XAVIER Sigh. Why am I even out with Lady Margaret?

I still can't believe the Marquess practically forced me to take his daughter out today. This is nothing but a political formality, one I'd rather not indulge. My thoughts drifted back to this morning, to Aveline. I miss her. If only it were her sitting across from me right now.

"Your Highness, do you think we should try this matcha cake?" Lady Margaret's voice interrupted my musings.

Matcha cake? Aveline doesn't like matcha cake, is what instinctively came to mind.

"Your Highness?" she called again, a note of impatience creeping into her tone.

"Huh?" I blinked, realizing I hadn't responded. "No, it's okay. I'm on a diet. Lady Margaret should order it if she likes."

She smiled, seemingly satisfied, and gestured to the waitress to bring her the matcha cake. I turned my gaze to the window, letting my thoughts wander again. When will I see Aveline next? She's probably off somewhere, radiant as always, surrounded by her warmth and charm.

"Your Highness," Lady Margaret spoke again, pulling my attention back. "What do you usually do in the evenings?"

"I usually practice swordsmanship, finish paperwork, and write letters," I replied, emphasizing the last part in the hopes she'd take the hint.

"Letters?" she asked, tilting her head curiously.

"Yes, I enjoy writing letters," I said simply. Not that I'd ever write to her.

Her eyes lit up. "Can you write me letters, Your Highness?"

"Depends on my mood," I answered curtly. No, I will never write to her.

Haih. I wish this farce would end already.

***

AVELINE We are finally back at the North, and it truly feels like home again. The familiar chill in the air, the vastness of the estate—it all calms me. These past few days have been so exhausting. Between the whirlwind of the capital and the unexpected encounters, I just want to take a stroll through the garden and breathe in the peace. But of course, here I am, stuck in the Duke's office, surrounded by paperwork and duties.

The Duke, looking as poised as ever, sat behind his desk and turned his attention to me. "Aveline, your debutante is in a month," he said, his voice steady as always.

I blinked, suddenly recalling the event that had slipped from my mind amid all the chaos. "Oh, yeah, I forgot about that," I said, trying to mask my surprise.

"You'll have 30 days to prepare," the Duke continued, his gaze serious. "A dance teacher will be instructed to you."

"Dancing? I'm excited! I think I'm naturally good at it," I bluffed, trying to keep my composure, though I couldn't help but feel nervous. I had no idea how to dance properly, but I figured I could learn quickly enough.

The Duke chuckled, a rare sound that softened his usual stern expression. "Starting tomorrow, you'll be a lot busier. Be prepared," he warned.

I nodded, my stomach tightening with both excitement and anxiety. A debutante... a major step forward. It was only a month away, and the thought of all the preparations made my head spin. But for now, I had to focus on the moment and take a deep breath. After all, this was my chance to truly step into my future.

***

AVELINE Why is dancing so hard?

Gosh, I never realized just how difficult it would be. The thought of having dancing class every day makes my head hurt. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to master all these steps in such a short time.

"Five, six, seven, eight... five, six, seven, eight," Madam Lia, my dance instructor, called out, her voice firm as she corrected my posture for the hundredth time. My feet seem to refuse to move in sync, and my muscles are already sore from the endless practice.

An hour later, the class finally ended. I collapsed onto the chair, my body aching, the exhaustion settling deep into my bones. I instructed Amy to prepare a hot bath for me to ease the tension. Hopefully, a soak would help me relax.

Later, as I sat down for dinner, trying to ignore the dull ache in my legs, the Duke looked up from his plate, his knife and fork in hand. He took a bite of steak before speaking casually, "Have you chosen your escort yet?"

I paused, blinking as I thought about it. "I never really thought about it yet... Maybe Father can be my escort," I said, unsure.

The Duke raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Me?" he asked, looking slightly taken aback.

"What about Xavier?" he asked, as if the answer should've been obvious.

I hesitated, a bitter lump forming in my throat. "Well, I think he's probably too busy to even attend," I replied half-heartedly, not wanting to delve into the complicated feelings I had regarding him.

The Duke's gaze softened slightly as he asked, "Did you two fight?"

I shook my head quickly, wanting to avoid the topic. "No, not at all."

It was easier to say that, even if the truth was a little more complicated.