CHAPTER 71…………………………………………
“Didn’t you get dumped by that baker’s son last time?”
At the brutally blunt question, Josh’s shoulders twitched.
He hurriedly lowered his head over his cold drink to hide his expression, but that act alone was as good as answering.
“In the spring, didn’t you even make that jerk a new suit? No, before that you lent money to the butcher and never got it back, so I suppose that’s nothing in comparison?”
“N-no, he promised he’d pay me back for sure.”
There wasn’t a hint of confidence in Josh’s protesting voice. Anje clicked her tongue.
Josh’s birth chart had far too much Wood energy, causing trouble. Her relationships were not just harmonious—they were too giving, making men take her for granted.
To think being too kind and considerate could be a flaw! She would be upset to hear it, but the real problem was that the only men she ever met were those who exploited her personality.
If only she’d develop some discernment when it came to men, but Josh’s sharp perception seemed to dull only in front of them. And yet she acted like she knew better…
“When?”
Anje, eyes narrowed, smacked the table. If Josh let that borrowed money slip away again, Anje would ask Elliott to retrieve it by force if needed.
She knew how hard Josh had worked to save that money. She ran all sorts of errands for the head maid through the freezing winter, and at an age when girls wanted to dress up, she only had a single outfit to wear outside.
“When exactly did he say he’d pay you back?”
With a firm expression, Anje rolled up her sleeves.
Startled by her ready-to-charge posture, Josh stammered.
“Well, um… he’ll probably give it back someday in the far future?”
“This is no time to be so relaxed!”
Anje frowned, shooting a glare toward the marketplace where the butcher shop was, preparing to get up.
That was when a man passing by their table addressed her.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
The man, with long, smooth, flowing golden hair, had a strikingly beautiful face—enough to make anyone turn their head.
Anje tilted her head. She was sure she had seen him somewhere, but she just couldn’t recall who he was.
There was no way she wouldn’t remember such a handsome man…
“Haha, the name’s Davi. We met briefly at Lady Hildegarde’s tea party. We exchanged greetings, but with the crowd so large, it’s only natural you wouldn’t remember.”
“Oh!”
The man the duke had said was the emperor’s advisor.
And with that, she also remembered the killing intent she’d glimpsed in his eyes at that tea party.
A guarded glint appeared in Anje’s eyes.
He must have noticed her stiffened gaze, yet Davi brazenly gestured to the empty chair at their table.
“Would you mind if I joined you? I’ve been walking around the department store all day, and my legs are killing me. Unfortunately, every seat here seems taken.”
A flimsy excuse for a café you couldn’t even enter without reservations. Davi, shamelessly reciting the excuse with composure, didn’t wait for permission before pulling out the chair beside Anje and plopping down.
“Judging by the bags, you ladies must have gone shopping. Since His Excellency Saide is a major shareholder of Berkshire Department Store, surely young ladies like you receive some special perks? Considering he casually attends parties with a mere aide, it’d only be natural for employee benefits.”
“There’s no such thing.”
At Anje’s firm reply, Davi laughed and raised his hand to order a drink. Then, resting his chin on his hand, he looked at Anje with interest.
“Um, miss? I’ll just go to the restroom for a moment.”
Josh muttered—obviously a pretext—and slipped into the crowd before Anje could stop her.
Left in an awkward position, Anje touched her forehead and looked around. How was she supposed to deal with a nobleman who wasn’t even a customer?
Normally she wouldn’t even bother with some man spouting nonsense, but Davi was the emperor’s astrologer—someone of significant influence. He denied it, but the chart floating above him said otherwise.
His day stem was Metal, meaning the Fire energy of authority polished him into a shining jewel or a keen blade, giving him value.
And the emperor possessed both Wood and Fire energy.
Anje’s eyes narrowed slightly. Authority star energy restrains the day stem. For metal to become a jewel or a sharp blade, it must endure the pain of being forged by fire. The result may be good, but the process could hardly be pleasant.
“Do I have something on my face?”
Snapped out of her thoughts by Davi’s question, Anje shook her head. She often got misunderstood when she focused too hard on the birth charts floating above people’s heads.
“No, it’s not that. I was just looking at Miss Mariana and Viscount Algernon at the table behind you.”
Glad to find an excuse, Anje smiled.
“The head maid has been terribly worried. Having watched the young lady since childhood, she can be rather intense.”
“The head maid?”
He sounded baffled. Understandable. Anje shrugged.
“She’s cared for Miss Mariana since she was little. Though she’s a servant, her affection is no less than the lady’s guardian or His Excellency’s. Because of that, she insists someone must always keep an eye on Miss Mariana—not necessarily a chaperone, but close enough.”
“So today you’ve come out to get in the way of the young lady’s romantic outing?”
“In name, yes.”
“For that, you don’t seem to be paying them much attention. You’re quite enjoying yourself, aren’t you?”
“You’re absolutely right.”
Davi laughed as Anje nodded shamelessly.
Anje studied him quietly. The more she examined his chart, the more questions the man raised.
Gazing at his brightly braided golden hair decorated with colorful thread, and the amethyst pendant around his neck, she murmured:
“A gypsy?”
But she’d heard that the gypsies—who once traveled across the empire and the continent alike—had vanished one day for reasons unknown.
Some said they were massacred in a conflict; others that they froze to death one harsh winter.
They were poor wanderers, not even counted among the lowborn, selling dance and song as they roamed. Whichever rumor people heard, they nodded once or twice and then forgot.
“Oh.” Realizing her slip, Anje looked apologetic.
“I’m sorry. It slipped out. To say such a thing to someone who serves His Majesty…”
“…”
Davi leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.
“So the rumors weren’t exaggerated after all.”
What rumors?
Blinking, Anje stared at him as he gave her a small smile.
“I used to read star fortunes for noble ladies just for fun. Made a nice bit of pocket money. Yet suddenly, my customers vanished a little while ago.”
“Oh… that…”
Realizing what he meant, Anje looked away.
“If I caused you any harm, I’m sorry. I was just chatting with the young ladies and somehow… I never meant any trouble.”
“Haha. If you think I was upset about that, then you misunderstand. Harm? Hardly. I heard that every young lady you advised was absolutely satisfied. I thought it remarkable for someone your age. Ah! And please, just call me Davi. There’s no need for ‘sir.’”
But Anje couldn’t help being cautious—she had seen servants at the palace banquet treat him with the utmost respect, calling him “Baron.”
“But…”
“I only observe formality before His Majesty. Everyone else calls me this in private. In fact, I know they say far worse behind my back. A lowborn wanderer strutting about the palace under the emperor’s protection—of course they would. So feel free to speak comfortably.”
A wandering astrologer who suddenly appeared one day in the hunting grounds and saved the emperor’s life—no wonder people resented his meteoric rise.
Davi shrugged as though fully understanding the jealousy directed at him.
“By the way, where did you learn to read people so well? Romance consultation isn’t easy. Even when you give sincere advice, you’re lucky if you don’t get slapped for it.”
Glancing around, Davi leaned forward over the table as if sharing a secret.
“What people want to hear isn’t the truth. Whatever it is, they only want to know whether their secret hopes will come true.”
The late afternoon sun reflected off Davi’s green eyes, making them sparkle. The mischievous smile diluted what was clearly an intentional, secretive look.
“Do you know what your nickname is?”
“I heard they call me… the Couple Breaker.”
Embarrassed, Anje averted her gaze as she answered. Davi burst into laughter.
“Exactly. Isn’t it amazing? I could never be as honest as you, even if I died.”
