"What I want……?"

  Perez focused on Tia’s fingertips as she approached the two ring boxes side by side.

  It was as if she was holding her heart in her white fingertips.

  ’Do what you want,’ he boasted, but in fact, Perez had forgotten even breathing.

  Please.

  Whether it’s unfortunate or fortunate.

  Her worries were not long.

  Tia chose the transparent diamond ring she had prepared.

  Whoo.

  Perez let out a long breath inside.

  He already knew what kind of choice Tia would make, but regardless of that, he was disappointed.

  "You already know what choice I’m going to make, Perez."

  Tia said so and tried to wear a ring herself.

  "Wait."

  Perez took a diamond ring from her hand.

  And slowly put it into her soft finger.

  Above all, the solid and beautiful diamonds shone more in her hand.

  "It suits you, Tia."

  As Peres said, her bright green eyes looked at him.

  "I’ll keep this for a while. Until everything is ready."

  * * *

  Thump! Thump!

  There were heartbeats like a sweet song.

  It was not Perez’s.

  This clear heartbeat sounds were Tia’s.

  At this moment, his own body, which has crossed human limits due to his auras, rarely feels this.

  Thump! Thump!

  It sounded warm and cozy.

  As he approached, the sound, which grew a little faster, burning Perez’s body.

  He was glad that Tia’s heart was responding to him, and it seemed to burn his mind white. [1]2

  Perez approached carefully.

  It was always like that when dealing with Tia.

  Did I hurt something more precious than my life?

  Even breathing became cautious.

  Finally, the distance between the two is close enough to mix breaths.

  He could see her slowly closing her eyes.

  Blue tendons grew in his hand, which was now resting on the sofa floor, and fully supported Perez’s weight.

  As the lips are about to overlap.

  Knock! Knock!

  "Your Highness, your fellow Academy colleagues have come to see you…… Sorry, sorry!"2

  Caitlyn, who found the two people half-overlaid on the sofa, turned in a panic

  "That’s rude, Caitlyn."

  Perez, who hardened his face, lifted himself.

  It was the first time he was angry with Caitlyn.

  But Caitlyn didn’t feel bad about it either.

  "I’m sorry, it was my fault."

  "It’s okay, Caitlyn."

  It was Tia who got up from her lying down.

  As if when did it happen, she couldn’t find the heat a while ago.

  It all happened as if just a few simple gestures to check her outfit.

  "I’m leaving."

  Tia, who left those words, left the drawing-room showing Perez only her back.

  And she ran into Perez’s Academy colleagues waiting outside the door.

  "Ah……!"

  "Good evening, Lady Lombardy!"

  Lignite, Tedro, and Steely recognized her and quickly greeted her.

  And one person who laughed and chatted with them.

  Ramona, a woman with red hair tied together, looked at Tia in surprise.

  Maybe she didn’t think Tia was here as a guest.

  Ramona’s blue eyes were round.

  "Long time no see, Miss Ramona."

  "Oh, hello, Lady Lombardy. I can’t believe you remember me……"

  Tia smiled faintly instead of a detailed answer.

  "Tia, hold on……!"

  Perez, who was chasing after her, found his colleagues.

  But it didn’t matter to Perez.

  "I’ll take you there."

  But Tia shook her head.

  "The guests are waiting, Perez. See you later."

  Tia, who had a smiling face but coldly refused, looked back at Kylus and said.

  "Will you call my carriage, Kylus?"

  "Yes, Lady Florentia."

  "Bye, Perez."

  Finally, waving a small hand at Perez, she walks away.

  Perez’s gaze didn’t fall from her back until he could see her turned around the corner.

  Tia did not look back at him.1

  * * *

  The day after I went to the Empress’s Palace.

  I had lunch with Louryl, then went outside under the guise of digestion and walked around the mansion.

  Rustle! Rustle!

  Fallen leaves fell on the road, making a sound every step of the way.

  Employees diligently swept the road whenever they had time, but they couldn’t stop the falling leaves from falling apart.

  Walking thoughtlessly, I have arrived at Larane’s greenhouse.+

  "Because there is no owner, it changes here as well."

  The greenhouse, which was always full of colorful flowers, was now empty.

  Some of Larane’s most cherished flowers were moved to my room and the others withered.

  I saw some empty pots over the glass in the greenhouse, but I wasn’t sad.

  Larane is having a great time with Avinox.

  As I walked past the greenhouse, I saw a familiar figure on the other side of the road.

  It was Belsach.1

  As Viese and Seral were kicked out to the annex, Belsach also saw a significant decrease in access to the outside.

  It wasn’t arbitrary.

  Astana no longer calls Belsach.

  "There’s only a greenhouse over here."

  Still, it was Belsach who was playing as a younger brother, for Larane.

  Maybe he’s walking this way because he misses Larane.

  That would only make it even more reprehensible about what he did to Larane.

  "Hey! You!"

