It was too serious to be discussed peacefully. Charlotte glanced at his utterly composed face for a moment, then shook her head.

“If it’s about the children, I think I deserve to hear it too.”

“Don’t make ridiculous statements, pretending you’re here just to listen to stories about the children.”

“I guess I have no choice. Should I ask for Countess Rocard’s permission to join?’

‘I know you’re using your power to mark my belongings. I’ll overlook it but stop barging in and interrupting when I’m with Dolores.’

The man grinned broadly.

“Then I’ll take that as permission.”

His hand reached out immediately, softly brushing against her ear, carefully removing the small pearl earring.

Since when did <overlooking> become synonymous with <go ahead and do it openly>?

Charlotte sank into genuine curiosity.

Ignoring her thoughts, the man rolled the pearl in his hand and began to speak.

“It doesn’t seem like Claire is very distressed.”

“She might not be distressed, but she’s probably annoyed. Most nine-year-olds wouldn’t tolerate it.”

At least, Ashel at nine years old would never have been like Claire now.

As if understanding her thoughts completely, Ashel just smiled faintly without denying it.

Meanwhile, the remnants of <possession> dissipated entirely, and the man’s fingertips intimately swept her hair aside, fully exposing her ear.

Then he leaned in closer.

It might have been wise to take the earring herself, but… that felt like conceding.

Charlotte endured it.

The feeling of his long, elegant fingers pressing gently against her ear. The lingering warmth of the pearl that had absorbed her body heat.

“How were you when you were nine?”

Still, she couldn’t resist asking, driven by unnecessary stubbornness, and the man answered calmly.

“Not like Claire.”

“…”

“I didn’t particularly try to control my powers, nor did I frantically try to change someone’s mind. I rarely wanted or didn’t want anything, as you know well.”

Charlotte immediately regretted it.

She shouldn’t have probed into someone else’s wounds out of mere stubbornness, even if the person didn’t recognize it as a wound.

But having asked, waving it off now would also be wrong.

Ashel’s fingertips caressed her ear contentedly.

She suddenly thought he must have already put the earring in, but she didn’t voice it, feeling guilty.

His slow, calm words seeped into her ear.

“So, I’ve often been curious about how you raised Claire.”

“… I just did it like everyone else.”

“That can’t be true.”

The man’s long fingers still lingered around her ear and neck. She couldn’t help but be aware of it.

His touch, seemingly deliberate or not, was leisurely and relaxed, wandering playfully over her hair and skin, tickling.

“Are you worried that Claire is emotionally attached to Eciel?”

“… you said you weren’t like that when you were young. Aren’t you worried?”

A light passed through his deep, tranquil purple eyes. A long tail of a comet streaking through a clear sky after a storm.

It shone with blind enthusiasm.

“As you said, she’s still young. And she’s much more discerning than I was at that age. So, I think it’s still okay.”

“…”

“If I had met you when I was Claire’s age, I would have definitely marked something other than a mere earring.”

His precise, elegant pronunciation made a chilling declaration.

His cold, sharp focus on Charlotte turned into a keen blade, carving this moment into her soft memories.

Every bit of his firm tone and low, regretful sigh.

His hand, sliding slowly from her ear and neck, cupped her chin and cheek, lifting her face.

His expression was intricate yet strange, beautiful yet eerie. His voice, as unreal as his face, slowly and smoothly whispered.

“Of course, I don’t do such things now. I want you to stay perfectly intact by my side.”

“… but you’ll still mark everything around me.”

“Oh, I heard someone say they’d overlook that.”

Finally, a mischievous smile appeared on his perfect, cold face.

Charlotte snapped back to her senses.

Without realizing it, she had gripped her clothing tightly, wrinkling it terribly.

“But when did I ever say you could leave marks wherever you wanted…?”

She was caught off guard as he pulled her chin slightly and kissed the corner of her mouth. It was too blatant to be a mere greeting.

“… what?”

This time on her eyelid.

“Are you kidding me?”

Now on her nose.

She stopped what she was saying and looked at him, his purple eyes narrowing deeply as he asked nonchalantly.

“Won’t you permit me?”

