Seeing Duke Verdium for the first time sent a tingling and heavy feeling through Vialle’s heart, leaving her bewildered. Her heart seemed to pound noisily, fueled by an inexplicable, unpleasant emotion. She couldn’t fathom why she was so concerned about him liking someone else.

“Me, against Duke Verdium? Impossible.”

If anyone could peer into her thoughts, they would likely laugh. Her reasoning seemed implausible. She reassured herself that it was just the impact of reading intense love poems on such a fine day.

Caught in her thoughts, Vialle was unaware of her dazed expression, which a young lady seated next to her noticed.

“Lady Vialle, are you feeling unwell?”

“Not at all. Just a bit tired,” Vialle replied with a smile, which seemed to ease the young lady’s concern.

Questions like ‘Why me?’ swirled in Vialle’s head, distracting her from the poetry recitations by others.

As Duke Verdium began his presentation, Vialle felt compelled to leave, though it seemed rude. She was aware that she was avoiding the situation but felt at ease with her decision.

Seeking solace in the unfamiliar emotions, Vialle thought some fresh air might help. Standing in the fluttering breeze helped clear her cluttered thoughts.

“Are you feeling ill?” a low voice asked from behind her. Startled, Vialle lost her balance, and Duke Verdium quickly steadied her by catching her arm, which caused her to push him away in surprise.

“I’m sorry. You startled me…”

Duke Verdium initially looked hurt but soon offered a kind smile, saying, “It’s okay.”

In the awkward silence, Vialle recalled his earlier question. “I was just resting due to fatigue.”

“Shouldn’t you return to the manor?”

“I’m feeling better now.”

She sensed he didn’t fully believe her, but it didn’t change anything.

“Really?”

“Why are you here?” she asked.

“I was worried about you.”

‘Worried about me?’

Surprised by his response, Vialle’s eyebrows raised slightly, and Duke Verdium smirked subtly.

‘Is he joking now?’

Vialle, with a skeptical look, watched him as he shrugged nonchalantly and added, “I’m serious.”
As Vialle’s eyebrows subtly raised at the unexpected response, Duke Verdium smirked slightly.

‘Is he joking now?’

Vialle, with a furrowed brow, unapologetically gazed at him. Seemingly indifferent to her stare, the Duke casually shrugged and added, “I’m serious.”

Vialle, startled as if her thoughts were revealed, averted her gaze from him, who was still looking at her.

Both were silent, neither initiating conversation.

As the fatigue from the unforeseen events resurfaced, Vialle bit her tightly closed lips.

Thinking she couldn’t endure it anymore, Vialle decided to show gratitude for the gift she had received from him at their last meeting. After all, he was the head of the Verdium family, a position not to be taken lightly.

“I really enjoyed the book you gave me last time.”

“Did you read ‘The Shadows Hidden in Both Eyes’?”

Observing his expression brightening noticeably, Vialle discovered something new about him. He might appear cold with his icy silver hair and profound blue eyes, but his smile was boyish. Another thing she noticed was the small dimple that formed on his left cheek when he smiled.

As Vialle stared at his face, the Duke, feeling his face, asked, “Is there something on my face?”

Realizing she had been smiling at him, Vialle became flustered and quickly shook her head. Her face reddened, and she stammered, “No, nothing.”

‘Why did I find him cute?’

To dismiss the thought, Vialle pressed her cold hands against her warm cheeks, then composed her voice and said, “The book was very interesting, more than I expected.”

“I knew you would enjoy it.”

At that moment, Vialle could understand why ladies admired his appearance at tea parties and balls. Objectively, he was handsome, and his smile seemed to have an effect on her too. It reminded her of a large dog smiling brightly.

‘Yes, that must be it. No other reason.’

“I didn’t know the Duke had such an interest in literature.”

Vialle wondered why he had only recently joined the Monterio Literature Society.

“There was a lot to take care of before.”

‘Thinking of Gaizen, he probably didn’t have much free time.’

She recalled her brother and nonchalantly agreed with the Duke’s words.

Especially since he had become a Duke before even reaching adulthood, he must have been burdened with significant responsibilities.

“Congratulations once again.”

“Thank you, Lady.”

As they prepared to return to the recital hall, Vialle spoke up.

“About the poem you heard earlier…”

“‘To Make You Love Me Again,’ are you referring to that one?”

“Yes, is there a specific reason you chose it?”

It seemed the poem had deeply moved him during the recital.

“It was a favorite of my parents.”

“The Duke and Duchess?”

“Yes. They were very close.”

The Duke, unable to forget his late Duchess who passed away five years ago, never filled her vacant place and kept away from women.
Upon Vialle’s subtly raised eyebrows, Duke Verdium slightly smirked.

‘Is he joking now?’

Vialle, her brow furrowed, unapologetically gazed at him. Seemingly indifferent to her stare, the Duke casually shrugged and added, “I’m serious.”

Sensing her thoughts were exposed, Vialle awkwardly averted her gaze from him. They both remained silent, not initiating conversation.

Feeling the fatigue from the unforeseen events, Vialle bit her tightly closed lips, thinking she couldn’t endure it anymore. She decided to show gratitude for the gift she had received from him at their last meeting. After all, he was the head of the Verdium family, a position of great importance.

“I really enjoyed the book you gave me last time.”

“Did you read ‘The Shadows Hidden in Both Eyes’?”

Observing his expression brightening noticeably, Vialle realized something new about him. He might appear cold with his icy silver hair and deep blue eyes, but his smile was boyish. Another thing she noticed was the small dimple that formed on his left cheek when he smiled.

As Vialle stared at his face, the Duke, feeling his face, asked, “Is there something on my face?”

Realizing she had been smiling at him, Vialle became flustered and quickly shook her head. Her face reddened, and she stammered, “No, nothing at all.”

‘Why did I find him cute?’

To dismiss the thought, Vialle pressed her cold hands against her warm cheeks, then composed her voice and said, “The book was fascinating, much more than I expected.”

“I knew you would enjoy it.”

Vialle could now understand why ladies admired his appearance at tea parties and balls. Objectively, he was handsome, and his smile seemed to have an effect on her too. It reminded her of a large dog smiling brightly.

‘Yes, that must be it. There’s no other reason.’

“I didn’t realize the Duke had such a keen interest in literature.”

Vialle wondered why he had only recently joined the Monterio Literature Society.

“I’ve been quite busy until now.”

‘Thinking of Gaizen, he probably didn’t have much free time.’

She recalled her brother and nonchalantly agreed with the Duke’s words.

Especially since he had become a Duke before even reaching adulthood, he must have had a significant workload.

“Congratulations once again.”

“Thank you, Lady.”

As they prepared to return to the recital hall, Vialle spoke up.

“About the poem you heard earlier…”

“‘To Make You Love Me Again,’ are you referring to that one?”

“Yes, is there a specific reason you chose it?”

It seemed the poem had deeply moved him during the recital.

“It was a favorite of my parents.”

“The Duke and Duchess?”

“Yes. They were very close.”

The Duke, unable to forget his late Duchess who passed away five years ago, never filled her vacant place and kept away from women.