Francis’s eyes scanned the ice cream display from end to end. And… scanned again.

He didn’t know what flavor to buy.

Rosalyn liked most flavors. But that ugly one over there wasn’t Rosalyn, so she might have her own preferences.

“Should I have asked before coming?”

He muttered softly, fidgeting with his sharp chin. Suddenly, irritation flared up.

“No, why am I thinking about what that ugly one would like?”

Even someone like Rosalyn likes everything, so who is she to be picky.

“What would you like, young master?”

“One of each, please.”

Damn it.

Contrary to what he had thought, the order came out of his mouth on its own.

He let out a sigh and brushed back his bangs that tickled his forehead like soft puppy fur.

‘Fine. I’m being generous, ugly one. Surely there’s something you’ll like.’

There must be at least one flavor she likes among these.

The shop owner, excited to make an hour’s worth of sales in just a few minutes, scooped the ice cream into cups with a beaming face. Then he placed each cup into a box with holes.

“That’ll be 3 silver, customer.”

The owner said, holding out the egg carton-like ice creams. Francis handed over the gold coin he was holding.

“Keep the change.”

The owner’s eyes widened as he jingled the coins in his apron pocket.

He had made not just an hour’s worth of sales, but a day’s worth, or even more.

“Thank you, my lord. Please come again. Do come back, please.”

Leaving behind the owner bowing so low his head nearly touched the ground, Francis walked away.

Crunch, crunch.

With each step, gravel crushed beneath his feet. The sound suddenly brought back memories from long ago. Memories from when he was a boy called the young master of the fallen noble Herbert family, not the Adel heir.

Near the old house where he lived alone with his mother after his father’s early death, there was quite a spacious vacant lot.

On one side of the gravel yard was an unfinished house, with pillars and beams precariously placed on foundation stones. It must have been a source of worry for adults, but for children, it was the best playground.

Children had to lie to their parents to play there.

But Francis didn’t need to.

‘Can I play in that vacant lot, Mother?’

‘Do as you like, Fran.’

Mother readily gave permission.

Not only that, she respected Francis’s opinions on most matters.

She didn’t stop him from playing with the neighborhood commoners, nor did she scold him when he picked up bad language and behavior from them.

Even when caught smoking a cigar, mother smiled and said:

‘Our Fran has grown up.’

‘I’m sorry, Mother.’

‘No need to apologize. You have the right to do as you please. Do whatever makes you happy.’

Do as you like.

Mother always said that.

Francis thought it was love… until she ran away in the night with the laborer who helped with housework.

On the fifth night after she left home, Francis finally realized.

That too much consideration is the same as indifference.

She was able to be so generous not because she loved him, but because she didn’t care.

She didn’t care whether he strayed down the wrong path or fell from a high place and died.

He resolved then.

‘I must never become like that.’

Love is attention.

After getting to know Rosalyn, he watched everything about her with interest.

He didn’t miss even the slightest change in her expression. If she looked upset, he comforted her, and immediately resolved any discomfort.

Furthermore, he looked into what kind of person her fiancé was, observed him and his surroundings to minimize any potential dangers to Rosalyn.

His attention spread in all directions, centered on Rosalyn.

His well-honed senses are used only for her sake.

But for the first time, his senses were on alert because of a subject completely unrelated to Rosalyn.

He saw Melly glance at the ice cream stand for a few seconds as she passed through the alley.

Her gaze swept over the ice creams. Instead of savoring with her tongue, she savored the flavors with her eyes.

It was something he often did in his poor childhood.

Well. He had that thought at their first meeting too. Sympathy is truly a troublesome emotion.

Seeing himself in the actions of such an insignificant girl.

Whatever.

His consideration belonged to Rosalyn. He was different from someone like Edric Pelton who was kind and considerate to every woman.

He intended to ignore it.

At least.

‘You seem like quite a good person too.’

He thought that way until he heard her words.

‘Use your passion for someone better. Don’t waste it like pouring water into a bottomless jar.’

It was truly a useless piece of advice.

If anyone else had said those words, he would have definitely retorted to mind their own business. But he couldn’t do that to Melly Enwood.

She persuaded him with innocent and sincere words, as if Francis didn’t know about that textbook-like correct attitude towards life.

That attitude was so novel to Francis that he dared not laugh at it.

So…

“I did this pointless thing.”

He muttered, looking down at the dozen or so round scoops of ice cream.

Sigh.

A smile seeped through at the end of a long exhale.

It wasn’t the deliberate expression he used to create various atmospheres with different variations, but a naturally arising smile.

