The mage bowed with a flourish.

 

 

 

“Thank you for accepting my greeting, My lady. My name is Kirie, and I currently serve at the imperial palace.”

 

 

 

“I’m Charlotte Lindsay.”

 

 

 

“Looking forward to getting along with you.”

 

 

 

“Likewise.”

 

 

 

Charlotte and Kirie exchanged their pleasantries, the kind that marked nothing more than a polite social interaction, and then they parted ways.

 

 

 

It was only then that people began to notice a change in Charlotte.

 

 

 

In hindsight, Jayden’s shockingly attentive manner towards his sister had overshadowed it, but right from the Lindsays’ first appearance, Charlotte had been kind of strange.

 

 

 

Wasn’t it Charlotte who detested her unrelated younger brother just as much?

 

 

 

And yet, there she was, casually accepting Jayden’s escort with an almost clumsy grace, even going as far as to apologize.

 

 

 

Charlotte Lindsay was definitely acting strangely.

 

 

 

Quite a few people wondered what kind of plan that evil woman had up her sleeve this time.

 

 

 

But swamped by the attention, the only thoughts swirling in Charlotte’s head were rather single-minded.

 

 

 

‘Ah, he’s so handsome! Silver-haired mages truly are the best, no question about it!’

 

 

 

Her thoughts were consumed by nothing but the sub-male lead.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

The tea party at Count Mosella’s garden was a standing affair.

 

 

 

The guests mingled freely around tables laden with assorted treats, chatting amongst themselves, and whenever they felt weary, they could sit on chairs placed along the perimeter of the garden to rest.

 

 

 

I, for one, had staked out a chair early on and had no intention of getting up.

 

 

 

‘Ah, the breeze is nice. This is pleasant.’

 

 

 

Kirie was my sole purpose here, I had not the slightest interest in socializing. It’s too much of a hassle, really.

 

 

 

Jayden, who sat next to me, inquired,

 

 

 

“Sister, why have you been sitting here this whole time?”

 

 

 

“Hmm? Just because.”

 

 

 

“Don’t you want to talk with your friends?”

 

 

 

“No friends to speak of.”

 

 

 

“…I see I was mistaken. You were so adamant about attending this tea party, I thought your friends might be here.”

 

 

 

“It’s fine. Don’t mind me, you go and enjoy the party.”

 

 

 

“No, thank you.”

 

 

 

“Why? It’s a rare occasion, isn’t it?”

 

 

 

“It seems there’s no one of value to make acquaintances with here.”

 

 

 

“Jayden… it’s a good thing no one else is around. What if someone heard you?”

 

 

 

“Let them hear. It doesn’t concern me.”

 

 

 

I get it. He’s the type who is admired by many, but not the kind to make friends easily.

 

 

 

Jayden, with his razor-sharp personality, was as strict with himself as he was with everyone else.

 

 

 

Look over there. A handful of noble ladies are blushing, stealing glances this way, but they don’t quite dare to approach, do they?

 

 

 

Sadly for them, I’m not the type to stick my nose in other people’s business enough to urge Jayden to leave me alone again.

 

 

 

‘Because, quite frankly, it’s better for me if Jayden stays right here.’

 

 

 

I can’t guarantee there won’t be any troublemakers like those ladies who sprayed champagne on me at the Emperor’s birthday banquet.

 

 

 

But with Jayden by my side, I don’t have to worry.

 

 

 

He might not like me, but surely he wouldn’t just watch a family member get into trouble, right?

 

 

 

‘Besides, he’s been surprisingly easygoing lately.’

 

 

 

As I entertained these thoughts, looking at Jayden’s profile, something caught my eye.

 

 

 

“Oh?”

 

 

 

“…What are you doing?”

 

 

 

Startled by my sudden close inspection, Jayden recoiled a bit.

 

 

 

“You’ve been looking pretty tired lately, haven’t you?”

 

 

 

“Excuse me?”

 

 

 

“No, I mean, up close, I can see dark circles under your eyes.”

