Mrs. Hanon went along with Clive leaving the annex palace behind. 

They walked in silence, and just as Clive reached the entrance to the main palace, he stopped and turned to look at the annex palace. 

“I have done what she asked me to do, but there is no response.”

“That kind of response is enough. Didn’t she at least say thank you?”

“She did.”

“Well then. Did you think she would jump happily?”

“Who said that?”

Clive answered as if it didn’t matter.

Eirene is a strange woman. 

He knew at least, that women liked to dress up. However, Mrs. Hanon advised him not to be careless with jewelry.

Clive ordered many dresses and accessories for Eirene, and even changed the interior design of the place where she was going to stay. He said that even if he spent a large sum of money, he would do it sincerely. 

With Mrs. Hanon’s help, Clive was looking forward to it. 

He thought she would thank him with a broad smile, but her reaction was cold.

It was better not to see her force smile which seemed reluctant at his words. 

Mrs. Hanon sighed behind Clive’s back, who was on his way to his office.

“I think you made a mistake. I think you misunderstood her taste.”

“Her taste?”

“I just listened to what Your Highness said about her, and I prepared everything according to her preferences, but when I met her, it didn’t suit her at all. Still, I’m glad I prepared a variety of dresses.”

Clive understood what Mrs. Hanon was talking about.

“I imagined a cute flower that bloomed in spring, but the girl I saw grew up with winter snow.”

Clive and Aishe did not see each other often. However, when they met, they didn’t talk much either, but her tone and way of speaking seemed as if she had grown up with a lot of love. 

Although she acted younger than her age, she was bright and cheerful. 

Perhaps, he could have conveyed this feeling to Mrs. Hanon without any doubt, so it wasn’t Mrs. Hanon’s mistake. 

If Clive had to find fault, it was because of Clive, who say nothing more about it after meeting Eirene. 

He had nothing else to say. 

Suddenly Clive smirked. 

Eirene was not happy, and it was pointless trying to figure out whose fault it was.

It was neither Mrs. Hanon’s nor Clive’s problem that she did not react as he thought she should. 

However, it was not a problem that she did not respond. 

     Why do I keep focusing on such useless things? 

“Alright.”

Clive went into his office, not wanting to think about it again.

He closed the door carefully, but a loud slamming was heard at the end.

A smile spread across the face of Mrs. Hanon, who stood in front of him looking intently at the doorknob. 

Mrs. Hanon often felt that Clive when speaking of his fiancée, was very dry.

They had known each other for some time, and Mrs. Hanon thought he was engaged out of affection. But when she heard how coldly he spoke of her, it was because of her family.

She was so surprised when Clive invited his fiancée to his palace.

And that wasn’t all. She was surprised again when he wanted his fiancée to be comfortable and content while she was here.

Finally, he said that women love jewelry, that he would give her some, and he thought she would like it.

Although it was a good response, Mrs. Hanon was also suspicious of the sudden change.

Mrs. Hanon, who had raised Clive since he was a baby, was confused.

She had been waiting for this a long time.

“Are you here to see His Highness?”

Yulik held a bunch of papers on his chest with one hand. He lowered his posture slightly and looked at Mrs. Hanon.

“I was just about to go back.”

“Anything good? You look happy.”

“Can you tell?”

Yulik nodded.

“You guessed it. I’m in a good mood.”

“Why? I’d like to know. We can be happy together.”

“I will tell you later. Just come in.”

After a few steps, Mrs. Hanon called out to Yulik.

“Yulik! Unlike me, His Highness is not feeling well. Be careful.”

Yulik tried to ask why. But he didn’t have the ability to make Clive feel better.

* * * * * * * * * *

Dinner was mainly prepared with soft foods that are easy to swallow. Especially, the dessert made Eirene’s eyes shine.

The dessert was even more delicious than when Clive visited the Phineos’ estate.

Eirene, who had not spoken much during the meal, took a bite and suddenly asked as if she was possessed.

“What is this made of? It’s so delicious.”

“Just a second.”

Clive, who did not know the ingredients for the dessert, beckoned Mrs. Hanon.

Then the chef came out and began to explain, and Eirene put her hands on her lap and didn’t take her eyes off him.

Occasionally, Eirene would respond by saying, ‘Oh, I see’ or moving her head up and down.

Clive looked at Eirene.

At least her reactions had improved.

     Damn it.

He was treated worse than the dessert.

But when he saw Eirene’s subtly attractive face, his feelings quickly vanished.

     What do I like about her anyway? She is a really difficult woman.　

* * * * * * * * * *

After dinner, Clive, who accompanied Eirene to the annex palace, dismissed all the servants.

The space left only for the two of them was filled with the scent of jasmine.

“Aren’t you wondering why I invited you?”

“I was curious, but I thought you invited me because you needed my help.”

“Not right now, but that might be true. I called you to tell you what you needed to do. I also have paperwork to fill out.”

“Your Highness. I am sorry I talked.”

Clive, who was taking out a cigar, stopped moving and focused on Eirene.

“I want you to feel comfortable talking to me. I want outsiders and my family to see that you and I are very close. When I found out you weren’t Aishe, you spoke comfortably.”

“Then I’ll do as you wish.”

