The place where their steps stopped was a famous tailor shop in the capital. Even without the year engraved on the silk sign, the antique exterior made one feel the history and tradition of this place.

“Welcome.”

As they entered, an elderly gentleman in a stylish three-piece suit bowed politely. It was Filmund, the representative of the tailor shop and one of the most renowned master craftsmen of men’s suits in the empire.

Filmund had been waiting to personally greet the distinguished guests who were expected to visit around this time.

‘That must be Her Highness the Duchess.’

Filmund’s eyes lit up as he looked at the woman in a tailored suit among the two ladies.

‘That stubborn Madame Pomfenu wasn’t just boasting for nothing.’

Filmund recalled what his colleague Madame Pomfenu often said at tailor gatherings. He now understood why she would excitedly brag about the Duchess, calling her her one and only muse.

Just as Madame Pomfenu had praised, the Duchess’s appearance in person was enough to make any haute couture designer’s eyes widen. Her long arms and legs, straight shoulders and waist were all of perfect proportion and posture.

Moreover, when she slightly lifted her cloche hat, the revealed face of a beauty exuded a special aura with its pure features and firm gaze.

“I have been waiting for you. I am Filmund.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Sir Filmund.”

As Filmund bowed politely again, Aidel responded with a gentle smile.

“I was informed in advance. You came to buy a gift, I hear.”

“Yes, that’s right. I came to choose a gift for a man.”

“Do you have any particular item in mind?”

At Filmund’s question, Aidel fell into brief contemplation. Since deciding to come here to buy a gift, she had considered various items, but…

– Always remember. Just as the Duke belongs to the Duchess, the Duchess also belongs to the Duke.

She fingered the cravat around her neck. She recalled his words that had clung closely to her ear as he tied this cravat for her.

Unconsciously blushing, Aidel grasped the end of the cravat she had been touching. She wanted to express the same feelings to him as well.

“I’d like to see some cravats.”

“Then please come this way.”

Filmund guided them to where the cravats were displayed. As she moved, Aidel looked at Rainien.

“Rainien, I hope you’re not taken aback by our sudden visit here…”

“Ah… It was unexpected. You’re buying a gift?”

“Yes, I want to give a gift to someone precious to me.”

“Someone precious…?”

Rainien’s eyes wavered uneasily as he asked. Aidel’s unwavering voice pierced his heart deeply in response.

“…His Highness the Duke. I want to express my feelings to His Highness.”

An uncontrollable ripple spread through Rainien’s lake-colored eyes, as if a large stone had been thrown into them.

“Could you help me choose a gift for His Highness? It’s my first time buying a men’s gift… I thought it would be good if you could look with me, Rainien.”

“…Of course. I’ll help with anything if it’s Aidel’s request.”

Rainien barely parted his lips to answer Aidel’s request. His words were the same as the answer he had given before coming here, but his eyes were completely different from then. The joy that had overflowed in his eyes was now filled with an undisguisable bitterness.

Even knowing that the place beside her, the Duchess, belonged to the Duke… Whenever Rainien met eyes with the woman named Aidel, conversed with her, and shared thoughts, he would inadvertently forget that fact.

No, perhaps he wanted to forget on purpose.

Realizing that he had fallen into the illusion brought on by the foolish desire to remember only her presence by his side, not by the Duke’s, Rainien’s sorrowful gaze turned towards Aidel.

A faint smile lingered on her lips as she chose a cravat, as if she were having a pleasant dream. In her eyes, which seemed to be picturing someone, there would surely be another man, not him.

Even while acutely feeling this fact at this moment, why couldn’t his foolish self take his eyes off her… A small sigh escaped Rainien’s lips.

“Rainien?”

“Ah… Have you found one you like?”

“Yes. I think this one might be good.”

The cravat Aidel had chosen was a deep blue, similar to the Duke’s eyes. She thought the color, as well as the smoothly cut design without any unnecessary elements, would suit Caeron well.

“I think it will suit His Highness well.”

“…It does look good. You’ve chosen well.”

“I think it will look perfect on His Highness too!”

As if agreeing with her thoughts, Rainien nodded heavily. Bien, who had been observing the atmosphere from the side, also added her opinion in a deliberately cheerful voice.

‘As expected, he looks hurt…’

Bien glanced at Rainien’s expression. While Aidel might not have noticed, focused on choosing the gift, Bien had quietly observed Rainien’s demeanor from the side.

When asked by Aidel to help choose a gift for the Duke, Rainien had tried to hide his dimmed expression, but he couldn’t quite conceal the forlorn look in his eyes.