  Then Belsach, who was kicking the fallen leaves and venting his anger, found me.

  Then he came up and asked with a hideous face.

  "Is it you?"

  "What? Could you ask using the right question, Belsach?"

  "Don’t act innocent!"

  Belsach gasped.

  "You stole my sister!"

  "Was I steal her?"

  "What if it wasn’t stealing someone who was locked up in her room and sent her away!"

  It’s funny how you argue with me proudly.

  "Then why did you keep Larane’s locked up?"

  Belsach was unable to answer.

  He has nothing to say.

  He indeed kept a healthy person locked up and took turns guarding the door like keeping a prisoner.

  "My sister promised to marry His Majesty the First Prince. You make such a person run away with that countryman."

  "That was for Larane?"

  "It was better than kicking the chance to marry the Imperial Family and getting in the eyes of a strange guy and running away!

  "A chance to marry the Imperial Family?"

  I laughed because I was dumbfounded.

  "Was it a chance to marry someone like Astana?"

  Even if it’s stupid, there’s a degree.

  "Why don’t you get married if it’s such a good chance, Belsach?"2

  They are of the same race, so even a hundred years is impossible

  "And tell the truth. You’re not mad at me for ruining Larane’s reputation. It’s just a split that left you and your parents deprived of any opportunity to gain at Larane’s sacrifice."

  "So you’re having a good time being called to the Empress’s Dinner in exchange for being stuck with that lowly fellow, aren’t you?"

  Stick around!

  His tone is as cheap as his personality.

  I asked with a smirk.

  "Your mother must have been quite envious of me, seeing as you already know it?"

  "What?"

  Belsach came as if he would slap me any minute.

  But he had to stop in no time.

  It was because some of the Knights of Lombardy were watching Belsach in the distance.

  Their face is familiar to me.

  They were usually close to the twins.

  They were covered in dirt and sweat, perhaps on their way to rest after the training, but Belsach was still standing there, even though they were planning to intervene.

  "Wake up, Belsach. If you don’t want to be kicked out of the family like your father."

  Belsach was furious at what I said, but couldn’t move easily, looking at the knights.

  "And you. It’s not the right thing to be angry."

  I said, passing right by Belsach.

  "The reason why you can’t see Larane anymore is not me, but your dull parents who tried to sell their daughter to a scoundrel like Astana."

  I walked again with Belsach behind my back.

  Surprisingly, he was quiet.

  If it’s his usual personality, he’d say bad words to me.

  "Oh, I feel good."

  I thought today was a bad day to meet Belsach on the way for a walk.

  Rather, the stomach that suffering from digestive problems got a lot better

  "I should at least send Larane a present."

  It was when I mumbled like that and passed the front door of the mansion.

  I saw a familiar back figure about to get on the carriage.

  Brown hair that is finely twisted and neat without wrinkles.

  It was Caitlyn.

  "Oh no!."

  I’m not ready to see Caitlyn’s face again.

  I turned around quietly and tried to escape.

  But.

  "Lady Florentia?"

  Our Caitlyn has good eyes.

  I couldn’t help but smile and say hello to Caitlyn.

  "Hello, Caitlyn. What happened, come to the mansion?"

  "I have something to discuss with the Patriarch for the Lombardy Scholarship next week. I’m on my way."

  "Scholarship? It’s not time for a scholarship yet……"

  I stopped speaking at the memory that came to my mind.

  There was a time in my previous life when such an early scholarship was held.

  It’s because of ’that thing’.

  I looked at Caitlyn for a moment and said.

  "Yeah, then walk carefully……"

  "Lady Florentia…… I’m sorry about yesterday."

  Caitlyn bowed her head and apologized to me wholeheartedly.

  "I will be careful not to let that happen in the future."

  But I shook my head.

  And I answered with a smile.

  "No, Caitlyn. It won’t happen in the future, so you don’t have to worry too much."

  "……Yes?"

  Caitlyn hesitated for a moment as if she didn’t understand me.

  Then she nodded slightly.

  It was such a Caitlyn response not to ask questions that crossed the line even if she was curious.

  "Then get home safe, Caitlyn."

  I tried to step toward the annex after greeted her.

  "Well, Lady Florentia."

  Until Caitlyn called me with a very hesitant face.

  "Do you happen to have a prior appointment next week when the scholarship is held?"

  "No, I’m going to be in the mansion."

  "Then……"

  As expected, Caitlyn was hesitating.

  However, she said with a firm face whether she had made up her mind soon.

  "Can I have a moment of your time that day? I’d like to introduce you to someone."

  Who Caitlyn wants to introduce to me.

  I could guess who it was.

  This time I hesitated for a moment.

  But there was also a fixed answer from me.

  "Yes, Caitlyn."+

  I smiled and nodded.

  _____________________________________________

  Glossary

  [1] ’Burning White (하얗게 태우는)’ - Devoted all of the energies so burned out.