Over the remaining days of their journey, Lina and Count Vissan gradually grew closer. Their conversations became more relaxed, and the count no longer treated her with the stiff formality he had shown at the beginning. Eventually, he even asked her to address him by a more familiar title rather than the distant, impersonal form of address she had used before. In return, his own manner of addressing her became noticeably warmer, and the affection in his voice was no longer entirely concealed.
Lina could have continued cultivating his favor, but she soon noticed a certain ambiguity in his gaze. The count's attention lingered on her a little too long, and the warmth in his smile occasionally took on a distinctly personal meaning. She wasn't particularly surprised. After all, the body she now inhabited was extraordinarily beautiful, and she had already begun to understand how easily beauty could influence people's attitudes toward her.
