Chapter 3

Ludwig never sought me out again after that day. It was as though he had woken up from a dream or come back to his senses.

On the day he moped around in sorrow in his own manor, I saw his beloved through my doorway.

Leopold rode past the gate of my house on horseback while holding Heidemarie in his arms.

Though she wasn't dressed up like a bride, I could tell right away she was a lady of noble birth.

I wondered which part of me actually resembled her. In reality, it was nothing more than an intentional act.

Now that Ludwig was no longer coming around, I found ways to amuse myself in my house.

Whenever boredom struck, I would take a walk in the streets with my maid in tow.

After all, I was only interested in his body, not his heart.

Of course, I was also interested in the wealth and luxury that he could offer me so easily.

In the past, I used to walk past the jewelry and clothing shops hurriedly, but now I could take a closer look.

But I soon grew tired of these happy days. Ludwig hadn't come by in a long time, and I found myself "missing" him.

After all, I found his body rather enjoyable.

Half a month passed in this way, and the annual Springtime Fête arrived.

Usually, unless Ludwig was coming, I didn't dress like Heidemarie.

But the finest clothes Ludwig bought for me were the very styles Heidemarie wore.

On the day of the Springtime Fête, after much deliberation, my love for beauty ultimately won out.

According to folklore, couples would meet beneath a blooming cherry tree and share a kiss to bring love and happiness to their relationship.

With a floral fan in hand, I stepped onto the bridge near a cherry tree to enjoy the view below all by myself.

A young child selling flowers was calling out nearby. Out of nowhere, a stunning figure walked toward me from the other end of the bridge.

He was slim in build and had features so delicate that it was hard to tell whether he was male or female. Only his visible Adam's apple gave him away as a young man.

"Ms. Heidemarie, what are you doing here?" He was so overjoyed when he caught sight of me that he crossed the bridge in three strides.

I partly shielded my face with my folding fan and gazed into his lovely eyes.

At one corner of his eye was a tiny tear-shaped mole.

His gaze was mostly filled with affection, with a modicum of respect.

But alas, they were all meant for Heidemarie.

I gave him a light curtsy. "Sir, I'm afraid you've mistaken me for someone else."

His face flushed crimson, and he hurriedly took a half-step back.

Though he was a man, he possessed a certain feminine charm.

"My eyes must have failed me. I have offended you, Miss. Please accept my apologies." The young gentleman was exceptionally courteous. Even after apologizing, he presented me with an ivory bangle as atonement.

Subsequently, when I took the ivory bangle to the pawnshop, I learned that the young gentleman I met that day was Wolfgang Freuer.

He was the only son of the wealthiest man in the kingdom. To think that he was even more beautiful than a woman.

More than half of the shops on the street outside my house belong to Wolfgang.

One of them was a public tea room that did such brisk business that Wolfgang dropped by every few days to check the accounts.

Since Ludwig hadn't been coming around, I might as well treat myself to something different.

In order to see Wolfgang more often, I would stop by the tea room every day.

After visiting so often, even the waiters working there knew that I was Miss Nimtz, who lived nearby.

Sometimes, when there were fewer customers, Wolfgang would chat with me for a few minutes in his spare time.

When the place was crowded, he would go about his business while I sat quietly at my table and watched him.

Whenever he caught me watching him, his ears would turn slightly reddish, and his face would glow like rouge.

I never knew a man could be so alluring.

Gradually, Wolfgang began visiting the tea room more often, and I would take the initiative to strike up a conversation with him.

We gradually got to know each other better.

Thereafter, we spent every day together and were practically inseparable.

I thought it was about time to ask Wolfgang out and express my feelings to him.

It was the day after the first quarter moon, and Wolfgang and I had already agreed to go on a spring outing that day.

To my utter surprise, the day before that, Ludwig suddenly came to see me again.

Ever since Heidemarie got engaged, Ludwig hardly ever came to see me anymore.

Even when he did, his night visits felt like a mundane routine. He would hurry through the motions in a perfunctory manner and leave before dawn.

If it weren't for the faint traces left on my body, I might even think Ludwig was just a figment of my dreams.

At present, my heart was entirely devoted to Wolfgang. In fact, I'd rather Ludwig never came again.

That particular day, Ludwig changed his routine and arrived earlier than usual.

My maid hurriedly called me back from the tea room.

I didn't even have a chance to fix a meeting time with Wolfgang.

By the time I strolled leisurely into the small garden, Ludwig had already drunk nearly half a teapot.

This was the first time I had seen him in broad daylight after all this time.

He was dressed in his official uniform, looking somewhat haggard and clearly worn out from his travels.

When he noticed I wasn't dressed like Heidemarie, he looked stunned.

Though I wasn't dressed up like his beloved, I had still made a real effort to look my best just to seduce Wolfgang.

I might not be as beautiful as a heavenly maiden, but I was certainly a vision of beauty.

After sharing the same bed for so long, how could he possibly not recognize me?