‘It doesn’t feel real.’

As Riley was packing her belongings, she suddenly thought that standing here itself felt quite unrealistic. In fact, could everything she experienced here be a dream?

First, she had to return to Lupla where she originally lived, but she was afraid of going back into that hellish cage.

Now there would be no more tightly closed cage doors or shackles on her feet, but still, she was afraid that when she went to that land, everything she experienced here would become a dream.

Afraid that it would become a lie, an illusion. Afraid that it would become something that never happened at all.

“When we return, we’ll prepare for the wedding. We’ll need to prepare for moving, wrap up the small lord’s work, and hand it over to another suitable candidate. During that time, you’ll also need to receive the minimum education necessary to become the lady of the Lianster family.”

There was a lot to do when they returned. Now things were different from before. Like Claire, she could receive equal education, and they said they would even hire a private tutor for her.

It’s really worked out well, it’s a good thing.

‘I don’t want to go.’

Once she leaves, she won’t be able to see him for a while.

Strangely, his handsome and refined face came to mind. She felt like she wanted to see him one more time before leaving.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t thanked him. Being saved from Count Ermeints, even the cancellation of the engagement… when you think about it, it was all thanks to him… By proposing marriage, he had saved her from being confined to a solitary room.

But she probably wouldn’t be able to see him. He’s a busy person after all.

Riley finished packing and left the room. Just then, she heard a scream.

“Why her? It’s unfair! Why her of all people! Why do I have to feel this miserable over Riley! Why!”

“Claire, calm down first…”

“You should have opposed the marriage! Why did both of you! Why did you approve of Riley’s marriage! Why! Why! I’m your real daughter!”

The sound of bitter wailing could be heard even outside. Although there was nothing particularly to be bitter about, Claire was wailing her heart out for some reason.

“I’m so angry! I wish I could just die!”

“Calm down, even if the Tower Master of Horizon looks decent, the rumors aren’t good. You know that too. His numerous scandals! He’s too good for you.”

“…Even with all those scandals, not a single woman ever decided to marry him!”

“…Just calm down first. What can we do? This is how things turned out. It’s rather fortunate. If we become in-laws with the Lianster family, you’ll receive more marriage proposals too.”

“What good is that! The Lianster family is one of the three great ducal houses! Do you think any other ducal house will accept me?”

“That’s…”

“Why should I marry into a family less prestigious than Riley’s!”

Oh my. Is this something to wail about? Listening to the outcry that was close to a tantrum, Riley was at a loss for words.

When the marriage to Count Ermeints was decided, she sang congratulations, but now she’s crying and throwing a fit like a child.

“First, calm down and pack your bags, it’s almost time to leave now. And what are you doing acting so unladylike! What if people outside hear?”

They can already hear everything.

Not long after, Claire came out with servants carrying luggage bags.

Riley thought she would take out her anger on her. But when Claire saw Riley, she just gritted her teeth and passed by.

That’s strange, I thought she would lash out right away.

“Riley, you’re already out. Good! Let’s go quickly.”

Moreover, even her aunt’s voice, which was always prickly, was soft.

It’s good that the treatment changed overnight, but can people change this much? She couldn’t get used to it at all.

Now that she realized their true nature, she could only laugh, but honestly, if she had received this treatment when she was still desperately seeking their affection… she would have thought they were really family and acted obediently.

“Um, Miss Riley.”

Even the maids are treating me respectfully now.

“What?”

“The master is calling for you.”

Why, what is it this time?

Riley turned and headed towards Ryan’s room.

Knock knock.

“I’m coming in.”

The door opened, and

“You’re here.”

An unexpected person greeted her.

“…What brings the Duke here?”

Givnen Lianster, why is he here?

As Riley was bewildered, Givnen approached her.

“I just felt it was a shame to send you off like this.”

Is it because Ryan is here? He was extremely polite. The loving expression was a bonus.

What’s going on?

Ryan, who had been silent, cleared his throat and said,

“The Duke said he wanted to spend some time with you.”

“…Pardon?”

“We’ll move your luggage, so don’t worry.”

“Are you telling me to stay here?”

To Riley’s question, Givnen smiled and answered instead.

“I’d like that, but that’s not possible. There’s a lot to prepare… though you could have come empty-handed.”

“…Ah.”

“Then, I’ll take my leave, sir.”

