“If you both wear them together, it will really suit you well.”

The employee’s words didn’t bother me at all.

Of course, I couldn’t help but imagine myself and Serpina standing in similar clothes.

But that was all.

Really, truly.

“Why don’t you just buy everything in a similar design to my clothes?”

“Sounds good.”

The answer came out as soon as the question ended.

It was truly a response without even time to breathe.

Oh my?

The employee who was watching the two people with lewd eyes from the side showed an even more lewd smile.

“Oh my. It seems the husband loves his wife very much. Hohoho. I’m so envious of how close you two look!”

Dante and Serpina reflexively stared at each other.

And the moment their gazes met.

Ah.

Dante felt as if lightning had struck his head.

Love?

They look good together?

It was a realization.

The answer to the emotion he couldn’t even guess the identity of.

Not knowing, no. Perhaps knowing but forcibly trying to ignore it, but unable to do anything about the pounding heart, the answer to the troubling emotion.

Love.

So that’s what it was – love.

Only then did everything make sense.

The reason he had nightmares like a curse from the moment he noticed the strange feeling, the reason he felt guilty when looking at Serpina.

It was because he dared to love Serpina.

“So, don’t even dream of love or anything like that. That will be for your own good.”

With an inerasable curse in his heart, it was because he loved Serpina.

Dante’s face gradually turned red as he gained this realization.

Serpina didn’t know that Dante was burning up beside her.

“Wow. We must look like a really well-matched couple.”

Serpina whispered playfully to Dante while standing on her tiptoes with her eyes curved into crescents.

But even on her tiptoes, due to the height difference, her whisper reached Dante’s nape instead of his ear.

“…!”

Dante held his breath and clutched his nape where her breath had touched.

“What’s wrong? Are you in pain somewhere?”

Seeing her innocent questioning look, unaware of anything, Dante let out a deep sigh.

All he could do was barely shake his head.

Ah. This is really a big problem.

This is truly a big problem.

The emotion whose identity he had just discovered began to grow relentlessly, as if seizing the opportunity.

It felt like hot flowers were blooming wherever her breath had touched.

It was truly an unbelievable thing.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Se-se-se-send it to the Richter Ducal House?”

“Yes. Not ‘Se-se-se-send’, but send it to the Richter Ducal House. Please make sure it’s not late.”

At my answer, the employee’s face turned pale.

Oh my. Her eyes are about to pop out.

It seems she had just considered us as rich customers and thought lightly of us, but now realizing we were actually the Duke and Duchess ruling the North, she was quite shocked.

Well, I’d be surprised too if someone I treated casually turned out to be the Prime Minister.

But fearing Dante might dig another hole due to the employee’s reaction, I quickly led him out of the store by the arm.

Fortunately, Dante didn’t seem inclined to dig any holes.

Instead, he was a bit red and dazed.

“Was it too hot inside?”

“…Ye-yes?”

“Your face is red. You also look out of it. Are you feeling sick somewhere?”

“No. I’m fine.”

Well, that’s good then.

“So we’ve finished everything we needed to do.”

Contrary to my expectation that we’d need to visit at least two clothing stores, we were able to handle everything at the first place we visited.

Thankfully, it was larger than expected and had many staff.

Thanks to that, we were now free.

“Then, let’s go somewhere fun now.”

Dante nodded.

As I always feel, Dante’s responses are quite extreme.

Either severely delayed.

Or, very quick.

“Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”

“Hmm. Dante, is there anywhere you want to go or recommend?”

“Well…”

“Hm?”

Dante hesitated before answering.

“I don’t go out often, so I don’t know much.”

Geez. We’re quite the reclusive couple.

In some ways, maybe we’re a good match?

Thinking positively, I fumbled for the note Mari had given me.

“Just in case, I wrote down some popular cafes and restaurants. Especially the first cafe I wrote down is super popular. It’s a bit unique, but they say the desserts are delicious and the atmosphere is amazing! And, da… No. They just say it’s good!”

Mari’s note had various restaurant and dessert shop names listed.

The first one that caught my eye was the one written at the top.

“Secret of the Snow Flower”

Next to the poetic name of the cafe were a flurry of recommendation stars.

“Then, how about a dessert shop? I have one Mari recommended.”

“Anywhere Serpina wants to go is fine with me.”

Oh my. Why say such romantic things?

Making people’s hearts flutter for no reason.

The fluttering was real. What woman wouldn’t have her heart race when such a handsome man says things like “Anywhere you go is fine with me.”

