/
“So, is that why you like the color black so much?”
“Yeah. It’s the only thing I could cling to for a long time after that. By now, I think it’s become a habit already.”
Radis had one thought in her mind.
How fortunate it is that Yves didn’t meet a pink angel or a chartreuse angel.
Still, she didn’t say that out loud.
Instead, she patted Yves’ shoulder, which was still wrapped with his blanket.
“I see.”
“Hmph.”
As though acting petulantly, Yves pouted his lips.
The face he made looked strangely cute, so Radis laughed.
“I’ll win next time.”
“Sure you will.”
“I’ll win, and I’ll ask you something, too.”
“There’s something you want to ask me?”
Flustered by her question, Yves muttered vaguely.
“Ah
 uh
 kinda
?”
Radis chuckled.
“You’d better think of a question in advance. If you don’t, you might not be able to think of a good one.”
“Y-Yeah
”
Then, there was a knock on the door. It was Lina, the butler and general custodian of the townhouse.
Yves asked relaxedly.
“Is it time to eat?”
However, Lina’s ensuing answer was accompanied by her wide eyes.
“A letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace!”
“The Imperial Palace?”
Yves extended one hand, asking for the letter.
But then Lina showed the letter and revealed the recipient.
“It’s addressed to Lady Radis!”
“To me?”
With a puzzled expression, Radis opened the envelope.
When Lina entered the room, Yves felt a bit self-conscious about staying under the covers, all wrapped up like a hermit crab. So, he got out the blanket in the meantime.
And as he watched Radis’ cheeks slightly reddening as she read the letter, he hurriedly asked.
“What’s it about? From whom? The Third Prince? What’d he say?”
“

”
Radis read the simple letter over and over again, more than just two or three times.
The contents of the letter were the same, no matter how many times she read it.
“It’s sudden, but His Highness
 is asking to meet me this afternoon
”
“Oh my, my, my!”
Instead of the flustered Radis, the person who spoke was Lina. She clapped her hands excitedly and rejoiced.
“His Highness the Third Prince has asked you on a date?”
At the word, ‘date’, Radis’ pupils shook wildly, as if there was an earthquake.
Bewildered, she looked at Yves.
But then, Yves’ pupils were shaking, too.
Radis asked with a trembling voice.
“W-What should I do?”
“Gosh, what else should you do?!”
Again, instead of Yves, Lina was the one who answered. With such delight, her arms flailed, unable to contain her excitement.
“First of all, the Imperial messenger is waiting, so it would be best to send a reply that you’ll go! And after that, take a quick soak in the bath and then choose a dress!”
“Uhh
”
“Ohohoho! This Lina will take good care of you, Lady Radis! Come now, let’s get you into the tub first. Oh my, look how much you’ve sweated!”
Radis’ eyes were trembling.
Everything was so sudden that it felt like her vision was swimming.
However, there was no reason for her to reject Olivier’s request.
“O-Okay
”
“Good! I’ll give your reply to the messenger.”
Yves, on the other hand, was still dazed.
“W-What about me
?”
Already about to leave through the door, holding Radis’ hand, Lina answered back affectionately.
“Milord, didn’t you say that you’re not getting out of bed today? You told me to bring breakfast, lunch and dinner into your room. Hohoho, please rest comfortably!”
Radis also nodded.
“Yes, Marquis. I’m sorry to have interrupted you. Get some rest now.”
“H-Huh
?”
In an instant, Yves was left alone, and he was nearly brought to tears.
“T-This can’t
”
* * *
In addition to the silver-purple dress that Yves had picked out for her before, it’s fortunate that she also received several other dresses—all of which she had been half-forced to buy—at 〈 Saffron 〉.
Because most of those dresses were either silver or purple.
Today, Radis instead chose a verdant green outdoor dress, paired with a winter fur cloak.
Her wig was braided and fixed with many pins, so it wouldn’t move around even if she wore a hood over it.
After lightly putting on some makeup with the help of the handmaids, Lina announced the arrival of the third prince.
As she went down to the lobby, three statues could be seen there.
Two naked men, each holding a jug and a lute respectively. Then, standing in between them both was a statue who looked exactly like Prince Olivier.
But when Radis appeared, the unmoving statue, which looked like Prince Olivier, began to move towards her.
A smile was engraved over the statue’s perfect lips, and a slight blush could be seen coloring his pale cheeks.
‘Huh?’
Radis put a hand over her solar plexus.
She could feel a strange throbbing sensation inside her.
‘What the? Is there something wrong with my mana core now?’