Back at the Falcone Family estate.
When Ririko came to the dining room for dinner, Alberto was already waiting.
He was dressed more formally today, even his hair neatly combed, and looked a little less socially anxious.
When Alberto saw her, he rose from his chair and personally pulled hers out for her.
Ririko sat down gracefully, the hem of her blue gown brushing the edge of the chair.
Their seats were closer together than yesterday. Even the candelabra and floral arrangements had been moved to one end of the long table to create a romantic atmosphere.
Alberto's gaze swept over the sheer lace on her shoulders, embroidered with fine silver threads that seemed to gild the elegant lines of her neck and shoulders with starlight.
Seeing how he could barely tear his eyes away, Ririko secretly curled her lips.
In a few more days, this lonely young heir probably wouldn't even remember his own last name.
"How was school?"
Alberto sounded more natural than he had last night, as though he had rehearsed the conversation topics beforehand.
Ririko picked up her napkin and spread it across her lap.
"I've always loved literature." She didn't even blink as she said it.
In reality, she had slept for twenty minutes in literature class that day, browsed shopping sites for fifteen minutes after waking up, and spent the rest of the time thinking about how to win Bruce over.
She added, "And the professor is such a charming speaker."
Actually, she thought Professor Tetch was just like the Mad Hatter in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and fully qualified to reserve a bed at Arkham.
"That's good." Alberto smiled.
He gently rested his hand on hers.
"Don't wear yourself out. We could go horseback riding at the country estate this weekend to unwind."