In truth, attention from others wasn’t something unfamiliar to Kisa.
Though she considered it an excessive description, she was often called the premier flower of high society, and since the Vansfelt family was quite well-known, there were many who approached her first.
‘However…….’
This was different. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that everyone in the restaurant was watching them.
“I’ll guide you to your seats.”
At that moment, as if he had been waiting, one of the waiters promptly approached them and politely informed them.
Seyard turned to Kisa and asked.
“Shall we go?”
“Ah, yes.”
The two followed the waiter to the seats he had apparently reserved in advance.
Every small movement they made was followed by people’s gazes.
The many pairs of eyes contained various emotions.
Curiosity, interest, envy, jealousy, and hostility.
Just as her body instinctively shrank from the sensation of her chest tightening, a gentle touch wrapped around Kisa’s shoulder.
“There seem to be a lot of customers today.”
Seyard said this while naturally guiding Kisa closer to himself.
Indeed, some people who had just finished their meal were getting up from their tables some distance away and coming in this direction, but not close enough to make physical contact with Kisa.
She glanced down at his left hand positioned just below her face. Strangely, it made her feel a bit calmer.
Seyard was an extraordinary person. Thinking that someone as remarkable as Seyard was supporting her from behind made her heart feel much lighter.
Yes, there was no need to be intimidated by mere stares from others.
With him by her side, she would be able to overcome any difficult situation.
The seats Seyard had reserved were the premium seats that enjoyed the highest popularity in this restaurant.
A river flowed alongside, and as rumored, the view from the window inspired exclamations of admiration.
The food was also flawlessly delicious, allowing them to enjoy their meal twice as much.
Particularly, she liked that the premium seats were somewhat separated by screens and pillars, freeing them from the gazes of others.
However, because there might be ears listening, the two avoided sensitive topics like their marriage contract and only engaged in casual conversation.
“Is it to your liking?”
“Yes, it’s excellent.”
“I’m glad. It seems I chose the restaurant well.”
“Oh, did Seyard choose it personally?”
“Why, is that strange?”
“No, not strange, but I thought you’d be too busy with other matters to have such leisure.”
“I did ask someone else to gather information, but I was the one who selected from among several candidates.”
“Ah, I see.”
“But I’m a bit hurt.”
“Pardon?”
“That you would think me so insensitive as to follow someone else’s plans for our first date.”
“N-no, that’s not true.”
“I’m joking.”
Looking at the chuckling man, Kisa thought that he seemed to enjoy joking more than she had expected.
After finishing their dessert, the two took in the vibrant streets of the capital once more before rising from their seats.
“Oh my!”
As Kisa headed toward the exit of the restaurant, a woman entered her field of vision.
Having apparently spilled some stew broth on her dress, she was hastily taking out a handkerchief to wipe her skirt.
While it seemed like an ordinary everyday sight, to Kisa it served as a reminder of a certain object she had momentarily forgotten.
Naturally, it was the very handkerchief still carefully stored in her handbag.
Come to think of it, she remembered hearing from Melissa that these premium seats at the restaurant were so popular that even with a reservation, one could at best secure them two months in advance.
Before their relationship soured, Melissa, who was well-connected and had many interests, would often share various information with Kisa.
While some of it was just rumors, she wasn’t likely to be wrong about this kind of information, so it was probably correct.
‘Seyard prepared not only all those gifts for me but also this wonderful lunch…’
And all she had done was waste time meticulously embroidering a handkerchief.
She should have used that time to spend all her allowance on a better gift.
Kisa left the restaurant with Seyard, her heart heavy once again.
Afterward, the two took a carriage to their next destination, a clothing boutique.
Though the distance was short enough to walk, they had to travel by carriage because of journalists who had appeared, having heard about the couple’s presence.
Nevertheless, whether because they were dealing with the great Duke of Hillan or because Seyard had made arrangements, they didn’t cross any boundaries.
The clothing boutique they arrived at shortly was acclaimed as the finest in the kingdom, famous for being patronized even by the queen and princesses.
To be honest, like other young ladies of her age, Kisa had secretly admired the dresses from this place but never had the appropriate opportunity.
