This can't be the end of course. The Countess and Lian remained silent throughout the carriage. When Lian tried to add a few words, he became conscious of the count's wife's silence and shut up. It was fortunate that he didn't tell me to sleep at least.

"How was it?"

"Sigh."

It was dirty. Karen sighed when she finally got to sigh. Donna helped Karen take off her clothes. Women with corsets can't eat much. Especially in social gatherings. A meal at a meeting is just a tool to feel a little mouthful of pleasure and praise the organizer. But Karen ate too much today. It is because of Prince Gwiz. How can you force someone to eat and enjoy watching it? It was a nasty taste Karen couldn't understand.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…"

When I untied the corset from the back, my stiff body gradually loosened. But it wasn't comfortable inside. My back and stomach hurt as if my muscles were pressed down.

"I think I have an upset stomach. I feel bloated."

"Can I get you a digestive medicine?"

Donna asked anxiously.

"Yes, please."

Karen's answer sent Donna out. Karen flopped down on the sofa, pointing her forehead. I took off my shoes and threw them away. While lying down, countless portraits of women on the wall look at Karen. Of course this is her own illusion. Portraits are just portraits.

Karen lay down and turned to her seniors. They all looked down at Karen as well. I wonder if you've all met someone, loved them, and ended them. And at the end was her mother, Catherine.

"…you managed to get along with a guy like that. I don't know if you've been doing really well, but anyway. Let's take care of it. What are you doing?.”

Karen saw the face of her mother Catherine among the women. her senior member one's own mother Perhaps Karen's mother. (Still, Karen dreams of being out of the book.)

"Why did you go like that?"

Karen found it difficult for Catherine to leave no record. Why didn't you leave a clearer and more detailed record? It's just an abstract saying to love, and even that erased the memory. No, it's not. Maybe I didn't erase my memory. Maybe… No, no. Karen rubbed around her eyes. I am so tired that I sink in thought sinks. This is no use. There are many other problems to delve into yourself.

"I love you."

"To the extent that I admit it."

Karen picked Raymond, of course. This is because there has been no man who has been hanging out with Karen so far. He had a good face, and he didn't have any money, he didn't gamble, he didn't have any other women. Although he was impertinent in this life, it was natural for him to suspect, considering did.

"It keeps going on and on and on...That's good. That's good. It's okay to live a variety of lives, and it's fun to find true love."

“…….”

Portraits only keep silent.

"But I didn't think about her ex-boyfriend.”

Karen was a little bit tempted to cry. No, I don't think so. Isn't he older than his father? There's even a kid. That's not true love. There's a law of romance novels.

“…….”

Karen recalled romance novels that made up one of her books. Among the main characters in the novel, there were many older men and many with children. The men who were hurt by the ex-woman were kicked and left.

"I don't think so…."

However, there was no novel that aimed at both mother and daughter at the same time. Karen put her hands together. Count him out, please. On the other hand, Cliché came to mind, "If you're curious about the male protagonist, find the biggest power," but Karen ignored it desperately. Let's ignore cliche like that. It was a more instinctive rejection, not reason.

"…do I think men are faces, too? But when I saw the portraits, I thought Prince Gwizu was better than his father...No, it's not. No way. You didn't even do it."

Karen was troubled as she looked at Catherine's portrait. Why is he so uncomfortable with Crown Prince Gwiz?

"Which part of Lord Raymond are you in love with?”

Prince Louis asks. Did you fall in love with Raymond? Even now? I don't know. However, it was true that Prince Gwiz felt uncomfortable. But why? Why do I feel frustrated? Just as murder is nothing, just as sex is no longer meaningful, so is love, but why are you confused? Prince Gwiz wants to be himself. I am sure about it. But I didn't even want to imagine saying I love him in front of Duran. Why the hell?

"I have a headache…."

Karen took the medicine Donna brought and closed her eyes. I didn't want to think about anything. I just wanted to beg for love when Raymond came back. Then he'll stare dumbly at me and tell me to stop reading and go out and work out. But he needed a slightly more distant contact. The dry snow was needed. We'll discuss it when Raymond comes back. About Prince Gwiz's attitude toward her.

***

"It's from the royal family."

But reality doesn't work out the way it wants. as most things do

The next morning, Karen received a letter with a royal seal. There was no contact from Raymond.

The content of the invitation was simple. Place, arrival time, and wear what you sent. However, the meaning could not be simple just because the content was simple. Prince Gwiz sent a pink dress and necklace. That was the first thing that offended me.

"It's clothes."

