“Have you arrived?”

A low, intimidating voice was heard.

As Count Vienne turned around, the Duke greeted them with a sociable smile. But his eyes were so cold that sweat formed on the Count’s spine. On the other hand, Countess Vienne became emboldened by his appearance. Though they were distant relatives, she thought she had the right to do so because she had briefly looked after young Kaius during his childhood.

After greeting the Count and Countess, Kaius’s gaze lingered on the face of the slapped knight, Ostian.

“Kaius, you’ve come. Quickly release Rosalyn. She’s still young and immature, so you should understand.”

Countess Vienne gently smiled as she grabbed Kaius’s arm, turning his gaze towards her.

“Let’s go down to the reception room.”

Kaius briefly dismissed the Countess’s words and began to move without seeking agreement.

“Raymon, call Hearn to treat Ostian’s face.”

Quietly bowing his head, Butler Raymon called a maid to prepare tea in the reception room and summoned Hearn.

“Kaius, Rosalyn…”

The Countess’s expression momentarily blanked as Kaius ignored her words and went downstairs.

“My lady, let’s go down for now. We need to hear what the situation is.”

“What situation, this is surely the doing of the princess who was jealous of Rosalyn’s beauty.”

That muttered comment was only heard by her husband who was escorting her.

As Kaius, who had gone down to the lobby first, turned his head, the viciousness disappeared from Countess Vienne’s face, leaving only a dignified smile.

[This is the timeline separator]

“So, you’re saying you can’t release Rosalyn, but you won’t stop us from going inside? Just because of one wrong word?”

Countess Vienne’s voice grew louder as she gulped down her tea, seemingly thirsty.

“Kaius, don’t be like that. Forgive her for my sake. She’s been punished enough by now, hasn’t she? Hmm?”

Countess Vienne’s voice softened again, as if coaxing and soothing a young child. But Kaius was not a 10-year-old child. He only learned after growing up that her taking care of him when he was young was an act aimed at becoming his widowed father’s new wife. When she failed to gain his father’s attention, she remarried the current Count Vienne, taking young Rosalyn with her.

“The crime of insulting royalty can be dealt with summarily. Moreover, she will be the Duchess of Elbartan, a princess. You should consider yourself fortunate she’s still alive.”

At Kaius’s cold attitude, Countess Vienne’s face hardened. Her daughter, who had hoped to become close to Kaius and become a duchess, was locked in a room, and Kaius, whom she had trusted, was cold towards her. The root of all these problems was just one person.

Ariel von Letiana. It’s all because of that woman.

If only she would disappear…

“Fine. I’ll do as you say. But the princess isn’t coming down to greet us even though we’ve arrived?”

Countess Vienne’s voice, deeply hiding her displeasure, sounded deliberately solemn.

“The princess is having difficulty adjusting to the weather and will rest in her bedroom until the wedding. It’s my decision for a smooth wedding ceremony, so please comply. Butler Raymon will guide you to your rooms.”

Kaius finished speaking in a voice devoid of warmth and stood up.

“You must be busy, so there’s no need to greet us tomorrow. I should understand that much. I hope you have a comfortable stay.”

With a polite smile, Kaius glanced at them and began to leisurely leave the reception room. Countess Vienne finally understood his words properly. It was a cold warning not to show their faces. In this situation, leaving right away was the only way to avoid humiliation.

“Kaius! Release Rosalyn now. We’re leaving immediately.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“Lady Ariel, many guests have already arrived.”

“Yes… I’m a bit worried they’ll all have something to say tomorrow about me not coming down to greet them.”

“It’s what the Duke instructed. Don’t worry.”

Kaius didn’t want her false appearance to be seen by his relatives, and he urged her to avoid encountering them as much as possible until the wedding. That’s why she couldn’t greet the relatives.

“Anna, have you wrapped all the gifts?”

“Yes, everything is prepared.”

Ariel planned to give the tea leaves and oil that could be used as perfume, which she had made in Letiana, as gifts to soften their hearts when the relatives left.

However, what cast a deep shadow on Ariel’s face now wasn’t such a matter.

“Sigh…”

Ariel, heaving a deep sigh, recalled the note Ciela had handed her at lunch.

[Oil transaction location – Pink Rose Garden in Tris, today at 5 PM]

Ludvian had contacted her.

Of all times, it was the day before the wedding, and it wasn’t easy for her to go out now. Also, if she met him today, who knew what would happen. There was also the incident from the day she left the palace.

“Don’t worry.”

“It’s not that, it’s because of this.”

When shown the note, Anna immediately prepared to go out, saying she would go instead. In the end, Ariel had no choice but to ask Anna.

“Anna, be careful.”

“Lady Ariel! I am a knight of Letiana.”

