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Hannette was so dumbfounded that she shut her mouth for a moment.

He didn’t give a definitive answer, but he was making wild guesses.

What can I do to think like that?

“No, not quite yet.”

“ah… You must have been gone before then?”

“uh… I don’t mean that… … .”

“You don’t have to be shy. I have to do it someday, and there’s nothing wrong with that, right?”

“I’m not ashamed, I really didn’t do anything.”

In the first place, he had never thought of Shion as anything more than a friend.

It was only because he tried to help me often while comforting me that his faith was born.

Of course, every time I saw Shion, my heart fluttered every once in a while, but it probably had nothing to do with it.

“You said you held hands, right? Who started first? You must be your fiancé after all, right?”

“That… It seems to be.”

Apparently, Shion had held her hand first.

It was an emergency situation, and it was also an act to take away one’s magic power.

But now that I think about it, I couldn’t understand it.

Why did he think he had magical powers?

“How did you hold your hand?”

“… Is there any way to hold hands?”

“There are things that you notice while catching them, or grab them all at once.”

“ah… … .”

In other words, it was asked whether the relationship between each other was narrowed little by little, or whether one side pushed forward quickly.

If you look at what you’ve done so far, it’s probably closer to the former, but if you look only at holding hands, wouldn’t it be the latter?

“Just what… I guess I’ll catch it.”

“But why aren’t you holding hands now?”

“… You don’t have to catch it.”

“Ah, I see. You only catch it when the two of you are together, right? You must be ashamed to show it to others.”

“Rather than being ashamed, there is no reason to do so… … .”

“It seems a bit slow, though. You said you’ve been engaged for three months, right?”

“Yes, about three months.”

“I heard that around that time, we would hug each other and kiss each other non-stop… … .”

Raina looks at Hannette full of curiosity.

Of course, it was something I had heard from social gatherings or from close aristocratic ladies, so it wasn’t credible.

However, even as questions arose, I had no choice but to dig deeper to stimulate curiosity.

“You can’t believe you heard that at a social gathering?”

“Yeah, did everyone say that?”

“You can’t believe what they say. Some of it is exaggerated, maybe it was just for fun.”

“I know too… It’s the only place you can hear it. All the engaged young ladies said the same thing.”

“… … .”

Hannette frowned for a moment and swallowed silence.

Raina had never been in a relationship or engaged, so she must have been interested in him.

In addition, I had no choice but to be naturally involved in social gatherings and access to various information.

“So what I’m saying is that you have to listen with moderation. The same goes for the rumors about me and my fiancé.”

“Yes, I will definitely do that. Oh, you don’t have to worry. I won’t say anything about Miss Harnette.”

“No, it’s not that I doubt Miss Rina… … .”

“You trusted me and told me something personal, right? I’ll make sure to keep it a secret. If you still feel uncomfortable, I can tell you my secret.”

Raina did not blindly believe rumors like before.

Hannett had already proven that he was different from the rumors, and it wasn’t that the words were out of line.

He was just trying to get something out of a social gathering about something he didn’t know or was curious about.

“There is nothing like that. I believe you will keep it a secret.”

“No. I guess I have to say it though. What secret do I have… … .”

Hannette can’t help but quietly listen to what Raina has to say.

He wasn’t the first to speak up.

It was just that Rina had misunderstood herself while asking herself a question.

‘I don’t think there are any bad intentions… How did this happen?’

* * *

Residence of the Duke of Adelaira, 3rd floor hallway.

Hannette was pacing the hallway, looking at the door from time to time.

I worked hard to make it, but when I tried to give it to you, I wondered if I was nervous.

I couldn’t give it away, so I just kept thinking about it.

‘Did you just make it? Me too… … .’

Hannette sighs as she looks down at the box in her hand.

The box was wrapped in white wrapping paper and red string.

What are they trying to give to Zion?

‘What if it doesn’t taste good? Maybe you hate sweets… … .’

Harnette bought the materials herself and made this.

He also received advice from the cooks, and sneaked into the kitchen early in the morning or at night to avoid being discovered by Shion.

It was my first time cooking, so I made a lot of mistakes, but in the end, I finally finished it after spending a lot of time.

‘I should have just stayed still.’

Today was the anniversary of Amenas, which comes only once a year.

It was a day to give a gift to a person who was dear or respected, and as a meaning of gratitude or reciprocation.

Not only the date, but also the type of gift and the gender to which it could be given were set.

Of course, since it was a custom based on an old legend, no one thought it strange.

‘If you don’t, they’ll think it’s strange… … .’

Harnette had never in her life taken a gift like this or tried to give it to anyone.

