W-Why are they here?!
An alarm rang in Deia’s chest, which was feeling heavy all day.
Kim Shinwoo stayed in the lab overnight, so he wasn’t in the hotel room. She had briefly spoken with Erica this morning about where she was going for her matchmaking…
Erica Brighttttttt!
She must have heard sothing last night, and that was why they ca here. It seed completely intentional.
Kim Shinwoo, flustered, glanced over. At first, he glanced at her but then quickly turned his gaze away, which irritated Deia even more.
What’s this?
And for so reason, seeing his indifferent expression made Deia’s heart ache.
“Are you okay?”
The man sitting across from her smiled and asked a question. So far, he was the best among all the n she had t in the matchmaking sessions so far.
He had a great appearance, was considerate, and even his smallest actions showed good manners.
And moreover, he didn’t try to hide that he was interested in her.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
When Deia, unlike her usual self, answered demurely, the man smiled broadly.
“That’s Ms. Erica Bright.”
“…”
Everyone in the restaurant had seen Erica enter.
Since they all knew who her fiancé was, people had already begun whispering about her being here with another man.
The woman who killed her fiancé was now eting a new man.
Although it had been for a greater cause, that still didn’t help improve her reputation in any way.
“Shall we move to another table?”
The man asked thoughtfully.
He probably believed that Erica and Deia’s relationship was complicated, so he assud she would want to avoid her.
“No, it’s fine.”
However, Deia had no intention of avoiding either Erica or Kim Shinwoo. If she did, it would just show that she was bothered by them, and that would make her feel like she was losing.
And so, ti passed.
The kind man continued trying to strike a conversation, trying his best to win Deia over.
However, Deia’s gaze kept drifting toward the two people seated in the restaurant.
Watching them eat and chat felt almost unbearable.
What the hell is he doing? He can’t even taste the food because it’s an artificial body.
Despite that, watching him put in an unnecessary effort to eat in a certain way out of consideration for Erica soured Deia’s mood.
She had no idea what Kim Shinwoo was thinking by doing so. Even when he tried to be considerate of others, he wasn’t soone who would let himself get dragged along like that.
…Is it because it’s Erica?
Her shoulders slumped as the realization sank in. She didn’t even know what she was eating any longer.
“Lady Verdi?”
“Ah, yes.”
Deia responded to the voice calling her na a beat late. Startled, she forced a smile while the man idly traced the edge of the plate on the table with his finger with a hint of bitterness.
“I heard you have been eting several n from various households trying to find a match.”
“…Yes. Does that fact make you feel uncomfortable?”
Of course, it would be uncomfortable, she thought, but the man shook his head.
“No, I have a rough idea about your situation, so I can understand.”
The Verdi Household’s status had been on a steady decline due to Deus Verdi.
The Household was at least able to maintain its status in form thanks to King Orpheus’ rcy, but it was far from what it used to be.
“You must have gone to all those etings to help your household.”
In reality, she was going on these dates to deny the fact that she had started developing feelings for her second older brother…
However, it wasn’t wrong.
If a truly good match were to appear, Deia could have gotten married for the sake of her household.
“Actually, I’m not too fond of these things. I long for fateful etings, natural connections… that’s what I dream of.”
The man shrugged and smiled. Deia looked confused, unsure of what he was trying to say.
“But my thinking changed. As soon as I saw Lady Verdi, I realized that a fateful and natural encounter could still happen even in situations like this.”
An overt courtship.
A strong appeal to show that he liked her.
She had t several n in these matchmaking etings; so were perverts and crazy, but there were also people like him, whose kindness was apparent in everything he did.
And every ti that happened, Deia felt guilty.
Had he noticed her emotions?
The man smiled bitterly and responded.
“But it seems that I’m not your fated one.”
He picked up the napkin beside him and wiped his mouth. There was still so food left, but it was a clear sign that the al was over.
“Lady Verdi, do you have soone you like?”
“H-huh?!”
Deia was startled, her shoulders flinching. The man smiled, as if he had already figured it out from her reaction.
“Be confident. You can definitely do it, Lady Verdi.”
