Chapter: 52
When they returned to the hotel, the hands of the clock were already approaching midnight.
After taking a quick wash, Dietrich stood by the window, looking outside with a glass of whiskey in his hand.
Whoosh―.
The night breeze blew in through the half-open window.
The sensation of the wind brushing against his damp hair felt pleasant.
‘There are…… a lot of stars tonight.’
Stars were scattered across the pitch-black night sky, twinkling brightly.
As he gazed at that night sky, an image suddenly came to mind.
Lady Ancy.
Lariette’s jet-black hair, with pearl ornaments sparkling atop it like stars.
Her flower-pink eyes as she quietly looked up at him with a smile.
“If you permit me, I would like to ask Lady Ancy for a dance.”
As he asked her for a dance, Dietrich……
‘I think I was a little nervous.’
Dietrich had never, in his entire life, shrunk back or felt tense when dealing with someone.
And yet, nervous?
Even he found himself a little unfamiliar.
Lariette, who had been staring up at him, gracefully placed her hand over his.
“I would be delighted.”
When she accepted his invitation to dance with him, he had even felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
None of it was like the usual Dietrich.
Even afterward, Dietrich continued to be conscious of Lariette.
Whether it was when he escorted Lariette onto the dance floor, or when he instinctively caught her as she stumbled while performing a step.
Because Lariette was so incredibly light and soft.
Because it felt as though every sensation was still vividly lingering in the palm of his hand……
“……”
His fingers tightened around the glass of whiskey.
The usual Dietrich would never have deliberately inserted himself between Lariette and Gregory.
That was something close to a personal matter, after all.
And yet, he had intentionally followed Gregory as the man left after Lariette.
“Rather, Young Master Gusto is the one who missed his chance. He already threw away the opportunity to become Lady Ancy’s fiancé, didn’t he?”
“Then why is he suddenly clinging to Lady Ancy now?”
“……How pathetic.”
He had not even hesitated to put Gregory in his place for Lariette’s sake.
Why had he done that?
Dietrich retraced his own actions and pondered them.
There was only one thing he was certain of.
The fact that Gregory kept hovering around Lariette was simply……
‘Annoying.’
Yet that irritation disappeared completely the moment he faced Lariette’s innocent expression.
“Then, would you like to go with me to look for the Young Lady?”
“I…… I came out to look for the Young Lady too. I thought that if the two of us looked together, we might be able to find her faster, so……”
Her flustered behavior, as though she had never even considered that Dietrich had followed her out because of her.
He found Lariette unexpectedly cute.
Perhaps that was why.
“Whenever I go on business trips, Eva always pesters me to bring her a gift. So, while I was buying something for Eva, I bought one for you as well……”
“I hope you like it.”
The reason he had suddenly held out the gift to Lariette, which he had originally intended to give to her through Evangeline, was because……
“Thank you so much. I’ll treasure it.”
Lariette, who had accepted the gift without knowing what to do, smiled more brightly than the moonlight that bathed the world.
That smile was etched into his mind with strange clarity.
‘It really is fascinating.’
Dietrich let out a small chuckle.
Ever since inheriting the family at such a young age,
he had spent every single day worrying about how to protect his little sister and how to manage and develop his family.
But for the first time, he seemed to be thinking about someone else.
And that feeling……
wasn’t unpleasant at all.
The next day.
Dietrich came to pick up Evangeline early in the morning.
“Why did you come so early? Does my brother never sleep in?”
Evangeline’s lips were practically sticking out in a pout as she grumbled and followed her brother.
“See you in the capital, Lady Ancy.”
“Have a safe journey. I’ll see you soon.”
Lariette skillfully soothed the thoroughly sulking Evangeline.
Dietrich gave his younger sister a pitiful glance before politely greeting Lariette.
“Thank you very much for taking such good care of my sister until now.”
“Don’t mention it. I actually had a wonderful time thanks to the Young Lady.”
However, there was nothing hanging from Lariette’s earlobes as she smiled brightly.
For some reason, Dietrich’s mood sank a little.
‘What on earth is this feeling?’
Once again, he found himself unfamiliar with his own emotions.
Of course, he knew perfectly well in his head.
Whether she chose to wear the earrings or not.
That was entirely up to the person who had received the gift.
But……
“Ah, what are you doing? You said we were leaving quickly!”
Evangeline, who had hurried ahead, suddenly became irritated as she was about to board the carriage.
Dietrich followed his younger sister with a strange feeling.
After that.
The carriage finally set off.
“Lady Ancy, don’t come too late! And make sure you send letters too!!”
Evangeline stuck her head out of the carriage window and waved enthusiastically.
“Yes, I’ll write to you!”
Lariette waved back as well.
After the carriage traveled for quite some time, the Ancy residence disappeared completely from view.
At the same time, Evangeline suddenly turned toward her brother.
“Brother, you were pretty unexpected this time. Our prickly brother actually attending a party at the Ancy Viscount’s household?”
Dietrich, feeling as though he had been caught, replied indifferently.
“Even when I do you a favor, you make a fuss.”
“Nooo, I’m grateful.”
A strong note of mischief crept into Evangeline’s voice.
“You always put up walls around women because you hate unnecessary rumors, remember?”
“Well…… she’s your friend.”
Even to Dietrich’s own ears, that answer sounded like a rather feeble excuse.
Evangeline gave him a sly smile.
“Reallyyy? I didn’t know my dear brother was such a generous person when it came to meee.”
“……”
No matter what he said here, Evangeline would find some way to pick it apart.
Dietrich simply chose to keep his mouth shut.
But Evangeline had an incredible talent for breaking through her brother’s silence.
“Well, since things have turned out this way. Whenever there’s another social event, be Lady Ancy’s partner again.”
“Again?”
Dietrich asked without realizing it.
“Of course. I absolutely can’t stand seeing my friend being ignored by other people.”
Evangeline shrugged and leaned back against the carriage seat.
Then she narrowed her eyes and asked,
“Why? Don’t you want to?”
“……”
For once, Dietrich looked completely at a loss for words.
At his reaction, Evangeline was secretly a little surprised.
‘Our brother never does anything he doesn’t want to do.’
People tended to think of Evangeline as stubborn and spoiled, but in truth, that personality was almost a trait passed down through the Claudius ducal family.
Dietrich, however, was far more skilled at dealing with people than Evangeline.
“I don’t think that would be possible.”
He simply preferred to refuse gently without hurting the other person’s feelings.
But this time, Dietrich didn’t draw a line by saying that he didn’t want to.
Rather,
“……I never said I didn’t want to.”
Wasn’t he answering her in an indifferent tone?
Evangeline asked, looking bewildered.
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah.”
An awkward silence followed.
“……”
“……”
Dietrich stared intently at Evangeline.
He looked as though he had something to say, yet he showed no intention of actually opening his mouth.
Eventually, Evangeline narrowed her eyes and snapped,
“Brother, is there something on my face? Why have you been glaring at me this whole time?”
Dietrich stiffened his shoulders in surprise.
A moment later.
“……By any chance.”
Why was it so difficult to part his lips just to ask this one question?
Dietrich furrowed his brow and continued.
“Did Lady Ancy not really like the earrings?”
At that, Evangeline’s eyes suddenly gleamed like a predator that had spotted its prey.
