Arthur smiled at Reina, baring his even teeth.

“I said if you touch my things one more time, I’ll throw you to the monsters as food.”

At Arthur’s words, Reina crossed her arms and scoffed.

“Marquis Servantes, stop spouting nonsense and return what you stole.”

“Was this meant for Celia Brillion?”

“What does that have to do with you, Marquis? Who I give things to is none of your concern.”

“…Ileon raised his younger sister very poorly.”

Arthur swiftly drove the needle in his hand into Reina’s neck.

Reina’s eyelids slowly closed.

“Today, you’re coming somewhere with me for a while.”

That was what Dietrich Calypso said to Celia Brillion after finishing lunch together.

Celia nodded in understanding.

“We’re going outside the palace. Change into something as comfortable as possible and come with me.”

Though Dietrich did not bring maids or servants into his estate, he had taken great care to ensure Celia’s comfort.

Just the dresses filling her wardrobe numbered in the dozens.

The comfortable dresses designed so Celia could dress herself without a maid’s help were particularly pleasing to her.

Among them, her favorite was the white satin dress Dietrich had first gifted her.

Celia changed into the pure white satin dress and stepped out of her room.

Dietrich, leaning casually against the wall waiting for her, wore a black uniform.

His neckline extended into a sharp jawline, and the black uniform fit snugly against his firm frame, suiting Dietrich perfectly.

Wind drifting through the open window brushed lightly against Dietrich’s smooth cheek.

Absorbed in gazing at Dietrich’s face, Celia only belatedly noticed the pure white bonnet in his hand.

Dietrich stepped close to Celia and gently placed the bonnet on her head, carefully tying the ribbon bow. Then he extended one hand toward her.

“Shall we go?”

Celia took Dietrich’s offered hand.

Though curious about their destination, she knew that wherever they went, Dietrich would protect her and never harm her, so she deliberately refrained from asking.

After leaving the estate, fresh summer air warmly embraced Celia.

The reason she felt no anxiety despite Ileon Gredrick discovering her origins was simply because Dietrich was by her side.

Holding Dietrich’s hand, Celia walked through the vast imperial palace.

All the way through the palace grounds, whether palace maids, knights, or high officials, everyone’s gaze fell upon Celia and Dietrich—but as if indifferent to others’ stares, the two paid attention only to each other.

Upon exiting the palace grounds, a bustling street teeming with people appeared.

The street was lined with all kinds of shops.

From boutiques and salons to dessert shops and stores selling fresh vegetables and fruits.

Merchants selling freshly caught fish, and customers haggling fiercely to lower prices.

As Celia and Dietrich stepped into the noisy, crowded street, the chatter around them abruptly ceased, as if a curtain had been drawn aside.

The arrival of Dietrich Calypso, his pitch-black hair neatly combed and clad in a black uniform, and Celia Brillion, dressed in a white satin dress and wearing a white bonnet, delivered a shock to everyone present.

It was as if everything in the street were black and white, and only these two were adorned with color.

“Wow…”

A merchant’s murmur broke the silence.

Dietrich held Celia’s hand, matching his stride to hers as they walked side by side.

People outside the palace, living in the capital, knew well the rumors about Dietrich.

Countless women had pursued him over the years, yet he had never once allowed anyone to stand at his side.

Known for his obsessive cleanliness and aversion to anyone touching him, here he was now, holding a woman’s hand and walking in step with her.

And the woman walking hand-in-hand with Dietrich was someone many recognized.

There was only one woman in Abelon whose beauty seemed capable of sucking in a soul.

The sharp, striking features framed within the white bonnet.

Under the brim, dazzling silver hair fluttered softly in the breeze.

“The Angel of Brillion.”

The beautiful woman whom one would gladly offer their fortune just to see.

True to the rumor of being everyone’s first love, Celia was devastatingly beautiful—but a few regarded her with unease.

Both the Emperor and the Crown Prince of Abelon, despite being royalty, had met miserable deaths after desiring her.

She was like a poisonous flower.

Desired by all, yet killing those who desired her.

“…Witch.”

Someone whispered faintly.

Dietrich’s gaze sharply locked onto the noblewoman who had spoken.

Even though he merely looked at her, the noblewoman felt as if a sharp blade had sliced into her.

Overwhelmed by the menacing aura radiating from Dietrich, the noblewoman quickly lowered her eyes.

The place Dietrich brought Celia to was a small, unmarked shop at the far end of the street.

An elderly woman inside greeted them with a warm expression.

“Welcome…”

Though small in size, the shop was filled with strange and curious items.

Celia’s eyes wandered over delicate porcelain ornaments, sword scabbard decorations, and necklaces shimmering with multicolored light.

‘An antique shop?’

As Celia looked around, Dietrich spoke to the old woman.

“The item I asked about before.”

“Oh, I managed to get it, but it took quite some effort to find. The original owner was very reluctant to sell, so the price is a bit…”

Before the old woman could finish, Dietrich handed her a pouch filled with gold coins from his coat.

The heavy clink of gold coins made the old woman’s mouth stretch into a wide grin.

“Just a moment. I’ll bring it right away.”

Disappearing through a back door, the old woman returned shortly, cradling something wrapped in thin cloth.

Unwrapping the cloth revealed an iron birdcage.

Inside, a red parrot was aggressively biting at its own feathers with its beak.

“It kept repeating only the words ‘Princess’ no matter how much anyone tried teaching it to say other things. Was the previous owner the fourth, I think?”

At the old woman’s words, Celia, who had been browsing the shop, froze.

Celia stared at the parrot trapped inside the cage.

The bird was plucking its red feathers frantically, clearly stressed.

Ten years ago, on the day the kingdom burned, Celia had released Popo, the bird inside the cage, into the sky.

At the time, she had assumed it had simply died.

Though ten years had passed, Celia could recognize the parrot before her eyes.

The red parrot her father had gifted her on her birthday had a yellow spot on its chest.

Just like the parrot standing before her now.

“…Popo.”

At Celia’s voice, the parrot stopped plucking its feathers and quietly looked up at her.

Its pitch-black pupils studied Celia intently, then the parrot flapped its wings vigorously and cried out.

“Princess! It’s the Princess!”

Celia pulled the cage containing Popo into her arms.

“Princess! It’s the Princess!”

“…I missed you.”

“I missed you! I missed you!”

The old woman, seeing the parrot perfectly mimic Celia’s words, wore a stunned expression.

‘She said it would only ever say “Princess” no matter who tried teaching it.’

But she knew well that trust was essential for running a shop long-term.

Understanding this, and knowing that pretending ignorance and deafness helped increase profits, the old woman discreetly excused herself for the couple’s sake.

“If you need anything, just knock on the door. This old woman isn’t feeling well and will rest a bit.”

Thud.

After the side door closed, Celia turned her gaze from Popo to Dietrich.

“Dietrich, how did you know I used to keep a parrot?”

“…I know everything about you.”

Dietrich added gently.

“I am your fiancé, after all.”

Celia realized she had never known Dietrich’s true name.

Dietrich knew so much about her, yet she hadn’t even known he was her betrothed, nor had she ever done anything for him.

This troubled her deeply.

Noticing Celia’s expression suddenly darken, Dietrich looked down at her with concern.

“Are you alright?”

“It’s just… I feel like I’ve never done anything for you.”

“No. Just having you by my side is more than enough.”

“Enough!”

Popo mimicked Dietrich’s words.

Celia couldn’t help but laugh.