Ania Bronte was recognized by many as the most beautiful woman in the Empire.

Seeing her golden hair flowing would make people instantly recognize her.

That’s why there was worry.
What if someone recognized Ania?

The Bronte family was still searching for Ania.
She had disappeared without disclosing her destination after the banquet.

Although letters had arrived at the Radner household, Ania hadn’t arrived at the time, so naturally, they replied that they didn’t have her.

And I’ve been hiding ever since.

If Valentine Bronte were to find out… he might even resort to violence.
He cherished his daughter so dearly.
He would have been devastated after Ania disappeared.

“Cheers!”

But fortunately, no one recognized Ania.

The rumors circulating among the young people in the Capital were about the declining Empire, so most did not pay much attention to Ania, who was with me.

It was amusing.
Such a beautiful woman right next to them, yet they didn’t recognize her.
They were quite foolish.

We sat in a corner, lightly sipping our drinks while watching them.

I poured whiskey from the South with ice while Ania sipped on the low-alcohol apple wine.

“Are you enjoying it?”
“Yeah, it’s delicious.”

By now, Ania’s cheeks had turned slightly pink.
Her eyes seemed a bit softer as if she could collapse from intoxication at any moment.

I wanted to stop her, but I didn’t.
As long as I stayed sober, it would be fine.

I had promised myself I would let Ania do whatever she wanted this week.

But with each drink, her cheeks became redder and redder.

“Ania, slow down a bit now…”
“This tastes good.”
“You should think about your body.”

Ania leaned on me, her head touching my shoulder.

“I wish this moment could last forever.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“By the way, this alcohol is really good.”
“…Drink slowly.”

Ania snuggled against my body with a silly smile.

“My father never let me drink.”
“Drinking too much isn’t good for you anyway.”
“That’s not it…”

She took another sip.

“He never let me drink at all. Once, I secretly drank, and I got in big trouble.”
“When was that?”
“When I was fifteen.”
“But fifteen is too young to drink.”
“Yeah. But still, I did. I wanted to live freely.”

As Ania reached for her glass again, I held it back.

“Ania, you’ve had too much. I said drink slowly.”

Her slightly unfocused eyes narrowed at me.

“I’ll do what I want.”
“It’s bad for your health.”
“Do you dislike seeing me drink? Because I look reckless?”
“That’s not it.”
“I’m not a lady anymore. Just Ania. Just a normal Ania you can find in the Capital.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“If so, let me drink.”

Ania reached for her cup, but I caught her wrist
She pulled her arm back and started punching my chest.

“Don’t stop me from drinking! I’m not a lady!”
“That doesn’t matter, Ania.”
“Then what does?”
“I’m worried about you.”
“You don’t need to worry about me. You don’t need to.”
“How can I not?”
“Just leave me alone.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Well, I don’t want to either. I’ll drink more.”

I grabbed the glass, and Ania glared at me.

“Don’t look so depressed. I’m not worried because you’re a lady, or your body is precious. Just…”

As Ania clumsily reached for the glass, I found her adorable.
She lightly chuckled and then gently wrapped her head against my shoulder.

“If you wake up with a stomach ache tomorrow morning… my heart won’t be well.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Because I don’t want to see you in pain.”
“Okay then.”

Ania leaned against me with a smile.

She continued to talk nonsense afterward.
I couldn’t remember exactly what she said.
Perhaps it was because I had also drunk quite a bit.

“…Edward.”

She often called my name as if I were about to go far away somewhere.

I understood why.
The two years we couldn’t meet was still a gap we couldn’t ignore.

I didn’t know back then, but now I understand.

“Edward.”
“Yeah, I’m listening.”
“I’m not bothering you, am I?”
“Not at all.”
“You don’t hate me? I promised but couldn’t keep it.”
“Don’t worry about it. You’re back anyway.”
“I won’t leave again. We’ll be together forever… Us two…”

As I stroked Ania’s hair, I slowly turned my gaze toward her.