Even to Bien, it was clear that Rainien had feelings for Aidel. Whether those feelings stemmed from their outward relationship as close friends, or if it was something more than friendship as the Duke feared, was uncertain, but…

‘Still, he must now clearly understand Her Highness’s feelings.’

Bien’s gaze followed where Rainien’s eyes were directed. She saw Aidel shyly smiling as she fingered the cravat she had chosen herself.

The feelings she wanted to express towards the Duke were clearly felt even by those watching. There was no way an intelligent and thoughtful man wouldn’t understand.

As Bien had expected, Rainien was fully aware of Aidel’s thoughts and feelings, as much as he was focused on her. To the point where his chest ached.

“Aidel… your feelings for His Highness the Duke run deep, don’t they?”

“Ah… Of course. It’s only natural as the Duchess. Moreover…”

Aidel’s eyes deepened and simultaneously became clearer as she answered Rainien’s words.

“His Highness has shown me more affection than I deserve. I want to repay that affection as well.”

The image of a woman firmly affirming her feelings was lovely and beautiful. That’s why watching it hurt even more. The pain in his heart that wouldn’t subside made Rainien press his chest gently.

Knowing that Aidel had an upright and cautious personality, he knew well that the affection she held couldn’t be easily shaken.

He envied the Duke who received that unwavering affection so much. He had never desired anything in his life until now, but… Rainien clenched his fist tightly as he lowered the hand he had raised to his chest.

“Thanks to you, I’ve chosen a gift I like. Thank you for your time.”

He coveted only the heart of this brightly smiling woman.

“I’m glad. If Aidel is happy, then that’s good.”

Along with the desire to possess came the emptiness of knowing he couldn’t… but Rainien smiled at her with all his might. Because his wish for her happiness was sincere.

Rainien didn’t unclench his fist for a while. As if trying to prevent his feelings, which he might never be able to convey in his lifetime, from leaking out.

“Goodbye. I’ll see you again.”

After the gift was wrapped, Aidel, Rainien, and Bien left the tailor shop, escorted by Filmund.

Upon exiting the shop, Aidel checked the clock tower in the center of the square and suggested the next agenda to Rainien.

“It’s a good time for afternoon tea… If it’s alright with you, may I treat you to tea? As thanks for helping me choose the gift together.”

“That sounds good. I was just feeling thirsty.”

In truth, the thirst he felt was not in his throat but in his heart, but Rainien followed her, wanting to spend even a little more time with Aidel.

Gregory, who had been holding back, finally rose quietly from his seat. Moving to a spot away from the front of the Duke’s office desk, he felt a bit more at ease.

Breathing a small sigh of relief, Gregory’s gaze turned to Caeron. He was still staring intently at the wall clock above the console in front of the office desk.

The Duke checked the time whenever he had a moment, like someone anxiously waiting for something. Each time, Gregory, sitting in the path of his intense gaze, would flinch involuntarily.

‘He must be waiting for Her Highness to return.’

As if even the time to return home was precious, Caeron had declared today a day for work at home with no external schedules. He didn’t forget to check the clock every hour, even while immersed in work.

As time passed, the furrow between the Duke’s brows deepened. His long fingers tapped on the desk. The increasingly rapid, anxious rhythm seemed to reveal his state of mind.

As the afternoon sun began to set, his patience wore thin. Finally, unable to suppress his emotions any longer, the Duke’s voice rang out.

“Has the Duchess not returned yet?”

“There’s been no word from her attendants. She should be back soon. Please don’t worry too much, Your Highness.”

“Contact her attendants and tell them to confirm the Duchess’s return time.”

“Understood. I’ll contact them right away.”

It was best not to agitate a superior who seemed to be in a very poor mood. Gregory, the wise aide, quickly answered and sprang up from his seat.

As Gregory scurried off to where the phone was, Caeron’s gaze turned to the window. His deep blue eyes seemed to blaze as fiercely as the reddening sun beginning to set.

Though he had sent the maid Bien and attendants with her… surely that prince would be by her side. Recalling when he had discovered Aidel and Rainien standing together at the recent royal banquet, Caeron clenched his jaw tightly.

‘I shouldn’t have let her go after all.’

If not for those eyes begging him to trust her, if not for those lips whispering that she would visit the Duke’s chambers tonight…

He would not have accepted something that so greatly upset him.

Moreover, today his keen senses were especially on edge, unusually sharp. It wasn’t just because of the presence of that prince who would be by her side.

It felt unfamiliar and anxiety-inducing. This feeling of waiting for her return for the first time.

‘Come back soon.’

Caeron caressed the ring finger of his left hand as he slowly lowered his gaze. Inside the engagement ring engraved with the ducal family crest, the green diamond resembling Aidel’s eyes sparkled as if shattering in the sunset light.