Chapter 5

The carriage ran at a neither slow nor fast pace. After the carriage departed, complete silence fell. In it, Prillance glared at Roman with a disgruntled look.

“Where are we going?”

“We’re going to have our dinner.”

Afterwards, Roman didn’t say anything else, so Prillance looked out the window. She was expressing her bad mood. At the same time, Roman’s eyes looking out the window turned to Prillance.

Despite deliberately changing the time of their meeting, she still went to see Ver. The truth was, he went to confirm whether or not she did it to attract his attention.

However, what he saw today did not appear to be an act to try and draw his attention.

“Do you like him?”

“…Why do you keep asking me that?”

Roman had already asked her if she liked Ver during their last meal. Isn’t it actually him who has a dichotomous view on men and women?

“I asked because your expression was full of disappointment.”

“…I just don’t like the fact that the schedule changed so suddenly.”

Prillance replied, trying to hide her expression.

“I should ask the Duke instead, why the sudden change of mind? You’re still having dinner with Lady Royne aren’t you?”

“That’s right.”

Roman’s expression did not change even for a bit. In fact, it became even more confident.

“So, does the Duke like Lady Royne?”

His gaze, which looked to the window, fleeted toward Prillance. But this time, he did not answer.

She knew what his silence meant. It was the expression of a man who had not yet realized his own feelings.

It was clear that he didn’t like Cecia to that extent yet. Or maybe he hasn’t realized it yet.

“I guess my question was a bit baffling.”

He grinned after Prillance turned his own question back to him.

“When will you decide?”

Looking at his relaxed smile, Prillance asked directly. It took longer than she thought. She had wanted it done by the time of the garden party, but the garden party was already around the corner.

Roman shrugged. He had no plans to decide yet. He was holding the key anyway.

“Does it matter?”

“It does.”

“Why?”

“Naturally…”

If her memories were correct, a garden party was scheduled to be held a few days later by Countess Moran.

Countess Moran had a beautiful garden. And in the spring, when the weather began to get warmer, she held a party in her garden.

It was a great hobby of hers to cultivate the garden.

Of course, only the high and favored nobles were allowed to view the beautiful gardens.

As a high-ranking nobleman, Roman was invited. And although his title fell, an invitation was also sent to Ver, who attended the event every year. But most importantly, Cecia was able to attend the garden party for the first time as Roman’s partner.

It became the first time Ver and Cecia saw each other since the decline of Ver’s family.

Roman, who disapproved of the connection between the two who can’t seem to forget each other, informs Ver of his engagement with Cecia. It was then that Ver first learned about the two’s relationship.

After finding out that Cecia came as Roman’s partner, the original Prillance along with her followers started shunning Cecia. But that was the start of Prillance alienating herself from Roman.

This was the event where the first face-to-face encounters took place in the novel, and where the love story of the four people began in full swing.

Prillance made eye contact with Roman, who was looking at her. Prillance narrowed her eyes at him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Fair enough. Let me know when you’ve decided.”

He almost fell for his play. Prillance, who was about to talk about Ver and Cecia, touched her chest. Prillance’s gaze went out of the window again. Since then, the carriage was silent again.

Nevertheless, Roman was still watching her. Unfortunately, he missed the timing, but there was definitely a reason why she was hiding something. And it was clear that the reason was Ver.

“The reason you meet Viscount Grant…”

Her head naturally turned at the mention of Ver’s name. Her face became filled with tension.

“Is it because of Lady Royne?”

Roman, who spoke casually, carefully examined Prillance’s expression. Using Ver, Cecia’s former fiancé, to torment Cecia and seizing the opportunity from that. It was the most valid reason, when he thought about the relationship of the four.

“Or is it to provoke me?”

For Prillance, he was half right and half wrong. He didn’t necessarily meet Ver because of Cecia, but he was right that she was trying to rekindle the two’s relationship.

“If you are so curious, decide your fiancé now.”

Prillance grinned, mimicking Roman’s smile. Of course, she also gave a smile with her eyes. It was something she learned from him – how a smiling face can become quite irksome to a person.

Roman’s eyebrows furrowed at her sudden smile.

“Let’s pretend I didn’t ask.”

Roman avoided answering. Her smile was strangely getting on his nerves, not even knowing that she had learned it from him.

Thanks to this, she enjoyed the taste of victory for the first time.