Through the half-drawn curtains, the dark night sky was visible.

“It seems you only slept for about four hours. Why don’t you lie down again?”

“I’d like to wash up first.”

“Then I’ll prepare a change of clothes for you. I’ll also change the sheets.”

“Thank you.”

Zabeta showed her to the bathroom in the room and quickly left. Emilia drank the glass of water she had left earlier and hurried to the bathroom.

She deliberately didn’t recall the unsettling dream. She just focused on washing with warm water and quickly changed into the indoor clothes Zabeta had brought. In truth, she wanted to go home like this.

But she was torn between whether it would be an inconvenience to spend the night here or to ask for a carriage to return at this late hour.

Then, thinking that Enrico would be informed, and fearing she might run into him at this dawn hour, she leaned towards staying.

“Here, have a cup of warm tea and get some good rest.”

“Thank you. You should go and rest too. I’ll sit for a while before sleeping.”

“…Alright. Then have sweet dreams.”

After hesitating for a moment, Zabeta nodded and withdrew upon seeing Emilia’s improved complexion. Soon, the sound of the door closing was heard.

Emilia sat in the chair in front of the small fireplace, leaning back comfortably and slowly sipping her tea. The crackling sound of burning wood made her feel at ease.

She felt it might be too relaxed in someone else’s mansion, but since no one would come at this hour and she couldn’t return right away anyway, she decided to just let her mind rest and not think too deeply. Although Enrico’s coldness from earlier still bothered her, she thought it would be fine if she showed a good performance on stage next time.

After all, her job was just to dance to the music like the music box she saw in her dream.

Emilia, who had been staring at the fire with a resigned face, soon got up from her seat impassively. She put down her teacup on the table and was about to return to the now-fluffy bed when she suddenly stopped in her tracks at a sound from behind.

‘Is Zabeta back?’

It was the sound of the door slowly opening. Emilia turned around to see who was entering.

“…Your Grace.”

If she had known it was Enrico, she would have pretended to be asleep. Emilia’s expression stiffened slightly.

“You’re awake.”

“Yes, I just woke up briefly and was about to go back to sleep.”

Emilia replied, implying that he should leave. However, true to his character of not caring about such intentions, Enrico entered the room without hesitation.

His black hair was slightly damp as if he had just bathed, and he was wearing a black robe similar to his hair color. As he approached, she could smell the heavy scent of wet perfume.

Emilia, momentarily dazed by the languid fragrance that suited him, soon retreated hesitantly upon seeing the open front of his robe.

She had seen him with his shirt unbuttoned at the neck a few times, but this was the first time she had seen him exposing down to his solar plexus, which was a bit disconcerting.

She thought she had become immune to men’s bodies after seeing male ballet dancers with their upper bodies exposed and wearing tight-fitting tights, but seeing the duke’s thick chest muscles right in front of her was quite different from what she had seen before and she couldn’t help but be surprised.

When he wore a suit, he didn’t look this muscular, but seeing a drop of water fall from his hair, trace down his thick neck, and cross between his chest muscles, she didn’t know where to look out of embarrassment.

“Your fever.”

He asked in a low voice, having approached close. She, who had been averting her eyes in awkwardness, felt him suddenly close and took a step back. As she did so, she lightly covered her forehead with one hand, wondering if he would check her temperature again like before.

“It’s fine now.”

“Move your hand.”

“Pardon?”

“I can’t trust your words.”

A sigh rose to the tip of her throat. She thought about telling him it was rude behavior and asking him to leave, but seeing his determination that he wouldn’t leave until he checked personally, Emilia slowly lowered her hand.

She had thought he wouldn’t press his forehead against hers again like before. However, when he grabbed her chin and lowered his head, she quickly raised both hands to block him.

“Wait a moment! You can check with your hand, can’t you? Why are you measuring like this?”

“I run hot, so I can’t check with my hands.”

“You should be able to check with the back of your hand.”

“Well. Why should I do that specifically?”

“…Because it’s late at night. Actually, even you coming into the room is a bit uncomfortable… Coming this close in such casual attire doesn’t seem right.”

