Walking on the terrace, Ran trembled lightly in the cold.
'Like the prince's fiancee in front of Cinderella.'
Ran grinned.
She fell into Cinderella's book and became the prince's fiancee, when the ball finally opened and Cinderella, who was covered with ashes, appeared with the help of a wizard.
'This is what it's like.'
Ran pressed her eyes, thinking so.
Even though you think you're doing the stupidest and most painful thing in the world, you can't stop.
Stopping on the terrace, she realized with a sigh.
'I really love Eus a lot.'
If her own life was at stake, she would never have said such things as handing over Eustaf to Sina or following her fate.
But if Eustaf's life is at stake.
Then the story changes.
'That's why love creates weaknesses.'
Ran laughed bitterly thinking so.
As long as Eustaf is safe and happy, I'm fine.
Because I love Eus.
But to love so much, it's painful like this.
'Should I start going in? Or should I spend more time.'
However, even if you're too cold, you'd better go in somewhere because they'll think you're weird.
'I'm gonna rob the liquor cabinet.'
Ran grinned and went inside with such thoughts.
*******
Sina noticed that Eustaf was slowly getting uncomfortable. I have a cold sweat on my back.
'Ran Unnie, why aren't you coming?'
She looked around and found Baron Lance and raised her hand.
"Baron!"
In her cheerful tone, Baron Lance smirked up and asked.
"What's the matter?"
"Ran Unnie - are you done talking to Count Romia?"
Baron Lance became a curious face and asked back.
"Isn't she here yet? It ended a long time ago."
"Really?"
"Yes"
"Have she met someone else since then?"
"I don't know about that."
Baron Lance glanced at Eustaf with an anxious look on his face and left after greeted.
Sina said,
"I'll go to the women's rest area."
Maybe she have a stomachache!
Eustaf lightly clapped her head, and Sina pulled up the hem of her dress and walked quickly. Or it was because I kept stepping on the front of the dress.
Sina went to the women's rest area thinking she didn't know how Ran walked so lightly and gracefully, but there was no Ran there.
When I asked another lady who was resting, she said she never came.
Sina was embarrassed and returned to the banquet hall at a quick pace. Just by looking at her expression, Eustaf knew that Ran was not there.
"She's not at the restroom. I asked and she said she's never even went there."
Eustaf raised his head and gestured to Kara, who was dancing Quatrium (a fast and cheerful dance song with four people in pairs) on the floor.
Kara laughed as she stepped on the steps, quickly and naturally put the other person in place and left the floor.
"Lord, what's the matter?"
"I can't see your master."
"Miss Ran?"
Kara snorted and said,
"I saw she went out earlier, but I didn't see she come in."
"Went out?"
Kara nodded at Eustaf's words.
"She was going out the back door. I thought she'd go to the rest area. Maybe it's a woman's situation, so wait a little longer."
"For an hour?"
"Oh my? is it already?"
Kara looked up and spoke low.
"There were no other reports. The house is safe."
Eustaf shook his hand without an answer, and Kara smiled and stepped back.
"I'll go look for her."
At Lumiere's words, Eustaf said, "No," pointing his finger at the top of Sina's head.
"Stuck on."
Sina said in embarrassment.
"I'll look for her, too."
Eustaf ignored Sina and left the banquet hall.
No, it was about to pop up.
When he saw Ran coming inside, he frowned and approached quickly.
"Eus? Where are you going?"
"To look for Ran."
"Oh-it's okay. Sorry."
Ran smiled and said, and Eustaf felt something strange.
"Ran"
"Huh?"
"Did you drink secretly?"
Ran opened her eyes wide and laughed.
"Why are you secretly drinking when you can drink as much as you want here?"
"That's true, but-"
Something feels strange.
Ran moved along with a giggle.
"You can't leave Sina alone."
"I didn't leave her alone."
Eustaf replied, and Sina's expression brightened when she saw Ran returning.
