CHAPTER - 04

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

The sound of knocking echoed through the living room, breaking the silence that filled the space. Ren, lost in his thoughts, was startled by the sudden interruption. He lifted his head, gazing at the door with a puzzled expression.

“Ren-sama, dinner is ready.” It was Masato’s voice, one of the loyal servants in his household.

Ren sighed, realizing that it was already time for dinner. He glanced at his smartphone, which lay on the table, and only then did he notice how much time had passed. He had been so engrossed in his conversation with Angelica that he had lost track of time.

“Thank you, Masato. I’ll be down shortly,” Ren replied as he rose from his seat and made his way toward the door.

“Shall we go, Angelica-san?” Ren extended his hand toward Angelica. Seeing this, she smiled, took his hand, and stood up from her chair.

“YES!!!” Angelica answered excitedly.

Ren then closed the living room door behind him and headed to the dining hall, where Masato and the other servants had beautifully prepared the evening meal. The rich aroma of delicious food filled the air, further sharpening Ren’s appetite.

Upon reaching the dining hall, Ren was greeted with warm smiles from the servants. They pulled out a chair for him, and he gracefully took his seat.

Dinner proceeded quietly, yet Ren’s mind remained occupied with his earlier conversation with Angelica and the business matters awaiting him. He found himself captivated by Angelica’s stories about her own world, his curiosity growing even more.

Once dinner was over, Ren prepared to return to his study. He needed to finish some important tasks before the night ended. However, before leaving the dining hall, he paused and turned back toward the servants who had diligently served them.

“Thank you for the wonderful meal, everyone,” Ren said sincerely. “Now, I must return to my work. Please make sure Angelica-san’s room is ready as well.”

“Yes, Ren-sama,” the servants responded with respectful nods.

Just as he was about to leave the room, a thought crossed Ren’s mind, making him stop in his tracks.

“Ah, Angelica-san,” he called, drawing Angelica’s attention as she was about to leave the hall. “Regarding your daily necessities, tomorrow is my day off. Let’s go shopping for your clothes.”

The entire room fell into stunned silence.

Hasegawa Ren, their master, was not known for showing interest in the opposite sex, making this invitation all the more shocking—especially coming from him.

Angelica was taken aback by Ren’s offer. “Alright, I just wanted to let you know,” Ren added with a small, uncertain smile.

“Ehh… Ah… Y-yes?” Angelica stammered in response, still processing his words.

Ren gave a small nod. “Good. I still have some work to finish. See you later,” he said before leaving the dining hall with steady strides.

The servants exchanged hushed whispers among themselves, amazed at the rarity of the moment. No one had ever seen Hasegawa Ren act this way before, particularly toward a woman. They couldn’t help but feel happy for Angelica, who had only recently arrived at the Hasegawa estate yet had already earned such special attention.

“Hahahaha,” a hearty laugh suddenly filled the room.

It was Masato—the head butler and the longest-serving member of the Hasegawa household. He was visibly delighted by this unexpected turn of events.

The servants were utterly stunned. Masato was known for being strict and rarely displayed such an expression, making his laughter an exceptionally rare sight.

Masato clapped his hands together enthusiastically and addressed the other servants. “Alright, tomorrow is going to be a special day. You must make sure Lady Angelica looks absolutely stunning.”

“YES, SIR!!” the servants responded in unison, brimming with excitement.

“Eh? Eh?” Angelica blinked in confusion, overwhelmed by the series of unexpected events.

“Ahahaha, it’s only natural that Angelica-sama would be surprised,” Masato chuckled. “Our master rarely shows interest in women, let alone invites one into his home.”

Angelica remained speechless, still digesting everything that had just happened. She felt a mix of shock and delight at Ren’s unexpected kindness. A strange yet pleasant warmth filled her chest.

Masato noticed Angelica’s bewilderment and smiled knowingly. “Ah, I should inform Master about this later,” he murmured to himself, already planning his next move.

Deep down, Angelica felt a sense of warmth from the hospitality of the Hasegawa household. Though the situation was unexpected, she couldn’t deny the excitement bubbling within her.

Tomorrow would be an entirely new experience for her. Though she had glimpsed the city from Ren’s window, seeing it up close would be something else entirely. It felt like an adventure was waiting for her, and she couldn’t wait to explore this unfamiliar world.

Angelica’s mind raced with possibilities. She imagined strolling through bustling city streets, savoring delicious local food, and perhaps even browsing through charming little shops. The anticipation of all the new sights and experiences made her heart race with excitement.

❈ POV: Maximilian De Valentine ❈

Duke Maximilian strode toward the royal palace with firm steps. His mind was weighed down with frustration and concern over the Crown Prince’s behavior—his daughter Angelica’s fiancé. The prince’s conduct was far from befitting a future ruler, and Maximilian was determined to voice his worries to the king.

After waiting for a short while in the palace’s reception hall, Duke Maximilian saw the king entering, accompanied by his royal guards.

“His Majesty, King Aldric Celestia, has arrived,” a guard announced in a commanding tone, bowing deeply in respect.

Maximilian immediately rose from his seat, standing respectfully as the king approached.

As King Aldric entered, Maximilian offered a slight bow as a sign of courtesy. “Welcome, Your Highness.”

The king, looking somewhat weary, shook his head. “There’s no need for such formality, Max. We are close friends,” he said, raising a hand dismissively.

Maximilian nodded in understanding. “Very well, Ald-sama.”

“You’re here to talk about my foolish son, aren’t you?” King Aldric sighed, his face clouded with concern.

Maximilian’s expression turned serious. “Yes, Ald-sama. I came to express my deep concern over the Crown Prince’s actions. As you know, he is engaged to my daughter, Angelica. However, his increasingly inappropriate behavior as a future leader worries me greatly about this kingdom’s future.”

King Aldric let out a heavy sigh, his expression reflecting his growing frustration. “I share the same concerns, Max. I’ve repeatedly warned my son about his responsibilities as heir to the throne, yet my efforts have yielded little result.”

The king exhaled deeply once more.

“And now, with the recent incident involving Lady Angelica’s abduction…” he added, rubbing his temples in exhaustion.

“Actually, that is exactly what I wanted to discuss, Ald-sama,” Maximilian said, his tone grave.

He proceeded to share the information he had learned from his daughter, Charlotte.

“What!? Is that true, Max!?” King Aldric’s voice rose in shock. “Haaahhh…!” He let out another long, frustrated sigh.

“I never imagined my foolish son would go this far… Very well, I will aid you in finding Lady Angelica, Max.”