The next day.

After dealing with the backlog of work at Black Swan early in the morning, I came out to Lüb Square with Anna.

This was a place frequented by couples and tourists, and a statue in the shape of wings of the goddess who was said to have created the world stood majestically in the center of the square.

As I was walking around examining the street artists surrounding the statue, I suddenly spotted a familiar face.

‘Leodniro?’

He was one of the trio who had caused trouble at the cafe on the day I met with Ranson to discuss changing affiliations.

He was busy soliciting customers among the passing tourists and couples, and behind him were two works the size of an arm placed on an easel.

“I’ll draw your portrait. Capture a precious moment!”

I approached him with Anna as he kept shouting. Leodniro’s expression stiffened when he recognized me.

“W-Welcome.”

It sounded like a reluctant greeting. I tapped my silk hat with my hand to straighten it before speaking.

“Why are you here? You’re not at the level to be working here.”

At my words, Leodniro let out a long sigh.

“I have to do this to earn money.”

“Aren’t you getting commissions from the art gallery?”

“…You’re not asking because you don’t know, are you?”

He continued with a frustrated expression.

“People with ambiguous skills like me hardly get any commissions. The good and expensive commissions go to those with better skills than me.”

He put his brush down on the makeshift table next to the easel and said.

“Even the commissions I had received were all canceled because of that incident…”

He was referring to the incident with Ranson. Leodniro looked at the top of my head for a moment and asked.

“Are you not hurt anywhere?”

“No, I’m fine.”

As I answered, I examined the works placed behind him.

“Are those your works?”

“Yes, both paintings are mine.”

“May I take a closer look?”

“Please do.”

Leodniro stepped aside with expectant eyes.

The blue tones used to depict the night sky felt somewhat familiar. The still life technique also seemed awkward, as if it wasn’t his own.

‘He lacks a style.’

He was someone who did both sculpture and painting, but because of that, his skills in both were ambiguous.

‘I want to give him advice, but he’s not even affiliated with Black Swan, so there’s no need…’

Then my eyes met Leodniro’s. They were full of expectation that he might sell a painting.

“Um, would you sell me that painting?”

“Thank you! It’s 500 tiga.”

“…Isn’t that too cheap?”

Surprised by the price, I asked, and Leodniro rubbed the back of his head as he replied.

“To keep a spot here, we have to price our paintings the same.”

Although his skills were ambiguous, he wasn’t at the level to sell his paintings for 500 tiga.

It’s a place where skilled artists gather. The moment you fall behind there, many artists lose their style regardless of their skill level.

Just like this man.

“Since you’ve kindly bought a piece, how about I draw your portrait as a service?”

Leodniro’s offer made my already sympathetic feelings sink even lower.

Unaware of my feelings, Anna clapped her hands, saying it was a good idea.

Sitting in the customer’s chair, I carefully asked him as he began to sketch.

“How is Ranson doing?”

His brush-holding hand paused for a moment.

“…I only know that he has many commissions. I don’t know much else.”

“I see.”

He slowly exhaled through his nose before focusing on his work again.

After some time had passed, Leodniro said he had finished the portrait and handed me a canvas about the size of a human head.

“Wow, you’re skilled.”

It was a sincere compliment. He seemed secretly pleased, his lips twitching slightly.

I left the crowd of street artists, holding the portrait neatly wrapped in linen cloth.

‘What if I could bring someone like Leodniro to Black Swan?’

I thought it would be good to bring artists who weren’t getting recognition at Artenbach Art Gallery to Black Swan.

Rather than trying not to lose talent to the art gallery, taking talent from the art gallery.

I realized too late that this would be a better approach.

‘It’s a good method, but…’

In the past, I wouldn’t have hesitated to poach artists from the art gallery.

After all, it wasn’t once or twice that they had snatched away talent I had my eye on, as if they knew exactly who I was interested in.

‘But these days, it feels a bit…’

Since I’m staying at the Artenbach ducal family, shouldn’t I maintain some business ethics?

But to revive Black Swan…

“Anna.”

“Yes, young lady.”

Holding the portrait carefully to my chest, I said.

“I’ll go to the office first. You go to Artenbach Art Gallery and find out how far the contract termination process with Ranson and Myrtang has progressed. Also check how many commissions are left.”

“Understood.”

Anna immediately hailed a rickshaw at the square. Left alone, I considered looking around the square a bit more, but decided to just go back since I had something in my hands.

Suddenly, I felt like someone was watching me. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but after Anna left, the gaze seemed to become more blatant.

‘…Should I take a rickshaw?’

