Chapter 4

Roman’s dinner invitations flew steadily. Each time, the Weiand mansion stirred in excitement. Preparations grew more and more meticulous each time.

Nevertheless, Prillance could not judge whether it was good or not. Roman’s continued invitations meant that he was still trying to decide between Cecia and her. Now, it was time to ask him again.

“Young miss, are you taking a walk today as well?”

Mindy asked as she prepared Prillance.

“Yes.”

“But this dress will be uncomfortable to walk in.”

“It’s fine.”

Prillance replied while looking at her dress in the mirror.

Certainly, the dress she was wearing for tonight’s dinner was not suitable for a walk. It was overly colorful and uncomfortable to move in. In addition, there was a high chance of it becoming dirty. So, she usually went back to the mansion and prepared separately after walking with Ver.

Her usual arrangement was altered due to Roman’s sudden invitation. It was because Roman requested to meet earlier than usual. She was forced to go straight to Duke Tonz’ estate right after meeting Ver.

“What if your dress gets dirty?”

“I will be careful.”

“Why don’t you postpone your walk for today…”

The anxious Mindy seemed to not want her to meet Ver.

“I’ll be very careful.”

In her firm reply, Mindy had no further excuse.

Between Duke Tonz and Viscount Grant, Mindy would of course choose the hand of Duke Tonz.

Mindy understood that Prillance was meeting Ver in order to provoke Duke Tonz’ jealousy. But she couldn’t understand why she had to meet Viscount Grant even on an important day like today. Naturally, she thought Prillance would prioritize Duke Tonz.

***

Ver looked like he had a lot he wanted to say. She was armed with a level of splendor that wouldn’t be seen during normal occasions.

“I have a place to go to right after this.”

“…I see.“

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance.”

“No. I know how busy aristocratic ladies can be.”

He knew it wasn’t something Prillance should apologize for. He remembered his mother’s busy life. He thought her schedule might have been similar.

“I think it would be better to just drink tea at the mansion today. If you can wait for a moment, I will call the carriage.”

“Wait.”

This time Prillance caught Ver as he was about to call the carriage.

“Then why don’t we go sightseeing in the carriage today?”

“Today?”

He hasn’t answered yet. But looking at her asking him with twinkles in her eyes, it seemed like she would be very disappointed if he refused.

“Yes. The weather is nice today, and I think it would be good to go around once.”

She had little memory of looking around the area itself. Her furthest outing had been Viscount Grant’s estate. Moreover, the sky she saw today was so beautiful that she felt like it would be perfect to go on a trip.

“Then I think a regular carriage would suffice.”

It would have been fine if not for her overly extravagant carriage. Prillance rejoiced at his positive response but quickly became embarrassed. She covered her mouth with her hands.

“I haven’t gone on a trip in a long time.”

Flustered, she made an awkward excuse, but she couldn’t hide her joy. His mouth smiled as well.

Unexpectedly, her face could make so many expressions.

“Then I will prepare the carriage and come back.”

Ver took a step forward to call the carriage.

“That won’t be necessary.”

The main character of the unexpected voice was Roman.

“Lady Weiand has an appointment with me.”

Roman replied with a beautiful smile towards the two who looked surprised upon seeing him.

“Viscount Ver greets the Duke.”

“I…greet the Duke.”

It was surprising that Ver, who came to his senses first, greeted Roman before Prillance did.

“It’s been a while.”

“I was a little busy.” (Ver)

Roman nodded as a sign of acknowledgement.

“But I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?”

Roman asked calmly. Of course, knowing that the two of them often meet here, he came for a very premeditated reason.

“No.”

Unlike Ver, Prillance observed him without answering. In the novel, Roman was very meticulous. He wasn’t the type to come here for no reason.

“I guess I was mistaken about the time of our appointment.”

“No. The time you are thinking of is right. I just stopped by early because I was curious about the place you mentioned last time.”

The last time Roman talked about it must have been when he had asked if she liked Viscount Grant. Except for that day, Ver had never been mentioned in their conversations.

“The air is nice here. I should commend the Lady.”

She knew Duke Tonz knew about this place, but she didn’t expect him to appear in front of her like this.

Once again, she didn’t answer him. However, even her behaviour seemed to become a mockery of her being under the palm of his hand. His smile looked more mischievous today.

Ver observed the two. Roman, who was looking at Prillance, and Prillance, who came all dressed up today.

The sight reminded him of a story he had heard before. The story of Lady Weiand who fervently chased after Duke Tonz. At the time, he disregarded those talks thinking how pointless they were, but he suddenly remembered them now.

“Oh, I didn’t know the Duke would come early, so I made an appointment with Viscount. I was supposed to go sightseeing in the carriage with him. Isn’t that right, Viscount?”

Prillance smiled at Ver and gently grasped his arm. It was meant to be a sign saying to agree with her. And it was also directed at Roman, who believed that everything would be at his disposal.

Roman glanced at her arm. Though it was a while ago, he remembered the day he saw the two of them together. He thought they were close then, but today they looked naturally intimate.

‘Has it been longer than a while?’

Roman made a wry face.

If it had been for longer than a while, when did it start? Maybe it wasn’t recently that Prillance met with Ver.

Roman’s eyes fleeted toward Ver. Ver peered at Prillance. At Ver’s gaze, Roman thought of Cecia.

The expression he saw on her face yesterday was clearly longing. However, on Ver’s face, no regrets were found. Even now.

“Then you can just put off your plan for today.”

Roman followed Ver’s gaze and looked at Prillance once again. He smiled at Prillance while she looked at him with a dazed look. He gave a very courteous expression.

However, knowing the face hidden behind it, she strengthened her hold on Ver without realizing.

Ver felt her grip strengthen and looked at her. The slightly frowned eyebrows gave him an idea of how she truly felt.

Ver’s eyes fleeted toward Roman this time. He was still looking at Prillance with a smile.

The two’s gazes seemed like a lovers’ quarrel to Ver.

Ver released Prillance’s arm. He could see her gaping at him. Strangely enough, he couldn’t face those eyes.

“You’d better go for today.”

“But…”

“It would be better to go sightseeing next time.”

Just listening to Ver and Prillance’s conversation, they looked like a couple. Whether it was Prillance, who was noticeably disappointed, or Ver, who naturally promised to go next time.

‘I feel like I’m interfering.’

Those were Roman’s honest thoughts as he watched the two. James’ words that Prillance and Ver seem close were clearly an understatement.

He wasn’t sure either way, but it felt more ambiguous.

‘Is that expression acting?’

Especially the Prillance in front of his eyes. It was a face she didn’t have even in front of Roman whom she said she liked.

“We have a lot to talk about. For example, why does that appointment have to be held today?”

He didn’t like the current situation where he seemed to be hanging on to her, and not the other way around when Prillance was the one who gave him an offer in the first place. He felt displeased.

Only then did Prillance look at him. Her surprised eyes seemed to say she had forgotten he was there.

Roman squeezed his patience and reached out to Prillance. Then, after looking at his hands for a moment, she raised her hand. After eventually winning the fight with her, he laughed merrily.

“Then we will go first.”

The carriage carrying Roman and Prillance set off. Ver, who was left behind, recalled the gazes of the two people who came and went.

Rumor has it that she liked Roman one-sidedly, but it didn’t seem like that to him. Rather, he felt like he was caught between the two. So it was the right decision to step aside.

He headed to the mansion, pushing away the hollow feeling that surged for no reason.