The lady curled her lips into a smile despite seeing the wary look on the gentleman's face. She closed the book she was reading before placing it on the bench.

Kazimir couldn't refrain from assessing the unfamiliar young lady. The grace of her posture and her dress told him that she was a noble.

The lady's hair, a gentle shade of brown, was braided and tucked into a chignon. The gentle breeze ruffled the fringes framing her small face.

As she looked at him, her light pink eyes reminded him of the petals of a blooming rose.

When the lady asked him again, her questions struck him with disbelief.

"Your Grace, I believe you don't have a headache anymore. You also didn't dream of the usual nightmares during your brief nap, yes?"

Narrowing his eyes, Kazimir's gaze sharpened, "I don't believe we are acquainted, my lady. Did someone send you to me?"

Kazimir straightened his posture and gripped his hands into fists. He had never met anyone, especially a young lady, who clearly implied that she knew the details of his so-called curse.

Did she know who he was? And what he suffered from?

Very few people within the dukedom knew the young Duke Arkel suffered from dreaming of gruesome murders almost every night.

The ones who didn't know, also within the estate, thought he was a chronic insomniac.

The High Priest of the Grand Temple and the Head Priest of Arkel Duchy's temple had sworn absolute secrecy, binding their names to sacred oaths. They wouldn't, couldn't, leak this information.

So, how did an unfamiliar young lady, who was clearly not from his estate, know? Also, why did she emit the same feeling he sensed from the High Priest, but even more remarkably?

Under Kazimir's suspicious gaze, the young lady simply smiled. She picked up the book before rising to her feet, the hem of her light green dress fluttering above her ankles.

"Do not scare people with your murderous intent, Your Grace," the lady said mirthfully, "I'm just pleased to know you had a good nap earlier. I hope that you can sleep well tonight, too."

Kazimir's frown deepened. He was surprised to see how unaffected the young lady was. She casually brought up his fighting aura, amplified by his mana.

Kazimir often unleashed the force in varying degrees based on the situation. He rarely used it on a lady, but the suspicions behind her identity and intention made him cautious of her.

Even though he could tell she had no malicious aura around her.

"My lady, you haven't answered me."

Kazimir's voice became deeper and edged with caution. His violet eyes studied the young lady's every gesture, hoping to catch something.

But her gaze and smile remained serene. She was obviously not shaken by his threatening glare and ferocious aura.

"I am not obliged to answer you now, Your Grace. Please rest assured. We will meet again soon."

"What do you mean?"

Without replying to Kazimir, the lady bent down and placed something on the bench. Then, her gentle, light pink eyes returned to his guarded, violet ones.

"I sincerely hope you will get to sleep well until we meet again."

The young lady curtsied, letting her skirt fan out around her legs. Then, she turned around and walked away, her steps unhurried. Kazimir was speechless, but he decided not to chase after her.

'I'll have Magnus check who she is.'

Kazimir only looked away from the lady's disappearing figure once she vanished behind the towering topiaries. Exhaling a sigh, he let his gaze fall on the bench.

What had she intentionally left behind?

While folding the white ribbon and returning it inside the pouch, Kazimir strode toward the bench. The thick soles of his boots stomped on the ground.

Something shiny flickered from the seat, catching the sunlight.

"...a tassel?"

Frowning, Kazimir picked the tassel up carefully. It was delicate, but finely crafted.

The golden threads gleamed under the sunlight. A longer thread hung below the rest, tied to a tiny, silver metal in the shape of a rose.

Kazimir brushed his thumb on the metal rose. Wonder filled his heart when the surge of calming sensation he had felt right after waking up just now suddenly returned.

The warmth spread its tendrils, gently touching every fiber of his being. The agony that stemmed from the bloodstained nightmares seemed like a distant, forgotten dream.

This tassel might be more effective in combating the nightmares than all the charms he had ever received.

'Who is she?'

The question lingered in Kazimir's mind as his gaze traced the steps where the young lady had disappeared. He also thought the same for the next few days after he woke up from a relaxing, long sleep.

Unfortunately, the effect of the tassel seemed to wear out.