That ugly one made him wear a smile as natural as when taking a bite of ice cream.

He turned the corner of the alley.

Melly Enwood couldn’t be seen because of the dozens of people passing by in front of him.

But suddenly, she appeared through a gap that opened in the crowd.

His body was turned towards me. He held up the ice cream tray.

‘Hey, I bought this much, so eat it all and gain some weight.’

That’s what he intended to say when they met. But he couldn’t. Or more precisely, he was unable to.

There was someone opposite her.

A man exuding extraordinary dignity even from behind.
The man who had made him unable to swallow water properly for days by bursting the inside of his mouth. Edric Pelton.

Francis lowered the ice cream.

He saw the wench’s face, startled by the sudden encounter.
She was so shocked that her complexion turned pale white.

‘Anyone would think she met a debt collector rather than her beloved man.’

It was so pitiful that he wanted to save her. He took a step. But he stopped again after not even three steps.

A sudden gust of wind blew the coat loosely draped over Duke Pelton’s shoulders, revealing the holster attached to his waist belt. It might be for self-defense, but… it might not be.

The gentler and softer a man is, the more extreme he tends to become once he snaps.

‘I’d better bow out of this situation.’

Francis concluded.

It seemed like the way to preserve his life. And also the way for that wench’s mental health.

Except for having to throw away the ice cream he bought for a whole gold coin, there was no loss…

Francis pulled out one ice cream cup from the box.

‘Congratulations on the ugly duckling’s unrequited love coming true.’

He raised the ice cream to his forehead as if making a toast. Then he turned around, taking a big bite.

Throwing the rest in the trash.

“What are you doing here?”

At Edric’s words, Melly, who had been very tense, became puzzled.

There was no trace of anger in his voice. No,
It even seemed to be tinged with joy, as if he had unexpectedly encountered a friend at a place he had casually dropped by.

‘Does he not know who I came here with? If he knew, he wouldn’t speak so casually.’

She smiled awkwardly and made an excuse.

“I… I just came out for a bit.”

“Out? By yourself?”

Melly flinched at the gaze that seemed to burrow into her eyes.
She felt like cold sweat was breaking out.

Thinking it would be better to tell since he would find out anyway, she was about to open her mouth when,

“Well, I suppose you could go out alone. You’re not a child after all.”

Edric nodded, accepting it as he pleased. She was afraid to correct the misunderstanding.

“And you… what brings you here?”

Melly asked.

“Oh, didn’t I tell you?”

Edric said, sweeping his gaze across the square.

“Our family has been tasked with promoting the square’s redevelopment project this time. So I’m here to take a look around.”

“…I see.”

It was the first time she had heard of this, but it seemed plausible. The imperial family had often involved the Pelton duchy in various urban reorganization projects in the past.

Even so, to entrust the entire redevelopment of this capital’s center, the Pelton duchy must be truly remarkable. Melly swept her gaze across the square with a mix of admiration.

That’s when it happened.

“…!”

Suddenly, Melly’s expression froze.

Francis Adel appeared among the passersby. Her complexion turned pale blue as if she had seen a ghost.

‘Don’t come here!’

She tried to convey a silent warning with her eyes. But before that, Edric noticed something strange.

“Why does your complexion look like that, Melly? Is there something behind me?”

He was about to turn his head.

“Edric!”

Melly hurriedly grabbed his arm.

“I’m hungry.”

“…”

“Let’s go home now.”

It was the only excuse she could think of.

Edric’s eyes gazed at Melly once more. His eyes were as calm as a night lake, but also sharp. As if he could see right through her thoughts.

“Alright, let’s do that.”

But when Edric smiled, revealing his even teeth, that feeling quickly disappeared.

Perhaps her guilty conscience had made him appear that way.

“Let’s go get dinner.”

Edric put his arm around Melly’s shoulders.

“Mm… okay.”

Melly sighed in relief and glanced behind her from the corner of her eye. Francis was already gone.

Fortunately, he was a man of quick wit. Otherwise, they might have encountered quite an awkward situation.

For her, and for that man. Perhaps a bit more for that man…

“So, what do you want to eat? I’ll treat you.”

At Edric’s words, Melly’s face became puzzled for a moment.

“Aren’t we going back to the duke’s residence?”

“No, we’re not.”

Edric said, smoothly curling up the corners of his mouth.

“We’re going somewhere else.”

“Somewhere else… where?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

His sapphire eyes flickered seductively within his gently curved eyes.

Melly felt her body being pulled a little closer to his chest.

Then she felt her heart beating unusually loud and fast.

Is it mine? Or is it his?

She couldn’t tell anymore.