Chapter 49
Suddenly, he’s calling me his lover. And now he wants me to be carried by Dante?
“Well, I guess I’m light enough for him to carry.”
I unconsciously glanced at Dante’s thick arm and shook my head before looking back at the rim of my cup.
“What am I even thinking right now?”
It was obviously because of the yarn, yet at some point, that thought vanished, and all I could hear swirling in my mind was the shop owner’s words, implying that Dante and I might be a couple.
“I wonder what the Duke thinks?”
I tried to gauge Dante’s reaction, timidly lifting my head. But just then, our eyes met.
Dante gave a bitter smile.
“You must be disappointed.”
What?
I waved my hands frantically, flustered.
“Oh, no! Disappointed? Not at all! I’m just a little surprised.”
Dante tilted his head slightly at my response and frowned.
“You don’t need to worry about me. I know how much you enjoy knitting.”
“Huh? Knitting?”
“Hmm?”
Only then did I realize that Dante’s “disappointment” referred to me not being able to buy the yarn.
“What the heck! I was overthinking it all by myself!”
I thought he was disappointed because he misunderstood me as his lover!
“Am I the only one worrying about that?”
Dante’s gaze was calm and unwavering. I cleared my throat and quickly shifted the conversation to knitting.
“Knitting isn’t popular at all in the capital. Of course, embroidery is very enjoyable too. Seeing people gather and do embroidery together is quite impressive.”
“They’re probably making goods to sell.”
“Oh, Rowan mentioned that finding skilled embroidery artisans is difficult.”
I had admired it thinking it was just a hobby, but it turned out they were working for profit.
“Well, even if embroidery is a refined skill for noblewomen, many are not good at it. That’s why some secretly commission others.”
Yet, some questions remained. I tilted my head.
“But why make such small-scale products? I’d think there would be more buyers.”
Large tapestry works decorating a foyer take years to complete. But even a few pieces hung around would impress everyone and mark a family as prestigious.
“If they only sell at small shops, wouldn’t the prices be high? Big works would be hard to attempt, and they probably wouldn’t make many pieces at all.”
I rested my chin in my hand, lost in thought. Dante sighed through his nose.
“We can handle other goods, but the artisans aren’t easy to move. They’re stubborn.”
I found it hard to agree with that.
“Perhaps it’s not about stubbornness, but wanting to work with people who respect their craft. They’re human, not tools.”
Also, some might not be accustomed to being part of a guild. They might feel a vague anxiety about being exploited—after all, it’s a completely unfamiliar situation.
“But the Duke is even willing to learn knitting despite being unskilled. Knowing that you respect them this much, they’d gladly join the Veil Guild.”
“Um…”
Dante’s expression hardened at my words. He stroked his chin in thought, then slowly nodded.
“I hadn’t considered it that way. I should tell Rowan again—to assign someone interested in embroidery as the scout.”
“Then they’ll definitely open their heart. I was happy too, because you both praised me.”
“Thanks for the advice.”
Dante thanked me politely, making my heart flutter.
“Did I really help?”
I peeked at his face. The wind ruffled Dante’s bangs, and he looked pleased.
“Am I the only one feeling restless?”
Feeling both relieved and somehow frustrated, I pouted. Suddenly, Dante turned his head and our eyes met.
“Finished your drink?”
“Ah…”
I had been sneaking glances at him, but he seemed to think I was just urging him to leave since my drink was finished.
“Um…”
I hesitated to answer. Even though my cup was empty, I didn’t want to leave my seat. I wanted a little longer to quietly watch Dante.
“I’m acting strange.”
I was definitely feeling something different than usual. Pepe grumbled from my arms, unsettled by my blinking and indecision.
“Stop pretending to be good.”
Before Dante could ask if he heard anything, I jumped up.
“I-I’m going to the restroom!”
“Over there?”
Dante tried to guide me to the restroom, but I dashed quickly toward a secluded alley. Of course, going to the restroom wasn’t the real goal. I immediately pulled Pepe from my pocket, clutching his soft little body with both hands, and shouted.
“Why are you like this!”
Despite my yelling, Pepe showed no remorse, pretending to dig at his unhearing ears.
“What did I do? That guy is mean. Just pretending to be considerate.”
“You don’t really know the Duke.”
“Hmph, even if I don’t know, I know something. Look at his face—it’s like a brick.”
“What does it mean to look like a brick?”
I pouted in disbelief. Dante? He was just handsome.
“Ah! What am I even thinking now?”
I shook my red face, and Pepe, who had been glaring at me with his thin eyes, snapped his head away.
“Anyway, I don’t like that guy. Stop nagging too.”
“He’s being stubborn!”
I was probably babbling nervously because I didn’t want him to notice.
Pepe gestured toward the street.
“Go catch up. You’ll lose him.”
“Ah, Duke.”
Focusing on Pepe, I had forgotten Dante was waiting outside. I tucked Pepe back in my pocket and stepped into the street. People suddenly filled the area, and Dante was hard to spot. Just as I turned my head to search for him…
“Ivon!”
Someone grabbed my wrist tightly. Hearing the familiar voice made goosebumps run down my spine. I hesitated but looked back.
Soft brown hair, gentle green eyes.
An all-too-familiar face was staring at me. I couldn’t believe it, whispering his name.
“…Emil?”
A smile spread across his face.
“I missed you, Ivon.”
But I couldn’t smile. In fact, his bright smile disgusted me. I frowned and asked.
“Why are you here?”
Emil blinked, slightly surprised by my cold tone, then resumed his usual gentle smile, as if to soothe me.
“Of course I came to find you. Do you know how worried I was when you disappeared?”
As if that were an excuse. If he had any conscience, he wouldn’t say that. At the very least, shouldn’t he have apologized first for deceiving me all this time?
“I even left a letter telling you not to look for me. I don’t understand why you were worried.”
“I am your fiancé. The one who’s supposed to marry you. One letter isn’t enough to convince me, is it?”
“Strictly speaking, we weren’t engaged when I left, so we’re not really betrothed.”
“Ivon.”
Emil was acting as if everything that forced me to leave the Cline family didn’t matter.
I contradicted him point by point, and his face hardened. Then, his eyes drooped in disappointment.
“Why are you speaking so harshly? That’s not like you.”
I couldn’t help a bitter laugh. Not like me? Why do I speak harshly?
“Rowan was right. Maybe I should have slapped him.”
How shameless can someone be? I turned my head sharply.
“I don’t want to talk to you anymore. Let go.”
But Emil didn’t release my hand. Instead, he pulled me toward him, pleading.
“Ivon, whatever you saw, it was a misunderstanding. Please trust me.”
“A misunderstanding?”
Ah. That’s why he was trying to pretend nothing happened. I glared at him.
“I saw it with my own eyes. What’s misunderstood?”
“What exactly did you see?”
“You two slept together in the study.”
