* * *

Urging hurriedly, Antes arrived at Luna’s mansion and checked the time. It was going to be midnight soon.

Although the cold wind hit squarely and seemed to make his cheeks tingle, it was alright since he arrived on time.

Quickly crossing through the garden, Antes was about to go inside after hastily tying his horse to the post by the entrance, when someone called him from the first floor terrace.

“Huh? Young lord Antes…?”

It was Luna. She was slightly tipsy, her upper body draped over the terrace railing, giggling as she greeted Antes who hurried over to her.

“Why are you so late?”

“I got held up with some work.”

Antes, responding as usual, took off his coat and draped it over Luna, who was lightly dressed, causing concern to overshadow the joy of reunion.

“It’s cold, why are you here? Why didn’t you go inside?”

“I waited because the young lord’s birthday was ending, and you hadn’t arrived. Maybe I got a bit tipsy and felt the heat too.”

Upon hearing that she waited out in the cold, Antes momentarily felt like being hit in the solar plexus. He should tell her to go inside and warm up, but the words didn’t come out easily.

“Happy birthday. You’ve gotten a year older.”

When Antes said nothing, Luna lightly clinked her wine glass against his cheek.

“May you age a lot without dying, like to a hundred years. Only then can you brag about aging. Oh, of course, you shouldn’t get sick. It costs a lot of money, and it’s not even trendy to live to a hundred while being sickly these days.”

Luna, babbling on her own, wished for Antes’s longevity.

It was a far from amusing conversation, but Antes took it quite seriously and said he’d do so.

“Now that I think of it, I had a gift, but… we all ended up eating it. Lady Rosemary wanted it and threw a fit for it. Since the young lord was late, we had no choice. You should’ve come earlier. Why were you so late? It’s almost the next day.”

Luna, shaking her wine glass as if she might drop it any moment, chided him. Antes quickly snatched the glass from her hand fearing she’d drop it.

“…It’s dangerous. What about the glass I gave you?”

“That’s for when the young lord and I drink wine. We haven’t drank wine yet.”

As she reached out to get the glass back, her hand touched Antes’s cheek lightly.

“My goodness… Why is it so cold? At this rate, your cheek will freeze. Are you alright?”

Even amidst her drunken state, she seemed to notice the cold. Luna warmed Antes’s cheek with her relatively warm palm.

However, unfortunately, instead of his cheek warming up, Luna’s hand gradually got colder. Antes took off his gloves and overlaid his hand on Luna’s hand that was warming his cheek.

“…It’s cold, you should go inside.”

Antes removed Luna’s hand and created some distance.

Whether it was because of the rare congratulation or the atmosphere, an unfamiliar emotion enveloped him.

“What about you?”

“I’ve received the lady’s congratulation, that’s enough. I have to get back. There’s work to do.”

He thought of sorting through documents even if it meant staying up all night. That seemed like the only way to calm his mind and heart a bit.

“You’re leaving just like this on your birthday?”

“Sure. It’s not long until my birthday ends anyway.”

“Shall I sing a song for you then? A birthday song.”

Even before receiving a response, Luna began to sing spontaneously. The melody and lyrics were unfamiliar, but one thing was clear.

‘The young lady has no talent in singing.’

The point that Luna was very bad at singing was made. Nevertheless, it appeared cute somehow. It was clear that something was sincerely amiss.

“Happy birthday to you, dear young lord Antes! Wooo~!”

Before one could seriously listen to the song, Luna ended it arbitrarily, clapping joyously.

Antes, wide-eyed at the unfamiliar lyrics, looked at Luna strangely.

“Why? Are you hurt somewhere?”

Unfortunately, seeing Luna’s composed demeanor, it seemed like the original lyrics. A feeling of emptiness was felt for some reason.

“No. I think I should go. You should go in too.”

“I’ll watch you go. Take care.”

Luna waved at Antes, who was getting on his horse. Standing still for a moment in front of her, Antes also lightly waved his hand.

Every time meeting Luna, unfamiliar emotions and strange thoughts arose, but it didn’t seem too bad, so he decided to follow what the heart wants for the time being.

Meanwhile, time passed and the day changed. Antes, waving his hand for a moment, soon hurriedly disappeared, unaware of the passing time.

Watching his figure gradually shrink, Luna, who had been leaning on the terrace, slowly stood up.

Due to that, the coat that had been draped over her shoulder fell off. Only then did Luna realize that Antes had gone back facing the cold wind without his coat.

* * *

“Is that… real?!”

Rosemary, who woke up early in the morning after the day changed, asked Laura in astonishment. Laura, with cheeks reddening, confirmed.