I was alone a lot, and I didn’t care because I didn’t have any connections to do this.

However, she was not alone now, and since she had even gone through an engagement ceremony, she needed to show her sincerity.

‘It’s all because of the kid. I don’t have to do this.’

Harnette inadvertently blames Shion and fiddles with the gift.

Shion always suited him, and even saved his life twice.

Compared to what Shion had given him, this kind of gift was insignificant.

‘As long as you’re young and you’re good… … .’

Hannette approaches the door with a smile on her face.

I was able to stand where I am now because Shion helped me.

Even now, I can learn magic, and I have to quit drinking and gambling.

It made him abandon his desire to run away, so in effect he completely changed his fate.

‘Yes, you have to be at your level to be worthy of marriage.’

Harnette knocked on the door and carefully opened it.

Shion had been sitting in front of the desk, and was finally getting up after closing the book.

“We both decided to rest today, right? come what… … .”

Shion looked at Hanette and naturally found what was in her hand.

It was a box covered with wrapping paper and string, presumably for a gift to someone.

He came all the way here with that gift, so he knew that someone was himself.

“Okay, take it. I’m giving it to you because it’s Amenas’ anniversary.”

Harnette hands over the gift with her head turned obliquely.

This act itself was embarrassing, so I couldn’t give it to him without looking at his face.

For some reason, it felt like heat was slowly rising from the inside of my body.

“Wow… I get all these things in my life.”

“what? Have you ever received anything like this?”

“How do I get this? Shall I ask your mother?”

“You can get it from a noble lady.”

“Some noble lady is giving me a present?”

“… … ?”

Hannette stares at Shion in doubt.

Didn’t he even have a conversation with a noble lady with a face like that?

“I have never received a present from a woman. That’s why I’m taking it for the first time now.”

“Are you excluding Mrs. Reggiard?”

“Can you get a present from your mother?”

“What were you doing before you got engaged to me?”

“Wouldn’t it be fun to live? maybe.”

Shion took the present, guessing the life of the extra.

It wasn’t described in detail in the first place, so I couldn’t figure out how Shion Regard lived.

I just heard about Zion Regard from my family and made a rough guess.

“Is there any chocolate in it?”

“What else can I give you?”

“That’s right. Because it’s the Amenas anniversary.”

About hundreds of years ago, there was a couple with the surname Amenas, who cared for each other and never wanted to be apart.

In the meantime, the war broke out and her husband was conscripted, and the wife made chocolate for him before he left.

However, the husband died during the battle and never came back, and the wife lost her life in a few days missing her husband.

After the story had been handed down for a long time, Amenas Day was created in honor of the husband’s sacrifice and the wife’s love.

“Well… You look okay?”

Shion opens the box and examines the inside carefully.

The black pieces were neatly placed.

It seemed to have been made with considerable effort, and the unique scent was coming out little by little.

“… yes?”

“Where did you go and buy it with money?”

“Hmmm… You think you bought it?”

Harnette barely holds back the twitching of her mouth as she glances at the box.

It was a chocolate that I had to get the ingredients myself, fail repeatedly, and make a mess of the kitchen.

It must have looked like a store-bought item because it took time and effort until it felt perfect.

“How does your sister make this?”

“Why do you think I can’t make it?”

“… My sister made it?”

“If in doubt, find a place that sells it yourself.”

“I’ve never seen you go to the kitchen.”

“Why are you arguing with me about something you didn’t see?”

“her… … .”

Shion tilted his head and picked up a piece of chocolate.

Harnette shows a tense yet calm look in the moment.

“Um… this is kinda… … .”

“A little?”

“Is it salty?”

“Squeeze? No way. I would have added sugar.”

Harnette was flustered and snatched the chocolate.

Then I quickly pushed it into my mouth and tried to taste it.

It had a sweet and mild taste with a subtle fragrance.

“What is this salty?”

“I was playing around for a while.”

“what?”

“The taste is good. Did you have a hard time making it?”

“you really… … .”

Shion savored the taste and picked up the new chocolate.

Hannette tried to argue right away, but quickly gave up and quietly backed away.

‘You eat well. Is it that delicious?’

Hannette is relieved inside and watches Shion eat.

He seemed quite pleased, and the chocolate was quickly disappearing.

If it wasn’t really delicious, he wouldn’t show that expression.

‘Look at me just once. You’re making people freak out.’

Harnette showed a faint smile and did not take her eyes off Shion.

Watching it still, I wondered if it would make me feel at ease.

Is it possible to eat the food I made for the first time so well?

‘Next time I get a chance… Shall I make another one?’