/
From the day after the party was over, I had free time for about three days.
At morning tea time, Leonard asked me with a slightly more excited face than usual.
“What do you want to do for three days, Helena?”
“I’ll sleep at home.”
“I see. I expected it.”
“What about Brother? Tour social gatherings like Father and Mother?”
At the party last night, Leonard became popular with many young girls. He probably got a bunch of invitations to social gatherings.
But Leonard shook his head.
“No. Actually, there are things I really want to do when I come to the capital.”
“Really? What is it?”
“A tour of the Order of the Imperial Knights.”
Oh, my. I’ve never seen such a model student.
‘Many young children will cry.’
I drank tea, remembering all the young girls whose hearts were bursting out of their eyes.
I’m sorry, little ones. My cute older brother doesn’t know women well yet.
‘My parents are busy, and when Leonard leaves, the mansion will be empty.’
Awesome.
I’m going to sleep as much as I can without being disturbed.
***
Shortly after Leonard left the mansion following our parents.
“My lady, you have a visitor.”
“A visitor? Who?”
“They said they want to meet in person and greet
”
I was thinking about sleeping, this timing is very bad.
“Tell them both parents are out.”
“No, they came to see you.”
“Me?”
Umm, who could it be?
‘Is it Young Lady Brande? Is she going to play the second game after yesterday?’
The only person I had a relationship with was that young lady.
“Take them to the drawing room. I will be there soon.”
“Yes, my lady.”
After re-dressing, I headed to the drawing room.
If the guest really is Yulika Brande and she’s here to argue with me, this time I’m going to throw a cake in her face.
However, the guest was more unexpected than Yulika.
“Caesar?”
Caesar was sitting elegantly with his legs crossed on the sofa in the parlor, drinking tea.
No, why is the kid who should be so busy for the coronation ceremony here?
“Hello, Master. I’m here to play.”
Caesar smiled slyly. His red eyes thinned and he looked like a villain somehow.
“You came to play, why are you so free?”
“What do you mean I’m free? How rude. I’m so busy that I can’t even sleep these past few days.”
“Then go to sleep!”
“Should I? Then let me sleep in your room.”
“Get out.”
“Ahaha. It’s a joke, a joke.”
When I was serious, Caesar burst into laughter.
I’m not in the mood to laugh. This kid is only big physically!
“Actually, I heard from Hamilton that Leonard went on a tour of the Order of the Knights today.”
“Therefore?”
“Then I thought Helena would be alone.”
“So you came here to disturb me?”
“Maybe?”
Caesar tilted his head.
“Obviously you must be thinking “Ah, how annoying, I’ll just go to sleep” and I know you’re going to be lazy, so I’m going to take you out.”
“You know me well. For that reason, I will decline your offer. Bye, Caesar.”
After saying goodbye quickly, I turned around on the spot.
Then Caesar sprinted towards me and hugged me from behind to prevent me from running away.
“Are you running away?”
“Of course!”
It’s just exhausting to look around. Whatever we’re going to do, it’s just boring and lame.
But my determined heart was shaken by Caesar’s next words.
“Can’t we play together as a substitute for my birthday present?”
“Ugh
”
That’s right.
I was invited to Caesar’s party, but I didn’t give him a present.
Of course, there was a gift from the Peresca family.
“What do you want? Can’t I just give you something? Materially?”
“If it’s material, then
 Build me a villa in a seaside city.”
Do you think it’s possible?!
“So what do you want to do? Will you go out with me or build a villa for me?”
“
You meanie!”
I screamed out of resentment.
***
A few servants offered to follow, but Caesar cut them off.
Caesar, too, has been visiting the main street without service since he came to the duke’s residence, so it was only the two of us walking around the downtown area.
By the way, is it okay for the soon-to-be crowned prince to travel alone? I’m worried about him being so carefree.
“Helena, what do you want to see or eat
 Ah, you must have none.”
“Yup, I don’t.”
“You never let me down.”
“Don’t ask if you already know.”
“Then I’ll do whatever I want.”
“Yes, yes. Do whatever you want.”
It’s in lieu of a birthday present, so do whatever you want today.
As soon as I thought of that, Caesar took my hand.
“Well then, let’s start with that store.”
“Wait a moment. Why are you holding my hand?”
“Because it’s difficult if Helena runs away because she becomes lazy in the middle.”
