled softly. Pulling Maiana’s body, now wearing the thin negligee, into his arms, he kissed her softly on the tender earlobe.

“If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to.”

“I can’t do that. And I’ll manage. There’s a lot to prepare, but I’ll do it.”

Turning her body, she gently pushed Sediloy’s shoulder. It was almost a powerless movement, but Sediloy sat back on the sofa with a very pleasant and obedient attitude. He waited for Maiana to climb onto his lap.