“You’re always right on time, Miss Iva.”

He murmured softly, holding her even tighter. It was then, with her face turning a shade of red, that Iva tried to push Ray away.

“A-ahem! Your Grace, I’m sorry, but it’s time for you to leave.”

A butler, who had been debating when to interrupt, awkwardly cleared his throat. At his voice, the two hastily took a step back.

“My apologies. I, uh, got carried away with our reunion.”

“Oh, it’s okay.”

No, why are you the one blushing even more when it was you who hugged me? Sensing the shared awkwardness, Iva quickly averted her gaze.

“You may board the carriage now.”

At the butler’s prompt, the two climbed aboard with a slight hint of awkwardness.

“Your Grace and Miss Iva Blanche, please take care on your journey.”

“Will do.”

The carriage door closed behind their greetings, and they set off toward the Grace. Now, it was just the two of them sitting awkwardly across from each other.

“Thank you for joining me, Miss Iva.”

“No problem. I have some things to find out at the Grace too, so it works out.”

“What are you curious about? I’ll assist you.”

“You mentioned magic in the letter you sent through Chase, right?”

“Yes, I said they’re fascinated by mysterious magic and local legends.”

“I want to learn more about that. The locals aren’t so open, so I was hoping you could help.”

“Of course, feel free to use me.”

There it was again—’Feel free to use me.’

Iva subtly brushed her arm, the sensation of their earlier embrace was still lingering.

“May I ask what excuse you used to leave the mansion?”

He’d invited her by sending a letter, but the reason Ray couldn’t have high hopes was precisely that they were leaving overnight. 

And it wasn’t for just one night—it was for three days and two nights. It was a long time to be away with someone to whom one was not engaged.

“Ah, I kind of lied.”

“What kind of lie?”

“I pretended to be sick.”

“Sick? Are you sick?”

Even though it was a lie, Ray reacted more sensitively to the mention of illness.

“No, I am not really sick, just pretended to be sick. I painted on fake chickenpox spots.”

“Ah, so that’s why your neck had those blotches.”

“Wait, it didn’t all wash off?”

In her haste to leave, she hadn’t completely removed the paint that connected her neck to her collarbone.

It was a blind spot she hadn’t even realized was visible.

“I thought it all came off. Weren’t you alarmed? I made it look pretty realistic.”

Just as Iva was about to cover it with her hand, Ray spoke softly.

“Miss Iva, you are more beautiful to me than anyone else.”

Caught off guard by the sudden compliment, she blinked and looked at him.

“There has never been a single moment when I found you repulsive.”

Then he lightly touched the scar at the end of his left eyebrow.

“Just as you didn’t mind my scar, I don’t care about your supposed chickenpox.”

“…Really? You know it could have been contagious, right?”

“Even if it were contagious and fatal, I would have hugged you just the same.”

When their eyes met directly, Iva felt a flush of heat, as if the red paint really was a genuine rash.

Being in such a cramped carriage and having to face each other for hours was challenging enough.

Why would he make a comment like that all of a sudden? Iva rolled her eyes, unsure of how to respond.

Seeing her, Ray pulled out his handkerchief.

“Do you want to use this to wipe off the paint?”

“Oh. Thanks.”

“…You finally accepted something from me.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing.”

When Ray impulsively proposed during his visit to the mansion, and during their first and last date, Iva had declined his gifts. 

But now, the handkerchief he’d tried to give her twice before was finally in her hands.

Internally, Ray praised himself for having the courage to send Iva the letter in the first place.

He unscrewed the lid of a glass bottle prepared in the carriage, dampening the handkerchief a bit, ensuring the paint would come off easily.

“It should wipe off well now.”

Despite it being a simple gesture, Iva felt a bit embarrassed by Ray’s innate courteousness and silently took the handkerchief. 

She hurriedly tried to wipe the paint off, craning her neck this way and that to see the blotches, but it was a blind spot and hard to view.

She should’ve just asked Jane, even in her haste. Fumbling, she attempted to rub off the paint clumsily.

“Let me help you.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, not in a weird way. It just looks like you’re having trouble finding the spot.”

Worried she’d misinterpret his intentions as wanting to touch her skin, Ray quickly clarified.

But maybe Iva also heard something more in his words because she hesitated to respond.

“Watch out, the road gets rough from here! Brace yourselves!” 

Just then, the coachman called out loudly to the two of them.

“Miss Iva, forget about the paint for now. Hold on tightly to the seat.”

“Oh come on, how rough can it be—Whoooa!”

Having anticipated just a minor jolt, Iva couldn’t even finish her sentence.

That’s because she found herself half-tossed from her seat, ending up nestled against Ray’s chest.