Side Story, Episode 3
After finishing their meal, Elze and Dante leisurely spent their time exploring.
They admired the exotic scenery of Hismarion Street and browsed through trinkets displayed at street stalls, occasionally purchasing small decorative items.
Dante, however, wore a slightly sulky expression.
“Are you just going to keep buying things for Countess Martin and Joseph?”
Watching her lover grumble like a child, Elze suppressed a sigh and glanced at the nearby stalls.
“In that case, should I get something for you?”
“…What?”
Before Dante could process her words, Elze reached out and picked up a cravat pin made of red coral from one of the stalls.
She held it up to Dante’s chest and casually remarked, “Hmm, it suits you well.”
“…”
“Well, to be fair, you’re so handsome that you’d look good in anything.”
The compliment was entirely empty of sincerity, meant only to quiet Dante’s complaints.
Yet the effect was immediate.
Dante’s face flushed bright red, and he clamped his mouth shut.
‘Oh?’
Seeing his reaction, Elze’s eyes sparkled briefly before she broke into a gentle smile.
“Do you like it? Should I buy it for you?”
“…Yes.”
Dante nodded without hesitation.
A short while later, Elze handed him the small paper bag containing the gift.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
Dante took the bag carefully, his gaze lingering on it as though it were a priceless treasure.
He stared at it so fondly that it seemed he couldn’t bear to unwrap it just yet.
“Now that I think about it, this is the second time I’ve picked something out for you,” Elze said thoughtfully.
The first time had been a cravat she’d ordered from Madame Tilda’s boutique—a lavish piece embroidered with gold thread.
Looking back, Elze recalled how unstable she had been at the time.
Even as she tied the cravat around Dante’s neck herself, she had secretly entertained the dark thought of strangling him with it.
But now…
‘I never imagined being with him would feel this comfortable.’
Smiling softly, Elze asked, “Do you not wear that cravat anymore?”
“Rare items shouldn’t be carelessly worn outside, right?” Dante replied with a casual shrug.
“It’s a gift from you—what if it gets worn out?”
“If it wears out, I’ll just buy you a new one,” Elze replied nonchalantly.
“I’m going to be by your side anyway.”
Then, with a playful grin, she added, “You should be prepared—I’ll be the one picking out everything you wear from now on.”
Dante’s eyes widened in surprise.
“…You think like that too?”
“Huh?”
“I’ve thought the same thing before.”
With a warm smile, Dante reached out and gently caressed her cheek.
His touch was delicate, as though he were handling the most precious thing in the world.
He tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his voice low and soft.
“I’ve always wanted every piece of clothing you wear to be chosen by me.”
Dante’s expression was radiant with happiness as he spoke.
“It makes me so glad to know you feel the same.”
“…”
Elze stared at him for a moment before speaking.
“Why does that surprise you so much?”
“What?”
“Wanting to keep the person you love all to yourself… isn’t that only natural?”
She replied nonchalantly, her tone cool, and walked ahead as if nothing had happened.
Dante stood there, stunned, watching her retreating figure.
The tips of her pale ears had turned a soft shade of pink.
In that moment, his chest swelled as though filled with air, his heart pounding with overwhelming happiness that left him slightly dizzy.
“Elze, are you just going to leave me behind?”
With a lighthearted step, Dante hurried to follow her.
* * *
That evening, they boarded the luxurious cruise ship that Dante had reserved in advance.
Dante proudly wore the cravat pin Elze had bought for him.
Truthfully, the inexpensive trinket from a street stall seemed out of place on such an elegant cruise ship.
‘Well, it’s all about the wearer, I guess.’
Elze was reminded of the importance of how one carries themselves.
Among the many gentlemen aboard, Dante stood out effortlessly.
He looked as though he had stepped right out of a high-end fashion catalog, making even the modest accessory seem like a bespoke piece crafted by a master jeweler.
“Why?”
When their eyes met, Dante curved his lips into a sly smile.
“Am I really that handsome?”
“Of course. You’re always handsome.”
Elze’s calm response didn’t waver at Dante’s cheeky self-praise.
After all, it was an undeniable fact.
“…”
Dante’s face flushed crimson, catching him off guard.
‘If he’s going to blush over everything, he should stop with those shameless remarks,’ Elze thought, clicking her tongue inwardly as she turned her attention to the sea beyond the railing.
The sunset-painted waters were stunning, but Elze found it difficult to appreciate the view.
‘This is getting ridiculous.’
Dante had his arm firmly wrapped around her waist, as if afraid she might throw herself over the railing at any moment.
Unable to endure it any longer, Elze broke the silence.
“Dante.”
“Yeah?”
“I can’t breathe.”
“…Oh.”
Dante loosened his grip slightly but didn’t completely let go of her waist.
Suppressing a sigh, Elze made a suggestion.
“Shall we go eat?”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Dante responded enthusiastically, his eagerness betraying his intent to put as much distance as possible between her and the sea.
‘We’re going to have to talk about this eventually…’
She wasn’t sure if the analogy was apt, but Dante’s current behavior reminded her of an abandoned puppy with separation anxiety.
Elze couldn’t help but feel a dull ache forming in her head.
* * *
The two headed to the ship’s restaurant for dinner.
As elegant music played softly in the background, they were seated at the finest table by the window.
Dante rested his chin on his hand, gazing out of the window with a complicated expression before muttering under his breath, “Back then… Luneburg prepared a ship, didn’t he?”
The moment he said it, he stiffened, realizing he had spoken aloud, and glanced at Elze to gauge her reaction.
Elze, of course, understood what he was referring to.
It was from the time she had planned her escape and enlisted Benedict’s help.
Benedict had once tried to smuggle her out of the country.
[The Feliz Restaurant at Sortonne Harbor.]
The memory clouded her expression as well.
“…”
“…”
The atmosphere grew heavy with the weight of unspoken emotions, and Dante scrambled to dispel the awkwardness.
“I, uh… have something for you.”
“For me?”
“Here.”
He handed her an envelope.
Elze, startled, accepted it with a curious expression.
What surprised her even more was the bright red imperial seal pressed onto the envelope.
Dante gestured for her to open it.
“Go ahead.”
Inside was an official letter of appointment, certifying the granting of a noble title.
Stripping away the flowery formalities, its core message read:
<Elze Lepherian is hereby appointed as the Countess of Fortuna.>
The document bore the Emperor’s signature and seal, leaving no room for doubt.
<Countess of Fortuna.>
The Fortuna family was one of the most esteemed noble houses in the empire.
About thirty years ago, its line had ended, and the title was reclaimed by the crown.
Now, Dante had managed to secure it.
Dante must have engaged in extensive negotiations with the imperial court to obtain this title.
In this very moment, with just this document, Elze had become the Countess of Fortuna.
“What do you think?” Dante asked, studying her expression carefully.
“You’ve always wanted to free yourself from the Lepherian Viscountcy, haven’t you?”
“…”
“This is the fastest way for you to cut ties with them.”
He shrugged lightly, as if to downplay the significance of the gesture.
“You no longer have to be connected to the Lepherian family. Isn’t that right?”
Elze’s expression turned contemplative for a moment as she processed the situation.
Finally, she spoke.
“Well, first of all, I’m truly happy. Thank you.”
Folding the letter carefully and slipping it back into the envelope, she looked up at Dante with a steady gaze.
“But, Dante, before the name ‘Fortuna,’ isn’t there another name you’re supposed to give me first?”
“…”
Dante’s crimson eyes wavered visibly at her words.
‘Giving a name.’
There was only one meaning behind those words.
Through marriage, Dante would give Elze the name ‘Offenheir’—
And they would officially become family.
