Chapter 58
“Lucia!”
Arista, who had made a peculiar expression when she saw Vern, brightened up upon spotting Lucia appearing behind him.
Lucia looked somewhat reluctantly at Arista, who was approaching her cheerfully, and at Herwin, who was standing frozen in place.
She never imagined she would run into the two of them in a place like this.
“What brings you here? Could it be… a date?”
Arista whispered, giving Vern a sidelong glance. Lucia didn’t know how to answer.
She had gone on a few dates with Vern before, but today was purely about helping him pick a gift for Tiana. She wondered whether this could even be called a “date.”
As Lucia hesitated to reply, Vern spoke up.
“Yes. Today, I had something important to do, and Lucia helped me.”
“Oh, I see.”
Though unspoken, both Arista and Herwin interpreted this as the two of them dating.
Herwin, who had been stiff, finally relaxed and started to move.
As Herwin approached, Lucia instinctively held onto Vern’s arm.
Feeling her tension, Vern glanced at her subtly.
“What about you two? What brings you here? You didn’t just happen to come into the store together, did you?”
Arista was slightly taken aback by Lucia’s question.
“Ah, well…”
“I had promised to go shopping with Arista today,” Herwin answered on behalf of Arista.
Seeing them together confirmed what Lucia had feared. She had expected it, but the impact was bigger than she thought, so she gripped Vern’s arm even tighter.
Despite the firmness of her hand, her face betrayed no emotion.
“I see. So, you were planning to buy something?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
It was an ordinary conversation, but the atmosphere felt strangely tense. Sweating nervously in the stifling air, Arista exaggerated her tone.
“We just came in a little while ago. If you don’t mind, would you like to look around together?”
“I don’t mind… Vern, would that be okay?”
Vern smiled at Lucia, who, glancing at Arista and Herwin, whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
“If it’s uncomfortable, we can go somewhere else.”
Even unintentionally, being with the friends of his fiancée-to-be would naturally be awkward for him.
“It’s fine. This is a good chance to get closer to Lucia’s friends,” Vern replied softly.
Lucia couldn’t help but feel grateful for his gentle response.
Meanwhile, Arista, who had been watching the two, gazed at Vern with interest, noticing how much he cared for Lucia. Herwin, however, only furrowed his brow.
The four of them began to browse the store seriously.
“This is nice.”
While examining the items on the display, Arista pointed at a pair of earrings.
They weren’t flashy, but their simple elegance was appealing.
“These would suit you well,” she said.
“They’re pretty, but since they’re blue topaz, I’m not sure if they really match me,” Arista replied, frowning and staring at them for a while.
Finally, Herwin, unable to bear it any longer, called a staff member to take out the earrings and held one up to Arista’s ear.
Given her striking appearance, the earrings suited her well.
“See? They look good.”
“Really?”
Curious, Arista took the earring from Herwin and checked her reflection in the mirror.
Still uncertain, she called over Lucia.
“Lucia, what do you think?”
Lucia, who had been unconsciously observing Arista and Herwin, snapped back to attention. A glimmer appeared in her previously vacant gaze.
“Huh?”
“Do these suit me? I really can’t tell.”
Lucia glanced at Arista. Despite wearing a simple shirt and worn pants, her beauty did not fade. In fact, she looked more radiant than ever, making Lucia’s mouth go slightly bitter.
“Yes, they suit you. Honestly, anything would look good on you.”
“No way, you’re just flattering me.”
“I’m not lying… Ah…!”
Lucia suddenly remembered something and let out a short scream.
“Oh, Herwin. Didn’t you buy a gift for Arista last time?”
The last time they had come to this store, Herwin had bought something that seemed to be a piece of women’s jewelry.
Herwin looked puzzled, not understanding what Lucia meant.
“You know, last time we came here, you bought that piece of women’s jewelry. Wasn’t it meant for Arista?”
Only then did Herwin realize what Lucia was talking about. He was initially surprised, but his expression gradually hardened.
His cold look made Lucia flinch, wondering if she had made a mistake.
“You bought a gift for me? I’ve never received anything like that.”
Arista, not knowing the situation, looked puzzled, and Herwin opened his mouth, sighed deeply, and rubbed the back of his neck.
“It’s not like that. I did buy something, but… it wasn’t meant for Arista.”
“Really? Then who was it for?”
Herwin looked at Lucia, but she had no idea.
Herwin’s red eyes flickered, and seeing Vern approaching Lucia, he closed his mouth tightly.
“…There’s someone.”
“That’s anticlimactic.”
Unlike Arista, who quickly lost interest, Lucia quietly clenched her fist and pressed it to her chest, her face full of confusion.
‘Not Arista?’
