Tall glass adorned the Carsington family sitting room let in bright light forming patterns on the marble finishing of floors. Juliette watched the rays of light resting on her skin and tried to adjust her gaze, but her thoughts had already wandered.

To the breakfast she had with her father. An unbelievable conversation happened to her. Of an arrangement. 

Giselle, on the other hand, was resting on a soft white couch while lazily browsing through her phone. She had noticed Juliette hadn't been herself. Yet, she decided to let her friend be, at least for awhile.

After a long time, enough was enough. Giselle put her phone face down on the table, to lean forward. Her face radiated confusion at the same time.

"So, Juliette," she started, "What's up with you?"

Without providing time for an answer, Giselle went on, her hand making a negative wave. “Actually, you know what? I don’t even need an answer. Wherever there’s a will there’s a way, and a vacation is the way! This summer, we are looking to return to the Côte d'Azur for seven days. Just like the good old days. At last, a plan to get away from all this!” 

Juliette forced a small smile. Though, her eyes dropped, her hands gripping the book she had been faking reading. "I don't think I can make it this time," she said in a low voice. Her gaze avoided Giselle.

Giselle’s smile vanished. This was very much out of character for Juliette. They had practically spent every summer together since they could remember, and it has been the same each time - a tradition whose circle cannot be broken. And as they grew up, the vacations they had together became more frequent. 

“Why not? What could be more important than relaxing on the beaches of the Riviera with this bestie of yours?”

Inhaling deeply, Juliette seemed to struggle in her mind, whether she should tell the truth or not. There was a pause as if she was reluctant to speak.

"Well... My father planned something for me. He wants me to go to Germany this summer. There is someone he wants me to meet."

"What?" Giselle stared in disbelief. For a moment, they sat in silence as the words settled. Giselle had been a friend of Juliette, even since kindergarten! She was aware that families of Juliette’s didn’t have any relations in Germany. 

"Wait. You mean—this is about that arrangement he mentioned?" She asked incredulously. "He is really sending you away to meet someone you don’t even know?"

Juliette nodded and managed to bite her emotions back. "He believes it is for the best. He has been working on it. It is someone he considers safe, and perhaps trustworthy—his colleague’s son." She exhaled, releasing some of the emotions that she had been holding back. "I am meant to see whether we… fit each other."

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Giselle, who looked simultaneously annoyed and affectionate, stood up and sat beside Juliette, guiding her hand to pull her in. She eased her voice. "Jules, do you not have a right to talk about it? This is not 19th century for crying out loud!"

Juliette's lips cracked into a smile as she met Giselle’s gaze. She hadn't been feeling down. Truth to be told, she was not against that approach entirely. More like, if she wanted to, consider the kind of man her father was, the decision would be possible to change. After all, a father who had only one daughter would definitely listen to her. 

"I don’t know how to answer that," she said. "The concerns, well... what if all this turns out to be just like those thick books?"

Yes, the reality happened to Juliette was: there were adventurous dreams forming in her head that she had restrained herself from articulating.

Giselle's expression softened for a brief period, but then she seemed to catch what was going on, and was clearly annoyed. "Nah, Jules, what the hell are you thinking?!"

Juliette’s laugh for a brief moment, before she stopped with her lips still formed a smile. Her fingers ran over the cover of her book, as if searching for the right words.

Giselle leaned back, folding her arms. "No, you must be lying. You can’t actually be interested in this arrangement, can you? I mean, you’ve never even met this guy."

Juliette shrugged, "I don’t know. Maybe I am, a little," she admitted. "I mean, my father says he’s... trustworthy. Someone I could depend on. And you know it's my dad, I trust that guy."

Giselle rolled her eyes, she couldn't believe her ears. Her tone filled with frustration. "Sure, but this is your life, not one of his business deals. Doesn’t it bother you that he’s making these choices for you?"

Juliette chuckled at the comments, she understood Giselle's worries, yet shared none of them, "I get what you’re saying. Trust me, I thought the same thing when he first brought it up. But I can't help but wondering if it could actually work. My father seems to think this man—Gunther—can fit me. At least, by his standards."

"Jules, listen, these men can't be trusted about their judgement of a husband," Giselle stubbornly debated Juliette into that. "Maybe this Gungun guy is good to run business, but not for getting married."

Juliette managed a small smile, "Well, that's what I don't know for sure, yes? What would he be like? Perhaps you're right, but wouldn’t it be nice to actually meet him? Just to look?"

Surrendering, Giselle sighed dramatically, held her hands up. "Hell, I don't know what to do. Fine, go meet him then, even it is purely out of curiosity. But for God’s sake, just careful about it. Remember they're all ass." 

Juliette nodded, "I know, I know. I promise I will be careful. I’m not that reckless."

Giselle reached over, squeezing Juliette’s hand. "Good. Just know that I’ll be here if you need an emergency exit. We will send him to God, together."

Juliette chuckled. "Alright, alright. Sure. I also love you."

"Good." 

For awhile, silence lingered between them. Giselle would lie if she said she no longer worried, yet Juliette actually shared the same feeling. Nevertheless, the excitement to see what kind of a man Gunther was still had big portion in her feeling.

The silence became thick, and Giselle had to end the tension. "Well, let’s just say I remain in favour of the Riviera. I can always make Germany another trip."