~Chapter 38~
The VIP room suddenly became quiet.
Red eyes looked around the room.
“What a mess.”
The man curled one side of his mouth, as if he didn’t like how chaotic things were.
Everyone felt his overwhelming presence and grew nervous.
“W-who are you?”
All attention turned to the man who had appeared so suddenly. The young lady blushed and pointed at him.
“What are you doing here? Stop interfering!”
“Am I interfering?”
“What…?”
“Count Erbel’s family.”
The man stepped closer to her.
“A family that moves like worms for profit. Like parasites.”
“What did you say? Are you insulting me?!”
“If that’s an insult, I guess I’ll have to apologize to Count Erbel myself.”
“…You don’t know who I am! There’s no family as honest as ours…”
The young lady trailed off. For some reason, she couldn’t express her feelings in front of this man. His quiet, predatory gaze made her shrink back.
His confident actions and dignity made it clear—he wasn’t an ordinary person.
Step, step—
As the man came closer, the young lady stepped back.
“I heard Count Erbel’s boutique business is delayed for lack of funds…”
He whispered to the frozen young lady,
“If Duke Selion doesn’t invest, your business might go bankrupt. Shouldn’t you at least protect your pride?”
“Eeek!”
Frightened, she let out a strange sound. The man stepped back as if nothing happened.
“Anyway, think about it.”
With that, the Count Erbel’s daughter bowed again and again, apologizing as she rushed out of the VIP room.
Astia was surprised by how quickly she gave up.
Who was this man, to control that troublemaker with only a few words?
‘Who is he?’
His voice felt familiar…
Then the man looked at Astia. This time, his eyes were gentle.
“Lady Rovellito. Sorry if I interrupted. There seemed to be some confusion with the reservations, but I saw you in trouble and wanted to help.”
“Oh, no. You helped me. Thank you.”
“It was nothing.”
“But, may I ask who you are…?”
The man looked a bit embarrassed.
“Ah, I haven’t debuted in society yet, so you wouldn’t know me.”
Astia tilted her head. He was clearly a noble of high status, but she couldn’t figure it out.
Madam Seril, who had watched the situation, came forward to thank the man.
“Sir, I was about to call the guards. Thank you for not letting things get worse.”
“You’re welcome. Lady Rovellito, I hope we meet again.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Before the man left, Madam Seril stopped him.
“Sir, you mentioned a mix-up with the reservations. May I ask your name?”
The man paused, thinking for a moment, and then slowly answered.
“Ruby.”
Thump—
Astia felt like her heart dropped.
She quickly tried to stop him.
“Wait, please!”
The man glanced back at her, then disappeared from sight.
Astia ran out of the VIP room after him, but he was already gone.
‘Where did he go?’
She looked around the boutique. The noise and crowds greeted her, but the man was nowhere to be seen.
Astia walked faster.
‘He’s not here.’
Even outside the boutique, he was nowhere.
In the end, Astia gave up looking for him. Suddenly, she felt all her strength drain away.
‘Ruby… why…?’
The name ‘Ruby’ was also used by the person who made the reservation at Ramos Café when she visited with Cecilia. And now, the one who helped her here was also ‘Ruby.’
Even if it was a fake name, it was too obvious.
‘There must be a connection.’
His eyes at the end, too… It felt like he missed her. Maybe she was just imagining it, but it made her even more curious about him.
‘He said he hoped to meet again.’
If he hasn’t debuted in society yet, surely they’ll meet again someday.
“Miss, are you alright?”
Annie asked, looking worried.
Astia realized she’d been standing outside the boutique in a daze.
“No, I’m fine. Let’s go back in.”
“Yes, miss…”
Astia smiled as if nothing was wrong and went back inside, not knowing someone was watching her from afar.
It was by chance that Diego saw Astia.
He came to Bluea Boutique to order clothes, since it was almost time for him to appear in society.
“Did I hear that right?”
“I said ‘Ruby.’”
“Haha… I guess I still don’t know everything about you, my lord. I didn’t know you liked jewels…”
Alfred, pale, made the reservation at the boutique under the name ‘Ruby.’
Check the schedule.
A few days later, they got a letter from Bluea Boutique and went to visit.
They arrived earlier than expected.
‘I should keep quiet.’
He felt the eyes of many young ladies on him, but Diego just stood in a quiet corner like a statue.
“You don’t need to come in person. I can handle it.”
“I do what I want.”
“Uh, yes. I wouldn’t dare question you, my lord…”
“Alfred.”
“Sorry.”
Alfred mumbled complaints and bowed his head.
Diego stopped paying attention to him and looked around.
No one dared approach him.
No one knew he was Duke Selion.
“…!”
Just then, Diego’s eyes widened.
Astia came in, looking mature and beautiful, but a little flustered.
He was about to walk toward her, but Alfred grabbed him.
“My lord! Where are you going? Don’t tell me you see ghosts now?”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
Diego fixed his clothes and tried to act normal, but couldn’t take his eyes off Astia.
When other young men tried to approach her, Diego wanted to break their hands on the spot.
He held back with all his patience.
It wasn’t time yet.
He had even hidden his identity at Zilte Temple.
He had to approach Astia naturally on the day of the debutante ball.
He watched her go to the VIP room.
“Isn’t it our turn?”
“No, it’s later.”
Alfred checked the reservation again and again.
“Huh? That can’t be…”
“Just wait.”
Time didn’t matter.
Seeing Astia was most important.
Diego held his tongue and quietly moved toward the VIP room.
“Where are you going again…? Sigh…”
Alfred mumbled complaints.
Diego ignored him and walked slowly.
“Call them! Go ahead!”
There was a loud commotion from the VIP room.
Someone was yelling, and Astia seemed to be in trouble.
Diego took a deep breath and went in.
The VIP room was a mess.
Astia looked flustered.
The Count Erbel’s daughter was grinning.
Diego’s head heated up, and he spoke through gritted teeth.
“Count Erbel’s family.”
When Diego described their business troubles, the young lady’s face turned pale.
He thought about pushing harder, but decided to stop after glancing at Astia.
“Anyway, think about it.”
As expected, the young lady left in a hurry.
Astia thanked Diego.
He felt a mix of emotions.
He was disappointed she didn’t recognize him, but also smiled.
“But, may I ask who you are…?”
Diego almost introduced himself fully, but held back.
“Ah, I haven’t debuted in noble society, so you wouldn’t know me.”
He thought he was safe, but then Madam Seril asked for his reservation name.
At the end, Diego looked at Astia and quietly said,
“Ruby.”
Then he left without looking back.
“My lord, what about our reservation…?”
Alfred rushed after Diego.
“Wait… why so fast…!”
Diego pulled Alfred into a corner and covered his mouth.
“Mm! Mm!”
“Quiet.”
Alfred nodded.
Soon after, Astia came out of the boutique.
‘Dangerous.’
Watching her, Diego felt his patience running out.
He tried not to show his feelings, telling himself he’d soon show Astia his best side.
He watched as Astia went back into the boutique with her maid and let out a sigh of relief.
Without realizing it, he’d opened his arms toward her.
When he let go of Alfred, the latter gasped.
“Phew! My lord, why did you suddenly hug me…? Don’t tell me…!”
Thud—
“Ow! Did you have to hit the back of my head…?”
“My arm was asleep.”
His arms hung at his sides, unsure where to go.
