~Chapter 101~
The picnic spot the servants had prepared was under a large willow tree.
Silverware laid over a lace tablecloth sparkled in the sunlight streaming through the willow branches.
“Lady Riden, thank you for inviting me today.”
At the table where four people sat, Adele spoke almost like a confession.
“I’m here to enjoy myself too. I’m the one who should thank you for joining me.”
Riden replied, then glanced at the young Viscount Fresen sitting beside Adele.
He was clearly showing interest, keeping his eyes on Adele as she talked to Riden.
When she’d first suggested joining the boat ride, he’d looked surprised, but now he simply seemed to be enjoying himself with Adele.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Young Viscount!”
Adele, reaching for her fork, dropped it toward him by mistake.
Her face turned red from making a mistake in front of someone she liked.
She wasn’t the only one whose face turned red.
“No, the fault is mine.”
Picking up the fork that had landed on his leg, the young viscount handed it back to her—his ears flushed pink.
The two of them, aware of each other, fidgeted awkwardly.
Just look at that.
When he handed her the fork, their hands bumped, making it fall onto the grass this time.
“Because of me again…”
“I’ll pick it up.”
“No, I dropped it, so I should…”
How long were they going to dribble that poor fork around?
Riden gestured to a servant to bring a new fork and spoke up.
“Adele, you seem a little different from your debutante days—it suits you really well. Don’t you think so too, Young Viscount?”
At that, the young viscount glanced at Adele and then looked away, answering shyly.
“Y-Yes. You look… very beautiful today.”
Now Adele’s face was red enough to burst.
They’re both cute.
It was clear something had begun to bloom between them.
I lit the spark, so now the two of you can keep the fire going.
And when the time came, she could use this as a reason to ask Adele for a favor.
While watching them with satisfaction, Ethan pulled Riden’s hand toward him and whispered:
“Are you the type to get excited about playing matchmaker?”
“Not usually. Just this once.”
Riden answered playfully.
He didn’t seem thrilled to share the table with another couple, but for her sake, he looked willing to be patient.
He even responded kindly to whatever Adele or the young viscount said.
Now that the spark is lit, I can just leave them alone.
She was thinking of wrapping up soon when a bright pink head came into view, quickly closing the distance.
“Riden, fancy meeting you here.”
Mari greeted her first, then turned to Ethan.
“I should greet the duke as well.”
Ethan nodded lightly and glanced to the side.
Beside Mari stood a man she clung to, his expression neutral.
“What a place to meet.”
Damian politely greeted everyone, but Mari quickly spoke up.
She looked eager to join this table—the most glamorous one by the lakeshore today.
Even walking from the entrance, she could feel all the glances cast toward this spot.
And also—
Why are those two here?
She was not pleased to see the young Viscount Fresen, with whom she’d gone on a date recently, sitting so close to Adele with a flushed face.
On their date, he had grinned like a fool at her—yet now he was blushing for Adele…
She had tried to connect him with Adele before, but he’d only shown interest in her, so she’d given up.
“If you were coming to the lake, you should have told me. Same place, same time—guess we really are friends. As soon as I saw Damian, I wanted to come here.”
She spoke to Riden, naturally edging closer to the table.
The seat next to the future duchess is my spot as her friend.
Mari slipped herself between Riden and Adele, signaling to a servant.
The servant, thinking she would join them, brought over a chair—
“—Mari.”
“Yes?”
“Today’s seats are for the two guests I invited.”
“….”
“I’m sure there’ll be another chance for us to sit together.”
She was still smiling, but quickly realized she had just made herself look like someone rude enough to sit without permission.
While the table’s mood chilled, Mari’s smile trembled slightly.
“Oh my, how silly of me not to realize.”
“….”
“Well, I see you often. I’ll give up my seat today for Adele and the young viscount.”
“Please do.”
“…Yes, enjoy yourselves then.”
Mari abruptly turned and pulled Damian with her.
“Damian, let’s go over there.”
“….”
Why does she keep embarrassing me?
Riden, who used to accept anything Mari said with a smile, had recently changed her attitude—and Mari couldn’t figure out why.
Is she trying to befriend higher nobles before becoming duchess?
Mari glanced at Adele’s smiling face.
Though from a viscount’s family, Adele’s father was a high-ranking church figure, treated like an earl.
Completely different from her own remote baron family.
No… It was strange when Riden, who used to hate me, suddenly acted friendly. This must be her true nature coming back.
If so, this was bad.
She was currently staying at the McCurry estate, and in the capital, Riden was the only person she could call a friend.
If Riden stopped seeking her out or showing kindness, she’d have nowhere to go.
And no man’s proposed to me yet.
She needed marriage soon to have a place of her own, but though she’d dated several young men from balls, none had proposed.
Mari tightened her hold on Damian’s arm without realizing it.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing.”
Right after I possessed this body, I wasted time on foolish things.
Mari’s gaze shifted to Damian.
He’s the second son of Viscount Florence, without a title, right?
Compared to the heir, a second or third son wasn’t a great match—but since Damian belonged to the church, she saw him differently.
Like Adele’s father, he could rise to a high position…
And he’s handsome enough to show off anywhere.
“I like it here.”
Mari pointed to a spot, and a servant set up a table and chairs for them.
These servants, hired by the lake’s management, couldn’t compare in quality or style to those who prepared Riden’s table.
Riden’s servants had been brought personally for the occasion.
Riden watched Mari and Damian take their seats nearby.
She’s actually doing the task I asked quite diligently.
Their table looked friendlier than expected.
She had told Mari that studying faith would help her greatly in marriage, but Mari could easily have refused.
Seeing them smile and talk, Damian must be doing a good job.
He might be more reliable than I thought.
Then Riden noticed something.
Damian was handing Mari a teacup in a way that looked oddly out of place.
…What’s this?
He held the cup politely in both hands, placing it in front of her.
It was a gesture one would never see from nobles who had lived their whole lives in aristocracy—
—more like a modern café worker.
Riden’s eyes stayed fixed on Damian’s quick, efficient movements.
It wasn’t a grand, dramatic moment when she realized his true identity—
—just a small, ordinary action that pierced her heart and stole her breath.
Damian, frowning at the messy table, looked around for a servant.
With so many nobles out for picnics, the few staff here were rushing about without rest.
Then he started moving himself.
Riden narrowed her eyes.
Too impatient to wait, Damian began cleaning and tidying the table with almost obsessive precision.
In that instant, countless images and thoughts tangled in Riden’s mind, leading to a single conclusion.
Hates bitter things.
A manager. Then maybe the other three are…?
“I’ll save you.”
“You don’t need to go there. My mother’s a bad person.”
Hwang Sung-min.
yes yes yes