It's finished. This is against etiquette. Considerate wives don't give clothes as gifts. It's hard to guess the shape that suits the person best, and there's no gift more embarrassing than the clothes that don't fit. It is right to send cloth, and if you pay more attention, send a talented tailor with you. But Prince Gwiz sent the finished clothes. As if you need to fit your clothes.

"It's all silk...It's going to be quite expensive."

"It's expensive."

And it's out of fashion. I can't believe you gave a light pink dress to your red hair. A middle-aged man's eye for clothes is terrible. It was a design that would have been popular 20 years ago. I can't believe you're wearing this. It was obvious that it would be a mockery. Karen took a deep breath. What would Isela have done? 'I'd rather die than wear that!' Her voice sounded ringing in her ears.

"It's all right... Yeah... Not enough to die....”

"But yes… I think it's pretty?"

Donna's voice was no comfort in giving a compliment without confidence. Donna was used to Karen's luxurious clothes, and her eyes were high even if she wasn't wearing them. Her eyes were also saying, 'The dress looks like a real grandmother.' But Donna quickly turned to something else when she saw Karen's grim look.

"But how about this necklace?"

Karen lifted the necklace the prince sent with the invitation. The fabric of the dress was definitely luxurious, but the brightness of the dress was nothing compared to the necklace. The dress was just a minor prop. The real one was that necklace. This is what the prince decided to send.

"How is it?"

"…it looks very expensive.”

"Right? It's going to be very expensive.

The design was fine. Jewelry jewelry is less fashionable than clothes. And this necklace was not the fashionable design. It's only possible if other people easily get hold of it to tell the trend. This necklace was not as disintegrating as other ornaments over the years.

"If my mother had received this, I wouldn't have owed Mr. Berdick."

"Is it that bad?"

"Yes."

The necklace had twelve rubies and dozens of diamonds. Twelve rubies were wrapped in small diamonds, and the rubies and diamonds stretched out in flower-like patterns to create a harmonious beauty.

Ruby's purity is also the best. It was a high-priced item that could be difficult to measure the price. Even Berdick's daughter Isela would not have had such a thing. This is something only royalty can give. And it was never meant to be just a tribute to the memory. It would have been bestowed upon the queen and her concubine. Karen clasped her head. When did Prince Gwiz start to look at him?

"That's so blatant."

Karen sighed and put the necklace down again. I can't believe you're showing your desire so quickly. Isn't it like a petty thief trying to steal quickly when the owner is not around? Too fast, too blatant. It's too blatant.

"Wow…."

Donna opened her mouth and slowly withdrew, wrapping the necklace she had been carefully touching with her fingertips with a cloth. He seemed afraid to even touch it for nothing.

"You'll be all right."

“…….”

Karen chewed her lips well. I'm so lazy. This time, Karen could not afford to pay attention to Prince Gwiz. I have a lot of things to worry about right now. Karen felt like a distant dream to spend a year committing murder in peacefully.

"Maybe you just felt Miss Karen like a daughter, or you were purely moved thinking of Mrs. Catherine… Crazy…."

Donna, trying to interpret it in a good way, looked at Karen's firm face and closed her mouth. Donna can say such a dream because she didn't see Prince Gwiz in person. Karen recalled Prince Gwiz. I recalled his eyes.

"Wear it tomorrow. We'll find out when we get there."

You don't even give me time to think.

Prince Gwiz was not an important figure for Karen. Catherine was not the one to choose from. Whatever power he had in the world or what he looked like, it had no value to Karen. He was a man who would not give an answer and only a supporting actor.

"There are too many characters.”

"What?"

"Leave me, please."

"What?"

She waved her hand to Donna, who was puzzled.

"I'm kidding. It's too complicated to get involved with a big man. More than that…."

"Yes, yes?"

"Any telegram from Lord Raymond?”

"You left yesterday...There wasn't."

Donna said, looking at her face. But originally, he should have sent a telegram today. It was one of those things that didn't change at all. But I haven't heard from him yet. And tomorrow, the third day he has to return, is the day Prince Gwiz wants to see Karen.

Just tomorrow. Karen looked down at the invitation with a disturbed mind. But what's the difference she's worried about?

"You don't have to worry about it. I told them exactly what to wear, what to wear and what to wear and when to come."

"Yes…."

Karen rubbed her forehead with her hands as she looked down at the dress and jewelry sent by the prince. It was hard to hide the constant displeasure. Karen became anxious because she could not figure out the cause of her discomfort.

Why is it so unpleasant for him to come at Prince Gwiz? As if it's a misfortune that I've never experienced before.