"Unnie, where have you been? I was worried."
"I put some air on the outside. Did you talk well?"
Sina nodded her head.
Since then, the banquet has continued without any problems, and it ended well.
However, after that day, Eustaf, Sina, and Lumiere felt a subtle sense of incompatibility.
No, that was what everyone in the mansion felt.
If Ran asks her if she's staying away from Eustaf, that's not true.
But...
Sina looked at the card with a nervous face and looked at Eustaf's face. There were only Sina and Eustaf in the card room now.
It was because Ran took Lumiere out as a porter to get something for a while.
In this way, Ran often left only Sina and Eustaf.
Sina said, sneaking over the card.
"Did you two fight?"
"No"
Eustaf replied and looked at Sina.
It is no wonder that Ran left the place like this now. No, it was strange at the same time.
You can order the maid to bring the things.
If Ran has a precious item to pick up herself, it would not be big enough for Lumiere to need as a porter.
I would have done it if it was once, but it was already the first time, and Eustaf said it was as annoying as a hand- wrap.
What annoys him even more is that he can't have time alone with Ran.
He said, throwing the card on the table.
"Did Ran hear anything?"
"No"
Sina shook her head.
She was interesting to see the Duke in front of her, but it was quite scary. When she looked at himself, his eyes felt inorganic.
He is kind to herself only because Lan is kind to her.
'So I don't want we two to stay.'
That's what Sina thought, and she groaned.
"It's not coming."
"She's getting late....."
Eustaf leaned against the armrest. He tapped his armrest with his fingertips.
Eventually, as soon as he couldn't resist and raised himself, the door opened.
"Sorry, it took me a while to find it."
Ran went in and apologized. Lumiere had a big box in his hand. Sina said like a joke,
"I thought you were lost, so I tried to find you."
Really.
But of course Ran took it as a joke. Ran said, looking at the two alternately.
"Did you say anything interesting?"
"Yes"
Eustaf said so, and Sina quickly shut her mouth as she tried to answer, "No?".
It was so obvious that Eustaf wanted to look good to Ran that Sina took his side.
"The Duke told me an interesting story."
"Really? I see."
Ran quickly opened the lid of the box and hid her face. There was a black cape in it. The luxurious gloss cut off what it was made of. And there was abundant hair around the neck.
While everyone was looking at the cape, Ran put her face in order. Breathe in a beat and Ran said.
"I'll give it to Sina as a gift. It will be warm in winter. A cape is a must to live in Lazia."
"What? But this looks expensive?"
Sina shook her head.
"What I already have is enough."
"No, it'll suit Sina. When you ride a horse, you need a cape with fur."
Eustaf looked at it and said low.
"Isn't this your mother's?"
"Huh, Yes"
When Ran nodded, Lumiere and Sina looked at her. Ran laughed.
"But I don't use it, and it doesn't fit my height. It'll still fit Sina."
"But it's a relic, isn't it?"
"So, I really want her to take it."
Ran said so and pushed Sina over the lid of the box.
Sina pushed the box back to Ran.
"No, I can't accept this."
"Sina"
"Take it."
Eustaf said, pushing the box to Sina, and told Ran.
"I'll give Ran a new one."
"Huh?"
Ran opened her eyes wide in surprise and Sina pulled the box, saying, "Oh, if that's the case."
I didn't really mean to receive it, but now I thought it would be better for Eustaf to play the rhythm.
"I have a lot of capes."
"You just got one less, didn't you?"
Eustaf said so and held her hand.
"And it's all Ran's money. Feel free to buy luxury items."
He whispered, kissing the back of her hand, and Ran laughed.
Sina laughed and said.
"Then here's the deal. If Ran Unnie loses to Mr. Eustaf in this game, she'll get a cape."
"That's all right."
Eustaf nodded, and Ran groaned and nodded as she had nothing to say.
Lumiere smirked and picked up his card.
"You'd better think of a new cape design."
