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Felix wore a bewildered expression amidst the students leaving the training grounds.
But soon, he couldn't hide his joy at the fact that Ayla had come to find him herself.
He wasn't a puppy, but it was enough to give the illusion that his tail was wagging behind him.
"Do you have a moment?"
"Of course! Absolutely. Ah... but I'm sweating a lot right now."
He awkwardly wiped the sweat from his forehead and took a step back.
He seemed embarrassed by his disheveled state, as he needlessly swept back his hair and fidgeted with his collar.
Ayla pretended not to notice and got straight to the point.
"It's okay. It's a simple matter. Are you free this weekend? I need your help."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Felix's face lit up.
"Yes, I have plenty of time. Of course, I can help you."
"...Thank you. It's nothing much, just come with me somewhere this weekend. All you have to do is react to the situation according to what I say. Pretend to be my lover."
"That doesn't sound too difficult."
Felix shrugged as if it were no problem. Ayla told him the meeting place and time.
"Okay, then I'll pick you up at that time."
Felix smiled brightly and saw her off as she turned to leave.
Until the moment they finished talking and parted ways, he didn't mention anything about what had happened.
He treated her naturally, as if nothing had happened, just like usual.
The situation was such that it felt like the confession he had made was just a dream.
'......I don't know what Felix is thinking at all.'
Ayla sat down on the chair, careful not to wrinkle her clothes.
Even when she had only a moment to spare, thoughts of Felix filled her head as if by some strange force.
Ayla, who was sighing with her head down, suddenly noticed her collarbones and shoulders, which were clearly exposed.
Come to think of it, even when she was living as a Princess Consort, she had never worn such revealing clothes.
'If Felix sees me... he'll be surprised. It can't be helped because it's a strategy.'
The thought of showing him such an embarrassing outfit made her extremely ashamed.
Ayla fanned her face with her hand, hoping that Felix would arrive soon.
A peaceful weekend morning.
Yetien, who was planning to spend a leisurely morning with a cup of coffee as always, was now sitting on the coachman's seat.
As he crossed the scorching avenue, he let out a long, sleepy yawn.
The shopping district was bustling with the liveliness unique to weekends, but Yetien's expression, who was holding the reins, was endlessly tired.
A troublesome errand that Duke Argenta had passed on a few days ago was the beginning of this whole situation.
"I heard that Felix is going out with Ayla this weekend. I want you to follow them and keep an eye on them."
"......Isn't that a date? Is it okay for me to follow them?"
"They're taking the carriage, so someone has to drive the horses. You're perfect for that kind of thing, aren't you?"
What exactly was perfect?
He was dying to ask, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth at the Duke's stern command and answer, "Y-yes, I am."
"Follow them without disturbing the atmosphere, and make sure you act as a bodyguard. Oh, and if Ayla wants something, buy it all for her."
"......Everything she wants?"
"Yes, we have to repay the favor we received. You can buy her anything. If she wants a store, buy her a store."
When Yetien first heard those words, he thought Duke Argenta was joking.
But the Duke's expression didn't waver in the slightest.
Seeing that, Yetien soon realized that all those words were genuine.
'......What on earth is the Duke thinking?'
The other person is just a student attending the Academy.
Even if she had done him a favor, it would only be to the extent that she had taken good care of Young Master Felix at the Academy.
Besides, she was a commoner who had been kicked out of the Argenta family due to an unsavory incident.
Even though she had recently been recognized as the owner of the Black Dragon, she was worlds apart from Young Master Felix, who possessed noble blood.
'Besides, Young Master Felix has already reached the Sword Expert level at this age.'
It wouldn't be long before he became a Sword Master like the Duke. From the start, Ayla was on a different level.
But for the Duke to show such favor already.
'Well, Young Master Felix said he likes her a lot... Is he taking care of her because she might become his future mistress?'
The current Duke Argenta would do anything Young Master Felix said and try to grant him anything.
Suddenly curious about what kind of person Young Master Felix's lover was, Yetien turned towards the carriage.
He tapped lightly on the small window, and the door opened, meeting Felix's light green eyes.
"Young Master Felix, what kind of person is the woman we're meeting today, your girlfrie... no, Ayla?"
"What kind of person is Ayla?"
Felix's tone was subtly awkward, perhaps because he still had the habit of speaking formally.
But soon, he scratched his cheek and continued naturally.
"She's a very wonderful person. Maybe it's because she grew up as a Princess Consort for so long, but she's full of grace and very elegant."
"I see..."
Come to think of it, she grew up in the Argenta family and learned all sorts of etiquette, so she was probably better than most commoners.
'She's probably mingled with nobles a lot, so she'll be quick to adapt to high society.'
"And she's also very good at studying. She even took the top spot in the Faculty of Magic a while ago. She said her goal is to graduate early this year."
Yetien's ears perked up at those words.
Not only did she become the owner of the Black Dragon, but she also took the top spot in the Faculty of Magic.
'From what I hear, she seems to be quite a talented person.'
As a member of the Argenta family, who valued talent above all else, Yetien's heart quickly turned at that one word.
Perhaps that was why the Duke saw Ayla in a better light.
Felix, his ears flushed, continued as if just thinking about her made him happy.
"Above all, she's more beautiful than anyone else even without trying to look good, and she has a kind heart."
"That's amazing. I'm looking forward to it."
"Whatever you're expecting, it'll be more than that. I guarantee it."
"If Young Master Felix says so, she must be a good person."
Yetien couldn't help but chuckle at Felix's proud smile.
'He's completely smitten.'
Having spent a short time together, Yetien knew very well how upright and steadfast Felix was.
If he was saying that much, she could never be an ordinary person.
'I'm really looking forward to it.'
He was getting more and more determined to make a good impression on the person who might become the mistress.
'The Duke has high expectations, so I'll perfectly assist them both today.'
Before long, the Argenta family's carriage arrived at the meeting place.
Yetien, who got out of the carriage that stopped in front of the dress shop, waited for Felix to bring her out.
And after a while.
The door of the dress shop opened and a woman dressed elegantly appeared.
The moment his eyes met the person walking out with Young Master Felix, holding his hand, Yetien froze on the spot.
'That person is... the future mistress?'
The first thing that caught his eye was the hem of the purple dress that trailed to the floor.
On top of that, the elaborate gold embroidery and jewel embellishments made it clear at a glance that it was an expensive dress.
Her mouth was covered with a fan with a fancy pattern, which gave off a rather arrogant atmosphere.
'Somehow, the image is a bit different from what I heard...'
Of course, she was beautiful without a doubt.
But it wasn't like they were going to a banquet, and the clothes were not only unnecessarily revealing, but the makeup was also extremely gaudy.
If he had encountered her without knowing anything, he would have mistaken her for someone quite immature and vain.
He understood that she wanted to look pretty for her date...
But even so, wasn't this kind of outfit too much for this time of day?
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