 

 

 

I hadn’t scrutinized his face closely before, not wanting to stir up any unnecessary friction with Jayden who disliked me.

 

 

 

“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

 

 

 

Jayden averted his gaze awkwardly.

 

 

 

“Really? Maybe it’s just my imagination, then.”

 

 

 

At that moment, I didn’t realize there was something off about Jayden’s behavior.

 

 

 

He quickly changed the subject, nodding towards a crowd in the distance.

 

 

 

“I don’t usually like to gossip, but that guy over there is my least favorite of everyone gathered here.”

 

 

 

He was referring to Kirie, surrounded by women.

 

 

 

Just as he had done with me earlier, Kirie was conjuring up individual flowers with magic, handing them out to the ladies.

 

 

 

While the men who had lost their partners to him looked on with displeasure.

 

 

 

“Why? He looks pretty impressive.”

 

 

 

“It’s frivolous.”

 

 

 

Jayden frowned, even though it wasn’t his partner who had been taken.

 

 

 

Admittedly, to anyone watching, that guy was the spitting image of a flirt, the type who hops from one woman to another, and that’s just the kind Jayden would find loathsome.

 

 

 

“You know this, but you should be careful too. The way that guy was looking at you earlier wasn’t exactly… innocent.”

 

 

 

“Really?”

 

 

 

It wouldn’t surprise me. If I’m right, Kirie is in the same league as Reynard and Eugen…

 

 

 

That’s when it happened. A hush fell among the noisy crowd around Kirie and the women.

 

 

 

One lady, asking for a flower, had inadvertently touched his forearm.

 

 

 

Kirie visibly recoiled, slapping her hand away with a smack that echoed.

 

 

 

“Oh, I’m sorry…”

 

 

 

To the bewildered lady, Kirie quickly smoothed over his stiff expression with a smile and handed her a white rose.

 

 

 

“My apologies. I’m just not accustomed to physical contact with others.”

 

 

 

“Oh, it’s okay!”

 

 

 

As the lady accepted the rose with a laugh, the cheerful atmosphere returned.

 

 

 

‘That’s right. It was mentioned in “Searching for a Husband” as well.’

 

 

 

Kirie, while often amidst a group of women, always kept a certain distance if you paid attention.

 

 

 

That was the very reason why he could never truly be a playboy.

 

 

 

Sipping on the fruit juice Jayden had brought me, I kept Kirie within my line of sight.

 

 

 

Then, our eyes met. Just then, the number of ladies around Kirie had thinned.

 

 

 

“Where are you off to?”

 

 

 

Jayden asked, noticing me rising from my seat.

 

 

 

“Just going to take a little walk.”

 

 

 

“I’ll accompany you.”

 

 

 

“No, I’d like some time to myself, I’ve got things to think about.”

 

 

 

“…Understood.”

 

 

 

Jayden let me go without further question, sensing the seriousness in my tone.

 

 

 

As much as being with Jayden had its perks, I needed to be alone for what I was about to do.

 

 

 

I wandered through Count Mosella’s estate, searching for a secluded spot.

 

 

 

“Aren’t you a bit too far out on your own?”

 

 

 

I had reached a quiet corner of the garden, accompanied only by neatly trimmed hedges when a sweet voice called out from behind me.

 

 

 

“We meet again, Lord Kirie.”

 

 

 

My nonchalant reply seemed to pique his interest, and Kirie raised an eyebrow.

 

 

 

“Did you lead me here on purpose?”

 

 

 

“That’s right.”

 

 

 

“Why?”

 

 

 

“I’m lonely.”

 

 

 

“Lonely?”

 

 

 

“You must be aware of my reputation if you’ve heard anything at all. About my standing in the social circles.”

 

 

 

“…It’s not exactly positive.”

 

 

 

“That’s correct. Even here, aside from my brother and the hostess, Lady Mosella, no one approaches me to talk.”

 

 

 

I couldn’t help but smile a little.

