The Handler Family Mansion, the Capital.
"Respectful greetings to Your Grace. Welcome to the Handler Family Residence."
Fabian returned the greeting with a faint nod.
"Forgive me for disturbing the peace of your residence, Madam Handler."
"As head of the Handler Family, it is an honour for us to receive Your Grace's visit. Your presence is not a disturbance in the least."
"Thank you."
"Please, come in, Your Grace."
Fabian had deliberately come alone.
The two personal knights accompanying him remained on guard outside the mansion gate.
Even Secretary Hans remained at the Grand Duke's main residence.
He had no wish to add pressure upon his host by displaying the strength he possessed.
Even so, his presence alone was already more than enough to bring forth a pressure unseen.
Adela led Fabian toward the main drawing room.
A seat of honour had been prepared to receive the most distinguished guest in the Imperial Capital.
Before long, the servants served tea before withdrawing in silence.
The room then sank into stillness.
Adela opened the conversation first.
"Please enjoy the tea, Your Grace. I hope it suits your taste."
Fabian lifted his cup, took a sip, then set it down again.
"Silverleaf Tea. It comes from the southern region of the Empire."
Adela let out a breath of relief.
At least her choice of tea had not been mistaken.
Since receiving the official letter of visitation that morning, her mind had never truly been at ease. Simply because the man was able to recognize the tea served, a portion of Adela's tension slowly loosened.
"It seems this is not the first time Your Grace has tasted it."
"That is true. Whenever I visit the Duke of Glutstein's territory, this tea is always served."
For a moment, stillness once more settled over the room.
"Is Silverleaf Tea not also one of the main commodities of Handler Company?"
"Your Grace is aware of our family's business?"
"That is nothing kept secret. Handler Company is well known enough in the capital, particularly in the trade of spices and commodities from the southern region."
That sentence was spoken without the slightest emphasis.
Yet for that very reason, its weight felt all the greater.
As a merchant, Adela grasped at once the meaning behind those words.
The Grand Duke was not merely making pleasantries.
He was showing that his knowledge of the Handler Family reached far beyond what he let on.
I must be more careful.
"Indeed, Your Grace."
Adela decided to bring the discussion of business to a close.
The longer that topic continued, the greater the chance the conversation would shift toward ground she did not wish to touch.
"If I may ask... what is the purpose of Your Grace's visit to the Handler Residence today?"
Fabian had already anticipated that question would be asked.
Yet it was Hans's words that kept troubling his mind.
Engagement.
Marriage.
Two words that should have been easy to dismiss.
For some reason, they instead kept echoing in his mind.
Now and then, the image of Charlotte standing at another man's side rose up unbidden.
He did not care for that sight.
The feeling felt foreign to him. He had no wish to examine it, much less admit to it.
His true purpose remained the same.
To meet Charlotte.
Yet it was impossible to state that reason outright to Adela.
He needed a reason that could be accepted.
Calmly, Fabian drew a sealed envelope from the pocket of his blue coat.
Ellen received it at once with both hands before passing it to Adela.
"Madam Handler. I understand that your family and Miss Charlotte have been placed in a difficult position because of my impulsive act yesterday. As a form of apology, I hope you will be willing to accept this compensation."
Adela shook her head gently.
"Your Grace, there is no need. I have never regarded that incident as your fault. Rather, it is we who ought to give thanks that Your Grace still troubles yourself to think of our family."
"I still hope you will accept it."
"Your Grace..."
"Does Madam Handler mean to refuse my apology?"
Those words sounded courteous.
Yet they left not the smallest room for refusal.
Adela had no other choice. She finally let out a slow breath.
"In that case... I shall accept it. Thank you, Your Grace."
Whatever the envelope contained, the Grand Duke had already shown goodwill beforehand.
Among the upper class, such an intention was often worth far more than the value of the gift itself.
So Adela thought.
Until she opened the envelope.
***
"...You truly are beautiful, Miss. Now I understand why His Grace the Grand Duke is so drawn to you."
"Tina..."
"Yes, Miss?"
"Do not say such things. Others might misunderstand upon hearing it."
"But it is true."
Tina kept combing my hair, smiling with satisfaction.
"Look at this pink hair. Your face too is so lovely, Miss. Even compared to the noble ladies I have met, you remain far more captivating. If I were a man, I would have long since pursued you."
I shivered at once.
Pursued me?
Why did that sentence sound so unsettling?
"Enough, Tina. Finish quickly."
"Yes, Miss."
Tina was Amy's cousin.
Unlike the quiet Amy, this woman never seemed to run short of things to say. Her mouth kept moving without pause, as though she meant to make me wish to vanish on the spot.
Yet I must admit...
Her skill at styling was truly remarkable.
No one had ever been able to arrange my appearance so well.
Even Mother fell short of her.
"Tina is right, Sister."
Dorothea nodded eagerly.
"Sister is so pretty. Dorothea wants to grow up as pretty as Sister."
"Dorothea."
"Yes, Sister?"
"Would you like some sweets?"
"Yes!"
"Then sit nicely and do not talk too much. Sister will give you sweets later."
Dorothea immediately covered her mouth with both hands.
"Yes."
I could not hold back a smile.
Ever since training had ended earlier, the little girl had kept close by my side.
She had even complained that she had not been able to sleep beside me the night before.
Though I had wished for it too.
Only, my mind had been in such disarray that I had truly forgotten.
Seeing her innocent face eased somewhat the guilt that had been troubling me all this while.
Yet...
Why was this taking so long?
"When will it be finished?"
"Just a little longer, Miss. Please be patient. Only a little more."
I looked at my reflection in the mirror.
"Would loose hair not have been enough? Why must it be made so elaborate? And what are all these ribbons and hairpins for?"
