Chapter 45
‘Wow, he’s basically bragging that we’re meeting.’
They focused on each other’s conversation, bursting into laughter together.
‘This is different from when he met Layla.’
Compared to when he was with Layla, Edin looked far more relaxed around Luana.
If someone who didn’t know better saw this, they might think he liked Luana.
Or maybe… he actually did now.
Having been away in her territory for so long, Luana looked even more beautiful than I remembered.
If it were me, my heart would’ve raced too.
I quietly hid behind the wall.
Why did timing always have to be like this?
What are the odds of running into him every single time he’s at a matchmaking meeting?
I took a deep breath and turned to leave.
‘Back to work.’
Go to the shop, receive the fabrics that were delivered… make wedding dresses.
What’s so hard about going back to the same old boring routine?
My mouth tasted bitter, but it wasn’t the time to lash out or get emotional.
I was the one who relayed the matter to Lady Salvia, and this meeting was arranged by Edin’s own will.
‘If only he hadn’t teased me like that in the first place!’
I knew it was childish to blame others.
Still, sometimes when my emotions felt broken, I wondered if it wasn’t because of Edin’s ridiculous jokes.
After Lena’s disappearance, when I had become soft to the core, his words couldn’t help but feel overwhelming.
Back at the shop, I managed to regain some peace.
I greeted familiar ladies who occasionally dropped by.
Then I went back into the workroom to continue making dresses.
But maybe because my heart was elsewhere—
“Ah, this isn’t right…”
I kept fumbling.
Even with a thimble on, I pricked my finger with the needle.
I had nothing to say to Olivia, who looked at me worriedly.
I knew how pathetic I was being.
Still, when I stubbornly picked the fabric back up, Olivia came over and suggested I take a break.
“How can anyone work every single day? Honestly, Lady Daphne, you’ve been so busy lately. You even went to the fabric shop early this morning.”
“Hey, it’s all part of my responsibility. The more I take on, the more work there’s bound to be.”
“No! You’ve been working late nights, and even doing our share of the work. If this keeps up, you might actually collapse. At least rest properly for half a day, okay?”
She spoke so earnestly, her expression sulky as though afraid I wouldn’t listen.
‘She makes it hard for me to say no.’
It’s difficult to betray the concern of people who care for you.
So I set the fabric down without hesitation.
“Alright. Then I’ll leave work early today. Can I entrust the remaining tasks to you?”
“…Yes! Berry and I will take care of the shop, so please rest well!”
She spoke more energetically, as if to ease my burden.
If I stayed, I’d only spread bad energy to her.
I thanked her, draped a shawl over my shoulders, and stepped out of the shop.
How long had it been since I last left work while the sky was still blue?
‘Now that I’m out at this hour… I don’t really have anything to do.’
My life revolved around work, home, errands at the guild for Edin, and noble mansions for fittings.
My range of activity couldn’t have been more limited.
After hesitating, I looked up at a tea shop that had expanded to the second floor.
‘Maybe I’ll have some tea.’
On a weekday afternoon, the tea shop was calmer than on weekends.
I opened the door and stepped inside.
The sweet scent of baked pastries mixed with the refreshing aroma of tea leaves.
A server quickly noticed me and politely guided me upstairs.
Since there weren’t many people, I was seated by the window.
I ordered my usual tea and immediately turned to look outside.
Resting my chin on my hand, I watched the nobles wandering in their splendid dresses.
‘Everyone looks so happy.’
As I looked out, my eyes met those of a lady holding a parasol who had stopped walking.
We weren’t acquainted, but she smiled and dipped her head.
Flustered, I lowered my head too, returning her greeting.
Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.
If someone had to pick the least noble-looking person here, it would probably be me.
This tea shop itself was a place mostly frequented by the upper class.
The servers, trained in courtesy, treated the guests with practiced kindness, while the patrons excitedly discussed gemstone mines, businesses, and trade.
Had I ever carried that kind of leisure on my face?
I looked down at my rough hands.
Even though I was the one who had revived my family, Mother often seemed ashamed of my coarse hands.
So while other ladies bought shoes or hats, I would always purchase another pair of gloves.
I was never ashamed of my hands, but whenever I attended a ball or banquet, a few nobles would sneer at the sight of me holding a champagne glass or a fan.
They sought pointless arguments, while I worried that any trouble with them might hurt my shop’s sales.
‘Judging by these thoughts, today must not be my day.’
There are weeks like this—unlucky ones where nothing goes right and everything creaks.
Maybe that’s why I suddenly felt like pitying myself.
‘It’s fine to look like a noble lady. But when have I ever been the type to cling to such things?’
It was in moments of weakness like this that I needed to be careful.
I straightened my back and sat up tall.
Soon, the server returned with a teapot and cup.
I asked for a little milk and sugar, then leaned back into my chair.
Maybe because I’d just come from the dusty workshop, my face felt itchy.
‘Wait… don’t tell me I’ve been walking around with a thread stuck to my face?’
The tickling sensation on my forehead felt suspicious.
I raised my hand to check—when suddenly, someone gently plucked the loose thread from my hair.
“Uh…?”
Startled, I lifted my head to see who had approached without a sound.
“Oh dear, I scared you. I didn’t notice. Are you here to take a break?”
The familiar warm voice.
It was Rowan—the first time I’d seen him since the birthday banquet.
“…!”
“What’s with that shocked look? Hm, you’ve got the best seat in the house. The view’s great, so why were you sitting with your head down?”
He sat down across from me as if it were the most natural thing.
I was about to clamp my mouth shut, unwilling to answer, when the server came with sugar cubes and warm milk.
“Ah, I’ll have the same tea as this lady. Just with milk, please.”
“Yes, understood.”
The server clearly recognized the heir of the Leodid family.
Unlike before, he stiffened with forced energy and hurried off to the kitchen.
Watching that, I let out a long sigh.
“What brings you here?”
“I came for a cup of tea. The weather’s nice, so I thought I’d step out. By the way, you’re dressed up today. On your way home from work?”
“Yes, I left a bit early today.”
“I see. Funny, I just felt like coming here today… Maybe it was to run into you, Daphne.”
I wasn’t about to fall for such lines.
In fact, I was still deeply suspicious of him.
On top of that, I feared that if I spent too much time with him, he might realize I knew the Leodid family’s secret.
So, knowing it wasn’t exactly polite, I prepared to leave.
“I see. Well, I hope you enjoy your time. I’ll be going now.”
“But your tea’s still untouched? Hm…”
Rowan picked up the teapot.
The liquid inside sloshed heavily.
Panicked, I grabbed his wrist.
“I just don’t feel like tea today. I’ll be leaving.”
I hurried to pull out some coins.
But then Rowan gently caught my hand.
The unexpected touch made me flinch and shiver involuntarily.
I quickly pulled my hand free with force.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“You make it look like I’m chasing you away. Anyway… how long are you going to keep speaking to me so formally? It makes me sad.”
“Well… there are a lot of people here. And now that we’re both adults, isn’t it natural for me to be polite?”
“…Daphne.”
“Yes?”
“Whenever I see you, I remember the old days… and it makes me happy. Don’t you want to go back to those times?”
He said it with a faint smile.
Leaving me dumbfounded by such an absurd remark.
