“Because I couldn’t sleep due to nightmares, we often sleep together, and I can’t eat spicy food well, so I eat it instead.”

“Oh, Your Highness, you can’t eat spicy food? I actually love spicy food…”

Sophia, who was listening to their conversation, asked curiously.

“…That was when I was young.”

“You still don’t like it, Killian.”

“I don’t dislike it either.”

Killian replied bluntly, setting down his wine glass.

Sophia wondered if Killian’s pride had been hurt, so she tried to comfort him.

“It’s okay. Not everyone likes spicy food.”

At least not here.

Sophia’s words made Killian’s eyebrows slightly furrow and tilt inward.

“…I didn’t say I disliked it.”

“You said you don’t like it.”

“I don’t particularly like it either.”

As Sophia spoke, coincidentally, a servant placed a plate of chilli pickles in front of Sophia and Killian.

At the same time, the eyes of the three met.

“You don’t have to eat it.”

Sophia gently pulled the plate of chilli pickles towards herself.

“Lady, then it seems like Killian should eat more. It’s better to pretend not to know.”

Mikhail extended his hand jokingly.

There was a playful tone in his voice.

In the end, Killian picked up his fork and grabbed a piece of chilli pickle.

Without hesitation, he put the chilli piece in his mouth and confidently met the gaze of the two.

“Is it okay?”

“No, you don’t have to eat it…”

I didn’t actually tell him to eat it. Besides, how spicy can chilli pickles be…

At that sight, Mikhail burst into laughter.

“Killian, you’ve grown a lot.”

“Brother…”

“But it’s true that you’ve grown taller.”

Killian, who used to be much smaller than Mikhail, was now a few centimetres taller than him.

“And now that you’re engaged, you’ll soon be getting married.”

Mikhail turned his gaze to Sophia.

His blue eyes lingered on Sophia for quite some time.

“Nevertheless, it seems like Mother has found a really good match for you.”

Mikhail smiled mischievously as he looked at Sophia.

“I apologize for being presumptuous, but to be honest, I didn’t understand why mother arranged the engagement between Sophia and Killian at first. But now I feel like I understand the deeper meaning behind it. Isn’t that right, Killian?”

In response to Mikhail’s question, Killian remained silent and simply nodded his head.

It was a rather insincere agreement.

“But, are you two thinking of getting married soon?”

“Wait, marriage!?”

Sophia, who was picking at her salad, raised her head in surprise, creating a commotion.

Then Mikhail added, flustered in turn.

“Oh, I thought you two were living together here, so…”

Sophia knew what he was implying. He was concerned about the rumours that would circulate about unmarried men and women living together.

Living together as an unmarried couple was not easily accepted in this conservative society.

Sophia was grateful for his concern, but she hadn’t discussed such matters yet.

However…

“Maybe we should consider it.”

“Yes…?”

What’s with the sudden remark? He didn’t say a word about it before!

“It might not be a bad idea to get married early, considering that we are already engaged.”

He casually sliced his steak as he spoke.

“I haven’t even thought about that…!”

As soon as Sophia drew a sharp line, silence fell in the restaurant.

But Sophia actively tried to explain herself.

“I have some personal circumstances, so I’m just staying here temporarily.”

If I stay quiet here, I’ll end up getting married just like that!

At that moment, Killian looked at her.

“There’s no need to prolong the engagement, is there? Unless you’re considering ‘breaking it off’.”

His gaze was meaningful.

Bringing up the word “breaking it off” in the study earlier was indeed a landmine.

As expected, I should have believed in clichés and not even mentioned them!

“Of course, I have no intention of breaking it off. It’s just that I’m not mentally prepared to become a married woman yet. Should I say it’s too sudden…?”

His red eyes stared at her intensely, as if shooting lasers.

Sophia laughed and tried to lighten the mood by taking a sip of wine.

Thirsty, so thirsty.

“I don’t know what the circumstances are, but once people find out, they will have something to say.”

Mikhail sincerely expressed his concern for the two of them.

It was a very valid point!

Living together with Killian is the problem.

Staying here for too long will only progress the romance controlled by invisible clichés.

To avoid any unconvincing kisses or strange romantic currents, she needs to keep her distance from Killian!

“I know. I don’t plan on staying here for long either.”

Sophia replied nonchalantly.

At that moment, Killian’s knife, which was cutting a piece of cheese, stopped.

Sophia pretended not to notice Killian’s reaction and took another sip of wine, avoiding his gaze.