"Be still for a moment, Miss. I must concentrate."
"For what purpose?"
"To ensure His Grace the Grand Duke cannot tear his eyes away from you."
"That sounds rather dreadful, in fact."
"Why?"
"I have no wish to be looked at by him."
Tina let out a soft chuckle.
"As for me, I would feel proud."
"Proud?"
"Because my Miss is praised by the Grand Duke."
"Your imagination grows more excessive still."
"But I am certain of it."
This woman was truly stubborn.
For some reason...
Her manner reminded me somewhat of Fabian.
Small wonder Amy once called her cousin mad.
Now I began to understand what she had meant.
Tina finished the last touch upon my hair.
"Let us make a wager, Miss."
"About what?"
"If His Grace the Grand Duke praises your appearance today, then I win."
"So confident."
"Of course."
Her smile was filled with certainty.
"Because I know you truly are that beautiful, Miss."
"Very well."
"But if I win, Miss must grant me one request."
"And if I win?"
"Please decide the penalty yourself."
"In that case, stop saying such embarrassing things to me."
"Agreed."
Strange.
I should have felt annoyed.
Yet after hearing her words, a small hope quietly began to grow within my heart.
What if...
Fabian truly praised me?
Now...
Even merely imagining it made my cheeks grow warm once more.
***
After everything was finished, I stepped out of the room together with Ian and Dorothea.
The closer I drew to the staircase, the heavier my steps felt.
Facing an opponent on the field of battle was far easier than facing Fabian.
Just before I descended the first step, Ian caught and held my wrist.
"If Elder Sister does not wish to meet the Grand Duke, only say so. I shall speak with him myself."
"Brother Ian is right."
"Dorothea will help Sister too."
A faint smile traced itself upon my lips.
The warmth they offered slowly wore away the nervousness that had filled my chest all this while.
Yet it was not that I did not wish to meet Fabian.
Quite the opposite.
The harder I denied it, the more clearly I realized that some small part of me wished to be near him.
I myself did not understand it. Sooner or later, I would find the answer.
"I am only nervous."
Dorothea at once held out her hand.
"Then hold Dorothea's hand. Dorothea will share her strength so Sister is no longer nervous."
"You grow sweeter still."
I pinched her cheek gently.
"Very well. Let us go. They must already be waiting."
Ian said nothing more.
But I knew he still worried for me.
As for that bite mark...
For the time being, I chose to set it aside.
I held Dorothea's hand as we descended the stairs.
Before I had even reached the last step, I already felt a pair of eyes fixed upon me.
That crimson gaze had not shifted in the least since my appearance.
I even began to wonder.
Was something wrong with my styling?
Why did he look at me as though unwilling to let even a second of my presence pass unnoticed?
"Sister, be calm."
Dorothea's whisper brought me back to myself.
It seemed the little girl too had noticed Fabian's gaze.
I drew a long breath before releasing it slowly.
Only yesterday, we had even walked side by side before so many people.
Compared to that, a gaze such as this should not have been something worth my unease.
We finally arrived at the drawing room.
Ian offered his greeting first.
Fabian returned it with a brief nod.
I wished to greet him first.
Yet for some reason, composing one simple sentence felt far harder than swinging a sword.
Dorothea went to her mother before sitting beside Adela.
"Respectful greetings, Your Highness. Forgive me for keeping you waiting."
Fabian looked at me without turning his gaze away in the least.
"Lady Charlotte has not forgotten her promise."
"How could I. A promise must be kept, must it not, Your Highness?"
"Indeed. Only, those words do not sound convincing coming from one who promised to receive me with the utmost courtesy."
"Then Your Highness is mistaken."
"I should like to hear the reason."
"I was late precisely because I wished to receive you as befits your station. Does my appearance today not sufficiently prove my sincerity?"
Fabian fell silent for a moment.
Then he let out a slow breath.
"In that case... forgive my discourtesy, My Lady."
"It is no matter, Your Highness."
For my part, I hoped Aunt would not think too much of it.
That was the first time she had heard Fabian call me Lady.
That address seemed enough to shake the composure she had been striving to maintain all this while.
As for the man himself...
Did he truly pay it no mind?
I brushed the question aside, then stepped toward the sofa beside Ian.
But before I could sit, Fabian's voice sounded once more.
"Madam Handler. Might I speak with your niece alone?"
My body froze.
Alone?
For what purpose?
Aunt did not answer at once.
I knew she was weighing that request with great care.
"Your Grace. While I remain in Kaiserheim, Charlotte is under my responsibility. I hope you can understand my concern."
"Of course. I have no intention of taking Lady Charlotte outside this mansion. Our conversation shall remain within the mansion. In that way, Madam may still ensure her safety."
"....."
It was difficult to refute a reason delivered in so calm a tone.
Fabian turned his gaze back to me once more.
A faint smile graced his face.
"What do you think, My Lady?"
Cunning.
Truly a cunning fox.
He made no use of his authority whatsoever.
Instead, every word was arranged so neatly that the decision seemed to rest in my own hands.
It was then that Ian spoke up.
"Your Highness's words are indeed reasonable."
All attention turned to him at once.
"Yet as Lady Charlotte's younger brother, I too bear a responsibility to look after her. I trust Your Highness would not object should I watch over from a distance."
Ian was helping me.
While at the same time offering Aunt a way out without having to offend a Grand Duke's dignity.
I had thought Fabian might take exception to it.
"Then what say you, My Lady? It seems your family has already reached an agreement."
I glanced at Aunt.
She gave a gentle nod.
There was no longer any reason for me to refuse.
"Very well, Your Highness. Please guide me."
A different smile graced Fabian's face.
The same smile as yesterday.
As though meant for me alone.
"Of course."