“But why did you choose me?”

The madam greeted the Duke with a business smile, but the Duke did not reply. Her hand went under the display case at the sight of the suspicious robe and his lack of response.

Olivia quickly spoke, as the madam was about to press the guard call bell.

“He’s someone I know.”

The quickwitted madam blinked.

The princess, who had made the ceremony noisy last night with her vow, had come to pick a gift for a man other than her family and the crown prince. And if he just happened to be someone she knew…

The madam, who had understood at once, grinned at Olivia, and then bowed politely to the Duke.

“……Yes. Then I will bring new tea. Everyone will be bitten, so ring the bell if you need it.”

Before Olivia could speak, the madam seemed to have misunderstood something and hurriedly left.

It seemed the Duke had been waiting. He took off his robe, and his dazzling face grinned mischievously at Olivia.

“How do you like being helped like this? Am I really going to keep getting into trouble?”

“What are you talking about!”

Olivia, who had unwittingly objected, suddenly stopped herself. Olivia, who had grabbed the hem of her dress, composed herself.

“Olivia Madelleine, I greet Your Grace the Duke.”

“That greeting can be left out.”

“It’s etiquette.”

“I would like to offer a privilege above etiquette to the lady to whom I pledged. How about you?”

Olivia blinked slowly. A casual greeting was a privilege that proved a close relationship. It meant respecting each other regardless of status.

Olivia bit her lip at a word she had never heard, even from Leopold, whom she had known since she was nine.

The Duke, who had sharply observed her, naturally changed the subject.

“Don’t you have something to say to me?”

Oh. Only then did Olivia realize what she meant to say, and her eyes narrowed.

“What did you mean by what you said earlier?”

“What are you talking about?”

“That ring. It’s an engagement ring, why to me!”

Olivia couldn’t even finish her words. The Duke, on the other hand, asked her with a look of curiosity.

“So. How did you know and like that exact one?”

Was it a joke or sincere? Olivia scrutinized the Duke’s playful demeanor.

The Duke avoided her gaze. She briefly saw his ear tips turn red through his black hair.

Like he meant it.

Startled by the sudden thought, Olivia shook her head. She heard the Duke laughing but couldn’t feel embarrassment.

It was an absurd assumption.

He was the Duke, after all. I must be overreacting to his joke.

She forcibly suppressed her flushing face. Ignoring her pounding heart, Olivia responded more playfully.

“If you play such a joke, you might end up going straight to the banquet.”

He was the only Duke in the empire, wealthy, and even highly honored as a war hero. Even the emperor had offered his princess just yesterday.

Hoping her sincerity would be taken as praise, Olivia smiled proudly.

But looking at me again, the Duke’s face was strange.

His reddened eyes, examining me, made Olivia reconsider her words.

Was it praise, or did I convey something wrong? At the moment she began to worry, the Duke smiled affectionately.

“……That’s what I’m saying.”

“……To me?”

“Yes. To you, Miss.”

In front of the clear answer, Olivia’s chest swelled with heaviness. It felt like she had to say something, but as soon as she met the Duke’s eyes, Olivia closed her mouth.

Why does that man look at me like that?

A ticklish gaze that made the recipient Olivia blush. In those eyes was everything Olivia had ever wished for.

Tender affection.

He had been kind to me from the beginning. Was all this a sign? Or was it from some moment?

Countless questions arose. But Olivia’s only question was one.

“Why did you choose me?”

Certainly! Here’s the translation, following all the guidelines:

“……I am the fiancée of the Crown Prince, am I not?”

The Duke’s eyes widened as if he did not like the answer. With a face like a sulking puppy, Olivia felt as if she had done something wrong.

“Exactly. But don’t you like the ring, too?”

“Of course I like the ring but……”

Olivia, who was casually answering, realized the implication and glared at the Duke. The Duke quickly raised his palm.

“I understand. But why are you here?”

“I’m here to choose a gift for His Majesty.”

“You were picking out my gift?”

The Duke was delighted like a child. Olivia, feeling a bit sorry, told the truth.

“The jewel pin I gave you yesterday was actually a gift from my brother. It’s something I truly cherish.”

“You’re not saying you want to take back the gift you gave, are you?”

“Exactly what I was going to say. But I’ll give you a different gift instead.”

The Duke pouted his lips. Olivia added an excuse to his full of regret attitude.

“Of course, it would have been better if I had given something else from the beginning, but as you know, the situation was urgent.”

“……There is one way to return the jewel.”

“What would you like?”