Even though the distance from Lüb Square to the shopping district where the office was located was easily walkable, I felt uneasy.

I hailed a rickshaw at the station where dozens of hand-pulled carts were lined up.

With an unsettling feeling, I clutched the painting even closer to my chest.

[This is the timeline separator]

At that time.

Rublion, with a serious face, downed a glass of milk and then asked the lined-up maids.

“Has anyone here ever been on a date?”

Among the more than ten people, no one raised their hand. Rublion turned his attention from the maids to the knights.

“Come on, has anyone ever been on even one date?”

One of the knights cleared his throat. Startled by the sound, one of the maids jumped in surprise and stumbled.

“Oh?”

The sharp-eyed Rublion wouldn’t miss that. The child approached the stumbling maid and asked.

“Have you been on a date before?”

“Th-That… well.”

Everyone knew why the maid was reluctant to speak. Romance among maids working in the ducal household was implicitly forbidden, and relationships between servants within the family were, of course, impossible.

“I’ll keep it a secret, so just teach me how to date. Okay?”

“Young master, I will explain.”

The knight who had cleared his throat earlier spoke as if he had made up his mind. Rublion moved away from the blushing maid and approached the knight.

“Oh, finally!”

The child’s eyes sparkled brightly. The knight swallowed hard before answering.

“There are various types of dates. From innocent ones to adult ones, they are diverse.”

“Really? The Duke and the lady are adults, so teach me about the adult kind.”

The knight was slightly flustered. Then he looked at the maids.

“It’s difficult to discuss in the presence of ladies…”

“Ah?”

Rublion blinked with a look of incomprehension, then raised his hand and waved.

“Everyone except Sir Eric may return to their posts.”

As soon as the order was given, everyone disappeared in a flash. Only the stumbling maid kept looking back anxiously before finally disappearing.

“What about adult dates? How do they go?”

“First, you should meet in the afternoon. That way, the sun sets quickly.”

“I see, the sun needs to set.”

Rublion nodded. Then he took out a notepad from his pocket and started writing.

“When the sun sets, have a drink at a bar with a good atmosphere. Ah, it’s not good to eat too much.”

“Drink without getting too full… Then what?”

“When you’re slightly tipsy, take a walk in the park. It’s even better if you whisper sweet nothings while walking.”

“Whisper sweet nothings. What’s next?”

The knight hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“You say this when you feel the body has cooled down enough.”

“What do you say?”

“We’re cold, so shall we rest for a while at a love ho… Ugh.”

The knight suddenly grabbed the back of his head while speaking. Another knight in the same uniform who had hit him on the head from behind rubbed his palms together with a frown.

“How dare you say such things to the young master!”

He knelt in front of Rublion, who was staring with wide eyes in surprise, and said,

“The Duke and the young lady are not yet at the stage to enjoy adult dates. So please forget everything Sir Eric said.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and you don’t need to worry, young master. I’m sure His Grace will prepare everything well.”

“…He seemed clueless to me, the Duke.”

Rublion was genuinely worried. He had worked hard to create an opportunity for them to get closer, but it seemed like they would waste the time without any preparation.

“Trust His Grace. I’m sure he’ll be able to win the young lady’s heart.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes, young master.”

The knight smiled brightly. Rublion still fidgeted his fingers anxiously. Then he carefully tucked away the notes on adult dating methods he had diligently written.

[This is the timeline separator]

Black Swan received a commission after a long time. They needed fabric made from agave that only grows in the southern region of the Western Country.

Since Artenbach had a monopoly on trade with the Western Country within the territory, I decided to ask first if it could be imported. If the Duke said it could be imported, I planned to accept and proceed with the commission.

After finishing the temporary contract and sending off the client, Anna returned to Black Swan.

“They say the contract termination process will be completed in about a week.”

“Is that so? Then I should see Ranson once more before that.”

“Shall I set up a separate meeting date?”

“Yes, and ask if he needs anything too.”

“Alright. I’ll be back soon.”

Watching Anna leave right after coming in, I thought it would be nice if the telephone was invented soon.

After finishing my work and returning to the Duke’s residence, the first to greet me was the little one.

“Lady! Tomorrow is the date, have you prepared?”

The child was standing with his hands behind his back, twisting his upper body. I don’t understand why the kid is more excited when it’s the Duke and I who are going on the date.

‘Date preparation… I haven’t done anything in particular.’

Is it not okay to just eat casually and take a walk?

“You look like you haven’t done anything.”

Hit right on the mark, I couldn’t help but grin sheepishly.

“I thought so, so I’ve prepared a few adult dating methods.”

The little one handed me a document written in the form of a plan.