“Even if there were a wedding, the Count, if he had any shame, wouldn’t even think of attending!”

“Bolonico, same thought.”

“Bolonico is so merciful. Even when you reported having two nieces, I let it slide. Right?”

“Yes, it’s a miracle he still has his head for trying to deceive Your Highness.”

“Ah, since I’ve come all the way to Cielo, shall I give you a gift you’ll like, fat Count?”

The Count, still half-bent, just slightly raised his head. The short-haired prince smirked.

“There might not be a wedding, but you’ll soon have a chance to see your niece at the infamous Black Mansion.”

“Really?”

“The beautiful and hideous cousin of Bolonico has found his match. He responded immediately when I asked for proof of consummation.”

“Proof of consummation?”

“Bolonico was so happy. Just imagine how beautiful the pair would be. Bolonico loves beauty, right?”

“The one with the best aesthetic taste in Euphris.”

While the Count was dazed by the mention of consummation, Duke Compani attentively catered to Bolonico.

Usually, the Count would have thought of them as a fitting pair of cockroaches, but his mind was racing with words like ‘the former emperor finding his match’ and ‘proof of consummation.’

“Anyway, there will be interesting developments soon, so wait, traitorous fat Count.”

“Just a moment! Prince Bolonico! I am not a traitor! My nieces…”

“Bolonico, I’ll include you in the interesting game. We’ll see then if you’re a useful subject or not. Bolonico is merciful, after all.”

“All we can hope is that this shameless fool learns gratitude.”

“Bolonico, same thought.”
Prince Bolonico nonchalantly turned his head, stroking the handle of his rapier at his side, indifferent to whether Count Peliesse’s face turned pale with fear or not. The attendants, following his feigned elegant steps, giggled as they passed ‘Fat Count’ Peliesse, who would have normally dwelled on this humiliation, but now he was utterly immobilized.

“Proof of consummation?”

Early in the morning, new clothes arrived from the tailor Michel. Not all of the thirty sets ordered had arrived. A fur mantle, woven tightly with royal purple wool and finished with angora fur at the edges, along with a similarly made white angora scarf and earmuffs, were delivered in a box.

What pleased Yu-An the most was her dark green dress, immaculately repaired. The traces of Louise’s mending were not entirely gone, but they were neatly overlaid with the same color.

At first glance, it looked like a new dress.

Yu-An, dressed in the repaired dress, fur mantle, and earmuffs, left her room. She passed by Clad’s room slowly, making noise, but he did not call out to her. It had already been two days.

He was a man whose thoughts were inscrutable.

Yu-An felt anxious about why Clad was not seeking her out, and with each peaceful day passing, she felt increasingly guilty towards Louise.

She wished she could quickly become closer to Clad to at least mention Louise.

Yu-An contemplated ignoring Clad but eventually wandered around the garden where he could see her from above. She lacked the courage to barge into his room uninvited and hoped he would notice her in the garden.

She wanted to throw a small stone to get his attention.

“Is he watching me?”

She longed to look up at his window, but each time she tried, the curtains would swiftly close as if denying any conversation.

Yu-An, who had been pacing, expecting Clad might start an argument, finally turned towards his window as the sunset began. Surprisingly, the curtains were not drawn.

Clad was not watching her.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed yet relieved, Yu-An began to jump on the spot, thinking that being a bit noisy might prompt him to open the window.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed yet relieved, Yu-An began to jump up and down on the spot, peering into his room. She thought that making a bit of a commotion might prompt him to open the window.

Although the mansion was so large that the second floor seemed quite high, and she couldn’t see inside, she wondered if she might at least catch a glimpse of Clad’s hair if he was nearby.

After jumping for a while, gasping for breath and bent over, a slow creaking sound poured down from above.