Avril didn’t think that she had ever told Dylan she loved him before. However, she did express her gratitude, along with her delight and how fond she was of him—probably.

Regardless, she felt like she had never used that particular word. It wasn’t intentional—she just didn’t understand. Although she cherished both the Duke of Lancester and Dylan, for some reason, that word never came to mind until now.

Dylan seemed very surprised as well, to the point of averting his gaze from Thomas to peer into her eyes. Upon realizing that, Avril felt deeply remorseful.

Judging from Lord Dylan’s reaction… It seems I failed.

Regardless of whether or not it was love, she was aware that she was ignorant to the subtleties of the emotions related to love. Although she had learned many things from working with Dylan, there were still many things she didn’t understand.

Avril was frozen in front of Thomas, unable to apologize, and Dylan asked with gentle eyes.

“You’re going to say that here? At this moment?”

“Ah… Well, it’s a bad habit of mine to say what I think out loud.”

“To say exactly what you are thinking? That only makes me happier?”

…He’s… Actually happy?

“I see?”

As she answered in a whisper, she could feel her face heating up. Now that she thought about it, Dylan’s face was also red.

‘Is he embarrassed?’

Back then, she often wondered about it a lot.

But now, she was sure of it.

“I—”

Is if to confirm it, Avril covered her mouth with both hands. Just as she was about to speak, Thomas, who had been completely ignored, raised his hand.

“…Newlyweds can be quite intimate.”

When she looked at Thomas, she saw him smiling in the most awkward way possible, and she was taken aback.

—! That’s right. Now isn’t the time to be doing something like this!

It may have succeeded as a strategy, but halfway through, she forgot that she was supposed to be acting. Avril panicked, while Dylan seemed to have calmed down in an instant.

Elegantly, he took off his coat, draping it over Avril’s head.

“!?”

What in the world is Lord Dylan trying to do?

Avril’s vision was blocked and she just blinked in confusion. When she heard Dylan’s words, she immediately understood.

“I’m sorry, but we’ll have to excuse ourselves. I can’t show my wife’s adorable face to someone we’re meeting for the first time.”

“Hahaha. Indeed. I’m so jealous of you. Your wife is too charming.”

The moment Thomas replied, Dylan led Avril, who was draped with his coat, to the deck adjacent to the venue.

As Avril saw the dark blue carpet beneath her feet give way to the wooden floor, she thought back to when she had entered the party.

Is this why Lord Dylan apologized? He said sorry if he surprised me…

Perhaps, Dylan had originally planned to take Avril out of the venue after talking with Thomas for a while so that he wouldn’t recognize her.

I didn’t expect Mr. Thomas Edgar to be here. It’s time for a tactical retreat!

They went out to the deck where Avril removed the coat. She nodded, handing it back to Dylan. Dylan, who was basking in the sea breeze, suddenly told her.

“It’s a shame that we’re undercover now.”

“…Indeed.”

The sun had completely set, leaving the sea was pitch-black. The place was quiet, so much so that it was difficult to believe that the ship hadn’t been able to depart for several days due to bad weather. Starry skies spread above their head. Avril tilted her head when Dylan, who stood beside her, lowered his gaze.

“What you said before—I want to hear it again.”

“Uhm.”

---

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