The line made of silk forcefully dropped onto the clear stream, tracing an arc. The bait, made from pheasant feathers, seemed to come alive on the surface of the water, and almost immediately, a bite followed.

“Your casting skills haven’t rusted, I see.”

Watching Caeron casually reel in the line, Shade gave a short whistle. A trout as large as his forearm came up along the line, but Caeron didn’t look particularly pleased.

“So… what brings you here?”

Caeron and Shade had enjoyed various hobbies together since their boyhood, and it had been a long time since they last went fly fishing.

“It seems like you have something on your mind.”

It was usually the case when Caeron held a fishing rod. Moreover, Shade was surprised when Caeron suddenly suggested unplanned fly fishing today.

“….Not catching anything.”

“Not catching anything, you say?”

Upon hearing Caeron’s muttered words, Shade looked at the trout that had just been caught with puzzled eyes.

“You’re catching one after another. What on earth do you mean?”

Caeron, who had recast, slowly opened his mouth as he looked at the fly floating on the water.

“How do you usually… win a woman’s heart?”

Shade nearly dropped the fishing rod he was holding, taken aback by Caeron’s unexpected question. A significant look came into his momentarily flustered eyes.

“So… by not catching, you mean not a fish, but a woman’s heart?”

“….”

Though Caeron kept his mouth tightly shut, Shade knew that his silence meant affirmation. Unable to hold it back, Shade burst into laughter.

“Haha! Never thought you’d be asking me such a question!”

Caeron glared at Shade coldly as he twitched his eyebrows, but Shade, unfazed, continued to laugh while clutching his stomach.

“Why? Having trouble with Lady Vi? Didn’t I warn you!”

Sharpeyed Shade had noticed the subtle tension between the Duke and Duchess after their honeymoon. He had even commented on the pale shadow that had fallen over the Duchess’s face.

“[Dash] Are you two fighting? It’s common for newlyweds to argue, but don’t put off making amends. Honesty is the best policy. Pride means nothing in love.”

“[Dash] You’re wasting your breath.”

Though his advice had fallen on deaf ears, Shade was amused that the same person now sought advice. He slapped Caeron’s shoulder joyfully.

“The key to winning a woman’s heart, as I told you before, is honesty.”

“Honesty?”

“Yes. Just express yourself honestly.”

To express himself honestly… Caeron could not tell the Duchess that her scent excited him to the point of temptation.

Caeron ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. Seeing this, Shade barely managed to hold back a smile that threatened to break out.

‘He’s not the type to earnestly desire affection.’

He had never whined to anyone in his life, especially not in his relationships with women. He was followed around by the love and attention of women to the point of being annoyed.

“If you find it difficult to speak honestly, there’s another way.”

“…Another way?”

“Yes. It’s the same with casting.”

As he said this, Shade flicked the line connected to the rod.

“Sometimes you cast it straight down, but sometimes you reel it in and cast it subtly.”

“Subtly, you say?”

“Yes. If you find it hard to express openly, subtly allure her.”

Subtle allure… Caeron couldn’t help but chuckle. Shade shook his head at his reaction.

“Ah, if you want a woman’s heart, you have to be willing to make an effort. A woman’s heart is the hardest and most precious thing to obtain in the world!”

“So what is this ‘subtle allure’ you’re talking about?”

“Heh, you want to know?”

Shade asked, lifting the corner of his mouth. The grip on Caeron’s fishing rod tightened at the sight of his friend’s sly smile. Seeing the chill harden on Caeron’s face, Shade quickly continued.

“Now, watch closely.”
Shade showed off a fly made of feathers, a lure artificially created to entice fish.

“To catch a fish, you need bait. The same principle applies when trying to win a woman’s heart—a lure to captivate her is essential.”

‘A lure to captivate her…’

“First, let’s create the bait. Give her something she’s interested in, or make her happy by doing something she likes.”

“That should be sufficient for now. I don’t hold back when it comes to supporting the Duchess.”

“It’s not the support for the Duchess that’s crucial here. The focus should be on Lady Idel.”

“What are you talking about? If it’s not the Duchess, then it’s Idel?”

With a puzzled expression, Caeron furrowed his brows as he looked at Shade, who lightly shook his head.

“You… I thought you were perfect, but you’re lacking in this area.”

“Get to the point.”

“The point is to treat Lady Idel not as the Duchess but as an individual woman. Make her feel loved for who she is, not for her title.”

Upon hearing Shade’s words, the depth of Caeron’s eyes intensified. Idel had changed since their conversation on the way back from the royal banquet.

‘[Dash] What do you expect from me… is it only the role of a Duchess?’