Emilia blinked calmly. Her gaze met his as he looked down at her through her fingers. His long eyelids curved languidly.

“Are you afraid I might do something?”

“I didn’t think that. I’m just saying that this situation isn’t right.”

“Who decides what’s right or wrong in my own mansion? If I’m fine with it, then it’s fine.”

He whispered low as he firmly grasped her thin wrists. Whether his hands were exceptionally large or her wrists unusually thin, or perhaps both, he gripped both her wrists with one hand and pulled them down.

Though she tried to remain calm, her pupils trembled slightly. He tilted his head and twisted his lips into a smile.

“But why do you think I won’t do anything?”

“…Because Your Grace doesn’t see me as a person.”

Her face quickly became impassive as she muttered as if talking about someone else. Just a moving work of art, nothing more. As if it wasn’t surprising, as if this treatment was familiar, Emilia showed a resigned look.

As he silently looked down at her, his lips slowly turned down. With the smile gone, his face was cold and heartless. As if this was his true face.

“Just because I don’t see you as a person doesn’t mean I can’t touch you.”

Emilia’s eyes narrowed sharply. It seemed the conversation was heading towards crossing a line. She couldn’t understand why he was acting like someone desperate to hurt her, when he was getting what he wanted.

‘Well, he did contract me like a plaything from the start.’

It was her mistake to try to have a conversation with such a person.

“Our contract was for me to perform on stage. I’d prefer not to clash privately like this.”

Emilia moved her arm as if to shake off his hand.

“Performing on stage is included. You also need to satisfy me as you are.”

It was pure nonsense. Emilia, provoked by his eyes that seemed to be pressing down on her, raised her voice.

“That wasn’t in the contract terms!”

“So. Do you want to terminate it?”

Her moving arm stopped abruptly. Her fierce gaze softened, and her lower lip trembled.

Only then did his hand release. He moved that hand to lightly grasp the ends of her hair. The soft platinum blonde hair rippled in his fingers.

“You’re the one who’d regret it. For me, it’s just removing one of the artworks I own from my sight.”

Maintaining eye contact, he slightly lowered his head as he raised her hair. Very slowly, his lips touched her hair. It was just hair, but strangely, it felt like he was touching her skin.

Emilia’s limp hands clenched into fists. His gaze flicked down to her trembling hands.

“Don’t needlessly put your guard up and provoke me. I have no particular intention of touching you.”

He raised the corners of his mouth in a smirk as he straightened up. With a smile as elaborate as a mask, his fingers brushed her neck slightly as he swept her hair behind her back. Due to the naturally shortened distance, his low whisper and breath were felt on her forehead.

“The audition is next week, isn’t it?”

After tucking the hair on her cheek behind her ear, he placed the back of his hand on her forehead. As if checking for a fever, he kept his skin against hers and stared down at her standing quietly.

An uncomfortable silence fell. The usual ticking of his watch was not heard. Only Emilia’s slightly quickened breathing filled that silence. Her chest, which had risen and fallen rapidly, could be seen gradually calming.

“…Yes.”

The long-delayed answer came out in a voice that sounded choked. However, even at this response, Enrico revealed a satisfied look, like an owner who had tamed a beast.

“Let’s see the next performance after the audition is over. Until then, make sure to manage your condition well.”

He spoke as if bestowing a favor and withdrew his hand. She moved her lips at his words but eventually closed them.

Although she desperately wanted to uncover the truth about her parents, it was clear that pushing too hard would prevent her from maintaining her stamina in the long run.

Eyes mixed with resignation and regret were hidden under her eyelids. As she slightly nodded and lowered her gaze, he briefly showed a strange expression before quickly erasing it.

“This time, you should take on some important roles too. As someone I’m sponsoring, you should be able to handle that much, shouldn’t you?”

There was a slight emphasis on the word ‘someone’. Emilia almost let out a cynical laugh. She wondered if he was really trying to train her, finding it ridiculous how he shifted from being oppressive to slightly relaxed. It was as if she had gone from being treated as an object to at least a living creature.

“I suppose so.”

She spat out the words self-deprecatingly.

“Just do as you usually do.”

“……”

“Then this time, the results will show what you’ve demonstrated.”