“Do not worry. How could I come all the way here and run away?”
“I can’t believe you. Back in the day, when we went to a festival, you disappeared by yourself and surprised people.”
“Ummm
”
I have nothing to say.
In the end, I found no excuse to let Caesar’s hand go.
‘It’s strange. It’s fine if I hold hands with Leonard, but why do I care so much if it’s Caesar?’
Ah, I don’t know.
‘Let’s leave it alone because he looks happy. It’s a birthday present after all.’
When I saw Caesar’s face as excited as a child, I resigned.
Caesar took me to many stores. It seemed that he had even researched a famous store in advance.
Moreover, Ihelways bought something at every store we went to

“
 Wait, Caesar.”
“What is it?”
“Somehow, it seems that all the items you bought are only mine?”
My hat. My hairpin. My perfume. My bookmarks. My pen. The waffles he bought for me to taste. Lemon pie. Roasted chestnuts

“It’s not my birthday.”
But Caesar had a look on his face as if asking me what the problem was.
“Because it’s more fun to buy things for Helena.”
“But we came out as your birthday present, right? Buy more of your stuff!”
“I don’t need anything because I only use what craftsmen make.”
“Whoa, must be fortunate
!”
When I frowned and cursed, Caesar laughed out loud.
Somehow this guy seems to enjoy being insulted by me the most.
“Is there anything you really want to buy? Something that is not a villa.”
“Hmm, you’re right. I want to buy Helena. If only I could.”
Caesar smiled and said jokingly.
Since when did this guy become so sly? In the old days, he was a guy who quickly got angry at my teasing words.
‘Is the imperial capital a bad place?’
The bigger he gets, the smoother he becomes, the more his personality seems to get worse.
“Anyway, let’s stop for now. It’s hard because we kept walking around— Achoo!”
I sneezed because of the cold.
Caesar was startled, and quickly took off his cloak and wrapped it around me.
“It’s okay. I do not need it.”
“Don’t talk and wear it. If you catch a cold, I will be hated by Leonard.”
Saying that, Caesar meticulously smoothed out the cloak.
It feels weird. Obviously, Caesar is my student, but this makes it seem like I’m the one being cared for.
“Let’s go somewhere and drink something hot.”
I nodded my head in agreement.
‘Caesar’s cloak
 is too big.’
My reflection on the window of the store was ridiculous, as if I was wearing a large bag of sacks.
‘Is Caesar’s body this big?’
After all, boys grow up so fast.
With that in mind, I walked across the street, led by Caesar’s hand.
***
When we entered the tea house, it was around the time the faint darkness spread on the street.
I ordered hot lemon tea and Caesar ordered black tea. The tart that came with it was also very sweet and delicious.
“Helena, how was the party yesterday?”
“I don’t know. I rested in the room all the time except for a brief moment in the beginning.”
“Wow, that’s tough. You haven’t dated anyone?”
“Umm, no?”
“You didn’t flirt with any of the young masters?”
“Not really.”
Well, when he asked the last question, I must have been mistaken that Caesar’s eyes had a strangely lively look.
“Oh, come to think of it, I may have become close with Young Lady Brande
”
“
 You mean Marquis Brande’s family?”
“Yes. Should I say we’ve become friends? 
Well, the friendship of women.”
I said to myself.
To be honest, I had never experienced jealousy and affection between women, so it was quite refreshing.
Yulika, who was shaking, looked so insignificant that I thought it was cute.
“Ugh, Brande.”
Caesar held his chin and murmured, sending his gaze over the window. The atmosphere was strangely dark.
That’s natural, since Brande is from the family of the empress.’
I think I brought up something useless without even realizing it.
I came out to play in the stead of a birthday present, and this shouldn’t happen.
I need a material to evoke the atmosphere.
“Oh right. I will give you this.”
I rummaged through my bag, pulled out a gift bag, and placed it on the table.
Caesar looked at it for a long time with round eyes, as if he did not understand what I was saying.
“What is this?”
“I was actually going to give it to you at the party, but I couldn’t take it out because it was too small. I’ll give it to you now.”
“
Is it mine?”
“Who else do you think it belongs to?”
Why is he so surprised?
Did he really think I was such a small person who didn’t even give presents?
“Can I open it?”
“It’s really small, so don’t look forward to it.”