“…”
“I enjoyed having a al with you today. However, I still have my pride to maintain as well, so at least, allow to say, ‘I didn’t find you appealing.’”
“Do as you wish…”
Saying so, the man left. Neat, understanding, comforting, and kind.
Deus Verdi—More specifically, the man who resembled Kim Shinwoo.
Yes, that was enough.
Just resembling him was enough.
She thought so before.
However, Deia’s lips remained shut. Her mind told her to be satisfied here, but her hands didn’t reach out to hold him back.
In the end, the man left.
Seated alone at the table, Deia’s hand reached for the glass but pulled back again.
“So, that’s how it is.”
Substituting was impossible.
Settle for soone similar?
However, that only made Deia feel an empty void now.
Even though she was with a man who resembled Kim Shinwoo, her eyes were still drawn to real one.
Now that she finally realized her own feelings, Deia suddenly stood up from her seat.
She dragged her chair over and interrupted the date of the two people.
The restaurant servers rushed over to stop her, but Erica waved them off.
“How was the matchmaking?”
Erica, who already knew everything, still asked, and Deia responded with a dismissive snort.
“He was a good man. But he didn’t quite satisfy . He was a man who fit my type, but in the end, it wasn’t just a matter of preference.”
Kim Shinwoo’s gaze shifted toward her briefly.
Deia smiled at him as though she had found sothing to say.
“I thought I liked kind, thoughtful, responsible people…”
“But?”
Deia shrugged as Erica kept asking, almost urging her to continue.
“But that wasn’t it.”
Yeah, that wasn’t it.
She didn’t like that kind of person.
“I just like Kim Shinwoo.”
Not because he was that kind of person. It was just that the person she liked happened to be that kind of person.
“…!”
Kim Shinwoo’s expression twisted strangely once again. His lips twitched anxiously as if searching for the right words to say, and for so reason, it felt oddly cute.
“How cute.”
Crossing her legs, Deia spoke to Kim Shinwoo, and his expression distorted bizarrely once more as if he had never imagined a day would co when he would hear such words.
“Right? He has a surprisingly cute side.”
When Erica chid in to support her for so reason, Kim Shinwoo bit his lip and let out a sigh.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
What exactly?
“I’ll pretend it never happened.”
What exactly?
The answers to such questions were honestly all too obvious.
His declaration ant that he would forget everything he had just heard and everything from yesterday.
Erica subtly glanced at Deia. As if urging her, silently saying, It’s your choice now. Deia shook her head in disbelief.
However, resting her chin on her hand, she declared softly.
“It already happened.”
“…”
“I kissed you.”
I apologize, but—
“I told you that I like you.”
Now, I won’t hold back.
“It can’t be undone, my dear brother.”
Just as the man who just left told her—Have confidence.
She was certain that she could make him happier as his wife than she ever would as his younger sister.
***
Seeing off Deia and Erica, who promised to visit soon, I returned ho to the Clark Republic.
It had only been two days, yet burdened with unexpected concerns, I felt exhausted as if I had been on a long journey.
This was complicated.
Too complicated—far too complicated.
Deia’s sudden declaration and aggressive actions left my head in turmoil.
“Gyaaaahh.”
However, as if the world had shifted, the atmosphere twisted in an instant.
A chilling voice, laced with a sly smile, greeted .
“Did you just stay out overnight?”
Findenai was seated right in front of the door with her arms crossed, glaring at .
Well, it was like I was expecting her to welco warmly for finally coming back either.
“…I had my reasons.”
As I tried to offer an explanation, Findenai seed ready to argue but frowned deeply upon seeing my expression.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
Did she notice the complexity in my expression? Instead of getting angry, Findenai approached with concern.
[Did you bring us souvenirs?!]
[Did sothing happen?]
The Dark Spiritualist and Stella also greeted imdiately. And with a heavy heart, I sat down at the dining table.
“Co here, all of you.”
First, I needed to address the matter regarding Stella’s plan, which Erica had let slip.
I also had to talk about Deia and Erica.
In the end, it was ti to do sothing I had been avoiding, it was ti to ask the won about their thoughts.
Perhaps many things would change from here on.
***
sko-fi/genesisforsaken
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