I looked at the display windows of the souvenir shop with interest, thinking about what was currently popular among young people. Co to think of it, this was the first ti I had ever bought a gift for a child.
I wondered what Ruby would like. She probably had the typical interests of children her age. I should buy her sothing cuddly or cute. So I decided, thinking that there was nothing complicated about this task.
With a smile on my face, I spotted a cute teddy bear with button eyes. I think that’s what I need! Behind , I heard the discontented grumbling of the count’s servant, who was tired of waiting for us to leave. I waved him away.
After all, it was his job. So was it worth complaining? According to the accepted rules of etiquette, he brought here, so he had to take back.
anwhile, my gaze was again fixed on the bear. Ruby would definitely like this toy! Since this was my first gift to her as her aunt, I was determined not to ss it up. Besides, the toy would help ease her anxiety about moving to a new place.
In short, having decided to buy it, I was about to go into the store to check the price. But at the very entrance, soone unexpectedly beat to it. The bell rang and the door swung open. We almost collided — I was so surprised that I almost lost my balance. But luckily, soone grabbed my hand in ti and I was left hanging in the air.
"Agh!"
A sigh of relief escaped my lips. It was good that I didn’t have to et the ground with that part of my body... The stranger helped up, and we finally passed each other. But when I saw his face, I was speechless.
It was definitely an unexpected encounter.
My knees trembled like a teenage girl who had seen her idol with her own eyes. Standing in front of was a young man with short red hair and an impassive expression. His blue eyes were like two blocks of ice. He was unshakable, like a rock.
Roger Dickens.
The future captain of the Royal Guard, and also one of the main character’s love interests.
Reading his biography in the ga, I knew in advance that he was the son of a ducal family who had run away from ho at the age of sixteen. Since then, he had studied hard to fulfill his main dream — to lead the army and defend the empire.
Roger was the most mature of the love interests, and by the ti he t the heroine, he was already twenty-six years old. Perhaps that is why I chose him as my partner.
I can’t say that I fell in love with Roger at first sight. Rather, it was a choice based on sober logic. Neither the emperor’s cloying nephew, nor the teacher, nor the mage seed as worthy to as he did. Roger was the embodint of nobility and courage. Plus, he was almost my age! That couldn’t help but add to his appeal.
However, I never expected to et him in real life.
Since Grace Weinstein was a minor character and had no part in the plot, eting the other characters seed simply impossible to . But in the end, we bumped into each other almost nose to nose in the middle of the street.
I stood in front of him, frozen in place, not knowing what to do next.
Roger spoke to first.
"Lady, are you all right?" he asked in that sa cold voice I had heard so often in the ga.
I finally ’thawed’ a little.
"Ah... Y-yes!"
Co to think of it, even though Roger was the oldest of my love interests, I was still five years older than him. Although we were the sa height, he was a teenager and I was a grown woman. I felt a little awkward talking to him.
Besides, if my mory serves correctly, this is the year Roger is supposed to leave his father’s house and join the imperial army. I witnessed a key mont in the biography of one of the main characters! In a way, it’s a reason to be proud.
"Did I bump into you?"
"N-no, what are you...!" I stamred.
"I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I should have been more careful."
I couldn’t help but admire him: so young, yet already filled with justice. Any other teenager in his place would have run away long ago and not apologized. But Roger really felt guilty for this mistake. That’s what it ans to be a natural knight!
In the future, Roger would have to go through many difficult events that would temper his character and make him as hard as stone. To start a romantic storyline with him, you have to work hard and spend a lot of money on paid choices. Otherwise, this rock, known as the "captain of the guard," simply cannot be moved! Even in scenes with the heroine, the man rarely shows real emotions and smiles.
But all that will co later. The current sixteen-year-old teenager simply couldn’t be so harsh. The guy was genuinely embarrassed in front of .
We fidgeted, and I kept waiting for him to suggest we part ways. For so reason, I couldn’t bring myself to do it first. But instead, the heroine’s love interest suddenly looked at intently.
"I think I touched your dress."
"Oh...?"
I noticed it too. It turned out that the fabric on my sleeve was slightly torn. It must have happened when Roger grabbed . I was outraged: damn it, that dress cost tens of thousands! Grace’s wardrobe basically didn’t contain any cheap outfits. So why did the designers use such unreliable fabrics?
I sighed, but realized there was nothing I could do about it. It was impossible to repair a dress made of such material. I would have to wear it as it was or sell it for fabric. In any case, unlike the real Grace, I didn’t care that much about my appearance. I could just as easily sell her entire wardrobe if I needed to.
anwhile, Roger noticed the look on my face and hastened to reassure :
"Don’t worry. I’ll make it up to you!"
I smiled and shook my head.
"No need."
"Hm?"
"It’s just a dress. I don’t need money for it."
For the first ti, the cold expression on the guy’s face faltered.
"Are you serious...?" he asked again, just in case.
"Yes. Thank you for your concern."
I was about to end the conversation and go back to my business, but he suddenly stopped .
"Wait. It was my mistake, and I want to make it up to you."
"But I said..."
"It’s okay. If you don’t need the money, I can at least buy you a cup of coffee."
I was stunned by the surprise. What a twist: my love interest had asked out himself! Was I dreaming? If I hadn’t been afraid of looking silly, I would have pinched myself right then and there. But it all seed very real.
"What do you think?"
"Um... I..."
The offer confused .
At first, I tried to refuse, but it didn’t work. Roger Dickens was surprisingly persistent. Did he really want to repay that much? Still, I felt awkward about going out for coffee with him. I hadn’t planned on getting involved with any of the main characters.
But it seed I had no choice. In the end, I gave in to his persuasion.
"Okay... Let’s do this."
Roger’s lips curved into a semblance of a smile.
"Great. When would be a good ti to et?"
"Um..." I thought for a mont. "How about this Wednesday?"
"That works for ," he nodded. "Then let’s et at three o’clock at the cafe across the street."
I looked in the direction Roger was pointing. There was indeed a cozy, unremarkable coffee shop there. Now that we had agreed to et, I didn’t know how I felt. Joy or excitent?
At the sa ti, I rembered one important thing. If I went to the cafe, who would stay with Ruby? I couldn’t leave the child with the maid forever. After all, she was my niece, and I had to take care of her myself.
So I decided to add one more condition to our eting.
"I’m sorry," I said, embarrassed, "do you mind if my niece joins us?"
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