Yet, the good news was that Magnus had found out the identity of the mysterious young lady.

It turned out she was the famed Lady Aylin Elora Montclair, the precious daughter of Count and Countess Montclair. They had been shielding her from the world.

Also renowned as Lady Luck.

**********

[The Montclair family's townhouse, at the same time]

While Kazimir's mind was still occupied by Lady Aylin Montclair, that particular lady was also thinking of him. Unfortunately, her beloved father's and elder brother's remarks often interrupted her.

"Aylin, you ought to stay close to me and your brother after the opening dance. You're not obliged to dance with anyone else. We'll handle the situation as we see fit."

"Did you hear Dad, my dear sister? Beware of any man who will approach you tonight. They won't have any decent thoughts."

Count Augustus Leopold Montclair and his heir, Cassius Valentin Montclair, sang to the same tune as they reminded Aylin of the danger of men—the ones outside of their family.

Their voices filled the dining room as the family gathered for breakfast. The servants quietly and amusedly listened to the men's nagging.

Aylin exhaled a sigh, half amused and half concerned the more she listened to her father and elder brother. They wouldn't stop easily.

Her father and brother had been giving her the same warning ever since she was selected as one of the imperial debutantes. Their nagging increased the closer the date was to the ball.

Lifting her chin, Aylin shot her look at the blond middle-aged lady with whom she shared the same eye color. Her mother, the elegant Countess Camellia Isodel Montclair, was the only one who could stop these men.

'Mom, please help me!'

Sensing the pleading look from her dear daughter, the Countess curled her lips slightly. She indeed felt sorry for Aylin despite how amusing the situation was.

Without wasting time, Countess Montclair said, her voice calm, "A lady's debutante ball is a once in a lifetime event. I'll tie and lock you two up if you stop Aylin from enjoying hers."

"..."

"...cough!"

The Count and Cassius stared at each other before their eyes moved from the Countess and Aylin. Suddenly, the air in the dining room turned awkward as the two men were robbed of their words.

The Countess resumed talking with her eyes remaining on the plate, "Our Aylin deserves to enjoy her debut. No one can persuade me otherwise."

"My dear, we're just worrying about Aylin!" the brunette Count Montclair broke the silence, eager to plead his case, "She might have her debut tonight, but she is still very young."

"Dad speaks the truth, Mom," Cassius chimed in. His green eyes bore onto the Countess' face, "All the rakehells in the Empire will gather at the debutante ball. We can't let them prey on our youngest."

"I'm eighteen already, not eight!" Aylin exhaled a sigh. Putting down the fork and the knife, she complained, "Dad, Cassius, your worries are baseless. Have you forgotten I can kick their bums if they dare misbehave?"

"What if you're too drunk to do that, my dear?" Count Montclair softened his voice, trying to make Aylin see his concern as a father. "If you stay close to us, we can..."

"Dad," Aylin stared pointedly at Count Montclair. She stated a well-known fact, "Unlike you, I can handle my alcohol well.”

"Pfft! Cough! Cough!"

Cassius quickly faked coughing after accidentally snorting due to Aylin's remarks. Their father, the great merchant Count Montclair, was known to be a lightweight.

His wife and daughter could hold their liquor well, and so could his son. He was the only anomaly in their little family.

Aylin sighed openly, "I know how to take care of myself. As you've stated, I also know most gentlemen at the ball are untrustworthy. I want to enjoy my debut, but I will also think of my safety."

The Count and Cassius clamped their mouths shut upon hearing Aylin's words. She clearly brought up her own thoughts.

"...alright, we'll trust you on that."

"Anyway, we will be at the ball, too. No one will dare to harm you."

Count Montclair and Cassius admitted defeat. Both men were aware of how naggy they had been lately, but it was hard to hold back whenever they thought about how most of the young gentlemen were far from being decent.

"It's good that you know. Enough talking about this. Not even one word, understand?"

"Yes."

"Haha… we understand, my dear sister."

Aylin glared at her father and her brother. Huffing, she resumed eating her breakfast. Even though she didn't have to get ready for the ball until noon, she couldn't wait to return to her bedroom.

To hear the latest report about him from her divine beast familiar!