 

 

 

“Oh, except for you, Lord Kirie.”

 

 

 

“That’s because…”

 

 

 

Kirie seemed like he had more to say, but I had to get my point across first.

 

 

 

“I’m very lonely.”

 

 

 

“Oh, I see.”

 

 

 

“I spend most of my time alone in my room, from morning until night.”

 

 

 

Lonely my foot. What I really wanted to convey to him was this:

 

 

 

I am alone in my room at night.

 

 

 

Of course, I couldn’t just blurt out that I knew about his curse and demand he come to my bed tonight.

 

 

 

So, this indirect approach was what I came up with.

 

 

 

Suddenly, a flicker of understanding passed through Kirie’s violet eyes. He seemed to grasp the underlying message of my words.

 

 

 

“Sister, what are you doing here?”

 

 

 

Out of nowhere, Jayden popped up, almost giving me a heart attack.

 

 

 

Jayden eyed Kirie and me with suspicion, then stepped between us as if to shield me.

 

 

 

“Do you have some business with my sister?”

 

 

 

Perhaps sensing the unkind intentions in Jayden’s tone, Kirie’s brows drew together.

 

 

 

“What if I do?”

 

 

 

Worried that their encounter might escalate into a fight, I quickly grabbed Jayden’s arm.

 

 

 

“Sister?”

 

 

 

“I suddenly want to go home.”

 

 

 

“But the tea party is still in full swing.”

 

 

 

“I’m fed up with it! Let’s just go!”

 

 

 

And with that, I left the Mosella estate without having stayed even two hours.

 

 

 

That night, someone tapped politely on my room’s terrace window. It was Kirie.

 

 

 

For him to come to me right after our conversation, considering his personality, was no small feat.

 

 

 

Kirie bowed and spoke earnestly.

 

 

 

“I’m truly sorry for intruding at such a late hour like this.”

 

 

 

Yeah, this is a normal reaction! Those brazen attitudes from Reynard and Eugen were the real oddities.

 

 

 

“It’s okay. I was a bit surprised, but since it’s you, Kirie, I’m sure there’s a good reason.”

 

 

 

I pretended to be clueless, eagerly waiting for him to get to the heart of the matter.

 

 

 

“Actually…”

 

 

 

Kirie hesitated for a moment.

 

 

 

Yes, this is normal. It’s the person who casually asks to sleep in another’s bed who’s abnormal.

 

 

 

“I was going to drink this myself, but would you like some?”

 

 

 

I seated Kirie on the sofa and offered him a warm cup of tea, creating an atmosphere where he could comfortably share what was on his mind.

 

 

 

“The truth is…”

 

 

 

Kirie slowly sipped his tea, trying to muster the courage to begin.

 

 

 

But, but!

 

 

 

‘Why isn’t he saying anything?!’

 

 

 

Kirie maintained his silence until his teacup was empty.

 

 

 

Honestly, I was on the verge of passing out from sleepiness.

 

 

 

This is because the maids had woken me up at dawn for a bath and massage because I had plans to go out, fussing over me to an annoying extent.

 

 

 

“…It’s okay, just tell me anything.”

 

 

 

“I’m sorry. It’s just… my request is too embarrassing to say.”

 

 

 

“I said it’s fine!”

 

 

 

Finally, I couldn’t hold back and slammed my hand down on the table.

 

 

 

“Tell me!”

 

 

 

Spurred by my action, the words finally gushed out of Kirie.

 

 

 

“Life here is just too hard. I can’t bear it anymore.”

 

 

 

He pleaded with desperation.

 

 

 

“I’ve only tried to be kind, so why won’t the ladies leave me be? And now, to top it all off, I’m afflicted with this bizarre curse.”

 

 

 

His shoulders shook as if he was overwhelmed with emotion.

 

 

 

“How can I share a bed with someone? The very touch of a woman terrifies me!”

 

 

 

Indeed, he was just a pitiful mage who had grown up surrounded only by men, someone who found the mere existence of women daunting.