More Frequently

Two weeks had passed quickly, and their promised meeting time had arrived. As usual, Owen arrived at the Edelte Manor right on time.

"You didn't have to wait outside."

Lucia was waiting in front of the manor even before Owen's arrival. Seeing her, Owen mumbled a brief greeting, which made Lucia burst into a smile.

"You also came out to greet me last time."

"...I did."

Owen slowly gave an affirmative response. Then, he extended his hand.

It was a gesture of escort.

Lucia, who was surprised the last time, now smiling and reaching out her hand, having become more accustomed in just a few encounters.

Owen clasped her hand that rested on his.

"You're not wearing gloves today."

Lucia smiled lightly at the passing remark.

"I didn't feel like wearing them."

Her choice not to wear gloves brought them closer in warmth. Lucia thought it would be nice if Owen also didn't wear gloves, but she didn't bring it up.

"I see. Your outfit today suits you well, as always."

Owen spoke warmly towards Lucia.

Facing Owen's affectionate words, Lucia smiled brightly.

"So you do, Your Grace."

"I don't think so? It's a similar style to the last time."

"The arrangement of jewels at the end is different."

"It's amazing that you notice that."

Owen muttered as if impressed. He thought he should also observe Lucia's details more closely in his mind.

"Get on the carriage. I've reserved a place for us today."

As they continued their conversation, some time had passed. Owen checked his wristwatch and then assisted Lucia in boarding the carriage.

"A reservation?"

Lucia asked as she climbed onto the carriage in response to Owen's words.

"It's difficult to visit without reservation."

"Okay.."

Lucia was puzzled by his answer. It was not easy for her to come up with a quick response. As soon as the two got on the carriage, it started moving.

***

"This place..."

Lucia, who got off the carriage at the designated spot, widened her eyes in surprise. The shop in front of her was of a completely an unexpected one.

An auction house.

And it was none other than 'Rodel Auction House,' which Lucia frequented the most.

"Do you also come here often, Your Grace?"

Seeing Lucia's curious eyes, Owen avoided her gaze. Rodel Auction House was a place featured in <Flower of the Empire>, along with the explanation that it was Lucia's favorite auction house.

"...No. I just happened to find out about it. You said you love beautiful things and I heard many beautiful items were auctioned up here."

Lucia easily agreed with Owen's excuse-like words. It was because she had acquired many things from this auction house, just like Owen said.

To her, Rodel Auction House was a place with many beautiful and desirable items.

"That's right. But, unless you're a VIP here, it's difficult to make a reservation..."

As the villainess from the original work, Lucia frequented Rodel Auction House, which was quite popular. Moreover, it was known for being selective with its guests. Hence, unless one was a VIP, reservations were simply not accepted. Apart from the reserved seats, there were hardly any empty places left.

"Sometimes, exceptions exist."

No one in this world would dare not to treat the person becoming the Duke of Verdin as a VIP, even if it was their first visit. The fact that he had amassed a tremendous wealth was known to everyone, even the children on the streets.

"Ah..."

Lucia quickly understood Owen's words. She soon nodded her head and stepped into the auction house with Owen.

"Welcome."

As soon as they entered the auction house, an attendant greeted them.

"I will guide you to your reserved room."

Politely, he led the two to the VIP room. Once they were seated, the attendant briefly explained the auction process to them.

"Pressing the button here indicates your intention to purchase the item."

The auction process was simple. When the auctioneer called out the price, the participants in the auction would press the button made of magic stone. The bidding would continue until no one pressed the button anymore, and the final bidder would win the item. It was a rather sophisticated process.

"Well then, enjoy your time."

After the brief explanation, the attendant left the room.

As the attendant left, Lucia opened her mouth to ask a question.

"Is there something you wish to buy here, Your Grace?"

Her question was filled with curiosity and intrigue. Perhaps she was curious about Owen's reason for coming here.

"Well..."

Thinking that he had made the reservation without any particular reason, Owen could only give a vague answer.

At his ambiguous response, Lucia tilted her head slightly.

"Did you just want to come and see the auction house?"

Whether she was trying to figure out Owen's interest or not, Lucia wore a rather serious expression. She seemed to have learned something new about him.

"...I suppose so."

"I see. May I offer you a gift then?"

Lucia brightly smiled at Owen's response.

Taking in her beautifully curved smile, Owen nodded slightly.

