Preston Count shook his head with an expression of not understanding why he really thought that way.

“If you’re done eating, let’s get up now.”

Cabelased, who immediately stood up, walked over to the desk where he had been sitting until just ten minutes ago.

The real reason Cabelased avoided Preston Count’s question was because even he couldn’t find the reason.

Why he had confided a secret that could become his weakness to Jieselgrante then.

Of course, he had confidence in other aspects.

The confidence that Jieselgrante would never reveal his secret to the outside world.

From the moment she learned his secret, Jieselgrante was as good as belonging to the alliance.

Moreover, from what he had observed, Jieselgrante was just as capable as the strategist once called the Great Sage.

To the point where he had no doubt that if he brought her in as his person, she would be of great help to the alliance in the future.

Thinking about it again, the engagement with Jieselgrante was a good decision.

It was when Cabelased, having finished rationalizing, nodded and lowered his gaze to the parchment to resume work.

Suddenly, yesterday’s events came to mind.

The feeling of soft lips. And those sea-blue eyes looking at him with confusion, cheeks tinged pink.

It was somewhat impulsive behavior that even he couldn’t understand, but he didn’t regret it.

With this, he was confident that there would be no difficulties in marrying and producing an heir.

No, in fact, it was a bit troublesome.

From time to time, things like the feeling of her soft lips came to mind, and each time, his lower abdomen tensed.

Just like now…

Cabelased didn’t panic, quickly erasing thoughts of Jieselgrante from his mind.

‘It’s a perfectly natural reaction for the body to respond to seeing a beautiful woman. Yes, yes. It’s proof of being healthy.’

Cabelased justified to himself like that.

But even for him, who had excellent self-control and restraint, controlling bodily changes was extremely difficult.

It was also bewildering, as it was something he had never experienced before.

“……”

The butler who had been watching Cabelased and Preston Count return to their original positions and resume work after finishing a short meal soon cleared the empty plates.

Soon, a faint smile spread across his lips.

He seemed to understand why the Duke had chosen engagement with Duke Amaterasu’s daughter as a way to check the Crown Prince, putting aside other methods.

Though it seemed the Duke himself didn’t know it well yet.

“Congratulations, I mean on seeing the fruits of your efforts.”

The expression of Countess Greykin saying that was somehow mischievous.

“Don’t tease me.”

This was the best answer Jieselgrante could give.

There had been the big event of kissing Cabelased a few days ago, but that didn’t mean he liked her.

“I hear you’ve been getting along well with Count Preston lately, Countess Greykin.”

“What?”

Countess Greykin was startled, her eyes widening, and quickly continued.

“Duke Amaterasu’s daughter is making a big misunderstanding. I’m just helping Count Preston with his work.”

Jieselgrante brought the teacup to her lips with a faint smile.

Countess Greykin quickly added.

“It’s true, really! This won’t do. I’ll just have to ignore it now. If I had known such strange rumors would spread, I wouldn’t have helped Count Preston with his work.”

“……”

“I think you know too, my lady. That Count Preston’s relationships with women are a bit… complicated. And……”

Before Countess Greykin could finish speaking, Count Preston walked over.

It seemed he had heard the conversation just now, as Count Preston immediately opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry about that.”

Gasping, Countess Greykin immediately covered her mouth. Then she sent a look to Jieselgrante.

‘What should I do? It seems he heard what I was saying just now……?’

To that questioning gaze, Jieselgrante looked back and forth between the two and casually stood up.

“I’ll take my leave first. I hope you two come to an amicable agreement.”

As if not wanting to be left alone, Countess Greykin shook her head and tried to grab the hem of Jieselgrante’s dress.

But because of that, she ended up proving that she had been gossiping about Count Preston just now.

Ahem, ahem.

Count Preston cleared his throat and glared at Countess Greykin.

Only then did Countess Greykin utter words of apology.

“……I’m sorry too. I just felt there were some strange rumors going around about the Count and me. To clear up the misunderstanding……”

Countess Greykin began to stammer out excuses, and Count Preston responded.

