Someone who’s more interesting?

Rosemary was taken aback by Callion’s seemingly casual attitude.

For some, it’s a matter of life and death, yet how can one be so lighthearted and careless?

So, in anger, she gripped her trembling hands, stood up with a kick, indicating that it wasn’t worth discussing anymore.

“…It’s regrettable that you think that way. I understand. Thank you for your time.”

With that, after a brief farewell, she hastily left Callion’s office.

Callion felt regret for a moment, wondering if he’d been too harsh, but then brushed it off, thinking that none of this would’ve happened if she hadn’t misunderstood.

‘It’ll be interesting for a while anyway.’

Teasing Antes was fun, but he was too impervious. And it was too ambiguous to pursue Luna Peils. So he hoped this misunderstanding, or something like it, would last a while because the imperial palace was too boring.

Callion slowly lowered his smirk and picked up some documents.

Unfortunately, he’d barely squeezed in time to welcome Rosemary, so he couldn’t be distracted any longer.

* * *

Deborah, having returned to her room, nestled deep into her blanket, recalling the person she just met.

She thought she had perfectly imitated Luna Peils with makeup, but Fersen frowned, asking where Luna was. The servant quickly hid her behind him since Fersen didn’t mistake Deborah for Luna. Then, the butler corrected his words.

“Ah, I misspoke. I’ll bring her right away. Please wait a moment.”

Naturally, Fersen’s suspicions grew.

The whole situation was weird: Luna’s sudden arrival, and now he’s being told she’ll be fetched. Especially since she had vowed never to see him again. Now, she was supposedly apologizing and visiting.

Remembering that time, Fersen, overwhelmed by anger and sorrow, turned away, not wanting to see anyone.

His energy to be angry was even sapped by the strange fragrance that filled the room.

When he seemed to give up, the butler who took Deborah out handed something to the servant guarding the door.

“Mix it with the incense.”

It was a clear liquid. Without even knowing what it was, the servant accepted it and disappeared into Fersen’s room.

“What should I do now…?”

In the meantime, Deborah, thinking that everything had gone wrong, asked the butler cautiously. Fersen had shown clear disdain for her, making her feel helpless.

However, the butler seemed to have another idea. Without responding, he pushed Deborah back inside after a brief pause.

“Go in. Alone this time. Remember what I told you.”

“?!”

Before she could object, he shoved her inside and slammed the door.

“Wait! Open up!”

Surprised by this, she banged on the door and shouted, but the tightly closed door didn’t budge.

“…Luna?”

To make matters worse, she heard Fersen’s voice from behind her, searching for Luna Peils.

What to do? He had already seen her and knew she wasn’t Luna

 While she was pondering, she heard a thud, indicating Fersen had tried to get up but fallen. Startled, she turned around.

“…It’s really Luna…!”

For some reason, Fersen began to mistake Deborah for Luna.

“You vowed never to see me again and abandoned me…!”

Despite his resentful tone, his eyes were filled with desperation. He stared at Deborah’s face for a while, then slowly closed his eyes as if he was going to faint.

“M-master Fersen…?!”

A shocked Deborah screamed, and the waiting butler and servants rushed in to check on him.

It turned out that the clear liquid mixed with the incense was a hallucinogen. Having used it for the first time, they added a bit too much, causing Fersen to faint.

Regardless, the plan was successful since Fersen had mistaken Deborah for Luna due to the drug. Although Deborah was greatly traumatized by the shocking experience, that was beside the point.

Deborah, wrapped up in her blanket, was tormented, wondering if she should continue with this scheme. The aftermath of the hallucinogen was affecting her too, causing a headache.

While Deborah was struggling, a servant gently knocked and entered her room.

Gently patting the agonized Deborah, she suggested trying to divert her mood, even just for a bit.

“Change of mood?”

“Yes. I’m not sure if shopping will help, but there’s a new jewelry store opening in the shopping district. Why don’t you visit?”

What Deborah truly needed was to leave the mansion and end everything, but she had already gone too far.

Realizing that the servant was trying to give her a short break, Deborah hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

* * *

Ever since Antes started cooking for her, Luna was in a dilemma.

Whenever she saw him, she felt awkward, torn between not wanting to see him and feeling a strange sense of loss at the thought of not eating his food.

‘What is this! I’m not a pig! Why am I being trained by food throughout the year!?’

Luna, unaware that it was Antes’s intention, went downstairs early in the morning, pulling at her hair in frustration.

“Oh dear, Miss! Why are you ruining your beautifully styled hair?”

Following her was Laura, reprimanding Luna. On any other day, Luna could mess with her hair, but especially today, she was reminded not to.

