sᴇᴠᴇɴᴛʜ.

"Why are we only talking about me? I'm not the only guest who will attend the wedding. The Prince will also attend it." She doesn't know why she is getting shy while saying that. 

"Right. I prefer any food as long as there are wines. Cheese and wine are a perfect match." The Prince smiled before taking a sip. 

"Like you and Lady Fuyu, right? Perfect match." Gia grinned widely and the two almost choked with their wine. Reiki laughed softly at his bride's playfulness. 

"Don't tease them while drinking, Gia. Why don't you change your clothes for now? Your armor looked uncomfortable while we were having lunch. I prepared a gown for you. I hope you will like it." Reiki said in a soft voice while caressing Gia's cheek. 

The two across them stared and just watched Reiki kiss Gia's forehead. This made Fuyu's cheeks redder. She remembered the kiss that the Prince gave her last night. It was also unexpected for Gia's side since she didn't know that her groom is like this. She stood up from her seat and grabbed Fuyu's hand to accompany her inside the archduchy. 

"You were never like that to your previous lover." Sho said as he placed his empty wine glass on the table. 

"She deserves to be loved. How about you? What is your deal with Lady Fuyu?" Reiki asked. The younger one smiled and shrugged his shoulders. 

"I'm just interested in her. That's it." He answered but Reiki narrowed his eyes. With those stares he gave off earlier, it is impossible that he is only interested in her. It means more. 

"I don't believe you. Something happened already?" The older one asked and then, he gestured to the servants to leave. 

Even though they will never spill anything, they still need to be cautious especially when it is about the Prince. Sho nodded. He knows he can trust the Archduke, so why not confess? The two women finally arrived back. Reiki invited Gia for a garden stroll and Sho did the same to Fuyu. She stared at his hand when he offered it. She was hesitant but she accepted it. 

"I would like to apologize for what I have done last night, Milady. I'm sincere with my words but I can't promise you that it will not happen again." She raised a brow when she heard this. It is her first time to encounter a person who apologizes for his mistake and yet, still has plans on doing it again. 

"I would confess. I am deeply interested in you. I am asking you for a chance to pursue you." She stopped from her tracks. She doesn't know what to answer but she suddenly remembered her contract with the Viscount. 

"I would like to apologize, my Prince. I am currently seeing someone and I have my admiration towards him." She slowly let his hand go and continued on walking. 

She doesn't know how she will face the Prince after this. She quickly approached the engaged couple to bid her goodbye. She excused herself by telling them that her twin brother is waiting for her at home. Gia told her that the carriage will bring her home and she gladly accepted it. She bid her goodbye to the Prince and bowed her head. 

"Something happened again? What did you tell her?" The Archduke asked and he smiled faintly while staring at Fuyu. 

"I confessed. She rejected me. She said she is seeing someone." He mumbled and the older one sighed deeply while shaking his head. It looks like the couple cupid failed their mission today. 

"It means they are not yet in a relationship. Perhaps, I should interview Gia about this." Reiki patted his shoulder and smiled when they saw Gia coming back. 

"Sho, did you apologize to her already about the kiss last night?" Gia asked and Sho nodded. Reiki wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. 

"I will have a conversation with her soon. I can feel that she will still have a change of heart. The Viscount is always occupied with his family matters." She smiled. He doesn't know if that will work but they will not know if they will not try. 

Meanwhile, Fuyu held her hands together while looking down. She doesn't know why she is feeling sad that she rejected the Prince. Perhaps, it is because he got her first kiss? She shook her head and reminded herself that the last one will always be for her future husband. The Prince should not have that kind of effect on her. They only met twice. It is impossible to catch feelings towards a man she only met twice. 

"Fuyu, your admiration and focus should be on the Viscount only. No other men allowed. No other men allowed." She kept on mumbling those words until she finally arrived at the manor. 

She thanked the coachman the moment she got out of the carriage. Her brother is currently at the museum and accompanying the Knights of the Yoshino and Fujiwara families, so only the servants are around. She asked her personal servant to prepare a warm bath for her and she went to her room to remove her accessories. She heaved a sigh when she saw the bruises on her wrist. 

"Why are you distracting me this much?" She whispered. She stared at the mirror and mentally asked herself. 

'Do you really admire the Viscount, Fuyu?' She traced her lips with her fingertip. Indeed, her first kiss is an unexpected but memorable one.