Chapter 79

<Aidan, who had waited in front of the palace, escorted me, but nothing registered in my eyes.>

“Coco, are you okay? Is something wrong?”

“No, no. It’s nothing. Thank you.”

I showered and immediately crawled into bed, pulling the covers over my head.

‘How could this happen… Does this make any sense?’

Why would the Duke like me? It’s a lie even on April Fools’ Day. No matter how I ransacked my memory, I couldn’t recall a single moment that could have been a flirtation with him.

“She definitely said she had someone she liked.”

But the timing of the confession was too coincidental. Judging from the personality I’d seen, it wouldn’t be a prank or a hidden-camera gag. The most plausible thing was that he was trying to acquire a subordinate.

“But…”

“Even if you say that, I won’t do overtime. No way!”

“You don’t have to do overtime. I know now.”

“I like you.”

“Ha, this is driving me insane…”

My thoughts began to cross the line little by little.

“Is it like ‘let’s date before marriage’? Enjoying freedom?”

But I knew he had been single his whole life. A person who cursed the Crown Prince on Those Who Can’t Resign wouldn’t lie about being a lifelong single, and it seemed unlikely he’d suddenly confess like a Casanova.

“No, there has to be something plausible so I can at least pretend to ponder it!”

I was so flustered that I bolted out of there shouting ‘Don’t be ridiculous!’

If I’d stayed calm a bit longer, I would have asked questions. It felt like a regular office worker suddenly being confessed to by a chaebol owner’s son.

“The answer is decided anyway.”

Being the Duke doesn’t change anything. If I hastily started dating and then disappeared, would that be fair to the original soul of this body… would it be good?

No! It would be extremely rude to the other person.

There was no flirtation between us, so refusing should be easier. I forced myself to calm down and closed my eyes.

But even in my dreams the Duke’s beautiful, smiling face kept repeating itself, and I couldn’t sleep.

“Why does he have to be unnecessarily handsome?”

In the end I barely slept and went to work. Walking down the central ministry corridor with a haggard face, the atmosphere among people felt different.

‘Could there have been a witness yesterday?’

Usually almost no one stayed that late, so that was an unexpected variable. If rumors spread it would be troublesome. I pricked up my ears to catch any snippets.

‘If it goes wrong, I might really have to quit.’

I wet my drying lips with my tongue to soothe my anxiety.

“Did you hear that?”

“I heard it. Amazing. I thought I must have misheard.”

“That notoriously filthy secretary Tom… was it Hank?”

“That’s right. He and aide Reyra from the Ministry of Finance are dating!”

“What?!”

It was such a shock that I momentarily forgot yesterday’s confession. The two officials who had been whispering saw me shout and scurried away.

I went straight into the Chancellery. Assistant secretaries, scribes, and secretaries were gathered around the room. A foreboding feeling that the rumor I’d just heard might be true washed over me.

“Coco!”

Elysia led everyone calling out nicknames until you couldn’t even tell names, and Lukan’s desperate shout made me sense the truth immediately. The face of the guy blushing with embarrassment among my colleagues confirmed it.

I headed straight out to the Ministry of Finance.

“Lady Reyra!”

The situation here was the same. Colleagues from the Ministry of Finance were gathered around her, murmuring. Abel pretended to dab tears with a handkerchief.

“I didn’t nurture her carefully to send her off to a guy like this…”

“Send her off? What are you talking about. Oh, Cornelia!”

Reyra, who spotted me, waved leisurely. As I approached, the Ministry of Finance people made way.

“Lady Reyra. How did this happen?”

“Ahem… It just happened like that.”

I couldn’t understand the situation at all.

“‘It happened like that’? Did you suddenly feel pity—did he look pitiful to you?”

If she accepted him out of pity, we’d have to bear the karmic consequences, so I was prepared to tell her to stop immediately.

“He’s cute.”

“So he’s cute… Huh?”

Lately things have been happening that leave me speechless.

“You think he’s cute?”

Reyra simply nodded.

“His face went red and he handed over a trembling letter— it was cute.”

‘When did that guy decide to confess so quickly again?’

“People say I’m popular, but men who approach me so directly are rare. Usually they only stare.”

“So you liked his courageous approach?”

“That too, and lately he’s become more presentable. His hair and clothes are neat, he’s lost weight and looks much better. So I decided to give him a chance.”

Reyra’s expression, slightly flushed as she spoke, was not a lie.

‘She’s already fallen under a blindfold of love.’

It was hard to tell whether I should be happy about this or not.

‘I didn’t intend for her to become this happy…’

My goal had been to fix his bad habit, not to hand her a relationship as a bonus. I hadn’t expected it to succeed.

‘Well, the goal was achieved, so I guess that’s something to be glad about.’

I blamed myself for devising such a crazy plan.

I trudged back to the Chancellery like a defeated soldier. Through the corridor windows I saw more male couples who looked like lovers than before. Mr. Bull’s remark that pink vibes were flowing through the central ministries after the banquet and royal exchange was coming true before my eyes.

“Based on what people say, I should be one of them too.”

I felt utterly left out.

“Secretary Cornelia.”

Then someone quietly called my name from behind. Instinctively knowing who it was, I startled and turned. The Duke stood there with a smile at the corner of his mouth.

‘A smile—unbelievable.’

Now every action felt deliberate and it was maddening.

He was usually expressionless and curt, so I had the crazy thought that the smile he put on was because of me.

“Did you get home okay yesterday? You ran off like that and I was worried.”

“Ah, y-yes…”

The Duke looked at me for a moment and spoke.

“Could you spare a moment?”

Perfect timing. I would have to give an answer eventually; this was better than dragging it out.

“Yes, Supreme Justice.”

He led me to an empty office on the top floor of the central ministry. As the moment to talk approached, my heart pounded.

“Secretary Cornelia.”

He closed the door and faced me. I unconsciously clenched my hands.

“I wanted to continue the conversation we had yesterday. But first, I should tell you— I hope my liking you isn’t a burden on you.”

‘How am I supposed to not be burdened by that?’

Refusing Girion’s feelings wasn’t easy either. But this was a confession from a former boss, a man with a striking, rugged beauty and unusual status. Telling me not to feel burdened was almost deceitful.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect to confess like this so suddenly. You must have been surprised; I’m sorry.”

“…”

Another apology almost softened me, but dithering wasn’t my style. Since I had heard his sincerity, I decided to refuse as honestly as possible.

“Supreme Justice, I truly appreciate your feelings. I was very surprised… and I’m sorry I ran off like that. Honestly, I’m very flustered. I don’t know why you would like me, and there wasn’t anything between us…”

He listened to my words silently.

“I don’t know if I may say this, but I don’t think I can accept your feelings. I’m sorry.”

I bowed in apology. The weight of this felt different from when Girion had asked.

“I see.”

The Duke spoke slowly.

“I respect your feelings. I should have taken time to get closer to you; I made a mistake.”

He was calm, not angry.

“There wasn’t any special reason I liked you. I liked that you take responsibility and work hard, that you would speak up when needed even as others stayed silent. There were conflicts, but pushing through with your convictions was admirable. I liked how you help others; I liked that you are a warm person.”

His calm, not-quite-a-confession made my face grow hotter and hotter.

It wasn’t an impulse. He had been watching me. The expression on his face as he looked at me wasn’t stern or frightening, but a soft, warm look I’d never seen before.

“I’m sorry for repeatedly asking you to work overtime. Embarrassingly, I didn’t like that you went out on dates with that knight. I was surprised I could act so childish. But thanks to that, I realized exactly what my feelings are.”

My heart fluttered at his immense, untainted sincerity.