Emilia sighed inwardly as she got into the carriage. She hadn’t noticed during practice due to her concentration, but as soon as the ballet troupe’s schedule ended, she felt an ominous chill. Perhaps she was coming down with something.

Her body felt cold, yet her forehead was constantly beaded with cold sweat. The only fortunate thing was that her ankle didn’t hurt like it had in the morning, but of all days for this to happen, it had to be when she was going to meet Enrico. It felt like everything was going wrong.

She needed her body to move well, and she worried that he, being sensitive, might disapprove. This wasn’t even a personal appointment, but work.

She wouldn’t skip a performance just because she felt slightly unwell, and knowing his usual temperament, he would likely criticize her for not taking proper care of herself.

Her desire to uncover the truth about her parents as soon as possible mixed with her reluctance to be faulted by him.

‘It’s too late to say I’m taking the day off, we’re almost there anyway…’

Emilia looked out the window at the rapidly passing scenery with a worried expression. Even though it would have been fine to go slowly today, the carriage, unaware of her condition, sped along and arrived at Duke Michele’s residence in no time.

“We’re here.”

But why was Enrico standing outside the mansion? Unlike usual when he would wait in the viewing room, she was somewhat taken aback to see his smooth face as soon as the carriage door opened.

“…Duke.”

“Get out.”

Enrico held out his hand as if to help her. Emilia hesitated for a moment, but unable to do anything about him standing there, she took his hand. Feeling his touch gently grasping her fingertips, she stepped out of the carriage with mixed emotions.

‘This feels oddly uncomfortable.’

There hadn’t been much contact since that day she had embarrassingly shed tears in front of him. He hadn’t mentioned that incident specifically and had watched her dance as usual before sending her home. Too neatly, in fact.

They didn’t always have meals together, but he would usually make some conversation. His unusual silence left her feeling strangely uneasy.

It was good that he only showed interest in her dancing, but if his interest suddenly waned, that would be problematic in its own way, so she couldn’t help but worry.

‘Ah, I don’t know. Why do I have to worry about this too? Now my head hurts as well.’

Emilia stopped glancing at his profile as he escorted her, his expression unreadable, and furrowed her brow. Thinking that her head felt unusually heavy, she took a deep breath and exhaled.

‘My body needs to hold up until I finish the performance…’

What she thought was a mild cold seemed to be worsening in the chilly wind. Even after entering the warm mansion, her headache didn’t improve, and now she was starting to feel feverish.

Emilia tried to release his hand as soon as they entered, intending to go to the room where she always prepared for performances. However, her hand wasn’t easily freed, and instead, he firmly held onto her fingertips.

“Emilia.”

“Yes?”

“Look at me.”

His eyes, looking down at her as she had already half-turned away, were narrowed. She hesitated before slightly turning her head.

“Can’t we prepare for the performance right away?”

“No.”

He suddenly pulled her hand, seemingly unsatisfied. Caught off guard by the force, Emilia was pulled into his embrace. She reflexively braced herself against his chest, stopping just short of his face, but to onlookers, it would have appeared as if she was about to fall into his arms.

“Duke, what are you doing!”

“Hold still.”

He paid no heed to her sharp reaction. Instead, he lifted her chin, making her look up at him.

Her face was flushed all over, too much to be just from the cold wind. Even from a distance, he could feel the heat radiating from her.

His handsome brow furrowed.

“Are you running a fever?”

“…I tend to have a higher body temperature naturally.”

“It wasn’t like this when I touched you before.”

“That’s… Duke?”

He suddenly lowered his head. As the distance between them abruptly closed, she tried to step back, but the hand that had been holding hers was now wrapped around her lower back. Her eyes squeezed shut.

“…!”

She felt an unfamiliar sensation on her forehead. Cautiously opening one eye, she saw him with his forehead pressed against hers. At such close proximity, his downcast purple eyes were clearly visible.

“…You do have a fever.”

His cold voice snapped her back to reality. Emilia belatedly pushed hard against Enrico’s chest. Fortunately, this time he stepped back willingly, but his expression was visibly displeased. His intense gaze was so piercing that she unconsciously lowered her eyes.