“Well then, that’s a relief. Oh, by the way, since the incident at the palace when you fell into the pond, is your body okay now?”

Fortunately, Mikhail changed the subject, acting as the saviour.

“Of course. It was just wet clothes, nothing serious,” Sophia laughed.

“After that day, Her Majesty the Empress often mentioned Lady Sophia,” he continued.

“She liked Lady a lot. She even said that Elizabeth had climbed onto Lady’s lap…”

Sophia nodded proudly in response to Mikhail’s words.

“Elizabeth has never climbed onto my lap… I feel a bit disappointed.”

“Next time, I’m not sure if he will treat me that well. That day was a bit special, after all.” (T/L: The cat is referred to as ‘he’ since it is a male.)

“Then let’s go see Elizabeth together next time. I’m sure Her Majesty the Empress will welcome you as well.”

“That would be an honour for me!”

Killian watched Sofia making plans with Mikhail and took a sip of wine.

“Going to the palace together again?”

His expression turned somewhat cold, catching Mikhail’s attention.

“Of course, Killian will come too.”

“Ah, yes!”

Sofia realised it belatedly and glanced at Killian.

She remembered that he disliked her going to the palace before.

Fortunately, Killian didn’t make any sarcastic remarks this time.

From then on, Sophia and Mikhail continued their lively conversation.

Killian quietly drank his wine, observing the two of them.

Their conversation seemed to flow smoothly.

They discussed everything from music preferences to favourite flowers and the daily life of the cat, Elizabeth.

During their conversation, some stories about Sophia came up that Killian hadn’t known before.

Come to think of it, they had never had such casual conversations before.

Unlike Killian, Mikhail skilfully led the conversation forward.

‘Did I make a mistake by bringing Sophia here…’ Kilian began to feel a slight sense of frustration.

He picked up his wine glass with a sense of uneasiness.

As he gradually sipped the alcohol, he realized that his glass was empty.

A servant behind him approached and refilled the glass with red wine.

At that moment, his fiancée, with whom Mikhail had been having a good time, noticed him.

Her eyes widened.

“How many glasses is that now?”

“About three.”

Since he didn’t drink while counting the number of glasses, Killian looked at the attendant as if being confirmed by the him. The attendant nodded.

“Oh! Can you drink that much?”

“…Is three glasses a lot?”

“Well, not really, but it seems like a lot for the Grand Duke…”

Sophia looked at him with a strangely puzzled expression.

“You’re saying three glasses of wine are a lot for Kilian?”

At that, Mikhail shook his head in disbelief.

Killian was known to be quite skilled at drinking alcohol. Among the nobles, he was considered one of the heavy drinkers.

If it were Killian, he would need to drink not three glasses but three bottles to feel a little intoxicated.

“No, that’s not the problem…”

Sophia murmured, tilting her head and gesturing subtly towards Killian’s waist.

‘It’s not all healed yet!

Although it had been a few days, the wound on his waist was far from fully healed.

Isn’t it common knowledge to avoid alcohol when you’re recovering from an injury?

However, Mikhail, unaware of this fact, innocently asked, “Sophia, don’t you like people who drink a lot?”

“Yes?”

“Because Killian doesn’t seem to like drinking wine.”

“Oh, yes. I guess I don’t like a husband who comes in reeking of alcohol.”

It wasn’t a lie.

Due to her father, who would become violent when he drank, Sophia didn’t have positive feelings towards alcohol.

She didn’t meddle with people who couldn’t control themselves, but…

In response, Killian quietly pushed his wine glass far away. Further than a jar of chilli pickles.

* * *

Translator: HaileyFranchette. Read on moonlight novels only

The evening meal continued for over three hours.

Michael and Killian engaged in discussions about palace affairs and their duties. They also mentioned the recent incidents of noble deaths.

In the midst of it all, Sophia pretended not to know anything and focused diligently on her meal.

Especially when the topic of the culprit, known as the ‘Black Moon,’ injuring his waist and fleeing came up, she acted as if she knew nothing, skilfully cutting her lettuce into small pieces and nervously sipping her wine.

Fortunately, Killian noticed her discomfort and quickly changed the subject.

After that, only light and enjoyable stories that Sophia didn’t need to pay much attention to were exchanged at the table.

And during the time when Killian and Michael were deeply engrossed in their conversation…

“Sophia.”

Killian called Sophia, who was resting her chin on her hand.