Ran nodded.
"Of course."
When she winked, Dimodia turned around, scattered Lumiere up and down, and left the bedroom.
Ran laughed and said.
"What's going on?"
"No, it's no different."
Lumiere looked at Ran quietly. She was looking at himself with a friendly smile as always.
"If, if-"
Lumiere dug his word.
If I'm holding you in the pond-
The word didn't come out as if it were stuck on the tip of his tongue. Lumiere smiled despondently.
"No, it's nothing."
"What is it? What is it? Don't feel pressured and talk."
Ran opened her eyes wide and encouraged Lumiere. Lumiere said with a grin.
"No, you're going out with Duke, and I thought you were really going to stay in Lazia."
"Oh, that."
Ran said and smiled bitterly. Lumiere asked the gap without missing it.
"Do you have anything?"
"Huh? No, nothing."
Ran shook her head. And asked as if she was still suspicious.
"Is that really all you have? What if there was something else?"
"What-would you do if you were dumped?"
"Huh?"
Ran opened her eyes wide. Lumiere said, shaking his hand in anger.
"Just, virtually. I'm not saying the master does."
At Lumiere's words, Ran said, "Yes," and rubbed her chin.
"I'll cry, for now."
"You'll cry?"
"Yeah, I'll cry my eyes out,- I'll get angry, and I'll whine everywhere. I think it'll get better if I cry and curse?"
"Indeed."
Lumiere laughed.
"I see."
"But why?"
Ran looked carefully at his face. What do you mean, did Lumiere get dumped by someone?
No, I'm sad that Sina and he can't, but they're already separated. Isn't that too unfair?
Lumiere looked at Ran's face quietly. Looking straight at the emerald-colored eyes, Lumiere said.
"I feel like I've been dumped."
Ran opened her mouth wide and then opened her arms.
"Then you can cry in my arms!"
At her words, Lumiere opened his eyes wide and burst into laughter. Then he leaned down and put his forehead on her shoulder. Laughter continued to flow out.
"Really, Master is a strange person."
"Yes, I think so, too."
Lumiere burst into laughter again when Ran muttered. The laughter calm down and became silent, and Ran reached out and patted him on the back.
After a long time, Lumiere lifted up, but there were no tears in his eyes.
"Thank you for your consolation. You're the only one."
"It's okay. You'll meet someone better."
Ran patted his chest and assured.
"I don't think that's possible."
When Lumiere muttered, Ran shook her head.
"No, it's not. Lumiere will definitely meet a good person."
"...Thank you."
After agreeing, Lumiere smiled faintly.
*******
"Date!?"
Elise's amber eyes sparkled as if they were on fire.
"Oh, my God, really? Really?"
"Yes, really."
Ran's embarrassed, but now she's used to it. replied confidently from some point on, the two were speaking casually. Elise giggled and said, "As expected, I knew it?"
"What?"
"I thought the Duke of Lazia would hold Ran."
"Really? Since when?!"
When asked by Ran, Elise replied, "Since we went on a picnic together," and Ran answered, "I had no idea."
I had no idea.
No, I didn't even think about it like that.
Elise nodded at Ran's response.
"I knew it. Strangely, Ran doesn't think she's going to be someone else's target. That's how beautiful she is."
Ran laughed at the compliment.
"Thanks for that. Yeah, I definitely haven't thought about that."
If Eustaf hadn't thrown a fastball like that, she wouldn't still have known.
'But come to think of it, you know, Eustaf was way too clingy.'
Ran frowned slightly after thinking about it.
'No, compared to now, it was self-restraint.'
Since she decided to become a couple with him, Eustaf physical contacts has increased significantly. Ran thought it was a relief that there was a cold air. It's not hot even if it's close together.
Laughing Elise said,
"Then, are you coming to the ball that Countess Lieselotti is having this time? Did Ran get the invitation too?"
Ran nodded.
"Yes, I got it."
Countess Lieselotti was famous for being a social leader. At her party, most of the games were paired, so there were couples who were unintentionally.
