“It’s because of the cold. I always carry warm tea in winter.”

Roger shrugged his shoulders as he answered.

“How old are you? You seem similar to my age.”

“I’m turning eighteen soon.”

“Right now, it means you’re seventeen.”

“…”

It could have been said more straightforwardly instead of beating around the bush.

As expected, he was the same age as me. His somewhat evasive response about turning eighteen provided a hint.

I know Roger’s birthday is in January.

It’s soon. The guy in front of me would have his birthday soon.

Even if he denies it, I can’t deceive my eyes. Lord Raul was Roger, and Roger was Lord Raul. He hadn’t lost his memory and clearly knew me.

Yet, is he avoiding me because I broke the last promise we made a few years ago?

Just as the course meal started to arrive, Roger and I paused our conversation and silently listened to the butler explaining the food.

After the brief explanation, when the butler stepped back, I tasted the food. Although the taste was generally good, I couldn’t swallow it well. Eventually, I put down the fork without eating much.

“…Doesn’t it suit your taste?”

Roger also put down his fork.

“No, it’s just… I don’t have an appetite.”

“I feel the same, but would you like to skip the course and have only dessert?”

“Dessert? Do you like desserts?”

“I enjoy them… Ah.”

Roger stopped talking. Remembering that Roger used to enjoy desserts, I couldn’t help but smile.

I laughed involuntarily. The guy in front of me was subtly revealing himself as Roger. He couldn’t lie; whether now or in the past.

“Shall we talk comfortably now?”

Now that I was sure it was Roger, I didn’t want to pretend not to know anymore. I caught Roger’s eyes, which were moving anxiously. Even if he evades, even if he excuses himself, it won’t work.

“Using honorifics seems unnecessary now.”

“I wonder if the lady can comfortably deal with a man she just met.”

“It’s not the first time we’ve met.”

“Even if it’s not my first time, it is for me.”

“…”

“Why pretend not to know me? If you’re still angry…”

“Lady.”

“…”

“It’s my first time meeting you. You’re not someone I know.”

Roger’s gaze and tone towards me for the first time were resolute.

“…”

“…”

His determined gaze and tone made my earlier determination crumble.
“Roger Baccus.”

“I am Raul.”

“Lies.”

“Miss.”

“Seriously… What have you been doing?”

Why is he on friendly terms with Theus, and why did he quit playing the violin? What is the reason for changing his name and lineage? What is his father doing and where?

Roger let out a small sigh and crossed his legs.

As we didn’t touch the food, the butler approached. Roger, instead of me, canceled the course meal and ordered only dessert. After that, he sent the butler out of sight.

The snow had stopped, and it was already one o’clock.

“Does the lady like me?”

“What?”

“In that case, shall we change the subject to engagement?”

I recalled that this place was arranged by Theus for my engagement.

“…Are you okay with our engagement?”

As I stepped back and asked, Roger smiled slyly.

“What could be wrong? How do you feel about it, Miss?”

“I don’t like it. I haven’t thought about marriage yet, and if you really are a man I’ve just met… an engagement with a man I’ve just met.”

“Then the conversation is over.”

Roger answered briefly and clearly.

“Let’s just eat the prepared dessert and part ways.”

Engagement or not, Roger didn’t care.

His attitude toward me, treating me like any other man, made my heart desperate. I had a strong desire to continue talking with Roger without the pretext of an engagement.

“I still want to keep seeing you. We’re the same age, and we can talk well.”

“If you want to be friends, I’ll refuse. I have no intention of becoming friends with you, Miss.”

“Think of it as a business friendship. Since I’m the daughter of Marzen, I’ll surely be of help to you.”

“But Miss is just the daughter of Marzen, not an executive, isn’t she?”

“Still, I’ll be helpful.”

When Roger didn’t easily yield, I felt a little tense.

“…Let’s go beyond the dessert. Since you brought a bag, it seems you have another appointment after this.”

He quickly changed the subject upon spotting the bag below. We couldn’t part ways like this.

“It’s okay. If I explain the situation to Yurik…”

At Yurik’s mention, Roger slightly flinched.

“Is that so? But what’s in the bag?”

“…Jams that I made.”

“Jam? Are you going to give it to him?”

Roger stared intently at the bag. I couldn’t understand why he easily overlooked small things but bothered with them when it came to Yurik.

“I like jams too.”

“Yes.”

“…”

“Yes?”

Roger looked at me in silence.

“…Shall I give you one?”

He didn’t explicitly refuse, and I handed a jar of jam to Roger. He looked at the color of the jam with a suspicious expression, then opened the lid.

Without smelling it, Roger, holding a fork, took a little taste of the jam. His face, which had been silent while savoring the taste, suddenly contorted.

Did it not suit his taste? In the tense moment, Roger began to cough continuously.

Initially, I thought he had swallowed it wrong. Strangely, Roger’s face gradually turned redder.

“Is… is it too much for you?”

He showed signs of difficulty breathing. Roger couldn’t say a word and just clutched his throat, expressing pain.

“Roger!”

“…”

“Roger, snap out of it! Roger!”