Caesar opened the package. I watched him nervously. He checked the contents, and his hand stopped as if he was speechless for a moment.
The present was a scarf I knitted myself. I didn’t have enough time to prepare a gift, so I brought the scarf that came out while teaching Agoth to knit.
“
Do you not like it?”
Caesar did not respond for a long time, so I asked timidly, as I lost my confidence.
Caesar looked up, and he answered with a serious expression.
“Helena, you’re really bad at knitting.”
“You pu— Give it to me.”
“Ahahaha.”
As I stretched out his hand to snatch it, Caesar quickly wrapped the scarf around his neck.
“This is the best gift I have ever received.”
“Lies. You must have received all kinds of gold and silver treasures at the party.”
“The gold and silver is not a gift for me. It’s a gift for the imperial family.”
Caesar said with a happy smile.
“Helena’s gift is only for me. This is much better.”
I know because I’ve known him for a long time.
That expression is sincere.
“This is the best gift, Helena. Thank you so much.”
Is it that good? His taste is unique.
“I had no idea Caesar liked knitted scarves so much.”
“Puh!”
Caesar burst out laughing as if it was ridiculous.
“Haha, yes, that’s right. I like it. I really like it. I love it enough to risk my life.”
With that said, Caesar’s eyes looking at me were very kind and sweet.
“Anyway, don’t risk your life just for a knitted scarf.”
When I said that because I was genuinely concerned, Caesar burst out laughing like crazy.
Seriously, the older he gets, the more difficult he is to understand.
***
We decided to go back to the mansion by carriage.
I watched the endless night view passing through the carriage window. Unlike the country duchy, the night of the capital certainly resembled a nightlife.
‘It’s beautiful.’
500 years ago, I spent countless nights in this city.
But why does this night look particularly dazzling and beautiful?
“Oh, I can see the mansion. Caesar, we’ll be there soon
 Caesar? Are you asleep?”
I thought it was quiet, apparently, Caesar was asleep.
Seriously, there was no way he wasn’t busy with the party and preparations for the coronation ceremony. At yesterday’s party, it seemed that there was no time to rest because he was surrounded by many people.
‘How tired he must have been.’
It would have been better for him to rest instead of coming to see me.
“Caesar. Caesar, wake up. We’re almost at the mansion.”
I sat down next to Caesar and gently shook him to wake him up.
“Ummm
”
“Uwaah!”
Caesar’s body faltered by the shaking of the carriage and collapsed toward me. I quickly held Caesar in my arms so that he wouldn’t collapse.
“Caesar, are you awake?”
“Umm
 What— Ho!”
Caesar, who was resting his forehead on my shoulder as if he was half asleep, suddenly raised his head as he figured out the situation.
And that moment.
With amazing timing, the carriage caught on a stone beak and stumbled heavily.
“Uwaah!”
“Kyaa!”
Kung!
Caesar and I fell on the chair at the same time. Well, this kind of accident can happen. It’s okay.
The problem is that our lips collided as we fell.
It is not a romantic situation where our lips ‘barely touch’.
Our front teeth bumped into each other with the force.
“Ouch, it hurts
!”
“Duh
!”
I grabbed my lips with both hands and crouched down.
Caesar covered his lips with the back of his hand and was completely crushed in the corner of the carriage.
“Nonsense!”
Caesar screamed with a wounded face.
“This is invalid!”
What is invalid?
“Invalid!”
Caesar’s scream filled with resentment spread outside the carriage.
***
I got a cut on my lower lip.
That evening, Leonard looked at the wound with hawk’s eyes.
“Why are your lips like that? Why is it so swollen?”
“Huh? Ah, the carriage was shaking and we bumped into each other
 I bit it.”
I was embarrassed by myself after answering.
What? Am I lying right now? Why the hell?
“I’m tired. I’m going to sleep.”
Without even asking about Leonard’s tour of the Order of the Knights, I got up and headed for the bedroom.
For some reason, when I remembered the situation in the carriage, my face became hot and I couldn’t stand it.
‘I must be crazy. This is an accident, an accident.’
But why does my heart pound when I think of that time?
[This is invalid!]
‘What invalid. Asshole. Do you feel that bad about bumping your lips with me?’
Wiping my lips with the back of my hand, I strode down the hallway.
For some reason, it was a moment when I had a strong feeling that I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.