July had been handled in a way that I could look back on with pride—clean, productive, and completely wholesome.
I had taken care of all the troublesome tasks, gained recognition from important figures, and even managed to screw over one particularly unpleasant bastard...
After the performance, the crown princess had praised me during our tea gathering with the other ladies. But more than her words, what truly filled me with satisfaction was the way every lady there had nodded in agreement, their expressions saying, Of course she did!
Even now, I could still hear the applause ringing in my ears, the laughter of the ladies I had worked alongside.
Hahaha! Yes, I can do this! No matter how difficult the task, I can solve at least 50% of it—probably!
Which means... I have to open this too!
With trembling hands, I picked up the letter Tristan had sent me.
Ever since the day of the charity performance, when he had demanded I act like a friendly fiancée, he had sent me a massive bouquet—bigger than any he had received from others—and a letter.
Not just any letter, but one with actual lace decorating the envelope.
It looks like there should be a wedding invitation inside.
Of course, there wouldn’t be.
At most, it would be a request for a date. Hahaha.
A date...
I recalled his blue eyes from that night—staring at me up close. A beautiful yet terrifying moment.
And if I had to face him again in a private setting...
...I have to face him! What am I hesitating for? We’re engaged. I’ll be seeing those eyes plenty more in the future!
After an entire day of agonizing, I finally mustered the courage to tear open the envelope. A luxurious letter, embossed with delicate blue floral patterns, slid out.
To my fiancée, Doris Redfield,
It has already been two days since we closed the curtain on July together.
Has your body recovered well?
Above all, I hope that your throat—exhausted from singing practice and dietary restrictions—has been sufficiently soothed with something sweet. Now, I wish to discuss our plans for August.
Sweet things are important. I baked a pound cake. Instead of one pound each of butter, sugar, and flour, I put in one kilogram each. Should I call it a kilogram cake instead?
I kind of want to eat it again... but! I know that’s not the main point here!
The moment I saw the phrase August plans, my mind, which had been desperately trying to escape reality, snapped back into focus.
A date. It must be about a date.
This was still better than Tristan suddenly showing up at my house and dragging me out.
A couple of strolls in the park, a few performances—that should be enough.
I also promised Maria a double date... If things don’t go too badly, maybe I can steer him into doing a few more of those.
It’s not that I hate Tristan... well, okay, I kind of do. But it’s a familiar kind of annoyance! An annoyance I’ve grown used to!
Right now, though, it was more of a burden.
I should get used to group outings first. After that, we can plan something one-on-one.
As I strengthened my resolve and continued reading the letter, the next line made my jaw drop.
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Let me be direct.
I would like for you to spend your summer vacation with me.
I have no doubt that the Redfield family will choose a beautiful location for your holiday. However, my only wish is to give you the most comfortable time possible after all the effort you put in throughout July.
The only place where I’m truly comfortable is home.
Lying on the couch, reading a book until I doze off with it resting on my stomach. A plate of cookies and a cup of coffee within reach—that’s the ultimate luxury.
Wait a second. He doesn’t actually mean for the two of us to go off alone, does he?!
Luckily, the following lines managed to calm me down a bit.
If joining the royal family’s retreat on your own feels like too much pressure, or if you wish to spend time with your family, let me know. I will consider moving my vacation location closer to where the Redfields will be.
I sincerely hope that you can enjoy a summer free from the burdens of court society.
Tristan Winter Albion, with trust.
So it wasn’t an invitation for a private trip together.
My heart, which had plummeted, returned to its normal rhythm.
Of course. Even in the 21st century, people still argue over couples vacationing together before marriage. This world would be even stricter.
Sorry for doubting you, Tristan.
That didn’t mean I felt at ease, though.
Judging by the wording, this won’t just be a short trip for a few days. It’s probably going to be at least one or two weeks.
And in that time, there would definitely be opportunities to be alone together.
If we were alone...
I thought back to the bouquet that had been crushed between us that night. My mind flooded with a chaotic mix of scents—one of which must have been the woody fragrance lingering on Tristan’s clothes.
My face instantly heated up.
No, this is terrifying...!
Tristan. I don’t know what you’re plotting, but instead of slamming on the gas, please hit a few speed bumps along the way!
I pulled out two sheets of stationery.
There were two people who needed to receive a reply.
* * *
The early days of August. The summer sun shone brightly over the world. Fortunately, since this was before global warming, the heat wasn’t unbearable.
Maria beamed from under the shade of her parasol.
“The weather is beautiful today!”
Watching her, Arthur covered his face with one hand. I was absolutely certain that beneath that large palm, his mouth was stretched into an enormous grin.
Well, he was handsome.
Even if I looked at him upside-down, he was still the male lead.
“It’s been a while, Young Duke. Have you been well?” I greeted him.
“Yes. Ah, by the way, I truly enjoyed the last performance. Thank you for inviting me to another wonderful event. Thanks to you, Doris, I’ve been exposed to all sorts of new sights in the capital.”
“Scenery is always more breathtaking when shared with others. I should be the one thanking you for accepting the invitation...”
I had been about to finish my sentence, but my gratitude was abruptly cut off by Tristan’s sudden appearance.
“It’s about time we move along. We might be fine standing around in the sun, but I don’t want my delicate fiancée wilting out here.”
Arthur, thankfully, was the easygoing type—and more importantly, he was too focused on Maria to care about Tristan’s constant needling.
Since we’re already here, could you at least stop picking fights? I can’t force myself to smile, but I’d appreciate it if you could stop being so damn prickly.
Not long ago, I had responded to Tristan’s letter by vaguely saying I had to discuss the vacation with my family. Then, I proposed a double date.
Of course, I couldn’t suggest it outright—I had to add a political angle.
I wrote that this outing would demonstrate that Tristan had completely moved on from Maria, and while no one knew how the succession of the Blue Atrium would unfold, it would at least prove there would be no conflict between them.
I wasn’t sure if he had actually been convinced by my messy little argument, but Tristan had sent back a very short response: I’ll go.
And now, today, he had shown up dressed like a man walking into his own wedding.
I might not be as fashion-savvy as Natalie, but I do know one thing—there’s no hairspray in this world. Yet, somehow, despite the wind, his hair still sat perfectly in place, artfully exposing half his forehead. Which could only mean...
You spent ages in front of the mirror this morning, didn’t you?
Fascinating—ah.
Tristan’s gaze met mine for a moment. Then, with a small cough, he turned his head away.
“You know quite the charming spot, Dory. Where did you get this information?”
“Of course, from Natalie. She mentioned it as a great place for a group outing.”
In reality, I had gotten it from the Sacred Salon.
When I asked if there was a good location for a mixed-gender outing, Madame Abigail had recommended this lake park.
It had only recently opened, so there weren’t many visitors yet.
I had to buy five drinks in exchange for that bit of information... but it was worth every penny.
Maria strolled down the winding path, laughing brightly as summer flowers bloomed naturally along the edges. Beside her, the vast lake shimmered with light, a breathtaking reflection of the sun. A grand brick bridge stretched across the water like something out of a film, and on the lake itself, there were two-person rowboats available for couples to rent—a picture-perfect setting.
And, of course, that boat was the key to today’s date.
You two haven’t even held hands yet, have you? Arthur, Maria. At the very least, you’re going to hold hands before the day is over!