“I didn’t know you found me so uncomfortable, my lady. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“Ah, that’s not what I meant……”

Jieselgrante moved slowly with her ears perked up.

As if they both had some lingering feelings for each other, the atmosphere soon turned to reconciliation.

‘Rather, it seemed like they had romantic feelings for each other……’

Thinking this as she headed towards the mansion, Jieselgrante stiffened when she saw someone walking this way.

It seemed Count Preston wasn’t the only one who had come to the tea time location with Countess Greykin.

Seeing Cabelased striding this way, Jieselgrante began to struggle.

‘What should I do? Would it be better to go back that way……’

Just as the toe of Jieselgrante’s shoe was about to move slightly towards Countess Greykin, Cabelased called out.

“I heard you were enjoying tea time, but it seems to be breaking up already?”

His attitude was no different from usual.

Jieselgrante also wanted to maintain her composure and engage in conversation like him.

If only she could stop glancing at Cabelased’s lips, she would have done so.

“It seems so. It looks like Count Preston has business with Countess Greykin. I just remembered I had something to do as well. Also……”

Was it because this was the first time facing him since kissing Cabelased?

Jieselgrante was clearly nervous right now. Rambling on incoherently was proof of that.

“Were you on your way back to the mansion, my lady?”

“Maybe……?”

“Then I’ll accompany you.”

Jieselgrante glanced towards Countess Greykin and Count Preston and asked.

“Didn’t you have business with Countess Greykin?”

“My business was with you, my lady.”

Saying that, Cabelased walked towards the mansion.

Jieselgrante glanced once more at Countess Greykin and Count Preston in conversation before moving her feet.

Jieselgrante reluctantly followed Cabelased towards the mansion and after some deliberation, opened her mouth.

“By the way, I have something I’d like to ask you.”

Cabelased nodded as if to say go ahead.

“Could you tell me why you kissed me then?”

“I don’t make decisions that leave room for reversal.”

“……”

“I think engagement is ultimately a contract to bind each other while preparing for marriage.”

“……”

“It’s not too strange to check in advance if you can have an heir with the person you’re going to marry, is it?”

“Do you really intend to marry me?”

When Jieselgrante asked with a somewhat shocked expression, a crease formed between Cabelased’s straight brows.

“……My lady?”

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, as if something else displeased him.

“Yes, go on.”

When Jieselgrante nodded, Cabelased, who was about to say something, shook his head slightly as if giving up.

It seemed he had decided to hold back what he was going to say.

‘One of the two ways to anger someone is to start to speak and then stop……’

Just as Jieselgrante thought that far, Cabelased changed the subject.

“So I’d like to hear your thoughts on how it was.”

“What thoughts do you mean?”

“Do you think there will be any difficulties in having an heir with me in the future?”

Jieselgrante unknowingly shook her head slightly.

Far from disliking it, her heart raced uncomfortably whenever she recalled the kiss with Cabelased.

But she couldn’t show such feelings, so she hesitated to answer.

At that moment, Cabelased suddenly stopped walking and looked around.

“If you’re still not sure, I think it would be fine to kiss again. I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

“Ah……”

Feeling as if her thoughts had been exposed, she felt both flustered and tense at the same time.

Jieselgrante swallowed hard, her cheeks flushed red.

Cabelased’s neat lips curved into an arc as he gazed for a while at Jieselgrante, who wasn’t giving any answer.

The moment she thought his smiling face was handsome, a shadow gradually fell over Jieselgrante’s face.

Was it because she could fully anticipate what was about to happen?

It seemed even more nerve-wracking than before when they had kissed once.

Jieselgrante lowered her head slightly to hide her flushed cheeks.

Cabelased’s face, which had been drawing closer as if about to kiss her at any moment, moved away slightly.

‘……Is he going to stop?’

As Jieselgrante lifted her gaze slightly with that thought, a low resonance like a whisper continued by her ear.

“I’m glad you didn’t seem to dislike it either, my lady.”

As Jieselgrante’s lips moved hesitantly, as if wondering how to respond, Cabelased’s lips touched hers and then parted.