Seeing Lucia's joyful smile, Owen gazed at her for a while before slowly speaking.

"There is something I'd like to ask you."

"Feel free to ask me anything."

It was rare for Owen to show curiosity and ask questions to Lucia. So, feeling pleased that he wanted to ask her something, Lucia responded.

"I heard a rumor that you've started learning horseback riding."

But as soon as Owen continued, she stiffened.

"If it's not too intrusive, may I ask why?"

"Why, well..."

Lucia struggled to organize her thoughts as she spoke. She had no idea her absence from society for a few days would lead to such rumors spreading, let alone reaching Owen.

"I thought I might ride in the hunting competition."

With no other choice, Lucia came up with a suitable excuse.

It wasn't a lie.

She did plan to ride in the hunting competition.

It was meant to be a secret practice to show a plausible appearance while talking with Owen. But all her plans had gone down the drain.

"At the hunting competition?"

Owen asked in a puzzled tone in response to Lucia's answer.

His reaction was understandable enough. The fact that Lucia had no interest in horseback riding was a well-known story. Even if it wasn't well-known, Owen, having read the original, was familiar with the story.

"Yes. I got a bit tired of just attending tea parties all week."

That's why Lucia knew Owen's bewilderment was justified. Someone who had never shown interest in horseback riding suddenly taking up riding.

It was indeed puzzling. But she had no choice but to go along with it shamelessly. There were no other excuses.

Lucia casually replied with her usual dazzling smile. Her easily bored attitude and beautiful expression completed her usual appearance.

"Hmm, I see."

Instead of questioning further in his usual manner, Owen simply nodded his head. Yet, he couldn't shake off his bewilderment. It was strange that something out of the ordinary was happening all of a sudden.

"Is it because of me?"

That suspicion crossed his mind for a moment. But without much time to dwell on it, the auction was about to begin, so he pushed aside his doubts.

***

"To all of you visiting Rodel Auction House, welcome sincerely! Let's start the auction now."

The auctioneer's voice spread through the auction room. Both of their gazes immediately fell on the stage.

"The first item is..."

As items were presented one by one, the auction proceeded.

Lucia quickly began to focus on the auction.

It had been mentioned a few times in the original work that she enjoyed auctions. She seemed to genuinely enjoy the auction, judging by how she couldn't take her eyes off the items on the stand and the auctioneer's voice.

While Lucia was engrossed in the auction, Owen observed her with fascination.

Her delicately cascading red hair, sharp yet striking features captivated his gaze. But what truly captivated him was her presence.

Lucia's vibrant emerald eyes immersed in the auction.

Her actions were already quite captivating, but this was unparalleled. The scenery of the auction house, her attire, and even her external appearance couldn't be ignored, but her aura and demeanor held immense influence.

It felt like a thrilling sensation of obtaining something previously out of reach. Every time he witnessed scenes described in the novel with his own eyes, his heart raced. Even though the scenes described in the novel were brief and fleeting.

Just the fact of seeing her in person and realizing that she existed where he lived filled him with excitement.

As a result, he started to feel greedy.

The desire to linger by her side and watch over her, such a desire.

Ping-.

While Owen was lost in thought, Lucia pressed the auction button firmly. Only then did Owen shift his gaze towards the stage where the auction was taking place.

On the stage lay a pair of cufflinks made of red jewels.

"40 gold. It's been bid up to 40 gold."

One gold was roughly around hundred silvers, and one silver amounted to one thousands copper coins. So 40 gold amounted to 40 billion copper coins. That was the amount of money that could provide a commoner throughout his life. At such an astonishing price, Owen's lips parted in surprise.

The auctioneer spoke again.

"The ruby cufflinks have been sold to guest number 35 for 40 gold."

At the news of the successful bid, Lucia smiled widely. She turned her head to look at Owen and said, "It's a gift for you."

"...For me?"

Taken aback by Lucia's unexpected words, Owen slowly repeated.

In response, Lucia nodded brightly.

"Yes. A red rose, you said you liked it, didn't you?"

"I did."

"The cuffliinks had a ruby embedded in it, shaped like a red rose. I thought it would be a nice gift for you."

With a closer look, it seemed that a rose pattern was indeed intricately engraved inside the red ruby.

Owen realized once again that she remembered even the smallest details about him.

"So, you remembered what I said last time."

"Yes. Since it's better when the recipient likes the gift."