“Were you planning to perform in this condition?”

“It’s just a slight fever. It won’t affect my dancing. I’m fine—”

“Emilia.”

At his chilling call, her mouth automatically closed.

“I have no need for anything less than perfection.”

Her eyes rose to meet his again. His impassive face, devoid of any hint of a smile, was clearly reflected in her trembling eyes. His ominous demeanor left her speechless. The thought that he might terminate the contract right then and there crossed her mind, and her head began to ring as if she were hearing tinnitus.

A suffocating silence stretched between them for a moment. It was broken when Enrico, who had been looking down at Emilia arrogantly, turned his back.

“This is why dealing with living things is so troublesome.”

His cynical tone pierced her heart. She felt like a mere animal performing tricks in front of him. She had been prepared for this all along, but facing it now, she was certain.

Enrico really would discard anything that didn’t meet his standards without hesitation. And perhaps he might even terminate the contract for the crime of displeasing him.

Emilia blankly watched his retreating back as he gave some instructions to the butler. Her eyes had become empty, as if all emotion had been erased.

Chandeliers and candles, like stars in the night sky, illuminated the dark stage. Enrico, seated in a red velvet chair, gazed silently at the stage. In the space filled with stillness, only the ticking of the watch on his wrist could be heard.

He listened quietly to the sound of the watch. Though he enjoyed being alone, ironically, he disliked spaces enveloped in silence. Even now, if not for the sound of this watch, he would have turned on music despite his reluctance.

He wasn’t sure when it began. Perhaps it had been that way since birth. Though he was the son born late to the previous king and queen, there was never anyone around him.

The previous queen, whose health had rapidly deteriorated after childbirth, never left her room, and the previous king who only stayed by her side. Naturally forgotten due to their indifference, Enrico was accustomed to being alone, with only the occasional servants who cared for him and waited outside.

‘Enrico, you are your brother’s shadow. Just stay quiet, and don’t think of doing anything.’

It was an environment where he could have everything except for one thing, but his surroundings were always quiet.

The previous queen occasionally allowed visits, but mostly only when Matthias Treano, the current king, was present. Then, she would always warn him, as if brainwashing, in front of him.

To soothe the firstborn’s anxiety, and for the second son who might dare to covet the position determined even before his birth. Unable to eliminate the king’s offspring conceived by chance, she who had been forced to give birth at a late age cared only for Matthias.

Therefore, this brainwashing continued until just before the previous royal couple passed away.

Whether the previous queen’s soothing had an effect or not, even after the previous king’s passing, Matthias didn’t try to keep Enrico in check, but he had no intention of becoming close brothers either.

He merely received reports on Enrico’s activities at regular intervals, and upon hearing that he was mostly alone or occasionally showed interest in artworks, he gradually lost interest.

‘Your Grace, I have purchased the paintings and porcelain you mentioned. However, you may need to consider expanding the exhibition hall in your residence.’

‘Send the old ones to the territory.’

Artwork was initially a way to show the king his disinterest in politics, as he had no interest in the throne to begin with, and it was the only interest that held his gaze for long, so he began collecting.

Beautiful things could satisfy his heart for a moment, and even if he quickly tired of them, he could continuously fill the void with something else.

So he endlessly bought artworks that appealed to him even slightly, but the problem was that he had no particular desire to possess them.

‘Find out about that woman.’

But then, for the first time, something he wanted to see repeatedly appeared before his eyes.

Emilia Este, it was her.

Never before had a living thing caught his eye. So a stronger curiosity arose, and he didn’t hesitate to acquire her. Though he might tire of her quickly, if she could satisfy his heart even for a moment, he thought it worth investigating the Este Viscount couple’s incident, which he had ignored before due to the troublesome nature of getting involved in unnecessary affairs.

And that contract was quite satisfactory. Though unexpected situations occasionally arose since she wasn’t an object without a will, it didn’t particularly upset him. His doll dancing solely for him, rather than seen in crowded places, evoked a strange sense of satisfaction.

Though he was starting to wonder how to deal with the bothersome Giorgio Este.

‘He hopes to cut off the sponsorship, does he.’