“Yes, I entrust my daughter to you, Duke.”

Givnen took the lead.

As Riley left the hotel where they were staying, following him, she asked in a daze,

“Why are we here…”

“I said I missed you just now.”

“I thought that was just an excuse.”

“It’s both an excuse and the truth.”

“…”

“Besides, we don’t have to have official business to meet, do we?”

Since we’re going to get married anyway, it’s true if you think about it.

But wasn’t this a contract marriage?

“…Isn’t this a marriage contracted for mutual convenience?”

“That’s true, but just because it’s a contract marriage doesn’t mean we have to be awkward with each other.”

Right, that’s correct. Just because it’s an obligatory marriage doesn’t mean the relationship has to be obligatory too.

But… wasn’t this man someone who clearly distinguished between public and private matters?

From their first meeting to their first night together, even to the conversation they had when he came with a marriage proposal… he seemed to clearly draw a line.

Is this really the same man who coldly said they were using marriage as a means for mutual convenience?

“I thought you were someone who clearly distinguished between public and private matters more than anyone else.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Then why…”

At Riley’s question, Givnen stopped walking. Then he smiled, showing his even teeth.

“Because I’ve developed a personal interest.”

At that radiant smile, which might be just ceremonial, Riley’s breath caught for a moment.

He looked splendid standing with his back to the wind and smiling. The picture-like scene felt surreal. It felt so unreal that she couldn’t tell if this was a dream or reality.

He reached out his hand to Riley.

“So, spare me some time, noona.”

Riley couldn’t help but take his hand, as if enchanted.

***

Riley nervously clutched at her skirt.

‘What, what am I supposed to do?’

It seems like she had many friends to play with when she was young… but now the memory of how she played with those friends was hazy.

Is it because she hasn’t interacted with others since she was adopted into the Eadalin family… She was very nervous about spending time alone with a man who wasn’t even a friend but her future husband.

Her mind went blank. She didn’t know what to say or what to do…

“Why are you so nervous?”

“…It’s just my first time doing this.”

“Doing what?”

“…Spending time alone with someone else.”

“You know.”

“?”

“That time you spent with me.”

“Ah…”

“Come to think of it, it’s not your first time.”

I wasn’t in my right mind then. And now I’m perfectly sane.

Riley found this whole situation very confusing. To be having a friendly conversation with the Tower Master of Horizon. And to be walking alone with him.

Givnen chuckled at Riley’s stiff appearance.

“Relax.”

“…”

“You don’t have to do anything. It’s a gentleman’s job to lead a lady.”

He skillfully guided Riley.

They boarded a floating stone carriage, the same one they had ridden when fleeing from the reception hall, and moved somewhere.

The scenery of the street came into Riley’s tense view. Many things that hadn’t caught her eye when she first came here were now visible.

Magic fireflies flew around illuminating the city, small black spheres rolled on the ground sucking up trash, and clouds flying in the sky went around the gardens placed in various parts of houses, sprinkling rain.

It was like a completely different world from the territory where she originally stayed.

People commonly carried one or two magic tools, and magic tools working in various parts of the streets were a common sight. Even pet magical beasts could be seen.

People here raise magical beasts instead of animals, huh.

“…When we get married, we’ll live here, right?”

“That’s right. Why, don’t you like it?”

“No, it’s just hard to believe. There are so many amazing things here, it feels like a completely different world from where I used to live.”

“Magic tools have only been widely distributed recently, so the use of magic tools is only common in Blestigi, so there is a big difference in living environments.”

It’s full of unfamiliar things, things I’ve never experienced before. I guess the gap will feel even more real when we get married.

“What should I prepare?”

“Prepare?”

“What should I prepare to live as your wife? I don’t know how to do anything…”

Of course, she didn’t know how to do anything since she hadn’t learned anything.

She had readily accepted his marriage proposal as a good opportunity to escape from Count Ermeints, but now she was a bit scared.

She was worried about whether she could adapt well, given that they had lived in completely different worlds, and she was concerned that she knew too little.

Even if it’s a contract marriage, I still have to fulfill my duties as a wife, right? This also means I have to handle the position of the lady of the Lianster family.

Can I do well?

What if I’m treated as even more of a nuisance than when I was in the Eadalin family?

“You don’t need to prepare anything like that.”

“But you said we have to fulfill our duties as a married couple. I’m not confident I can handle the duties I should perform as your wife properly.”

