Chapter 77

The date with Deputy Commander Girion that Aidan had been so curious about approached.

‘I’m going out to refuse him, I shouldn’t have asked him to reserve his weekend for nothing. No — it’s ruder to postpone without setting a day.’

I pulled myself together, dressed in comfortable outing clothes instead of my work attire for the first time in a while, and put on Black Dia’s new cosmetics—my makeup looked good, and I was pleased.

Actually, I’m usually interested in dressing up when I have the time, but at work this kind of makeup was out of the question. When I arrived at the restaurant he had reserved, Girion was already there waving.

“Hello. Seeing you outside rather than in the Imperial Palace feels different.”

“Hello, Deputy Commander Girion. I think so too. You look even happier since it’s a day off.”

Girion let out a bright laugh.

“I don’t think that’s just because it’s a day off.”

He gave me a slight wink. I was caught off guard by the sudden move, but more surprised that his wink didn’t come off as awkward.

‘So looks do matter…!’

But I wasn’t immune to cheesy gestures like that. It’d be best to get to the point quickly and part ways.

“Deputy Commander Girion, I…”

“Miss Cornelia. Since you came this far, how about we start with a delicious meal first?”

From his look, I felt like he already knew my answer.

Right, since I’d come this far, I decided not to refuse his suggestion and went along. The place he’d carefully reserved served dishes that were excellent, and he led the conversation smoothly, telling me about the War Ministry so the topic wouldn’t die.

“The deputy commander of the Royal Second Knight Order was demoted and reassigned under a border marquis as a knight. I hear he’s implicated in corruption with the former Chancellor and the former First Secretary. He’s accused of intentionally obstructing the tracking of overseas assets concealed by the Marquis Marcus’s retinue.”

It was one long chain of the Crown Prince’s conniving.

‘This won’t be the end of it.’

“I heard Miss Cornelia, that your contribution was significant. Honestly, I did ask you out from personal interest, but I also wanted to thank you for this. At the War Ministry, people were troubled because discipline had been lax.”

What began as an affair had cascaded into an impressive butterfly effect of incidents. I replied modestly.

“I only did what I had to do. What you’re talking about really was a coincidence, Deputy Commander Girion.”

“Even if it was a coincidence, it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Haha.”

We chatted about department affairs, how to use the bear pelt he’d gifted me, and other small talk, finishing the meal in a warm atmosphere. After dessert, tea arrived; Girion took a sip, fiddled with his teacup a few times, then spoke.

“Miss Cornelia.”

“Yes, Mr. Girion.”

I instinctively felt the main moment had arrived.

“Having talked like this in person, I feel you are an even better person. I’d like to get to know you in this way going forward—if it’s all right with you, would you permit me to court you formally?”

It was a very polite proposal. I thought he was truly a good person, but I didn’t feel any romantic attraction towards him—regardless of my current situation.

“Thank you for saying that. It’s just that I don’t have the time or the emotional space to meet someone these days. I’m sorry.”

Girion gave a bittersweet smile and forced a brighter laugh.

“I actually expected as much. I know you’ve been very busy lately. Still, I hoped—so I’m rather disappointed.”

“You’ll find someone better. I might regret today’s refusal later on.”

“If you do regret it, don’t keep it to yourself—do tell me.”

His playful appeal until the end made me smile. I was grateful.

“It’s not a pleasant thing to hear, but thank you for understanding.”

“On my part, I know it’s no easy thing to come out and refuse someone. Thank you for taking the weekend to give me a polite answer. I enjoyed today.”

It felt like one of the most mature ways we’d ever respected each other’s wishes and finished without blushing. It was a rare experience.

After politely ending things with Girion, I felt unsettled for a while. Probably because no such wonderful man had ever confessed to me before.

‘Enough. Let’s just work.’

I shook my head, composed myself, and welcomed a customer of Those Who Can’t Resign. It was our shop’s VIP client, Little Lamb. Now that I thought about it, the interval since he’d last come by had been unusually long.

“Long time no see—Little Lamb—.”

“How have you been, Master Quokka.”

He sat down wearing the Little Lamb mask he always used.

Rattle, rattle.

But one of his hands kept tapping the table like a piano. It was an unusual behavior for him; he looked somewhat anxious.

“Did something happen at work? You don’t look well.”

“Do I?”

“Very much so.”

“…….”

He was silent for a long time. I didn’t press him; I waited for him to open up.

“These days… I feel strange.”

He let out a sigh as he confessed. Even with the mask on, his confusion was evident.

“Is it because of the Crown Prince brat?”

He hesitated for a moment, then clasped his head with both hands and shook it. I couldn’t guess more than the facts I already knew, so I decided to start from small questions.

“You said you feel strange—how is it strange? Say anything and I’ll understand you perfectly—.”

“What’s ‘perfectly’ mean?”

“It means I’ll see right through your heart even if you speak carelessly. Don’t worry about it. It’s a phrase I use by myself.”

I quickly covered myself and swiftly changed the subject.

“My moods flip dozens of times a day—happy, then depressed, then crashing. Small things keep popping into my head, I obsess over them, and I even act in ways I can’t explain.”

‘Somehow it sounds like that once-a-month magical-day syndrome—but it probably isn’t that.’

I needed more information.

“Is it just when you’re alone and still—?”

“…….”

He hung his head and fell silent.

‘There’s something there. There is.’

“Is there even someone who comes to mind—?”

“……!”

‘Oh, a hit.’

I got excited before I realized it and started talking a lot. The empire’s top catch, Duke Vespera, has someone he cares for? That’s top knight material.

“Confess it~! Who would turn you down? From the look of it you are probably tall and handsome.”

I tried to fill the Duke with courage.

“That’s absurd. It can’t be.”

‘Huh? Something’s off.’

I tilted my head. His reaction was different from what I expected. Seeing the Duke hunched over like that made me even more baffled. Why was his confidence so low?

“The feeling you just described sounds like romantic feelings~?”

He flinched.

Suspicious. I decided to change the angle of my questioning a bit.

“Usually behavior that can’t be explained logically stems from emotional issues. If it’s not just anger but a mix of feelings, that’s likely. You must have dated before—at least had a crush! These aren’t feelings an adult should be confused about.”

“…….”

After a long silence, the Duke replied in a small voice.

“I’ve never… done it.”

“……What?”

“I said I’ve never done it…….”

He rubbed the Little Lamb mask as if it were his own face. I was stunned.

That family, that face, that body, those abilities—and he’s never dated? Born single?

Remembering that this was my workplace despite my inner thoughts, I hurriedly tried to recover.

“That’s possible~~! Maybe you just haven’t met the right person yet! Or perhaps you’re picky?”

The last remark was a bit sincere.

“I’m certain that what you’re feeling is romantic feelings—!”

“How can you be so sure of that?”

I haven’t had much experience with romance either, and this guy seemed even more clueless. I decided to explain things more simply.

“Then think about it carefully. Have you ever felt excited and happy just talking to him, wondered what he’s doing when you don’t see him, thought he was cute, or felt suddenly angry and anxious when another man got close to him—?”

“…….”

“Think about it, friend—! You can do it!”

He remained silent. Whoever the other person was, it didn’t look like dating them would be easy.

On the other hand, I had expected him to think of an arranged marriage, so seeing him genuinely troubled was kind of cute. He was always confident, cool, and blunt.

‘I don’t know who it is, but that person’s in for a rough time if they date him—so good luck!’

I clenched both fists in support of who would become his partner.