Chapter 98

As soon as I finished the day’s counseling hours, I headed to where the Duke was waiting. Everyone tried to keep me for a company dinner, but oddly, when I said the Supreme Justice had called, they let me go with sympathetic faces.

‘It’s nice to avoid unnecessary attention, though.’

Simon even clicked his tongue, saying he wished people would stop fussing over me. I neither affirmed nor denied it and quickly left the mansion.

The Duke was waiting in a casual shirt and trousers rather than formal attire. It was the first time I’d seen him so informal outside of spending a night at the Duke’s residence.

“This way.”

He gently took my hand and helped me into the carriage. Unlike at the banquet, I felt fluttery and my heart raced. He, who had been leaning back lazily, slowly bent his large torso toward me.

“You must be tired from speaking all day; thank you for seeing me like this.”

He looked over my face as if checking whether I was tired. I briefly stopped by my lodgings to touch up my makeup and praised myself. I didn’t have time to pick a dress, but this was the minimum preparation.

“Supreme Justice, too. I heard from Illya that you’re busy packing things for your return home. It’s the delegation’s last day, so I’m glad we could go out like this.”

When I smiled, the Duke turned his head and cleared his throat. He gave off an easy, older-attractive kind of vibe, but seeing him like this made him unbearably cute.

The carriage stopped at a restaurant with a nice view. Choosing to fill our stomachs first was, as expected, the move of a capable man of the Empire.

“Wow, I’ve never had a dish like this before.”

“It’s a menu you can only get in Yuno. I like it too.”

He displayed dining manners so perfect it was impossible to believe he was ever single. He explained the dishes in detail and personally cut the foods that needed slicing. It was clearly a date, but somehow I felt like I was being treated with exceptional care.

“Supreme Justice, you should eat too.”

When I looked up and met the Duke’s eyes, he suddenly lowered his gaze and began cutting the fish steak on his plate.

Let me correct myself.

‘Skilled, my foot.’

He must not have wanted to show that it was his first time. He looked so cute I couldn’t help teasing him.

“Supreme Justice.”

“Yes…”

He opened his eyes wide again, then dropped them abruptly.

“Supreme Justice.”

“…”

“Supreme Justice.”

His ears grew redder and redder.

“…Can’t we start with the meal?”

“Yes!”

I chuckled and finally stopped teasing him.

Going too far with anything makes people angry, so it’s better to stop at the right moment. Still, I wanted to get a proper look at that handsome face… .

“Supreme Justice. Can’t you look at me a little? You said you came to see me.”

The Duke covered half his face with one hand and shook his head.

“…Ahem. I’m awkward about this situation too.”

“I want to see your face too… .”

No sooner had I finished speaking than the Duke removed his hand from his face and faced me directly, meeting my eyes.

“…!”

“…!”

For a moment, a quiet stillness fell as if time had stopped.

Only the Duke’s beautiful face filled my vision. Sharp, delicate features that hinted at an elegant wildness. And I was completely drawn into his crimson eyes that filled everything.

It lasted mere seconds—an instant. Yet as if we’d both been holding our breath underwater for a long time, we turned our heads and gasped simultaneously.

“Hah.”

“Phew.”

I couldn’t remember how I ate the rest of the food.

Next, to work off our meals, we strolled along the harbor and nearby market streets. It was a place I’d visited with Aidan, Lukan, and Elysia before, but somehow it felt completely different now. Everything seemed like a painting.

My heart felt half-floating—dreamy and tingling—and it was a feeling I had never experienced before.

‘So this is how love feels.’

It felt strange to think that everyone had lived feeling this way. I didn’t know how to bring up the topic with the other person; I felt both awkward and excited, and I couldn’t put this pleasant feeling into a single word. It was like several kinds of sweetness mixed together.

“Look, there’s a pretty workshop.”

“Shall we go in?”

He spoke in a sweet, unusual tone and choice of words that would make my sibling do a happy dance if they heard it, and we went inside. There were many small but sturdy and aesthetically pleasing items. I suddenly wanted to commemorate today.

