“You’ve managed it so well for what it is. It must be a precious place to His Highness.”
“Well, yes. ……My mother cherished this place when she was alive.”
That’s why it was also a place he wanted to show her.
Ashid suppressed that thought and gestured to her with his eyes.
“Let’s go up. I’ve instructed them to prepare dinner on the terrace.”
“Alright.”
At his suggestion, Daniella nodded. The two walked up the stairs leading to the entrance, keeping a close distance, almost shoulder to shoulder. The mansion’s butler, who was standing at the entrance, greeted them. He bowed respectfully, then led them to the terrace.
As seen from the garden, the terrace, with its roof covered in white silk cloth, had a large, round table and two cushioned dining chairs. The area was beautifully decorated with flowers in full bloom.
Ashid stopped the butler as he approached Daniella and pulled out her chair for her himself. Then, he went to his own seat across from her and commanded the butler.
“No one is to come near here except for those serving the meal. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The butler replied respectfully and retreated. It was to bring the two people’s meal and the ‘something’ Ashid had prepared in advance.
A moment later, the butler and two of the maids approached the terrace, pushing a tray with plates covered by round lids.
Starting with a refreshing, low-alcohol aperitif with a slice of lemon, a variety of luxurious and delicious foods were served one after another. From crispy crouton-topped corn soup to a salad with grilled asparagus and cherry tomatoes, cod with a zesty lemon sauce, and a steak with blackberry sauce.
Every dish was something Daniella liked and often enjoyed.
Daniella happily focused on her meal, while Ashid barely ate, instead gazing at her happy face whenever he had a chance.
He enjoyed looking at her face, and he was also preoccupied with thinking about how to present the ‘something’ he had prepared after dinner.
Soon after, the maid prepared fragrant black tea and a chocolate cake for dessert. Daniella took a small bite of the cake with her fork and let out a short sigh of delight. The cake, with its sweet, simmered cherries layered between rich chocolate sheets, was absolutely delicious.
Ashid smiled briefly at the sight of Daniella savoring the cake, even closing her eyes, and asked,
“Is it good?”
“Yes! ……Ah, are you going to say something mean again like last time? Like, ‘Anyone would think I starve you’?”
“No, of course not.”
At that time, he hadn’t realized the true nature of his feelings for her.
‘Even back then, I thought her eating so well was quite cute.’
Thinking that, Ashid pushed his untouched portion of the cake toward her. Daniella shook her head, declining.
“No, thank you! You should eat it, Your Highness.”
“I’m fine. I hate sweets anyway.”
It was a lie. He didn’t dislike them that much.
But since she liked it, he was willing to give it up.
Daniella repeatedly refused but eventually accepted it. She took a small bite and then put down her fork. Ashid frowned slightly and asked,
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Daniella glanced at Ashid and shook her head. As she had noticed earlier, unlike her, who had cleaned her plate, Ashid had barely touched most of his food. This had been bothering her, and she cautiously spoke.
“Aren’t you the one who’s feeling unwell, Your Highness? You’ve barely eaten anything since we started.”
“Oh, that’s…”
Ashid trailed off. He couldn’t tell her his honest feelings. She might feel burdened. So he decided to change the subject and said a little playfully,
“You were eating so well, I was just so amazed watching you.”
“What did you say?”
‘A moment ago, when I asked if he was going to say something ‘mean,’ he said no!’
As Daniella bristled, Ashid let out a short laugh. The sight was like a painting, and Daniella found herself staring blankly at his face.
Ashid was already looking at her, so their gazes met naturally.
“Grand Duke.”
Just as the atmosphere around the two was getting strange, the mansion’s butler cautiously approached Ashid.
Daniella hastily lowered her gaze. Ashid, unable to meet her eyes because of this, asked him back in a voice filled with displeasure.
“What is it?”
“Everything is prepared as you commanded. What would you like to do? Shall we postpone it a little?”
“Tsk. No, there’s no need for that. Start it immediately.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
He replied with a short click of his tongue at the butler’s return.
The butler bowed respectfully and then left, leaving a small box on a silver tray next to the table.
The maids who had remained to serve the two followed him and disappeared.
Daniella, not understanding his words, tilted her head and asked, “What are you starting immediately, Your Highness?”
“You’ll see.”
Ashid replied, gesturing with his eyes toward the sky over the forest beyond the mansion. Daniella’s gaze followed him to the forest.
“…!”
At that moment, with a loud bang, brilliant fireworks lit up the sky. They formed a huge cluster of light and bloomed, then faded away beautifully with a refreshing sound like a summer rain.
Daniella looked up at the sky, which was changing with a riot of colors, in awe. They were more beautiful and extravagant than any fireworks she had seen before her transmigration.
“Wow…”
While she was captivated by the sky colored with a variety of fireworks, Ashid quietly rose from his chair. He picked up the box on the tray and approached her from behind, gently untying the ribbons of her cloak.
As the cloak fell, revealing her long neck, he carefully placed what was inside the box around her neck.
“…Huh?”
Daniella touched her bare shoulders and the object on her neck, then turned around. At that moment, as if by a lie, the fireworks that had been launched into the sky faded away.
Ashid lovingly stroked her cheek as she looked up at him and said,
“I thought a gift would be the best way to win your favor on our first date.”
“…A gift?”
Daniella asked, bewildered. Ashid nodded slightly and held the box out to her.
Then, her reflection was visible in the mirror attached to the inside of the box. She let out a low gasp.
“Ah…”
The object Ashid had just placed around her neck was a very elaborate and beautiful necklace.
Between the inner and outer circular platinum chains, a platinum string studded with small fingernail-sized rubies and emeralds was intricately woven like a spider web, and from it hung at least twenty diamond pendants the size of quail eggs.
Daniella was astonished by the jewels that filled her previously bare neck and asked him,
“What, what is this?”
“I told you. It’s a gift.”
“I, I can’t accept something this expensive!”
Daniella exclaimed, a little flustered. In her previous life in Korea, she would have had to go to a museum to see a necklace like this.
Having such a thing around her neck made her more afraid than happy. Ashid frowned slightly and retorted,
“Don’t you like it? Then throw it away.”
“What? No, why would you say that?”
“The item has already been paid for in full, so it can’t be returned to the artisan. I can’t wear it myself, and giving a gift meant for you to someone else is out of the question. So the only choice is to throw it away.”
Ashid said this and deliberately held out his hand, as if asking her to take off the necklace and throw it into his hand.
Daniella screamed in shock and covered her neck with both hands.
“N-no! It’s okay!”
“Does that mean you like it?”
“Yes! I love it! I like it!”
‘Why would he just throw away something so beautiful and expensive? I’m not crazy.’
Daniella knew that, like a villainous grand duke, he was the kind of person who would actually throw away even the most valuable items if he put his mind to it. So she nodded desperately.
Only then did Ashid smile in satisfaction and return to his seat.
He propped his chin on one hand and said with a slight smirk,