Of course, it was popular with existing couples, so her ball was almost impossible to get an invitation during the social season..
"I'm coming with Katy, and Ran is with the Duke?"
Ran answered quietly, "Yes," and nodded. Elise grinned excitedly.
"I'm looking forward to it."
"Me too."
I've never done this before.
And you've never seen Eustaf before.
It was so fun and exciting to have the two together for the first time. The first is anything special.
Elise looked up while she stares at her face.
"But why are you only dating? Wouldn't it be okay to get engaged? No matter how old it is, if it's just a simple relationship, there's going to be a lot of gossip."
At Elise's words, Ran said, "Yes." and smiled awkwardly. Elise shrugged her shoulders.
"Of course, I won't ask if you don't want to, but Ran likes him and he like you, and I don't know what's wrong with you."
Elise said, tilting her upper body closely.
"Is it because of the bad rumors? Like, 'I'm afraid my bad rumors might get to you.' Oh, my God. Is that what it is?"
Ran burst into laughter because Elise held both hands tightly and spoke in a theatrical tone when she played "black" in the middle.
She shook her head.
"No, not like that."
"Then?"
"That-"
Ran had a suspicious expression.
"Do you think Eustaf will change his mind...?"
After talking, Ran was so dumb that she shut her mouth. It felt the same way for Elise, so she blinked her big eyes a few times and asked.
"Do you see any signs of that?"
"Huh?"
"No, when I hear that from Ran, he feel like he's a playboy who'll change his mind for a while and he'll change his mind soon. So where did Ran get that feeling?"
"No, Eustaf....is not a man who shows signs of....."
"So, that's weird. Of course, when you're happy, you say you're nervous. - Ran's a little different. Hmm...The kind of thing that you assume will happen already...?"
Elise's words penetrated the core and Ran blinked.
"Is that so....?"
"Yes, of course."
Elise added seriously.
"And isn't that a big courtesy to the Duke?"
There was no rebuttal to the argument.
"That's true."
Ran nodded softly, and Elise smirked.
"Of course, Ran is closer to the Duke than I am, so there might be something else that you feel."
"No, it was a big help, you're a big help."
Ran nodded deeply.
"That's a relief."
Elise smiled. She said with her fingers crossed.
"I look forward to the ball of Countess Lieselotti. It was fun last year, too."
"You know how it was."
"Well. What are you doing this year?"
The two continued to laughed and talked with anticipation.
*******
Olivia pushed aside the medicine Devan had brought.
"What are you bringing with you?"
Devan sat down and whispered softly at her words.
"I've heard rumors that I'm particularly good at this place, so I've built it. It's a medicine that makes the child listen well. They say there's no couple who haven't had a baby since they ate."
"Thank you, but I'm fine."
Devan nodded at Olivia's words.
"You're saying you're okay, I know. But..."
Devan gathered the eyebrows gently.
"We can't keep the rumor from leaking. I heard what happened between His Majesty and the Duke of Lazia. Is that true?"
"Which one is true?".
Devan stared at his sister. In the end, it was Olivia who opened her mouth first.
"If the Duke is asking if he want an all-out war, is it true?"
Bam!
Devan hit the table with his palm and gritted his teeth.
"Can he do that? The Lazian bastards have no manners, nothing."
"But it's also true that Ruth did something wrong. The relationship between Lazia and the Imperial family is just like that, right?"
"However."
Devan's anger still lingered. He asked.
"Are you alright? Isn't he intimidating you too?"
"I'm fine."
Olivia smiled softly. Then she lowered her eyes and said, "Brother, I actually have something to tell you."
"Yes, tell me."
"It seems that the Emperor still hasn't let go of the Lord of Lazia, the Earl of Romia."
Devan's purple eyes sparkled. He hadn't forgotten that the emperor had humiliated his sister for her.
Olivia's lips were shaking.
"And what's more, I don't have any children yet, do I? Do you happen to..."