Owen nodded, trying to suppress the swirling emotions. And as Lucia and Owen exchanged a few words, an auction house staff member approached with a product in hand.

"Excuse me, this is the item you won."

With a polite tone, the staff member handed the box containing the product to Lucia. The box was wrapped in blue velvet, looking luxurious.

Upon receiving the item from the staff member, Lucia immediately opened the box. Inside the elegantly packaged box lay the cufflinks she had seen before.

"Alright, you may leave now."

After Lucia's response, the staff member bowed politely and left the room.

As soon as he left, Lucia turned to Owen and said, "Please accept it."

Externally, her actions seemed confident and straightforward. However, Lucia's actual feelings were closer to anxiety. Owen had a history of refusing and discarding her gifts countless times before. So, even though she had asked if she could give him a gift, and he had agreed, she couldn't help but feel somewhat uneasy.

At that moment, when she was worried whether he would accept or reject the gift this time, Owen took off his coat, skillfully unbuttoned the cufflinks on his shirt's sleeves, and replaced it with the new cufflinks gifted by Lucia.

Lucia silently looked at the cufflinks attached to Owen's shirt sleeves.

A rose enclosed in a red ruby.

Was it because he accepted the gift for the first time, or was it because that cufflinks resembled her.

Her chest tightened.

"It suits you well."

In response to Lucia's slow praise, Owen put his jacket back on and replied.

"I'm glad to hear that. Also, I like it too."

He even flashed a faint smile.

Facing his smile, Lucia momentarily held her breath. Her racing heart seemed to struggle against the tightening in her chest.

'How can someone be this perfect.'

It was unfair for someone to be so flawless, even with an expressionless and indifferent face.

As he smiled, a deeper desire surged within her.

'I want him.'

Whether it was real or just her strong liking.

When someone she deemed as perfect turns out to be even better than what she imagined, she wanted him more.

He was the empire's top noble, a skilled businessman, and an exceptional knight. He even said he understood my desire to have beautiful things.

How could I not want someone like him?

A deep greed shone in Lucia's red eyes.

'...No.'

But revealing this greedy desire to Owen directly would be dangerous. She had put in so much effort until now to get closer to him, step by step. She couldn't risk losing this chance by acting recklessly.

Lucia made an effort to calm her heart and slowly opened her mouth, "...Your Grace."

At her call, Owen's jet-black eyes were solely focused on Lucia.

Feeling pleased, Lucia tugged at the corners of her mouth and smiled enchantedly.

"Could we meet again before the hunting competition?"

She had to delve deeper when an opportunity presented itself. So that she would become a natural presence to him. And once she became natural to him, he wouldn't push her away even if she lingered around. To achieve that, she needed to meet him frequently.

"Let's do that."

Owen readily agreed to Lucia's suggestion.

"Then, will you go out with me next week?"

Lucia smiled. To her, Owen had been someone she found challenging to even strike up a conversation. But now, he listened to Lucia's suggestions quite easily. It was a remarkable change, but a good sign.

"Next week."

"...Are you very busy?"

Once again, Lucia observed Owen's reaction.

Owen raised his head and met Lucia's gaze directly.

"I'm not."

He said, looking straight at Lucia.

"I just wish to see Lucia a bit more often."

"..."

Her heart was pounding loudly, taken aback by words she hadn't anticipated. Her head was starting to spin now. Struggling to think amid the whirlwind in her mind, Lucia carefully chose her words.

"...I'd like that too."

As she uttered a positive response, Owen's lips curved slightly.

Lucia was accustomed to flirting with Owen, but she had no immunity when he did the same to her. It was only natural since Owen had never behaved that way towards her. So, whenever he did something even remotely flirtatious, she would stiffen up immediately.

Of course, he probably didn't intend it that way. But today, perhaps due to the extreme nature of his actions, she couldn't even think straight. Her heart was racing madly and her mind was in turmoil. Maybe, pretending to be unaffected was the best she could do in this situation.

"Shall we get on the carriage now? I've reserved a restaurant for dinner."

Not noticing her state, Owen stood up and offered his hand gracefully. Lucia absentmindedly shifted her gaze to Owen's hand and hesitantly raised hers. As Owen held her hand, Lucia took a deep breath and stood up.

At that moment, her body trembled. As she struggled to regain her composure, Owen pulled her into his arms.

"Are you okay?"

"...Yes."