The quantity of dresses made was limited to maintain quality, and after the royal family took priority, there were hardly any spots left.
She wasn’t passionate enough about dresses to engage in fierce competition with other women for the remaining spots, and given Count Vansfelt’s frugal nature, there were limits to the money she could spend.
So, half involuntarily and half voluntarily, she had given up on wearing dresses from this place.
Indeed, Hillan. The head of the family second only to the royal family in this country was extraordinary.
“Kisa, this outfit looks good. What do you think?”
“Yes, it’s truly beautiful.”
Kisa nodded as she looked at the sample piece his finger pointed to.
Currently, the two were browsing through the clothes worn by the mannequins lined up in the boutique.
Seyard made a slightly troubled expression.
“You’ve been saying everything looks good since earlier.”
“What? Well, they truly all look good…”
“Is that so?”
At his gesture, an attendant standing a few steps away approached and handed over a catalog.
“Besides these, we have dresses of these designs. Please take a look.”
Kisa carefully turned the pages of the catalog filled with various dress designs.
All were excellent dresses and appealed to her.
She looked up from the catalog to Seyard.
“Which of these suits Seyard’s taste?”
“Unfortunately, I didn’t come today to choose a dress for myself.”
Seeing him make that same troubled expression from earlier, Kisa hastily replied.
“No, I really think they’re all fine.”
“Still, you’re the one who will be wearing the dress at the engagement ceremony. Even if you like them all, you should wear the one that appeals to you the most.”
“I appreciate your words, but for something like an engagement ceremony, isn’t it more important to coordinate with Seyard?”
“If that’s the issue, then I can match with Kisa’s dress. Does that solve the problem?”
“Match with me? Is that allowed?”
“There’s no reason why not.”
“But the Hillan family traditions and such…”
Typically, families with long histories like Hillan would have rules about what the head of the family wears at important events.
However, Seyard gestured for her to come closer, as if to whisper something, and when Kisa hesitantly complied, he whispered in a playful voice.
“I don’t care for Hillan, so it doesn’t matter. I’ll spend the family fortune extravagantly.”
…He was truly someone who consistently tried to ease Kisa’s burden.
“So, Kisa, choose what you like. As many as you want.”
No, that would be too much. There wasn’t much time left until the engagement ceremony.
But Seyard’s words had the power to make even the impossible seem possible.
Was it due to the prestige of Hillan that he carried, or because he himself was such an extraordinary person?
“Yes, in that case, thank you.”
Either way, with Seyard insisting this much, it would be impolite to keep refusing, so Kisa looked through the samples and catalog and chose about three dresses.
“Please come this way, and I’ll help you try them on.”
As she followed the attendant to the changing room to try on one of the sample dresses, a thought suddenly struck her.
‘I see. I was allowed to choose.’
It might be natural for others, but Kisa had always adjusted to Daniel for important events unless there was a special reason not to.
Even recently, before a charity banquet, hadn’t Daniel sent her a dress without her input?
So this time too, she thought without much reflection that she should match with Seyard.
Moreover, the fact that she could wear a dress from this high-end boutique without any prior reservation was all thanks to him bearing the Hillan name, so she thought it was only natural.
After all, what Kisa could do for him was at most something like that.
‘But if I can’t even do that much…’
How should she handle this apologetic feeling?
Swoosh. The curtain of the changing room was drawn back, revealing Kisa in her changed outfit.
Seyard, who had been sitting in a chair, stood up.
“…It suits you perfectly.”
After a moment of staring blankly, he soon smiled.
“You’re beautiful, Kisa.”
For some reason, it was a smile as sweet yet somewhat bitter as dark chocolate.
****
“If it’s alright, may I walk with you in the garden?”
When the carriage returned to the Vansfelt townhouse after completing all the planned activities, this was Seyard’s proposal.
Shortly afterward, the two strolled through the garden where spring flowers were gradually fading, their shoulders aligned like before.
The only difference from last time was the silence between them, which had begun inside the carriage.
“Kisa, did you perhaps not enjoy today’s date?”
Suddenly, Seyard stopped walking and looked at Kisa.
“It’s fine, I’d like you to be honest with me.”
With a face more uncertain than any she had seen from him before, he spoke.