And naturally, Eustaf beat Ran in the game, and Ran promised to order a new cape.
*******
A sunny winter day followed.
Since then, I haven't seen a spell, so was it a coincidence? I even thought about it.
'But it's not.'
Ran was rather more anxious about this peaceful situation.
It feels like the enemy has already revived somewhere and is stockpiling strength.
Ran looked out the window at the horse riding Sina.
Sina, who is athletic, rode much better than Ran not long after riding a horse.
Ran stopped her from telling Sina that she would give her words, and Eustaf gave Sina another word.
Sina was riding a horse and talking to Lumiere. Lumiere pulled out his sword and she swung it and dropped it on the floor.
Ran opened her eyes wide in surprise, and Lumiere was seen picking up a sword while teasing Sina.
'You're on good terms.'
"Earl? What are you looking at?"
At Dimodia's words, Ran took her eyes off the window and lifted the earring she was caressing.
"Yeah, nothing. Dia, how's this?"
"It's an amethyst earring. It looks like a real grape. It's pretty."
"I'll give to Dia."
"Yes?"
Dimodia opened her eyes wide in surprise, and Ran smiled and held out a pair of earrings to her.
"It'll look good on you because it's purple."
"Earl."
Dimodia frowned on her forehead. For some time, Ran had been presenting little by little to the maidens.
Ran was running out of accessories because it was extremely rare for her to buy them.
When she said that, Ran smiled and says,
"What do you mean, there's the Duke's treasure trove."
However, it is the treasure trove of the Duchess of Lazia. It's not an individual Romia thing.
Dimodia grabbed the earring on her hand and grip it.
"As expected, what's wrong?"
"Huh?"
When Ran panicked and saw Dimodia, her purple eyes looked straight at Ran.
"I've been with Ran for a long time. And I know that Ran is not a person who does things in vain."
No, I'm surprisingly sloppy.
However, Ran kept her mouth shut, not in the mood for such words.
"But it's just-"
"You seem to be organizing yourself, don't you?"
That's what Kara said, and she cut in. Ran couldn't answer for a moment.
Because that was the truth.
The relationship between Eustaf and Sina seemed to be getting closer, and Ran was becoming impatient.
In fact, Ran's body weight was decreasing due to stress. Eustaf frowned and said he would get anything he wanted to eat.
Ran laughed.
"No"
Kara's eyes narrowed.
"Really?"
"Yes. Just, Oh."
Ran opened her mouth and closed it.
'I'm doing stupid things.'
Ran sighed, thinking so. I was aware that I was stupid, but I couldn't help it.
"Miss Ran, we're not fools."
When Kara said it, Ran opened her eyes round. Dimodia was surprised and looked at Kara.
Kara said,
"Isn't this related to Sina and the Duke?"
"Huh?"
Ran was so surprised that her voice slightly flipped up.
"As expected."
Kara said to Ran, happily.
"Everyone in the house thinks it's weird."
"Really?"
"Yes"
"Kara."
In embarrassment, Dimodia grabbed Kara's arm and shook it. Kara put out her mouth.
"Of course we don't know what you're thinking or what you mean. But-"
At that time, there was a knock on the door, so Kara shut her mouth.
"Ran Unnie?"
At the sound of the voice, Lan said, "Come in."
Sina came in as soon as the door opened and said.
"Would you like to go sledding with me?"
"Sled?"
"Yes. You were riding with Lumiere before? So I figured it out-"
Sina giggled.
"The Duke built a sleigh. Let's go ride it together, okay?"
Sina got up from her seat in. And asked,
"Is the Duke coming with you?"
"I haven't asked him yet."
"Then let's ask."
"Yes"
Sina answered cheerfully and stood in place, and Ran snorted and asked.
"Are you not going to tell him?"
"Oh-I think it's better to have a maid...?"
Sina carefully asked back, and Kara nodded.
"I'll be right back."
"Then change your clothes first. You have to wear it tight."
Said Dimodia