Chapter 12
Warm sunlight made Emilia’s head gradually droop.
Just as it was about to tip sideways—
Tap.
Someone gently caught her before she could fall.
Her eyes flew open.
Huh?
Along with her tilted view, she noticed the sleeve of an elegant, finely tailored coat.
Nearby, the water in the fountain rippled softly.
I almost fell into the fountain…
Her drowsiness vanished in an instant.
Then she looked up to see who had saved her from such an embarrassing fate.
Her eyes widened.
“Oh? You’re the male lea—”
She immediately clapped a hand over her own mouth.
Have I lost my mind?
What am I saying to someone who doesn’t know anything?
If she accidentally called him the “male lead,” there was no telling what kind of person he’d think she was.
Meanwhile, Kaiden looked down at her strangely.
“…Well, you’re right. I’m not a woman.”
He paused.
“But is that really so surprising?”
Even as he said that, he carefully helped straighten her posture.
“Haha… no, not at all.”
Emilia laughed awkwardly.
She had already confirmed firsthand just how solidly built he was.
There was no way she’d mistake him for a woman.
“By the way…”
She tilted her head curiously.
“Do you know me?”
She couldn’t tell whether he had recognized her and deliberately come over…
Or whether he had simply noticed a woman about to fall into a fountain.
It was only natural for her to wonder.
We’d only seen each other briefly in the dark.
Besides…
Neither of them had exactly been in their right state of mind.
Kaiden looked mildly incredulous.
“…Of course I know you.”
“I’m not so ungrateful—or so foolish—that I’d forget the face of the person who saved my life.”
“Oh… right.”
Emilia nodded, accepting the explanation.
“That reminds me.”
Kaiden looked around before asking,
“What are you doing in a place like this?”
“Huh? Me?”
Caught off guard, Emilia’s eyes darted around.
Her reasons for sitting there were… rather complicated.
“Well…”
She forced an awkward smile.
“I was just… enjoying the warm sunshine in the capital for a little while.”
There was no need to burden a stranger with her personal circumstances.
“More importantly…”
She looked at him instead.
“What about you, Your Grace? Why are you here?”
As far as she knew, Kaiden disliked noisy places like the capital’s central square.
Even if he had business nearby, he was the type to finish it immediately and leave.
He wasn’t someone who wandered around places like this.
So she asked out of simple curiosity.
For some reason, Kaiden’s expression became rather complicated.
“So…”
“You already knew I was a Duke.”
“Huh? Oh…”
“Assistant Harold told me.”
Kaiden fell silent for a brief moment.
Then he answered,
“I was simply passing by.”
“…I see.”
It felt like an oddly uninformative answer.
Still, Emilia merely shrugged.
At that moment, a large hand appeared before her.
“Come to think of it…”
“We never properly introduced ourselves.”
He extended it toward her.
“I’m Kaiden Valen.”
“Oh.”
“I’m Emilia.”
She cautiously reached out and accepted his hand.
The moment their hands clasped—
She flinched.
Warmth spread from his firm grip, accompanied by a strange unfamiliar sensation.
Feeling inexplicably awkward, Emilia quickly withdrew her hand.
“At the time…”
“There wasn’t an opportunity to thank you properly.”
“Thanks to you, I survived.”
“Thank you.”
His sincere gratitude made Emilia wave both hands dismissively.
“It’s nothing.”
“I already received thanks from Ivan.”
“More importantly…”
“Are your injuries alright now?”
“Completely.”
“Then that’s wonderful.”
She smiled softly.
Kaiden silently watched her for a moment before gesturing toward the empty space beside her.
“Would you mind if I sat here for a while?”
“Of course.”
He sat beside her, deliberately leaving about a palm’s width of space between them.
Then, in a quiet voice, he said,
“Harold also told me…”
“He said you refused any reward.”
“Hm?”
“Oh… yes.”
“I did.”
Emilia recalled the conversation she’d had with Harold.
Now that she thought about it…
She felt just a tiny bit of regret.
Maybe I should’ve accepted a generous reward after all.
But she quickly shook her head.
She hadn’t helped them expecting anything in return.
And…
She didn’t want to put a price on saving Ivan.
Stretching her stiff legs, Emilia pushed the unnecessary thought aside.
Then Kaiden spoke again, almost as though he’d read her mind.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“Need?”
Looking up at him with wide eyes, Emilia saw him nod calmly.
“Yes.”
“It doesn’t have to be money.”
“If it’s within my ability, I’ll do whatever I can.”
Emilia lowered her gaze.
Hmm…
There actually was something she needed immediately.
“To be honest…”
“I would be very happy if I could ask for your help.”
“I see.”
Kaiden raised an eyebrow.
Even if she made an unreasonable request…
He had already decided he would grant it without complaint.
“In that case…”
“Could you write me a recommendation letter for a servant’s position?”
“…A servant’s recommendation letter?”
For a moment, Kaiden wondered if he’d misheard.
He frowned slightly.
“Yes.”
“That’s right.”
Emilia nodded enthusiastically.
That’s exactly what I need right now.
Most noble households that hired servants also provided room and board.
If Kaiden wrote her a recommendation letter…
Both of her biggest problems would be solved at once.
Yet…
No answer came.
What’s wrong?
Confused, Emilia looked at him.
Kaiden frowned, his brows twitching as though something displeased him.
Finally, he spoke.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“Huh?”
“What? Why not?”
Her voice rose in surprise.
It wasn’t even a difficult request.
From what she’d heard, recommendation letters for servants could be written by someone who barely knew you.
Instead of answering, Kaiden lightly tapped a finger against his knee.
A servant…?
She wants to work as a servant?
Strictly speaking…
What she chose to do had nothing to do with him.
Writing the recommendation would be simple.
He could produce one immediately if he wished.
And yet…
For some reason, the words wouldn’t come out.
Frowning deeply, Kaiden fell into thought.
Come to think of it…
The woman who had saved his life…
Asking for nothing more than a piece of paper so she could work in another household…
It simply didn’t sit right with him.
No wonder the idea irritated him.
His gaze settled on Emilia, who was still looking up at him with wide, questioning eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“But let’s pretend I never heard that request.”
His tone left no room for negotiation.
“…What?”
Emilia stared at him in disbelief.
Wasn’t he the one who told me to ask for anything?
For a moment, she genuinely wondered if she’d imagined the whole conversation.
Meanwhile, Kaiden remained perfectly calm, seemingly oblivious to her frustration.
“Please ask for something else.”
“No.”
“I only want the recommendation letter.”
Emilia looked at him stubbornly.
Kaiden frowned.
“Why are you so set on becoming a servant?”
“…Because I’m looking for work.”
“And I need somewhere that provides food and lodging.”
“In that case…”
“Does it really have to be servant work?”
“Well…”
“I suppose not.”
She nodded reluctantly.
“I heard you can speak Hiphrian.”
“I’m not actually very good at it.”
“Most people can’t speak it at all.”
“…Really?”
Emilia answered, feeling a little embarrassed.
Then Kaiden suddenly asked,
“What about becoming a private tutor?”