“Yes! How romantic it was…! Young lord Antes draped his coat over the lady, and she sang a song for him. He only received congratulations and left as soon as the day changed, it was like a scene out of a novel. So everyone was engrossed in watching and didn’t even realize the New Year had arrived.”

The part about the song being bad was omitted. There was no need to attach Luna’s shortcomings to such a nice scene.

Rosemary was enraged to hear that Antes did a cowardly act while she was asleep.

“How did he get away my overnight stay time…! Why didn’t you wake me up!”

The hard-earned overnight stay was obtained by begging and pleading. Of course, it was an opportunity gained on the condition of delivering a letter from the Marquis and Marchioness to Luna.

So, for this time, she had intended to spend the end of the year with Luna and welcome the New Year without sleeping.

It was infuriating that Antes had snatched that chance away while she fell asleep.

“Miss Luna tried to wake you up, but you couldn’t get up.”

“Oh my…”

Even the fact that she tried to wake her up, despaired Rosemary. It was inevitable as she had maintained a regular lifestyle for over ten years.

It was all because of Antes. If he hadn’t run away, she could have enjoyed a relatively free life like other young ladies.

With hatred towards Antes burning from the first day of the New Year, Rosemary started a walk of anger.

A morning walk was essential as she had to sit for a long time studying or going through documents.

* * *

Meanwhile, Luna woke up from sleep. She could have slept more since she woke up quite early, but suddenly recalled strange scenes…

Due to the circumstances, Luna could no longer sleep.

‘What was it, that thing yesterday.’

Luna blankly stroked her cheek.

To cover his cheek with her hand. Even singing a song to celebrate his birthday. It was bewildering, the sort of thing a couple might do.

‘Even if I was drunk, why would Antes do that sober? Is he crazy?’

Or was it too cold? No, if it was cold, he would have taken his coat.

Then what the hell was it? Why did he do such a humiliating thing?

It was Luna who first covered his cheek, but she blamed Antes for last night’s actions because she was drunk.

Whatever it was, it became a shame she didn’t want others to see. It was just the right scene for a misunderstanding if someone saw it.

Thinking this, Luna got up from her seat and recalled the scene after Antes left.

‘…It’s crazy!’

Near the terrace window, a dozen or so eyes that had been loitering turned and confirmed Luna, then scattered in a rush.

She has been caught… It wasn’t even surprising to scream. She had been caught countless times since spending time at the manor. There were no secrets for Luna.

But back then, there were fewer people, now, including new servants, they were blatantly spying on her and Antes.

Of course, it was bad to do such a thing in a very visible place, so it was an issue she couldn’t blame someone for.

‘Just go out shamelessly pretending not to remember because of the alcohol. That’s the best.’

Giving up thinking, Luna sighed deeply and called the servants.

“Good morning.”

“Are you feeling alright?”

“I’ll tell Emma to prepare the meal.”

Fortunately, none of them hinted at last night’s events.

“I’m fine. I’ll have breakfast with young lady Rosemary, just bring washing water.”

Relieved Luna finished her preparations and went downstairs. Then, she saw Laura receiving reports from the servants in the center of the hall.

It seemed like the party went on quite late last night, yet despite the early morning, everyone was perfectly fine.

What do they usually do to be so sturdy? Watching them, Luna’s gaze was caught by Laura who greeted her with a bright face.

“Good morning, miss! It would have been nice if young lord Antes had breakfast together too, it’s a bit disappointing.”

Yes, Laura was one of the few servants who could dare to mention Antes to her mistress.

Not wanting to blush from the first day of the new year, Luna forced a smile and changed the subject.

“Lady Rosemary, is she up?”

“Yes, she got up earlier. She’s walking in the garden. It’s been about an hour.”

Successfully changing the subject, Laura who informed her about Rosemary’s whereabouts returned to the servants.

Then, Luna who went out to the terrace where she met Antes last night, looked for Rosemary who was walking in the garden.

She wasn’t far from the terrace, wandering in the garden. Luna waved at Rosemary.

“Rosemary, you woke up early. I hope for a good year ahead.”

As if she never got angry or felt bad, Rosemary, with a bright smile, ran towards Luna.

“Me too. I look forward to it too.”

Replying so, Rosemary left a message to wait for a moment and disappeared, only to appear after a while with two letters.

“It’s a New Year’s card. One is written by me, and the other is sent by my parents. You have to read mine first. Got it?”

Obviously, Luna was expected to graciously smile and say she would, but for some reason, she couldn’t hide her surprised expression with the letters in hand.