Though she didn't fall thanks to him, she found herself almost leaning into Owen's hug. Perhaps that was why her heart, which had been pounding roughly since earlier, was now beating so fast that it felt deafening.

Feeling like even her breathing was becoming unstable, Lucia forced her lips apart and spoke, "...You can let go now."

At her words, Owen gently released her from his embrace.

Lucia, now separated from him, tried to steady her breathing as she moved away.

But.

Even as she walked, her heart continued to race unsteadily.

***

After finishing dinner at the restaurant and returning to the mansion, Lucia changed into her indoor clothes and collapsed onto the bed as if she had no strength left.

'First time dining with Owen...'

Struggling to show no signs of agitation, she had no capacity to focus on anything other than eating. Adhering strictly to etiquette, the best she could do was to dine gracefully.

She should have captured how Owen ate with her own eyes. But she was too distracted to do so. She had no room to observe how Owen looked at her, what menu he chose and ordered, or how he dined. There was no time to observe such details.

Lucia let out a regretful sigh and buried her face in the pillow. But as she recalls the events of the day with her face in the pillow, her ears turned slightly red.

"He...accepted my gift."

Although she had sent gifts and letters repeatedly, the responses always indicated that he had discarded them.

Therefore, she never really had high hopes.

But today.

He did not discard it.

Instead, he used the gift right in front of her.

Her momentarily calmed heart rate began to quicken again.

'Would he accept another gift if I gave one?'

A small hope blossomed in her heart.

Since he accepted today, maybe he would accept a gift sent to the mansion this time, she thought.

'...When did I start worrying about these things.'

Lucia, who had been pondering for a moment, furrowed her brows slightly and rose from her seat. Whether Owen accepted her gifts or not, she had persistently continued her gift offensive without giving up.

She was never one to consider the other person's feelings, but now she was thinking so foolishly. Thinking that pondering was truly a useless thing, Lucia immediately pulled the bell cord and called for the maid.

Before long, her personal maid, Marie, entered the bedroom. Marie entered with a respectful attitude and politely addressed Lucia.

Upon this, Lucia nodded and spoke, "Don't we still have the tie that I bought last time."

The tie...

Marie seemed puzzled at the mention of it. Since the items Lucia had bought and collected as a gift to Owen were not just one. She had gathered the items she wanted to gift, storing them separately to give them individually at the right time.

So, the tie was no different.

The ties Lucia had bought and collected filled one wardrobe tightly. Among them, it was somewhat challenging to point out a tie with the word 'last time'.

"The most recent one. The wine-colored tie."

"Ah, the limited edition...."

After Lucia added an explanation, Marie nodded in recognition. If it was the most recent wine-colored tie she bought, she remembered.

It was a tie that had been released as a limited edition in the best clothing store in the Empire, boasting a staggering price. Although it couldn't cover the cost of a whole house, it could probably cover half the price of a commoner's house.

"Yes, that one. Pack that tie nicely and send it as a gift to Duke Verdin."

Upon Marie's response, Lucia nodded slightly and then gave her instructions. Marie, as usual, posed the usual question.

"Shall I send flowers along as usual?"

Instead of nodding in response to Marie's question, Lucia fell silent.

Flowers.

It was a habit of Lucia to include flowers when sending gifts. That's why there was nothing strange about Marie asking this question. Although she always sent flowers along with gifts, the choice of flowers was always left to the gardener.

It was inevitable.

No matter how much investigation she tried to conduct, she couldn't figure out Owen's taste. He left no trace of himself, as if he had no interest in anything.

Therefore, she couldn't know.

What his favorite color was, what scent he liked, and what flowers he preferred.

In the end, Lucia's choice was to instruct the gardener to select the most suitable flower.

She tilted her head and said, "Please use roses."

The situation was different now.

Because now she knew what flowers he liked.

"...Rose?"

Facing Lucia's inscrutable mind, Mari could only respond with confusion.

"Red roses. His Grace mentioned that he likes them."

"Yes, I understand."

After Mari left, Lucia lay back on the bed and thinking.

'Hm. Tomorrow, wilI he wear the tie I gave?'

As she tentatively raised her hopes, she soon shook her head.

So what if he refused.

It didn't matter.

Even if he refused, Lucia had no intention of giving up on Owen.

Moreover, didn't he indirectly suggest to meet him tomorrow?

'Ah...I already miss him.'

While thinking about her meeting with Owen today, Lucia closed her eyes tightly, drifting off to sleep.