“…”

It seemed like he was about to scatter small kisses all over her face except for her lips, where he needed a response.

Charlotte sighed softly, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him close.

Their breaths mingled seamlessly, clothes rustling against each other. The short kiss ended with a moist sound.

His purple eyes eerily darkened as he looked at the woman in his arms as if to swallow her whole. Still, Charlotte carelessly wiped his lips with her fingers and commanded.

“I kissed you, so from now on, get my permission before using your power on my belongings.”

“…”

“Oh, and Dolores suggested visiting Galamad Department Store with the kids. I’ll handle it myself, so you can continue with your work.”

As she stood up, she heard an impatient, earnest sigh behind her.

Unfortunately for Duke Chelsiers, his wife had long enjoyed when he acted as if he’d lose his mind over her.

 

* * *

 

“Do you find the items we prepared inadequate, Miss?”

I tried my best not to look too clumsy as I shook my head.

Of course, I didn’t succeed.

‘… I want to go home.’

In front of me was Eciel’s dream world.

Even if I didn’t know the exact names, various silk fabrics, lace, ribbons, and other accessories for girls’ clothes were laid out. Although I couldn’t distinguish them, there was something different about each one, as if they were laid out one by one…

Eciel had naturally gotten excited the moment we arrived, dragging Mom and me around the private room, but in the end, we reached the same conclusion.

It would have been better if I didn’t choose anything. The less I said, the better.

It meant I was useless to Eciel, who was brimming with dreams and hopes.

Having made a strategic and excellent decision, Eciel had sent me to the sofa, and I was planning to sit quietly, letting time pass meaninglessly.

… until the department store’s head, Leah Fawcett, spoke to me.

‘Yes, with a position like hers, she must do something if Duke Chelsiers’s daughter seems disinterested…’

Though I understood her intentions, I almost asked her not to bother me, as I preferred to be alone.

But no matter how I dressed it up, it wouldn’t sound like I had a reasonable level of social skills and decorum.

Thus, Leah Fawcett’s persistent and polite attitude did not change.

“This place mainly deals with clothes and accessories, but we also have a collection of stationery, rare books, and magic tools. If you’re interested, why not move to that section?”

Ah, that sounded interesting.

I was already more interested in those things than in clothes or decorations, and there was another reason as well.

But I hesitated a bit.

I was taught not to walk around alone, even in the Ducal residence. Besides, wasn’t this a department store in a busy area?

Even though I had many escorts, it was better to avoid splitting them or encountering strangers in such places.

‘I should probably decline.’

Grateful for the consideration but intending to reply that I’d stay here, I saw Mom, who had moved quite far away, looking this way and speaking to an attendant.

The woman approached me quickly and conveyed Mom’s words.

“The Duchess said you may go.”

Leah Fawcett’s suggestion must have been audible despite the considerable distance because the area was so quiet and spacious.

In that case…

I nodded lightly and stood up. My maid, Leanne, and one escort naturally followed.

“Miss, don’t you think you should choose a few outfits yourself, since you’ll be wearing them?”

“If I get involved, things won’t go well. The others have much better taste and will choose well.”

“…”

“If you’re worried, I’ll give you my right to choose. You go and check it out.”

Leanne was startled and shook her head firmly.

She practically managed my dressing room, so I wondered why she was reacting that way, then remembered she had once lived as a commoner.

‘If I exaggerate a bit, it’s like a tenant farmer’s daughter standing between the landlady and her daughter.’

Just imagining it felt burdensome…

While regretting my thoughtless suggestion and pausing the conversation, Leah Fawcett stopped and opened a door.

A sofa, a spacious table, suitable lighting, and calm decorations. It wasn’t much different from the room we were in before.

“Please sit here for a moment, I’ll bring the items you want to see right away. Feel free to tell me anything you need.”

“Then, could I see the magic tools first?”

A hint of curiosity flashed in Leah Fawcett’s eyes, who had been consistently polite and courteous.

“What kind of magic tools are you looking for?”

“Something to assist in potion-making. I want to give it to my mother as a gift.”

The hottest and most intense season, midsummer, when you start longing for snow and wind. It was getting close to Mom’s birthday.