[CHAPTER 97]
My heart pounded wildly, completely out of control.
Feeling both happy and embarrassed, I let out a squeal and hit Aizen on the shoulder.
“Oh my, Your Grace, honestly! How embarrassing…!”
So no matter how he looked, he meant that he liked me because I was the one seeing him.
But maybe I failed to control my strength without realizing it.
Aizen, who had been taking the blows to his shoulder, staggered and fell backward.
Ah, no!
I hurriedly grabbed Aizen by the collar, only to be dragged down with him.
I’m sorry, you’re heavier than I thought.
Fortunately, I fell on top of Aizen as he landed in the grass.
Even then, he wrapped an arm around my waist to protect me from getting hurt.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, but Your Grace…”
I wanted to ask if he was okay, but his face was far too close.
His deep-set eyes beneath straight brows, his smooth, high nose bridge, and skin as flawless as snow, befitting a northerner.
Without realizing it, my gaze traced his features inch by inch until it finally settled on his lips.
Why did a stage kiss scene suddenly come to mind?
I swallowed hard just then.
“What do you think you’re doing in public?”
An old man passing by beside us muttered with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Young people these days. Tsk, tsk.”
He even clicked his tongue as he shook his head.
Thanks to that, I snapped back to my senses and hurriedly scrambled off Aizen.
While I straightened my rumpled clothes, Aizen also stood up with a flushed face.
My own complexion was probably no different, judging by how hot I felt, like midsummer.
“I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hit your shoulder.”
“No, it’s my fault. I didn’t see the stone and tripped.”
“Th-then shall we keep walking?”
I pointed toward the long, open path ahead so we could resume our walk.
At that, Aizen quietly held out his hand.
The moment I took it.
Peck.
He bent down and kissed me, then straightened up as if nothing had happened.
Only I was left stunned, hopping in place as I stared at him.
“W-What are you doing in public?”
“Wasn’t that what you wanted?”
“M-me…?”
When Aizen answered yes, the corner of his lips curved mischievously.
“Your eyes looked rather suggestive earlier.”
“Then I’ll do it with a kiss.”
As I voiced my regret, he looked down at me with a mix of fluster and disbelief, then let out a low laugh.
“I really can’t win with you. What the young lady meant is… we’ll do that once there are fewer eyes around.”
“Yes, sir.”
Nodding gently, I tugged at Aizen’s hand.
After checking the direction I was heading, he immediately stopped me.
“That doesn’t mean we go somewhere secluded right away.”
“Hing, yes.”
Being a gentle lady is really hard.
After the date ended.
Aizen escorted me all the way to the Granger Count’s residence.
I thanked him as he helped me down politely.
“Thank you. I had such a great time today thanks to you, Your Grace! Honestly, I had so much fun that I don’t even want to part. I almost want to hide you in my room.”
I meant it sincerely.
Back when we lived together as the Croitz couple, it felt like a shame to use separate rooms, and now that we lived in entirely different houses, my feet refused to move.
Aizen slightly lowered his head and cupped my cheek with one hand, lifting my face.
“Then I’d get arrested.”
“If I hid you, why would you be?”
“To others I might look like a dangerous man, but to them, the young lady would look small, fragile, and adorable, like a newborn puppy.”
Huh, me?
Blinking in confusion, I snapped my fingers together.
“Ah! That means I look like that to you, Your Grace, right?”
“…If you understood, just keep it to yourself. It’s a bit embarrassing.”
Aizen chuckled softly and met my eyes.
Was it just my imagination, or did his gaze feel unusually deep?
“Miss Granger.”
Tap.
The tip of his shoe touched the front of mine.
As I instinctively tried to step back, a large, warm hand caught my waist.
Beyond Aizen, the sunset was breathtakingly beautiful, but I barely registered it.
Feeling a tremor as his face drew closer, I closed my eyes.
He gently captured my lips.
Our mingling breaths felt sweet.
Even though it wasn’t my first kiss, it was still so intoxicating it felt like bells were ringing.
Aizen slowly pulled away, smiling with softened eyes.
Then he slipped a hand into his jacket pocket and took out a small box.
“Take it.”
“Huh? What is this?”
“A gift.”