Her flushed cheeks and drunken eyes looked up at me, almost closing.

“Us…?”
“Again…”

As Ania spoke, her eyes slowly closed.
Her body, losing strength, leaned against me, and soon, the sound of her gentle snoring filled the air.

I quietly gazed at her face.

Us two again…

‘Marriage.’

Is that why she wanted to drink?
Was it to bring up that topic?

But…

It still felt too early.
I still remember the end that our marriage faced.

A premature marriage was what tore us apart.
Even if the unfortunate events hadn’t… we wouldn’t have truly understood each other.

Understanding.
Consideration.
Love.
Sacrifice.
Heart.

We couldn’t handle any of these properly.

The tiny sparks we had eventually extinguished themselves.

Rushed love burns like straw, while deep love burns like firewood.

When everything burns away, when there’s no desire or obsession left…
If we still don’t understand each other deeply…

Our end would be like our previous marriage.

So please, just a bit longer…
If we mature enough to truly understand and love each other, we can promise eternity someday.

“Edward…”

I gently brushed Ania’s forehead as she called my name in her intoxication.
Her soft golden hair felt gentle.

My anxiousness started to fade.
I lightly pressed my lips against her soft, warm forehead.

“Ania.”

If you can, stay by my side,
Just that would be enough for me not to crumble.

***

“Wait a moment.”

I supported Ania, who had fainted and strolled into an alley.

The intoxication was now slowly creeping up, so I reached into my coat pocket to grab the tin case, only to stop in frustration.

“I quit…”

I used to smoke whenever I drank, so it had become a habit.

But the tin case containing the cigarettes was with Lorendel, so I couldn’t smoke even if I wanted to.

Since I had promised Ania to quit anyway, I chuckled softly and turned back to return to the car.

However, someone was standing at the end of the alley.

It wasn’t a passerby; he stood steadfastly, staring at me.

Only his silhouette was faintly visible in the darkness, but judging from his slightly bent waist and bushy hair, it was easy to tell he was a middle-aged man.

“Do you have business with me?”

It was nothing odd.
As the head of the family and the CEO of a company, such threats were always present.

Approaching him slowly, I took out the small dagger I always carried.

“Yes. That’s correct, Lord Edward.”
“You are…”

But his voice sounded familiar.

As the figure of the man gradually entered the alley, he leaned his face closer under the dim light.

His faintly graying hair and deeply etched wrinkles became visible.

Though not familiar, I recognized him instantly.

“Assistant Joshua?”
“Yes. It’s been a long time, my Lord.”

Duke Bronte’s aide, Joshua.
A rugged character whom I didn’t particularly like…
That’s why I always kept my guard up around him.

“What’s your business?”

Perhaps he noticed that Ania was with me.
The fact that he had caught up with me meant that he had likely been following me for a while.

‘He found out.’

But I didn’t show any signs of it.

Over the past two years, I learned that as long as I didn’t show any signs, I wouldn’t get caught, no matter what.

“It’s about the young lady.”
“I have nothing to say about that.”
“But I do. Would you like to hear what I have to say?”
“……”

His sharp and narrow eyes gleamed.
I looked at those eyes and slowly nodded.

He could just intimidate me if he had realized that Ania was with me.
If he didn’t know, he could have followed in secret.

“I know. The lady is at Lord Edward’s mansion.”

As soon as I heard that, my dagger flashed in the moonlight.

“It would have been better if you didn’t know. What a shame.”
“Just wait a moment!”

As I aimed the knife at his throat, he stepped back and raised his hands.

“I swear I won’t tell the Duke! I swear!”
“The Duke?”
“Yes. That man… he’s… plotting with the lady to threaten Lord Edward.”
“What…?”

I narrowed my eyes and pressed the knife closer to his throat.

“Speak. But if you utter nonsense, I’ll slit your throat right here.”
“Yes… I understand.”

He glanced around and began speaking in a lowered voice.