After seeing off Anna, who left with a brave appearance, Ariel cradled the dragon’s egg longer than usual. And she had to recover for just as long. In Ariel’s hand as she came out of the bathroom were the artifacts she had been wearing until now.

It’s such a strange thing. Surely it was a good thing that she no longer had to worry about being caught. Yet, for some reason, there was a vague feeling of unease.

Ariel sighed quietly and stored it deep in the drawer. By the time she was leaving the dressing room, the cry of a night bird could be heard.

“Anna…”

She hadn’t returned even though it was well past the time she should have. If she had met Ludvian and handed over the oil, she should have returned long ago. Ariel went out to the terrace and anxiously scanned the road where carriages entered.

Let’s go out.

Her worry for Anna outweighed Kaius’s request.

As long as she wasn’t caught by the guests, it would be fine. With that thought, she carefully opened the door, wrapped from head to toe in an all-black cloak. Only her red lips were visible under the unusually large hood.

Ariel, hiding her body in the darkness under the stone wall of the garden, anxiously watched the path leading to the main gate, tapping her feet.

“Is it a thief?”

Startled, Ariel froze in place. It was because of Kaius’s request that came to mind. The unknown person behind her must be one of his relatives. If she ran into the mansion now, she would arouse suspicion or be caught, and if she pretended not to know and was accused of being a thief, even the people inside the mansion would find out. In the end, Ariel slowly turned around with her head deeply bowed.

“What’s the matter?”

It was then that Ariel’s head, which had been facing the ground, was raised. In an instant, the man in front of her took off her hat. At that moment, only one word filled Ariel’s mind.

Penalty fee. Penalty fee.

Really, without even a moment’s hesitation, she reflexively put the hat back on, but amazingly, he took it off again.

“I’d appreciate it if you stopped this rude behavior.”

Ariel, speaking in a low voice, quickly put the hat on again and held it tight with both hands, and only then did she examine the person in front of her.

Blue hair and blue eyes?

“Why are you not answering?”

“If you’re asking if I’m a thief, the answer is ‘no’. So please go on your way.”

As soon as those words ended, he abruptly grabbed Ariel’s chin and pulled her into the light, examining her this way and that as if appraising an object. Then he soon nodded and let out an exclamation of admiration.

“Which family’s daughter are you?”

What is this? This strange and arrogant man?

Ariel, who had strongly pushed away the man’s hand, retreated quite a bit.

Staying any longer with this rogue-like man would cause a commotion, and that would be breaking Kaius’s request, which could ultimately lead to unfortunate events for her.

Ariel turned around and began to leave the place. She didn’t even say goodbye, as there was no need for courtesy to such a rude man. But the man didn’t seem to have any intention of letting her go easily.

“Please step aside.”

“If you tell me your name.”

While frowning and searching for a retort, murmurs of people could be heard from inside the garden. Startled, Ariel tried to walk past the man in front of her, but he grabbed her arm. Ariel, terrified, shuddered as Kaius’s cold expression came to mind.

No matter what, I need to get away from this rude man without causing a commotion.

Ariel’s gaze, which had been on his hand gripping her arm, slowly moved downward. To below his knees.

Ariel, who had kicked his shin with all her might, ran towards the lit path as soon as he let go of her hand.

[This is the timeline separator]

Kaius, after entertaining guests all day, finally headed to Ariel’s bedroom at night.

It was with a light heart, wanting to check if she was alright, given that a woman who loved to scurry about had been confined all day.

But the bewilderment he felt when he saw the empty bedroom.

Kaius, chuckling with a slight laugh, set out to find her. After confirming that the lights in the greenhouse were off, he headed to the garden.

As he slowly looked around the garden, he took steps towards a dark area. She must have surely hidden in the darkness to avoid being seen by the guests.

Indeed.

He heard her voice from the outer part of the garden surrounded by stone walls. Is she with Anna? But what he heard next was a deep male voice. Just as Kaius was approaching the place with wide strides, someone burst out of the darkness.

Ariel?

The slightly exposed silver hair, red lips, and small frame were undoubtedly hers.

She, who had been running with her head down, staggered from the impact of colliding with him as he blocked her path. Kaius reflexively supported her to prevent her from falling.

“I’m sorry.”

Ariel, who apologized without even raising her head, started running towards the mansion again. The reason Kaius didn’t stop her was because of the presence he felt in the darkness from where Ariel had run out.

Kaius, leisurely crossing his arms, began to walk while staring at that place. Leisurely. But the person who appeared from the darkness was an Elbartan knight on patrol. Upon encountering Kaius, he briefly nodded in greeting and began to walk along his designated patrol route.

Kaius, looking at the path the knight had come from with narrowed eyes, chuckled.

Was I being too sensitive?

As he turned his body towards the mansion, Kaius slightly raised the corner of his lips in a smile. It was because of Ariel, who had just passed by this place quickly, as if fleeing.

She had been as nimble as a stray cat.