***
Miss Perkins, the Count’s daughter, was a well-established figure in the capital’s social circle.
Whenever she hosted a party, attendees ranged from other count families to ducal houses, making it famous for expanding one’s connections.
Wearing an elegant apricot off-shoulder dress like layered petals and a determined expression, I arrived at the Perkins residence.
As I entered the garden where the tea party was being held, I saw many guests already gathered and chatting.
So Miss Owen should be somewhere around here.
Good, I’ll greet the host first before looking.
“Welcome, Miss Granger.”
“Hello, Miss Perkins. Thank you so much for inviting me.”
“Not at all. I actually wanted to meet you at least once. I hope you enjoy yourself today.”
After exchanging pleasantries with Miss Perkins, I wandered through the garden in search of Miss Owen.
I heard she had orange hair and green eyes.
Oh, there she is!
On one side of the garden in full bloom, a woman with particularly glossy hair sat alone.
Yet she didn’t look lonely or desolate, instead appearing noble and aloof, as if deliberately keeping her distance from others.
I took out a mirror from my bag to check my face once, then approached Miss Owen.
“Hello, may I sit with you?”
When I greeted her with a bright smile, Miss Owen lifted her cold gaze to look at me.
It’s coming. I can feel it.
She’s going to reject me.
Sensing it instinctively, I quickly took the seat beside her before she could answer.
Her lips twitched for a moment, but I pretended not to notice.
“I’m Jena Granger.”
“……”
“You’re Miss Owen, right?”
“So?”
Her icy voice replied flatly.
Though her lack of welcome was obvious, I kept my smile and continued cheerfully.
“I’m so glad to meet you! I wanted to get close to you today. May I sit here and have tea together?”
At that, the corner of her lips lifted like a painted curve as she let out a dry laugh, clearly not amused.
“I have no desire to befriend you. Why did you approach me?”
Miss Owen raised her chin slightly with a sharp gaze.
I quickly clasped my hands together in response to her demand.
Phew, that’s a relief. I thought she’d just tell me to get lost.
She fell silent, her expression stiffening slightly.
It looked like she’d lost her words, so maybe I should give her three reasons.
“First, we’re the same age. There are plenty of people our age in society, but finding someone exactly the same age is surprisingly rare, right?”
True same-age friends are precious.
“Second, we have similar tastes. You’re using scented oil from the Triumphal Merchant Guild, right? It’s a familiar scent. I recognized it immediately.”
It was definitely the red rosemary and lavender oil supplied by the Jena Merchant Guild.
Unable to deny it, Miss Owen fiddled with her hair and frowned.
“I like that product too. And third, if we get along, it benefits both of us.”
“…The earlier reasons were absurd enough, but what’s with the last one? What benefit could Miss Granger possibly offer me?”
“Did you know that the Triumphal Guild products you use are actually consigned from other guilds?”
Miss Owen’s brows twitched as if she hadn’t known.
I casually took out the gift I’d brought for her from my bag.
“I happen to know that guild quite well. I brought a new product that hasn’t been released yet. I’d like to give it to you.”
“……!”
Her eyes, which had been wary of me the whole time, wavered noticeably.
But she soon composed herself and refused.
“No, thank you. I don’t want to befriend someone using such materialistic methods.”
As expected, it wouldn’t be easy.
Still, I couldn’t back down, so I forced the gift into her hand and spoke.
“It may look materialistic to you, but to me, it’s just goodwill toward someone who enjoys the same products.”
“Enough, take it back. If a new product comes out, I’ll buy it myself.”
“Really? I heard it’s hard to purchase lately because their stock has been reduced.”
I knew well, since I’d asked the Crown Princess to intentionally limit sales.
Miss Owen must have already failed several times to get it.
With existing products hard to find, how would she manage a new one on her own?
“You don’t have to befriend me. Just take it. It’s only a test product with small amounts of various items anyway.”
“……”
“Then I’ll go talk with others!”
Leaving Miss Owen unable to either accept or return the gift, I picked up my bag and stood.
Before leaving, I gave her one last line.
“If you’d like to purchase new products in advance, please contact me.”
The moment she took this bait, the real plan to recruit Miss Owen would begin.
Because I’d tailored the products specifically for her, there was no way she could resist contacting me.
