So, instead of entering the door opened by Verseny, Olivia stared directly at Edwin’s face.

Edwin’s smile, as if satisfying Olivia’s gaze, was the most beautiful face in the world.

“Why do you keep looking like that without going in?”

Contrary to her lazy voice, Edwin’s deeply sunk eyes stared at Olivia. In the strange thickening atmosphere, Olivia’s gaze slowly descended but stopped.

Beautiful red lips. Unaware of where her gaze was directed, Olivia kept looking at Edwin’s lips.

The current sensation, full of warmth as if the palm and inner wrist were burning, was satisfying. The moment they held hands and walked all night in the cave flashed in her mind.

Even in this moment, it was the same. She didn’t want to let go of this hand all night.

At that moment, Edwin’s lips slowly descended.

“If you keep looking like that, you might end up staying here forever.”

Innocently, Edwin seemed not to consider coming inside this door.

The moment she realized that, a flush of hot water surged over Olivia’s cheeks.

“Oh, is it hot? Your cheeks are red.”

Edwin, looking puzzled, brought his fingers to Olivia’s cheek with a cautious gesture.

The heat of the fingers that passed by like a brush lingered on Olivia’s cheek, making it even redder.

Olivia quickly let go of Edwin’s hand and said, “Well, yes. It’s a bit warm. Sleep well, Edwin.”

“You might have forgotten something.”

As Olivia, who wanted to go inside the room right away, was held back, it was Edwin who did it.
“You forgot? I can’t remember such things.” Olivia, who wanted to hide her thoughts, rolled her eyes in bewilderment.

Edwin, who had been leisurely enjoying the sight, smiled, his eyes narrowing. And in an instant, he pressed his body closely to Olivia. The moment his fresh scent wafted, Olivia’s body tensed.

Edwin, who had approached very closely, whispered affectionately, “We are now at the point where a light kiss is allowed after wishing each other good night, right?”

Olivia’s heart pounded as if it would burst. The red lips, which she had only been watching a moment ago, now looked more vivid.

And finally, Olivia, as if enchanted, nodded her head gently.

In the moment she awaited for the gentle lips to come towards her own,

During the fleeting and tender moment, Edwin’s lips met Olivia’s cheek. The kind kiss on her cheek was gone before Olivia opened her eyes.

“Good night.”

Smiling gently, Edwin took a step back from the door.

Now… What just happened? Olivia blinked her large eyes in confusion. While everything felt numb, Verseny closed the door.

Only when Edwin’s figure was no longer visible did Olivia absentmindedly wipe her cheek. There might not be any trace of Edwin’s kiss, but the spot where he kissed felt warm.

In a strange regret, her gaze kept lingering on the door. At that moment, a small laughter cut through the silence.

Ah, Verseny!

Only now did Olivia’s face, which had just snapped back to attention, blush brightly.

“I didn’t see anything.”

Verseny’s voice, spoken like a song, was full of laughter. But Olivia was embarrassed beyond measure. Normally, she would have changed into her nightclothes, written in her diary, and gone to bed after Verseny’s nagging.

Her mind went blank. Without thinking, Olivia headed straight for the bed.

Even though it wasn’t just about hiding her head like a bird, Olivia pulled the quilt over her head to the very tip.

“Miss, what about your nightclothes?”

Even as Verseny spoke, it seemed like Olivia wasn’t going to come out from under the quilt. Instead of hiding her laughter, there was the sound of Verseny leaving the room in a hurry.

Alone in the room, Olivia, who had barely sorted out her emotions, pulled the quilt down from her face.

Whether it was because she was trapped under the quilt or really because of Edwin, the warmth that touched her cheek spread throughout her body.
Olivia looked silently at her ring. Then, she placed the hand with the ring directly over her heart.

Above the silence in the room, the sound of Olivia’s heartbeat blended.

The pleasant feeling that could be felt when one’s heart was fulfilled.

The happiness that had enveloped Olivia, approaching her with big strides, suddenly jumped into her arms.

Happiness could come so close to me. Enjoying it, Olivia smiled even wider.

On the other hand, Verseny, who left Olivia’s room with a hint of rebellion, glanced at the Duke, who stood in front of the door as if he had expected it.

The Duke, who had escorted the lady like a gentleman just a while ago, looked at Verseny’s exit with endlessly sunken eyes.

Looking at her like that, it seemed like he could break through even this sturdy door. It was clear that something had happened at the restaurant earlier.

Verseny, who had been smiling contentedly, looked towards the Duke as if to say, “I knew it.”

“But, Your Excellency, why did you say you would bring the ring in three days?”

He probably hadn’t even mined the jewels yet.

Verseny recalled the words the Duke had said to Lord Stone, the mine supervisor, last time.

“The most precious lady of mine is going to wear this ring. I believe she will bring the best diamonds.”

The Duke speaking so affectionately was a first. It was said that Stone, who used to rejoice in faith, had already reduced a few inches around his waist.

The best diamonds. Considering that the Duke had already dedicated the best pink diamond to the lady last time, Verseny was perplexed by the Duke’s behavior, but that was all.

In Verseny’s heart, the lady was already a very precious person who should wear the ring made of the best gems.

“Three days is correct. After tonight, it will be two days.”

“What?”

Lost in thought, Verseny thought she had misheard. But Edwin chuckled as if finding Verseny’s reaction amusing.

“Why are you so surprised? Two days is plenty of time to bring the ring and still have time left, isn’t it?”

“But there’s no news from Lord Stone yet, right?”

“We don’t necessarily need just one engagement ring.”

“Well…”

An understanding smile crept over Verseny’s lips as she answered absentmindedly. And she, too, glanced at the lady’s room for a moment.

The lady, who was indeed planning to wear a spectacular gemstone ring on all ten fingers.

“I will contact Lord Stone immediately to select the ring crafted by the artisan.”

“Just leave the retrieval to Dian.”

“Dian?”

Not Howard, who was usually entrusted with tasks, but Dian, who was specifically assigned to guard the lady?

The Duke grumbled, tilting his head in confusion at Verseny’s skeptical gaze.

“That guy has too much charm unexpectedly. I can’t let him go far from my lady’s side when he goes out.”
And then she took the first step. Watching the figure, confidently moving with a graceful height, Verseny’s face slowly filled with a content smile.

Today, she thought there would be a lot to tell the princess in the portrait.