#138: 142 — Workplace Romance In A Fantasy World

I really did not expect this.

‘He’s crying? Why?????’

The nervousness I had mustered to ask to be his partner evaporated in an instant.

When I stepped one foot closer to Ren, he completely hid his face between his hands.

‘I’ve suddenly become the woman who made the Duke cry.’

I had no idea how to handle this atmosphere. A big man was flushed all over and crying, while the servants covered their mouths and stared only at us.

‘Stay calm, Cornelia. Be calm.’

Thankfully the butler arrived late but showed some tact.

“We will withdraw. Please summon us if you need anything.”

When the butler gestured toward the servants with a very terrifying look, they followed him in perfect unison. The fact that they kept their eyes on us until we were out of sight showed they, too, were overcome by an unusual surge of workplace dopamine. But to think the cause of it would be me!

“Ren.”

First I had to resolve this situation.

Was I too sudden? Or is it extremely shameful for a woman to ask to be a partner first?

But I had heard that many young ladies had asked Ren to be their partner.

Then perhaps….

“Is he embarrassed to refuse? It’s okay.”

Because our relationship was still a secret, I hadn’t considered that he might have already found another partner. Especially if he had seen me receiving proposals from several young nobles.

“You found another partner? I won’t be upset. You thought I’d go with someone else, right? I came too late.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

He slowly lowered his hands. The redness had faded somewhat, but tear marks remained at the corners of his eyes.

“There is no way I would have a partner other than you.”

“Then why are you like this now…”

I wanted to say “because you’re crying,” but I trailed off for the sake of pride. Ren glanced at me once, and when our eyes met he swiftly turned his head away.

“…Because I like you.”

“…Pardon?”

He kept rubbing his neck with his hand.

“I did it because I like you.”

I couldn’t believe this arrogant wolf, this man who dismisses flirtatious young ladies with a blade-like precision, was shedding tears just because of a partner request. Seeing my incredulous expression, Ren’s face began to flush again.

“I thought you might go to the banquet with someone else. If you went alone, you could be criticized, so I thought that would be right. But… even though I understood it intellectually, imagining you appearing with another man was hard to accept.”

Sincerely, I didn’t expect him to be this troubled.

“I didn’t want to show it in front of you. I held it in desperately. I knew if our relationship was made public you’d have a hard time. But I never expected you’d ask to be my partner, so I ended up… showing such an ugly sight.”

No. Honestly, it was the first time I realized a crying man could look so beautiful.

I raised my hand and wiped the tears streaming down his cheek. He naturally bowed his head.

“If I’d known you’d be this happy, I would have said it sooner.”

Ren grabbed the hand that had wiped his tears and kissed its palm. The sensation on my sensitive skin made me unexpectedly shy.

“You don’t have to overdo it. Just having you express it like this is enough.”

I shook my head.

“It’s better to announce it boldly than be found out. It’s something that can’t be hidden forever anyway. That is, unless something… intimate happens between us in the meantime.”

“That won’t happen. Never.”

Ren’s firmness made me more certain of my decision.

“Are you sure, Ren? I will become the woman who made the empire’s top catch my lover, but you… there will be much talk because of my status.”

He scoffed.

“Do you think I’d be shaken by such gossip? I’m worried that more men will notice how wonderful you are.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Not knowing where to look, I bowed my head, and he pulled me into his arms. His embrace, now familiar, felt solid and warm.

“From now on your partner for life is me. You can’t step back.”

“We’ll see. I’m not that easy a woman.”

“Then you’ll have to cry again.”

“Wh-what?”

He had already learned only to be mischievous.

Seeing him regain his composure and wear a cocky smile made me inexplicably emotional. I hugged him tighter.

“If something’s hard, don’t hold it in—tell me. Don’t suffer alone.”

The hand around my back tightened.

“…I sound like a scumbag for misinterpreting your innocence.”

“Huh?”

“No, don’t worry about it.”

For a moment I wondered what he meant, then I noticed the hidden implication behind his words.

“That includes this and that, you know?”

I opened my eyes wide and laughed while looking at him, and Ren coughed as if choked.

“I-it’s late. I’ll see you off. Go.”

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and led me to the carriage. I was so flustered that I returned without being offered even a cup of tea at the Duke’s residence.

For some reason Kiara and Pinea, who had stayed behind waiting, laughed so hard at the story. They said no one would believe that Ren had such a side to him.

On the day of the banquet.

I wore the dress Laurent had stitched for me and, with the maid’s help, chose my earrings as a final touch.

“To send such a splendid dress—Duke, I didn’t know you had such taste!”

Indeed. Normally I would have prepared a dress based on my previous life’s style myself, but Ren was one step ahead. He had a dress custom-designed and sent it.

A pastel mint off-shoulder dress. Perhaps because Laurent made it, the design I usually preferred was reflected with sophistication, and it suited me perfectly.

“You look like a forest fairy.”

The top was a tight bodice, but the skirt flared into an A-line; it was pure and fresh. The fabric’s color was vivid, evoking a forest nymph. Having neatly smoothed down my once-wild bob made me look elegant. They say the children of the high-born develop excellent taste because they’re exposed only to the best, and Ren seems to be among the very best.

“Count, the Duke has arrived.”

“Alright, I’ll be out soon.”

As I slowly descended the staircase to the first floor, the Duke, Marcella, Julie, and Rio were waiting. Now my brother and sisters also knew about Ren and me.

“Oh, you look like a different person.”

“Wow, our sister is so pretty!”

“Princess, you look like a princess, sis!”

My confidence rose at the compliments from my adorable younger siblings.

“Thank you. I’ll be back.”

I ruffled my siblings’ heads a few times and shyly turned toward Ren. I felt embarrassed, bashful, and excited about how he would see me.

But somehow his expression was completely stiff.

“Ren…?”

Previously I might have worried if something was wrong, or thought he regretted partnering with me, but I no longer misunderstood. I was that confident in my outfit today.

I whispered into his ear.

“Were you surprised that I’m prettier than you expected?”

His ear flushed and he nodded slightly.

“…I’m realizing my imagination is lacking.”

“You’re by the side of the empire’s top catch, Duke Vespera Ariadne Fortuna. You should at least look like this.”

He relaxed his stiff face and burst into laughter.

“To sit by the empire’s youngest Chancellor, you’ll have to try harder.”

“Stop trying so hard. If you get even more handsome, it’ll be too much pressure.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you feel pressured.”

“It seems it’s almost time to go now.”

Perhaps tired of our smooching, Marcella interjected cautiously but bluntly.

Ren didn’t care at all; he flashed a beautiful smile at him and led me away.