Although Scarlett wanted to return immediately, Viktor kept delaying his reply, and she couldn’t go home. He spoke as he opened the door to Scarlett’s dresser, “Go ahead and dress up. Let’s hold dinner.” 

“Why must I do th-….” 

“Weren’t you waiting for an answer?” 

Scarlett could do nothing but purse her lips and nod. 

Viktor, raising his chin, nodded. “After you finish changing and we have dinner, I’ll give you my answer. I believe it’s an issue that calls for at least that level of concern, no?” 

“...Fine.” 

Scarlett entered her dressing room after reluctantly replying. 

The dress Viktor prepared for her had an extraordinarily exquisite rose colour to it. It took four maids working at once to dress her. Even just tying the ribbon in the back took a while.  

Only after wearing a dress fit for attending balls like those celebrating the empire’s foundation and even putting on heels did they begin adding finishing touches to her hair. 

Scarlett muttered, bewildered. “We’re just eating at home, so why must I dress up like this….” 

“It’s because he does not want to send you home, Milady.”

Candice said, braiding Scarlett’s hair before adorning her with a gorgeous hair ornament. Candice then brought over a tiara Scarlett was planning to give away during a charity gala.  

“The Master insisted that we put this on you, Milady.” 

“Mm…” Scarlett remarked, looking at her dress. 

“I think just wearing this is enough effort on my side.” 

“Indeed… that’s true, right?” Candice agreed. 

The formal dinner was arranged by then. Scarlett approached the dining table and saw that the fancy plates and cutlery were out with fresh flowers from the greenhouse. The dinner was lavish enough that her dress did not seem to stand out. 

Viktor, as expected, was perfectly dressed in a way befitting the grand banquet. Scarlett thought to herself, standing at the threshold, that that man was the centrepiece of this beautiful scene. 

Maintaining her calm expression, Scarlett walked in. A maid pulled her chair out for her, and she sat down.

They started eating before she knew it. Scarlett asked Viktor, displaying perfect dining etiquette as harshly taught by her private tutor. 

“Why did you suddenly want to dine with me? And the dress?” 

“Did you truly hate it?” 

“Indeed.” 

At Scarlett’s blunt answer, Viktor pressed his lips together.

“If you went to 7th Avenue dressed like that, I think they would quite enjoy it.” 

“I’m not a walking museum piece.”

“It would make an entertaining piece of gossip, though.”

“That’s because the village people are nosy.” 

After Scarlett told him off, she forked some food in her mouth. It was a trout dish accompanied by various vegetables that ordinary people would not have been able to afford during the winter months. They used a high-end pepper as a finishing touch and it suited the trout perfectly. 

“...Oh, the pepper’s delicious.” 

“Is the pepper delicious?” Viktor asked just as the words left her mouth. 

“Yes, it’s delightful. I think it’d be delicious on anything.” 

“I see.” 

Although Viktor replied in kind, it felt empty. 

Even though Scarlett knew that he was unable to taste many flavours, she was unable to tell exactly how severe it was. It was easy to see how troublesome it was to be blind when she looked at Isaac, but gauging how it felt not to be able to taste flavours was not something the eye could determine.

Before, she could not ask for fear of hurting him by chance, but now, she decided just to raise the question. 

“Do you taste the pepper?” 

“Mhm.” 

“To what degree?” 

“If you describe something, it’s to the point where I might be able to emphasise vaguely.” 

Viktor replied before eating a piece of the trout. 

Scarlett gazed at him before realising that she might have been insensitive and continued eating. 

“Has it been this way since you were a child?” 

“I’m not exactly sure.” 

“...” 

Scarlett chose not to pry further, sensing that he no longer wanted to touch upon the topic. There was a lull in the conversation, and Viktor must have felt that his vagueness hurt Scarlett. He opened his mouth. 

“I think I was able to taste things just fine until I turned around five years old.” 

“Is that so?” 

“One day, after my mother’s lessons, I secretly went outside to play due to feeling suffocated. After I returned, I was ravenous, so I gobbled everything down at the table. My mother was shocked and….” 

Viktor smiled, reminiscing about the events of the day. 

“I guess it might be related to an emotional issue then, huh.” 

Although he didn’t continue, Scarlett’s face only darkened. She stopped broaching the topic and only nodded. 

“I see.”

They continued eating before Scarlett stood up. 

She took her plate before moving to his side and ate some vegetables before speaking. 

“Bitter.” 

“...”

Since Viktor sitting down and Scarlett standing up were of similar height, he cocked his head while looking at her. Scarlett cut off a piece of the trout before bringing it near him. 

“Try this.” 

Viktor stared at her before taking her hand, bringing the food to his mouth, and eating it.

Because Viktor had just done the unthinkable, Scarlett and the serving staff naturally spun their heads to gape at him in surprise.