Clive immediately lowered his tone.

It wasn’t a difficult request, so she had nothing to refuse.

He cut off the cigar cap and put it in his mouth. Then he pulled out a document from an envelope.

It was a pledge to keep each other’s secrets.

He did not trust Eirene completely.

Clive still had doubts, and even if what Eirene said was true, people’s minds were bound to change at any time.

He slips the papers in front of Eirene.

Clive tried to light the cigar, but he put it back in the case.

A strong smoke could not be good for a person who had been in the basement for a long time.

“What is this?”

“A pledge. Oral promises are dangerous.”

“Isn’t it more dangerous to write it on paper?”

“You choose the least risky. You are more dangerous than those papers.”

Eirene did not react much to his bold statement.

He was suspicious because he could not trust her completely.

Then she began to read the content.

The contents seemed to surprise her, such as getting information about the Phineos, but her face didn’t change.

“There are three things I want to know. How much is the Phineos’ fortune, what did they do to earn so much, and where it is used for. I want you to get me this information. Is it possible?”

     It’s easy to say, but it’s not easy.

Property information was the most important thing in any family, especially the mysterious Phineos family.

“It will take some time, but I will try.”

“Are you sure?”

“Even if I don’t want to, I have to do it.”

“You can write whatever you want in the empty space there.”

“Then I will ask for three things.”

“It’s fine. Ah, me pretending to love you is already one thing, so you just need to write two more things.”

Eirene stared at the pledge.

Then she picked up the pen.

She tried to organize her thoughts and write them down, but she put the pen down again.

The blank space has not been filled in yet.

“Can I write it later? I need to think more.”

“All right.”

“Thank you.”

After she put the papers in the envelope, there was silence.

Although it was awkward, Eirene was quite tolerant of the time spent with him.

Clive’s gaze still bothered her, but not to the point of taking her breath away.

It will be because they know each other’s identity and purpose.

She didn’t feel quite at ease and hoped he would leave soon.

Eirene had already drunk a cup of tea while eating the dessert, but it seemed that he would be there if the cup in front of her was not emptied, so she decided to drink it quickly.

Her cup was empty, but Clive didn’t seem willing to leave.

He smiled softly aside from his increasingly uncomfortable gaze.

She couldn’t help but ask him to leave.

“Your Highness.”

“I would like you to stop calling me that way.”

“If it’s not Your Highness, what should I call you?”

“My name. Isn’t that too cold between lovers?”

“Yes. I will do that Your Highness.”

“Call me by my name from this moment on.”

“Yes, Clive.”

Clive nodded with satisfaction, and then Eirene rose from her seat as well.

“You must be tired, get some rest.”

“So are you.”

Eirene, who was following him to see him off, spotted a cigar case on the table.

She quickly picked it up and handed it to him.

“This! Take it with you.”

     Oh, I forgot.

Eirene said to him carefully, holding the end of the case.

“I have a favor to ask you.”

“Say it.”

“This.”

Eirene winked at the case.

“I hate that smell.”

She was telling him not to smoke in front of her.

“Have I ever smoked in front of you?”

“No, you never have. I can smell it just when Your Highness is next to me.”

“Are you telling me not to smoke at all?”

“Oh no. How dare I ask such favor at Your Highness’ favorite food. I’m just telling you not to do it in the future. Can’t you wait until I’m gone?”

“Fine.”

Snap

Clive’s face hardened as he took the case from Eirene’s hand.

She had asked him politely, but he felt bad.

“I am sorry.”

“What.”

“For asking you not to smoke.”

“I’m not asking you to be sorry.”

Then Clive left.

The maid, who had been waiting at the door went inside.

Yulik followed Clive to the main palace.

He had not even gone a few steps when he heard the door close, and Clive turned around.

Clive remembered that he had never smoked in the presence of Eirene.

He knew that cigar smoke was very poisonous.

And asking him not to smoke in her presence was not an unreasonable request.

     What does she mean by smelling?

But the smell of burning cigars was natural for him.

He never thought the smell could be unpleasant. Most women said that they liked the smell of cigars, that they found the smell wild.

     Had not Aishe said the same thing?

“Yulik. Do I smell?”

“Smell?”

“Whether I smell bad or not. Just say it.”

“I don’t know.”

“That’s right. I don’t smell that bad.”

Clive calmed down, but then he got angry. Then he got a little excited. Then he felt embarrassed.

Yulik’s eyes darted from side to side.

He tried to figure out why Clive was asking about the smell, but nothing came to mind.

“Who said Your Highness smells bad?”

“Nobody. Who would dare?”

Clive walked faster than usual.

He returned to the main palace at lightning speed and hurriedly looked for Mrs. Hanon.

“Was Your Highness looking for me? What’s the matter?”

“Prepare a perfume for me tomorrow.”

It was a request that Mrs. Hanon had heard for the first time in her life.

“Perfume?”

“The highest quality, the best fragrance.”

“Your Majesty will use it?”

“Yes.”

Clive, who was on his way to his office, paused because something had occurred to him, then went back upstairs.

Mrs. Hanon watched him go disappeared at the end of the stairs, and then she looked at Yulik about what had happened, but he just shrugged.