Chapter 9 

“D-Dating?”

Dana hurriedly wiped the water from her lips.

Thankfully, none of it splashed onto Edwin.

Edwin’s face, smiling brightly, made it difficult to guess what he was thinking.

Whether he was joking or serious.

So Dana decided to dismiss his words as a joke.

“You shouldn’t joke about things like that.”

“It’s not a joke.”

“……”

“Don’t go to that arranged meeting, Dana.”

Dana’s eyes widened.

Edwin refilled her empty glass.

His lips were smiling, but his eyes were completely serious.

With a lazy smile, he continued.

“I know this is sudden and probably overstepping.”

At least he knows he’s overstepping, Dana thought, nodding slightly.

Edwin continued.

“But you said it yourself—you’re thinking of leaving your family.”

“…I did.”

“If you have to marry some stranger, it would be much better to marry me instead.”

Where is that confidence coming from?

Dana, bewildered, asked:

“Why?”

In response, Edwin gently tapped the glass vase placed at the center of the table.

The water inside rippled slightly.

So did the yellow flowers blooming within it.

“These flowers look like they’re already doing their job just by being here…”

“……”

“But for them to bloom this brightly, they need more than you’d expect.”

“Like soil or nutrients?”

“That too. And sunlight or wind.”

“Then what else do they need?”

Edwin signaled the owner of the restaurant with his eyes.

“Eyes filled with affection.”

Affection… It was an emotion she had never received from anyone.

Edwin looked at her and continued.

“That’s very important. The flowers here must have grown with nothing to worry about—just basking in the sunlight, blooming fully.”

“……”

“And behind that was his gaze. Someone who checks every little detail every day.”

Edwin was right.

The owner must have tended to the flower beds with affection alone.

Trimming what was sick, filling what was needed.

With a warm gaze every day.

Understanding his point, Dana let out a bitter smile.

Maybe she had always been waiting for someone to look at her that way.

Then Edwin called her quietly.

“I can do that for you.”

He placed his hand over the back of Dana’s hand on the table.

His warm, gentle touch enveloped her trembling hand.

“You can live looking only at the sunlight, without any worries. I’ll take care of the rest.”

The eyes that always held a relaxed smile now carried deep earnestness.

His red eyes, almost blindly devoted, burned like fire.

Staring at those red eyes as if entranced, Dana asked:

“…Why?”

Why you…? Why go this far for me?

Her eyes were full of confusion, reflecting Edwin.

He smiled softly.

“Who knows.”

“……”

“That’s for you to figure out.”

“For me?”

“Think about it. Why I’m doing this.”

Dana realized, for the first time, that when she overthinks, her mind goes blank.

Edwin’s sudden confession, and his words telling her to think about his reasons…

Everything was overwhelming.

And what bothered her the most was—

‘Why am I feeling like this?’

It was a complicated feeling she had never experienced.

A soft breeze seemed to tickle her chest.

It was like witnessing color seep into a world that once looked gray.

Dana cautiously looked forward.

Edwin’s usually relaxed face looked strangely tense.

Seeing the slight tightness of his lips, Dana realized:

‘He’s serious.’

At that moment, Dana grabbed the glass of water in front of her and gulped it down.

Then, with a trembling but clear voice, she spoke:

“…One week.”

Edwin leaned in, listening carefully.

“Let’s date for one week. I want to experience that gaze too.”

Edwin smiled radiantly at those words.

Like a boy—completely pure and bright.

His eyes, full of joy, were focused solely on Dana.

Realizing that, Dana’s heart began to pound wildly.

‘Why am I like this?’

Edwin exhaled as if relieved.

“I’m confident, you know.”

His honey-sweet voice wrapped around her ears.

Dana let out a faint smile at his bright grin.

She knew one thing for certain:

What she needed right now was to marry quickly.

And Edwin’s feelings could change at any time.

But the reason she impulsively changed her plan was…

“Eyes filled with affection.”

Just for a day—she wanted to feel that gaze.

Even for a single day, if she could feel that… she wouldn’t regret anything.

* * *

After finishing their meal, the two wandered around the plaza without purpose.

Dana could barely keep up with the overflowing liveliness around her.

There were so many things she was curious about, and so many things she wanted to try.

“What’s that place?”

“Looks like a general store. They sell all sorts of things.”

“The shop is pretty. Want to go in?”

Edwin smiled in agreement.

The all-white general store was filled with ribbons and lace, reflecting the owner’s tastes.

Shelves shaped like bookcases displayed dolls, hairpins, and decorative items.

At the center were four oval tables covered with accessories and perfumes.

The middle-aged woman who owned the store sat at the counter, nodding off.

Dana whispered unconsciously.

“Looks like you can test the perfumes.”

She pointed at a sign reading “Test Available.”

“Do you like perfume, Dana?”

“To be exact, I like floral scents. Soft wildflower scents.”

“It suits you.”

Dana’s face warmed at the sudden compliment.

Edwin never hesitated to compliment her.

Trying to hide her shyness, Dana said:

“Perfume was a luxury for me. It’s invisible, and I never had the leisure to dress up anyway.”

Then she picked up a perfume bottle with a yellowish tint.

A glass bottle with a clumsily drawn daisy.

Dana pressed the pump attached to it.

A fresh, sweet scent spread through the air.

Pleased, she swept her hair to one side.

Then she sprayed it on the pale skin of her exposed neck.

‘I really like it.’

Dana decided she would treat herself to this gift.

“What do you think, Edwin? Want to smell it?”

She held the perfume toward Edwin.

She thought his bright blond hair matched the daisy motif well.

“Shall I?”

Edwin stepped closer to Dana.

Then he leaned in, closing the distance between them.

His face neared her shoulder.

Warm breath touched the slender line of her neck.

Dana froze, unable to move.

Every muscle tensed, hyperaware of him.

“It’s real.”

His low voice brushed against her ear.

“It smells wonderful on you, Dana.”

“……”

Then he slowly stepped back.

He gently took the perfume from her hands.

“This is your first-date present.”

Without hesitation, he strode to the counter.

The shopkeeper, suddenly awake, watched them with a delighted expression.

“W-wait!”

Dana finally came to her senses and hurried over, holding a random perfume.

“Then I’ll buy one for you too!”

What she placed on the counter was the daisy perfume she had chosen.

Wait—this is a women’s perfume?

Dana turned to pick a men’s fragrance, but Edwin grabbed her wrist.

“It’s the same scent as yours.”

“Huh?”

“Did you want us to wear matching scents?”

Why does he phrase it like that?

Dana stared at him in disbelief.

Ignoring her glare, Edwin placed the perfume back on the counter.

“Couples wearing the same perfume isn’t a bad idea.”

What is he saying?!

It made her look like she was desperate to show off that they were dating.

“It’s a good time. A good time indeed.”

The shopkeeper said, smirking knowingly at Dana.

“It’s not that…”

“Let’s go, Dana.”

Edwin finished paying and gently took her hand, pulling her outside.

Dana, flustered, didn’t even notice where her own hand was anymore.

“Spray it on me too.”

Edwin placed the daisy perfume in Dana’s hand.

Then he bent down to face her directly.

Seeing his expectant expression, Dana couldn’t help but laugh quietly.

She sprayed the perfume on his neck.

They resumed walking down the street.

Edwin looked down at her with satisfied eyes.

The fact that he and Dana now shared the same scent…

Honestly—

It felt really, really good.