The only possible recipients of Herwin’s gift would be his mother, Scarlet, or Arista. So who could it be?
No matter how much she thought, she couldn’t find an answer.
“Lucia.”
Lucia looked up at the voice calling her. Vern had approached.
“Would you come with me for a moment?”
“Huh?”
Lucia, feeling flustered, took his offered hand and followed him.
They arrived at a display filled with various gemstone necklaces.
A staff member handed Vern a necklace, which he gently placed around Lucia’s neck.
“Hm, it really suits you.”
“…Uh, this is…”
“Do you like it?”
Lucia, unable to understand Vern’s action, looked embarrassed. Vern chuckled lightly.
“I want to thank you for helping me today. Is that okay?”
“Huh?”
Lucia exclaimed in surprise, drawing the attention of Arista and Herwin.
“Oh, no, it’s not like I expected this…”
“I understand. I just wanted to do it,” Vern said.
Lucia nervously glanced back and forth between Vern and the necklace in his hand.
“Still, this is a bit too much…”
“But you like it, right?”
Lucia examined the necklace carefully. Its delicate gold chain and neatly cut emerald were impressive. It was a design suitable for any occasion.
“…Yes, it’s beautiful.”
“Then it’s settled.”
Before she could protest, Vern asked the staff to wrap the necklace. Seeing her flustered, he placed a hand on her head.
“Please accept this. It will make me feel at ease.”
Lucia finally nodded, rolling her eyes. Vern patted her head gently and headed to the counter.
Left alone, Lucia brushed the cold hand off her hair. At that moment, Arista and Herwin approached.
“…What was that just now?”
“Looks like he bought something,” Arista said, her voice full of curiosity, unlike Herwin, who spoke in a low tone.
Lucia, still staring at Vern, muttered absentmindedly.
“He bought me a necklace.”
“Really?” Arista exclaimed.
Behind her, Herwin frowned. Seeing Lucia so dazed for the first time, he placed a hand over his chest.
‘Why is this happening…?’
He had resolved not to like Lucia and decided to support her being with Marquis Casper.
Yet, within half a day, those feelings wavered.
The heart he thought was open gradually started to feel blocked again, as if a massive boulder had been placed on it.
If he were honest about his feelings at that moment:
“…It bothers me.”
“Huh? What did you just say?”
Lucia turned at Herwin’s muttered words. Seeing herself reflected in his sky-blue eyes, Herwin’s gaze trembled.
He opened his mouth but clenched his fist instead.
“No, nothing.”
Lucia tilted her head, then hurried to Vern when she saw him finish at the counter.
As she walked away, Arista stole a glance at Herwin.
He was watching the two warmly and shyly chatting.
Unlike Lucia, who hadn’t heard him, Arista clearly understood what he had said—and the look in his eyes toward Lucia.
Arista diverted her gaze and looked at Lucia and Vern. Somehow, she felt she understood his emotions.
“Hey, we’ve finished shopping. Did you two buy anything?”
Lucia approached with Vern.
“No, I’m not buying anything.”
“I don’t need anything either.”
Arista and Herwin shook their heads, deciding not to buy anything.
Having finished all their errands, they left the store.
The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink.
“Time’s already this late.”
“Yes, it’ll be six soon, right?”
Fifteen minutes remained until six. They hesitated about whether to go home or not when Herwin spoke.
“Since we’ve met like this, why don’t we have dinner together?”
Herwin was the one to suggest dinner to Vern first. The offer surprised both Lucia and Vern, who had assumed he didn’t like Vern.
Vern, who had seemed reluctant, soon returned to his usual self and gladly accepted.
“Sure, let’s do that.”
“Vern!”
Lucia hurriedly called him, and Vern smiled and patted her shoulder reassuringly.
Herwin’s brows furrowed even more as he watched.
Observing the situation, Arista spoke.
“Shall we move to a restaurant? Dinner time is soon, and the place will get crowded.”
Everyone agreed and headed toward the dining area.
Walking ahead, Arista and Herwin led the way while Lucia lagged slightly behind and whispered to Vern.
“Are you really okay with this?”
“Of course. As I said before, this is a good chance to talk with your friends. Do you think I’d mind getting close to them?”
“No, it’s not that… it just feels a little sudden.”
Though encountering them in the store was accidental, this dinner was entirely Herwin’s suggestion.
Unable to explain properly, Lucia hesitated, and Vern whispered just for her to hear.
“Actually, I want to score some points this time. That friend seems not to like me much.”
Vern subtly pointed at Herwin. He clearly knew Herwin didn’t like him either.
Clenching his fist determinedly, Vern was set to do his best, but Lucia couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
She had an ominous premonition that something was about to happen.
