After the duke and Lorelei left the annex, Ray stayed crouched in front of the entrance, waiting for Lorelei.

The moment the door opened, Ray sprang to his feet. Their eyes met.

With a tense expression, Ray stared only at Lorelei’s lips. Soon, Lorelei spoke.

“Ray.”

“Yes.”

“From tomorrow, you can stay with the young lady.”

Just like a rainbow appearing when rain lightens and sunlight breaks through, Ray’s face gradually brightened.

“Really? Really?”

“…Are you that happy?”

“Yes!”

Ray’s face flushed red like an apple. Forgetting all his previous complaints, he threw himself into Lorelei’s arms.

“Thank you! Thank you, Auntie. Really.”

“From tomorrow, you’ll become Lady Sylvia’s playmate.”

“Playmate?”

“Yes.”

Ray couldn’t fully understand what a playmate was supposed to do, nor how the duke had convinced Lorelei.

But none of that mattered. One thing was important.

‘I’ll be able to meet Sylvia!’

He could meet Sylvia. Just that fact alone filled Ray with a feeling he had never experienced before.

Ray had an early dinner with Lorelei, who had returned, and went to bed early. But he couldn’t sleep at all and kept tossing and turning.

Friend.

Sylvia’s friend.

A strange ticklish feeling spread through his entire body, and Ray unconsciously wiggled his toes.

And so, a new day slowly began.

* * *

Morning came.

Sylvia stared blankly at the ceiling.

It was the same day as always.

When Lorelei came, she would have to try again to convince her. Now, Sylvia had no remaining cards left.

“Young lady. You’re awake?”

Emily entered the room with a cheerful greeting, unusually bright today.

“Why are you so happy?”

“Oh my. Am I not allowed to be in a good mood?”

“I’m not in a good mood, so you should act sad too.”

“Goodness. Where is that kind of logic from?”

“It’s what I want.”

“You’ve always done whatever you wanted, haven’t you?”

“I did! But now I’ll be even more aggressive about doing what I want!”

Sylvia shouted as she struggled.

What’s the point of life anyway?

Even when she tried to reform herself, no one helped her.

My life is already set to end.

In ten years, she would die miserably as the villain.

Be kind? That itself was impossible.

Just not being allowed to meet Ray already made her this irritated—how could she ever become a good person?

“Still, you should at least get up and take a bath.”

Emily’s teasing voice irritated Sylvia.

“I’m not washing!”

“You’ll regret it. The person you like most is coming soon.”

At Emily’s words, Ray’s face immediately came to Sylvia’s mind.

“I don’t care! Tell him not to come!”

If it wasn’t Ray, nothing mattered. Even though she didn’t want to say harsh things, she couldn’t control her prickly emotions.

Emily, however, only suppressed her laughter and showed no concern. Feeling mocked, Sylvia turned away under the blanket.

Then Emily’s voice came again.

“Really?”

“Yes! I said I don’t care!”

“You’ll regret it. He’s already here. Should I really send him away?”

“Do it! Get out!”

At that, Emily finally burst into laughter.

“Emily!”

Feeling ignored, Sylvia jumped up.

She was about to glare at Emily—when she saw Ray standing behind her.

“Looks like the young lady says she doesn’t need anything, Ray. I guess you should leave too.”

Emily said teasingly.

“Such a shame. He came early, even bathed and changed, and waited until you woke up. We should come again when the young lady is in a better mood.”

But Emily could no longer tease Sylvia further.

Because Sylvia ran over and hugged Ray tightly. Ray, caught off guard by the sudden affection, froze.

“No! Don’t leave! Don’t! Emily, that was mean. You should’ve told me Ray came!”

“I did tell you the person you like most was here.”

Emily tapped Sylvia’s nose playfully, smiling.

Sylvia looked up at Ray and bombarded him with questions.

“Ray! How did you get here? Did Lorelei allow it? Or did you sneak in?”

A nice scent came from Sylvia. Her soft pink hair brushed against his cheek.

“…The duke.”

Ray could only manage to say that one word, barely forming it.

Sylvia had already forgotten her irritation and smiled brightly as she grabbed his hand.

Blocks, dolls, rocking horses, balls—everything she had carefully arranged was scattered as they began to play.

Though cleaning would be troublesome, Emily watched them with a satisfied smile.

It was better for the young lady to be lively and mischievous than to cry every day.

“Oh my. The duke? Madam?”

“Shh.”

The duke and duchess had quietly arrived and were watching the children.

“I think I’ve made a good deal for everyone.”

The duke murmured softly with a smile.

Sylvia, who had been sulking yesterday, now looked completely happy. And Ray, equally joyful, filled the room with warmth.

* * *

Before becoming Sylvia’s friend, Ray’s time had been empty.

He spent every day alone in the annex, waiting for his aunt.

The only difference between days was the slight growth of his nails and hair.

But now, everything had changed.

Each day was colorful and different.

All because of one variable.

Sylvia.

She had filled his empty world completely, transforming it.

“Ray?”

The voice of his tutor pulled him back.

“Oh my? Ray is distracted today.”

The history tutor smiled.

“I’m sorry.”

Ray immediately apologized.

“Seems like something interesting is happening in your life.”

From beside him, Sylvia spoke.

“Ray seems a bit distracted today. Shall we end early, teacher?”

Her polite, gentle voice softened the tutor’s expression.

“If the young lady says so, we’ll stop here for today.”

He nodded, deciding it was fine.

“Then please prepare the timeline by next week.”

“Yes. Thank you, teacher.”

Sylvia stood and gracefully lifted her skirt in a perfect gesture. The tutor admired her manners.

Ray smiled slightly.

It had been six years since Sylvia became his playmate.

From childhood, he had seen her up close, but sometimes she still felt unfamiliar.

“Truly flawless etiquette befitting a future crown princess.”

At the tutor’s praise, Sylvia stiffened slightly—but still smiled politely.

“Thank you, teacher. But I still have a long way to go. Please don’t say crown princess.”

The tutor, taking her humility seriously, shared something he had heard.

“A friend told me recently that the palace may soon call for you.”

“Pardon?”

“You are sixteen now, so they may be considering an engagement.”

At the word engagement, Sylvia froze.