Devan held Olivia's hand tightly.
"It never happens! If His Majesty is in his right mind, he knows how important orthodoxy is for his succession."
'He doesn't have that kind of mind.'
Olivia thought so and looked even more pensive.
"So I dissuaded him, and he raised his hand to me."
"...what.....?"
Devan's voice sank low. She is a gold, a jade, a younger sister, but he raised Olivia with care like her own daughter.
"He put his hand on you?"
The voice snapped with anger. Olivia's tears overflowed without realizing it. Devan held her hand tightly. His voice seemed to whisper.
"Isn't his father giving him a child, too?"
Olivia blinked her eyes and nodded. Tears streamed down her cheeks again.
"Yes, he did."
Devan jumped up from his seat and said, wailing.
"The Earl of Romia is already under the protection of the Duke of Lazia. Your Majesty will never get his hands on her."
The word caught Olivia like a thorn in her throat. Without realizing it, she said.
"You don't know that, do you?"
Devan thought Olivia was worried and said affectionately.
"The Duke of Lazia did not offer Count Romia under the pressure of the Emperor. Plus, they're living together in the green arch. Then it's obvious. But..."
Other illegitimate children and women seemed to need to be sorted out. I had to warn the emperor not to behave himself.
Things went a little differently than I thought, so Olivia bit her lips. Devan grinned.
"You don't have to worry. Via. I'll take care of everything. You're still the empress of the Empire, and you're at the top of the ladder. I won't let you lose that position."
And he kicked out of the room. Olivia wiped away her tears. She was smirking.
'But you're not saying we should go home together right now.'
But it's the same for him. As long as the Duke of Miro blood flows, it's the same.
'I have no intention of losing this position, nor of becoming a pitiful flower.'
Olivia thought so and looked at the medicine Devan had left behind.
'Kid?'
I didn't mean to have Ruth's baby. In fact, that would be the safest way, but she hated it.
You have the child of the other person who crushed her pride. That's absurd.
'But it's time to have it.'
Olivia's fingers patted the table lightly.
'I'm sure he'll get rid of all the women he's involved with.'
You have touched the pride of the Duke of Miro. Olivia did a little bit of lips.
'Ruth will be furious about it again, but he won't be able to touch me because he's scared of my brother. Hhm... I can't believe you're Duke of Lazia.'
She picked up the medicine bottle.
*******
"Huh? You can't come with me today?"
"Suddenly something came up. I'm so sorry."
At Eustaf's words, Ran looked at him for a moment and nodded.
"I know."
"I'll join you as soon as I'm done."
Ran's face brightened at Eustaf's words.
"Oh, are you coming?"
"Yes, I'm just afraid it's going to be delayed..."
"Alright."
Ran replied with a smile, so Eustaf wrapped her waist and kissed her lightly. He said after lingering from her lips.
"Why is it sweet?"
Panicked, Ran stammered,
"It's because I put honey on my lips a while ago. It- it moisturizes your lips·····."
"Is that so?"
Eustaf said so and kissed her again. Ran swallowed her breath. Eustaf took off his lips and whispered.
"I think it really is."
"Eus!"
With a mild pain in his lips, he retorted.
"Not bad. Sweet things, too."
Ran's face turned red.
"Really, really-"
But I had nothing to say. Then, Dimodia entered the room and frowned.
"You don't just come in when she's groomed."
"Is that so?"
When asked by Eustaf, Ran said, pushing his shoulder.
"Later, later."
"I'll look forward to it. I'll see you at the ballroom."
Eustaf kissed her on the back of her hand and then backed away. Dimodia grumbled.
"I don't know if you're singing it during the second makeup session, but no matter how much you're dating, you're not coming now."
"Yeah, I guess that's a little too much since we live in the same house..."
Ran muttered like that. Dimodia said with a grin.
"Well, there are good things about it. Well, let's finish dressing up."
Dimodia laughed, saying, "Isn't this your first social debut as Count Romia?"
Ran also nodded with a firm resolution.