“A fountain pen.”

The Duke, browsing around, showed interest in the fountain pen I had chosen. It had a clean design aside from a delicate pattern on the nib, which made me like it more. It even had an anti-ink-splash enchantment, so it was practical as well.

“Do you do engraving here?”

“Of course. We can do it on the spot.”

I immediately chose two fountain pens and wrote the names to be engraved on a piece of paper and handed it over. The Duke watched with curiosity but smiled softly and waited for the engraving.

“All done.”

I handed him the fountain pen engraved with his name.

“It’s my gift. Today is also the last day you’re staying in Yuno, and since it’s the first time… I wanted to mark it somehow.”

The Duke took the pen, looking bewildered. He seemed a little burdened; his face grew stern.

‘Was that too much for a first date?’

I reflected that I had gotten carried away and quickly tried to apologize.

“…Was that a bit too much? If so, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t see what meaning it has for me to own something with my name engraved on it.”

“Yes?”

The Duke then took the fountain pen from my hand and placed his own on the counter.

“Now it’s acceptable.”

Then he raised one corner of his mouth in what could only be called a satisfied smile.

My brain froze for a moment; when I registered what had happened, my face flushed. The Duke had casually paid for the fountain pens.

“Oh! It was my gift. I’ll pay! You even bought lunch.”

“Is there an idiot who lets a lover pay? Don’t say that again unless you want to shame me to death.”

“No, no need to go that far…”

I had briefly forgotten this was a class-separated, patriarchal noble society. I decided to respect his pride as a noble.

“Thank you. I’ll use it well.”

“You gave it to me. I’ll make good use of it.”

We bickered about whose gift it was as we left the shop. The last place he took me was one of Yuno’s landmarks—the clock tower.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes? Oh!”

He claimed it was hard to climb to the top, so he gently scooped me up in a princess carry and in one breath reached the destination. Seeing that, I wondered if he had really been shy just moments ago. But when I saw the view he showed me, such thoughts vanished completely.

“Wow.”

It was a view as if stars were pouring down. The wide-open sky was studded with countless stars that glittered like jewels. Staring at the sky, it felt as if I were in the universe.

“So… beautiful…”

“I’m glad you like it too.”

“How did you find a place like this?”

“I needed a place to think. I told you—I was out of my mind after you avoided me.”

“…!”

He smiled with a playful curl at the corner of his mouth.

“Supreme Justice…!”

“I was wandering aimlessly back then and found this place. The sight of the stars felt like they were telling me not to give up. Even so, it was so beautiful that I thought I wanted to come here with you.”

Just as I had thought of the Duke while wandering under the oracle’s influence, hearing that he had thought of me during hard times made my heart tighten a little.

“I’m glad we could come together before returning.”

The Duke gently took my hand with his large, long fingers. My small hand slipped entirely into his as if hiding. It seemed like it would be cold, but it was warm. I held his hand tightly in return.

“…Please take care of me from now on, Duke.”

Even at my awkward, office-worker-esque sincere words, the Duke narrowed his eyes and smiled.

“I’m the one who asks for your care.”

We stared at the stars, holding hands for a long time. No matter what happens from now on, I don’t think I’ll ever forget this moment.

We finished the delegation’s schedule and returned to Resera. I only exchanged awkward greetings with Olgard. I told my family, including Marcella, about it. I had no idea whether he’d return to the Empire or stay longer in Yuno, but I said he was doing well. Their reaction wasn’t as enthusiastic as I’d expected. Essentially, ‘Glad you’re doing well.’ It was convenient not to have to explain in detail, but it was surprising.

And the next day, I returned to the Chancellery after a long time. Passing the familiar Imperial Palace scenery and entering the central ministries’ lobby, I saw a crowd gathered around the central ministries’ bulletin board.

‘What’s going on?’

As I approached, people who saw me parted like the Red Sea. An ominous feeling, unlike usual, began to creep in.

‘What crappy task did they make me do this time…’

When I read the notice posted on the board, I froze on the spot and couldn’t say a word.