Plus, maybe because we were just called a “close couple” by the employees earlier.

Or maybe because of the unfamiliar place and attire, for some reason Dante’s words seemed to have a greater impact today.

Things I could usually brush off more brazenly kept hitting me one by one.

Yes. To be honest, I was quite moved when the employee said, “It seems your husband loves you very much.”

Love?

Dante loves me?

While thinking it was ridiculous, I couldn’t help but feel it wasn’t so bad.

It’s all because of Dante’s face and personality.

Who wouldn’t fall for someone so handsome, with a great body, looking cold but actually warm inside!

But I had to forcibly suppress my desires.

Dante has a definite happiness called “Flora” waiting for him.

I have a duty to protect his happiness.

So let’s not get carried away by the atmosphere and have strange greed.

I’d be unhappy, Dante would be unhappy, Flora would be dumbfounded, and the original author would be dumbfounded too.

However, a few minutes later.

“…Sigh.”

My heart started acting up on its own again.

It was because of Dante’s large, slightly cold, firm, and somewhat chilly hand enveloping mine.

Ah. Even this man’s hands were sexy.

The development of events went back to just a few minutes ago.

While checking the map Mari had drawn to find “Secret of the Snow Flower”…

“…This should be the right way, right?”

Somehow, the road seemed a bit strange.

We had left the lively and wide plaza and were now in a secluded area.

Is there really a cafe popular enough for people to line up in a place like this?

Of course, there were rows of shops, but how should I put it.

It was mostly shops that looked like they’d be used by people living nearby, rather than clothing stores or cafes.

Plus, there was a subtle slope that made it hard to walk.

Ah, I shouldn’t have worn these shoes.

I deeply missed the comfortable shoes I used to wear in the mansion.

Sure enough.

“Oh!”

I unknowingly twisted my ankle while walking up the slope. In a situation where I was about to fall inevitably, I was gauging how far I would roll if I fell here.

Thud.

“Are you alright?”

Dante’s firm chest supported me.

I nodded, feeling dazed.

“…Yes. Thanks to you.”

“I’m glad. It seems like you’re having trouble walking because of the hill…”

Dante, who was continuing to speak, briefly glanced at me as if in deep thought.

“Would you like me to carry you?”

“No. That’s a bit…”

“Ah, right.”

I felt like a chilly wind was blowing from somewhere.

Even I thought I had cut him off too coldly.

But it’s embarrassing, you know.

Even though it was a secluded place, there were quite a few people passing by. And to be carried here?

Already, attention was being drawn to Dante because of his tall height, good physique, and excellent face. I didn’t have the confidence to be carried by him on top of that.

“Then, how about this instead?”

I slightly extended my hand and held Dante’s hand.

I could feel his large and firm hand flinching as my hand slipped into his.

“You don’t have to hold it if you don’t want to.”

As I was thinking about awkwardly pulling my hand away, his large hand grasped mine.

“I don’t dislike it.”

No. Why are you speaking so shyly?

You keep confusing people.

As the other person kept responding seriously and acting shy, I felt myself becoming shy in response.

“…Sigh.”

I’m not usually this kind of person, but this is strange.

Meanwhile, why are his hands so big and firm? My hand was completely hidden under his, not even visible.

I walked hard, relying on our clasped hands.

Just holding one hand made walking much easier than before.

By the way, his hand is really cold.

After the initial excitement passed, I suddenly noticed how cold Dante’s hand was.

I don’t think it was this cold before.

I couldn’t help but think this must be why Flora in the original story worried about Dante’s body temperature and fed him Hosan berries.

His hand was as cold as ice, making me quietly worry about his health.

“Dante. You’re not feeling sick, are you?”

“Pardon?”

“I guess not. Never mind then.”

Thankfully, there doesn’t seem to be any major health issues.

But still worried, I thought I should start researching Hosan berries again.

“Are you asking because my hand is cold?”

Having apparently pondered my words, Dante carefully asked.

I nodded frankly.

“Yes. I was worried you might be sick somewhere.”

The answer didn’t come easily.

He stared at me for a while, then shook his head a bit awkwardly.

“…I’m fine. Are you feeling unwell anywhere, Serpina?”

“Of course I’m fi- Ow.”

Ah. I bit my tongue.

I suddenly bit my tongue while speaking. Judging by the taste of blood, I must have bitten it properly.

Mumbling with my tongue due to the sudden pain that made my nose sting, I belatedly finished my answer.

“I’m fine. Really.”

Except for the tongue I just bit, I really was fine.