“…Forgive me. I feel so pathetic about myself.”

“What are you talking about? From today, you own the biggest jewelry shop in our country!”

Laura scolded Luna, dismissing her thoughts as an unfunny joke. Whether it was the biggest or not, Luna felt distant from the idea of feeling pathetic on the grand opening day.

“Because I feel like a pig…”

Upon her honest confession, there was no further objection from Laura.

“Ah, you have gained a little weight recently…”

As a result, the dresses she had previously bought no longer fit and needed alterations.

Why can’t you just lie in situations like this!

Seeing Luna’s sulking face, Laura hastily tried to explain.

“That doesn’t mean you’re a pig! You look good, you know? You were actually a bit skinny before. With the weight gain, your skin even seems clearer.”

“…Really?”

“Of course!”

Laura nodded vehemently, as if to emphasize her sincerity. Then, a voice in agreement came from the bottom of the stairs.

“I think the same. When I first met you, you were thinner. Actually, I think a bit more weight suits you. You still look thin to me.”

“…Young lord Antes?”

“Good morning.”

It was none other than Antes.

Luna thought he wouldn’t come to the mansion on the opening day, but there he stood, impeccably dressed from head to toe, gazing at her with a gentle look.

He must have come to accompany her to the jewelry shop.

As she descended the stairs, he extended his hand, fully clad in his coat and gloves, offering to escort her. Hesitating for a moment, she took his hand, and in that brief moment, he studied her face closely.

“Did you have breakfast?”

“No, I wasn’t in the mood. I was afraid if I ate something, I might feel sick.”

Emma had suggested a light meal, but she wasn’t in the mood. After mentioning she only had some juice, Antes, seemingly understanding, suddenly changed direction and led her to his carriage.

“I thought so. It’s good then.”

Good? What is? Climbing into the carriage, she saw that he had prepared a basket. Inside were bite-sized pieces of fruit.

“These fruits help to calm the mind. I eat them when I’m busy or have important things to do. You don’t need to worry about an upset stomach; they digest easily.”

Antes even prepared a fork

“So don’t worry and at least eat some.”

“Uh…”

How could one not eat when being told so insistently?

Moreover, perhaps because she’d been continuously tempted(?) by Antes’ food lately, everything he offered looked delicious.

So, upon taking a bite obediently, a sweetness surged up to the tips of her hair. Whether it was sprinkled with sugar or soaked in honey, it was much sweeter than ordinary fruit.

“How is it?”

“…It’s delicious.”

Having eaten something sweet, there was no way she could respond that it didn’t taste good.

No, apart from the sweetness, thinking about when or with what intention he had prepared this fruit that might have been rendered useless if she had eaten breakfast, she couldn’t even think negatively about it.

Therefore, as she quietly and modestly ate the fruit, suddenly wondering if he had eaten breakfast, Luna shifted her gaze to Antes.

“…Did you have breakfast, young master?”

Upon hearing this unexpected question, Antes paused momentarily before asking back if she was referring to him. He seemed a bit surprised.

Then, Luna realized that she had been too cold towards Antes.

Regardless of likes or dislikes, they had maintained a decent relationship.

So, after briefly inspecting the basket and contemplating, Luna used her fork to pick up a piece of fruit and offered it to Antes.

“This is the fork I’ve been using, but if you’re okay with it, please eat. Ah…! If you don’t like it, you can eat it with your hands.”

Even if he liked her, sharing the same fork might be seen as unhygienic, but as she was about to retract her hand, Antes quickly grabbed her wrist.

“No, I’ll eat with this.”

It looked as if he was saying he’d eat with the fork she used, even if there was a new one available. Luna blinked her eyes in surprise and tried to hand over the fork.

“…!?”

However, instead of taking the fork, he popped the fruit she had offered into his mouth. So, to an outsider, it looked like Luna was feeding Antes.

No, she just wanted to share out of a mix of guilt and gratitude, but suddenly feeding him?

Caught off guard by the always proactive Antes, Luna blinked, and seizing this moment, the brightly smiling Antes pointed at Luna’s basket and spoke.

“Speaking of which, I’m a bit hungry, probably because I didn’t sleep well preparing. Can I have more fruit?”

“…!”

Upon hearing that he didn’t sleep well because he was preparing, not many people could refuse.

With her surprised heart trying to calm down, Luna haphazardly picked another fruit and held it out in front of Antes again.

This time she meant for him to take the fork and eat, but Antes wasn’t one to easily let go of such a good opportunity.

Once again, he took only the fruit and smiled as if there wasn’t anything happier in the world.