“I said we have to fulfill our duties as a married couple, but I didn’t expect you to be a perfect wife.”

“…”

“Well, rather than thinking about what you need to prepare, it might be better to think about what you want to do in the future.”

“What I want to do…?”

“There are a lot of things you haven’t tried, right?”

Riley was dumbfounded as if she had been hit on the head with a hammer.

How should I put it, it was a phrase she hadn’t heard in a very long time.

“Riley, you should just do what you want to do. I want you to live more freely than anyone else.”

“Of course, I’m going to live doing what I want to do! There are so many things I want to do!”

Father told me to live doing what I want to do, and

“What are you doing! I told you not to do anything!”

“They say if you stay still you’ll at least stay in the middle, why are you doing things you weren’t told to do?”

“You shouldn’t do anything, just stay still and breathe. I don’t expect anything from you. Just do what you’re told.”

Uncle told me not to do anything.

But this man says the same thing as my father. He tells me to think about what I want to do, not what I have to do.

Why does such a simple phrase resonate so much? It’s not even a big deal.

“…I’ll think about it.”

Riley turned her head towards the window, avoiding his gaze. For some reason, her chest felt ticklish. She felt a bit shy to make eye contact.

·

·

·

The place they arrived at was somewhere Riley knew well.

Hotel Insignia, where she had spent a night with him.

However, this time the destination was not a room, but a restaurant located in the observatory on the top floor.

“We’ve been waiting. Master, I’ll guide you to your seats.”

The brilliant night view of Blestigi spread out beneath their feet.

“Choose.”

He pushed the menu towards Riley.

As it was full of food names she didn’t know, Riley handed the menu back to him.

“I don’t know much about these things, could you choose something appropriate for me?”

“Sure.”

Since her daily meals usually consisted of dry bread and bland soup, anything would probably taste delicious.

Givnen ordered the food, and not long after, the ordered dishes started to come out one by one.

Who would have thought there would come a day when she would taste such exquisite cuisine she had never seen or heard of before, in a space where sophisticated jazz classics played, while looking at the city’s brilliant night view.

Riley timidly picked up her fork and knife.

Although she had learned some dining etiquette from being scolded and reprimanded countless times, even without formal training, she was nervous about making a mistake.

So when she hesitated to start eating, Givnen chuckled and cut the meat, placing it on Riley’s plate.

“I’m not going to eat you, it’s too embarrassing if you’re this tense even at the dining table.”

“Ah? Sorry…”

I’ve become too used to being scolded, I unconsciously became submissive.

Riley swallowed her last words and put the meat in her mouth. Even without much chewing, the meat juice burst and the meat melted softly. Wow, I didn’t know such delicious things existed in this world.

“Wow.”

Riley, who had let out an exclamation of admiration, quickly covered her mouth. Givnen burst into laughter at this.

“I’m glad it seems to suit your taste.”

As the delicious food entered her mouth, her tension eased and her appetite increased.

Riley began to enjoy the meal in earnest. Then suddenly she felt something odd.

“There are no other guests.”

The food sold in a place like this must be extremely expensive. So clearly, not just anyone can come here to eat, which is why there are no guests, she thought.

However, Givnen added nonchalantly.

“I rented out the whole place.”

“…?”

“So you could eat comfortably.”

If there were many eyes watching, it would be uncomfortable.

It was an indifferent voice but a caring answer. This immediately reminded Riley of the rumors about Givnen.

‘He… considered me.’

And on quite an extraordinary scale.

Even the prices written on the menu were incredibly expensive, how much would it cost to rent out this whole place? It’s dizzying to think about.

“…Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

I can see why he’s popular, even though he’s a man surrounded by numerous scandals.

He seems indifferent but has a considerate side. Contrary to the rampant rumors, I thought he might actually be a really decent person.

Of course, it wouldn’t matter even if the rumors were true and he was quite a profligate rake. The fact that he helped me doesn’t change.

“I had fun, the meal was delicious.”

The meal was over and it was time to leave. Riley felt somewhat reluctant to part with him. We won’t be able to see each other for a while now…

“And thank you so much for your help. I think coming here was really the right decision.”

Now it’s time to say goodbye.

“Shall we go now?”

Riley stood up from her seat.

At that moment, Givnen caught her wrist. Then he smiled and asked,

“Want to stay the night?”