Chapter 10

“That’s not it. If I was going to treat you to a meal, I should’ve brought you somewhere nicer. This is my favorite restaurant because the food is good… but it’s cheap.”

I’d only been in this world for two months.

I’d only started making real money a month ago.

Of course I didn’t know any fancy restaurants.

Still, after saying I’d treat Carcel to a meal, all I was giving him was soup.

‘That was a mistake.’

Well…

This wasn’t a date anyway.

I’d been so busy surviving that I’d never even had the chance to date. I’d finally gotten a stable job in my previous life and thought, Maybe it’s time to try dating…

Then I died.

“I’ve never really gone to restaurants with anyone else before… I’m sorry.”

Feeling embarrassed about my mistake, I apologized.

The look in Carcel’s eyes deepened slightly.

Instead of answering directly, he smiled faintly.

“So… you’re saying you’ve never gone on a date with anyone before?”

“A… a date?”

“A man and a woman who were just pretending to be husband and wife ride in the same carriage, eat a meal together, and then one escorts the other home.”

He smiled softly.

“Isn’t that a date?”

Well…

Not exactly.

But hearing him explain it like that somehow made me sound like the terrible one for not thinking of it as a date.

Seeing me hesitate, Carcel suddenly looked disappointed.

“I’ve never shared a meal at a restaurant with anyone else either.”

His smile became lonely.

“I was happy that my first time was with you, Asha.”

He lowered his eyes.

“…I thought it was a date.”

“Fine! Let’s call it a date!”

The moment I surrendered, Carcel finally laughed.

“Asha really is a kind person.”

He smiled warmly.

“You always indulge me, even when I’m being unreasonable.”

“If you know you’re being unreasonable, then please stop doing it.”

“If I don’t act like this…”

He looked at me quietly.

“…I feel like you’ll never give me a chance.”

Holding onto the sleeve I was still gripping, Carcel walked ahead.

He knew perfectly well that I was intentionally keeping my distance.

Yet he openly admitted he was deliberately trying to close that distance.

Somehow…

I couldn’t bring myself to dislike that.

‘Maybe it’s because he’s handsome… and because he never crosses the line.’

If he’d openly tried to force himself on me or acted inappropriately…

I would’ve cut him off long ago.

But Carcel always respected the boundaries I set.

Maybe that was why his sudden closeness never made me uncomfortable.

Pulling out a chair for me, he gestured politely.

“Ladies first.”

“Thank you.”

Everything he did carried quiet elegance.

His movements were efficient…

Disciplined…

‘Almost like a soldier.’

Looking at me, Carcel asked,

“What’s the best dish here? I’d like to try your favorite.”

“The chef’s special soup, fresh-baked bread, and charcoal-roasted chicken are the best.”

I’d come here so many times that the menu came out automatically.

“Then we’ll have those.”

The way he watched me as though he found me adorable made me feel strangely embarrassed.

‘Even someone as dense as me can tell… those are the eyes of someone who genuinely likes me.’

It wasn’t that I’d never had relationships with people.

I’d simply never had the chance to date.

“O-Okay.”

I placed our order with the server.

“It’ll be about twenty minutes.”

“Alright.”

Suddenly…

We had twenty minutes alone.

‘What are we supposed to talk about?’

The whole situation felt awkward.

Getting to know a stranger…

Searching for common ground…

That was always the hardest part.

Fortunately…

Carcel spoke first.

“Are you planning to leave the Count’s family?”

“Ah… yes.”

I smiled awkwardly.

“I suppose you figured that out already.”

“Honestly…”

His expression became serious.

“I was impressed.”

“Impressed?”

“You pursue your goals without hesitation.”

He smiled.

“I admire that.”

“Well…”

I scratched my cheek.

“I’ve never been good at sitting still. It’s become a habit. Even having one free hour makes me anxious.”

I’d always lived as though I were being chased.

There was never a second chance for me.

Strangely enough…

Asha Delmore’s life wasn’t much different.

Her birth family wasn’t wealthy enough to take her back.

If she returned, they’d probably just marry her off again.

Her future was obvious.

‘Even if Duke Lakan hadn’t killed Asha Delmore, the future of a poor noblewoman with nowhere to go wouldn’t have been a happy one.’

She’d either spend the rest of her life serving others in a convent…

Or wander from house to house working as a governess until she grew too old.

Either way…

She’d remain poor.

“I was much the same.”

Carcel smiled bitterly.

“Though perhaps I shouldn’t compare myself to you. I grew up in a wealthy family and inherited a great fortune.”

“I’m a little jealous.”

I teased him.

“Especially after hearing about those thirty-two bank accounts and five houses.”

Carcel laughed.

Then, looking slightly embarrassed, he covered part of his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Actually…”

He admitted honestly,

“I don’t know how to interact with women. I thought maybe talking about my wealth would make me seem more attractive.”

Seeing him blush slightly around the eyes made my guard lower a little.

I found myself becoming more honest too.

“I’m sorry…”

I smiled sheepishly.

“But I honestly thought you were a scam artist.”

“May I be completely honest?”

“Of course.”

“For the record…”

He smiled.

“I’m not a serial killer.”

“Not that.”

I shook my head.

“I thought you were a scammer.”

“…Me?”

Apparently…

Being mistaken for a serial killer would’ve made more sense to him than being called a scammer.

Counting on my fingers, I carefully explained.

“First, you keep talking about how rich you are without anyone asking.”

“…”

“Second, you keep trying to buy me things for no reason.”

I looked at him.

“That’s suspicious.”

“That’s just…”

Carcel looked completely defeated.

Since I’d already started, I continued.

“Scammers usually lure people in with expensive gifts, then later pretend they’re in trouble and ask for money. Or they convince you to invest because they can magically multiply your fortune.”

Carcel nodded slowly.

“Now that you mention it…”

“Exactly.”

Then he blinked.

“…That does sound suspicious.”

What do you mean, now that you mention it?!

He genuinely hadn’t realized it.

I couldn’t help laughing.

“Don’t ever do that again.”

I smiled.

“Especially not with women.”

Carcel looked at me.

“…May I be honest too?”

I nodded.

After hesitating for a moment, he smiled.

“If it isn’t you, Asha…”

His voice was calm.

“…I have no intention of doing those things for anyone else.”

“…I see.”

I quietly looked away.

‘Why is he interested in me? Just because of that one confession?’

Noticing my awkwardness, Carcel added playfully,

“And if you wanted them…”

He smiled.

“…I’d still be willing to give you all thirty-two bank accounts and all five houses.”

Unable to resist teasing him back, I held out both hands.

“Then give them to me.”

“…If you marry me.”

“Excuse me?”

I stared at him.

“We’ve barely started talking and you’re already proposing marriage?”

Carcel looked genuinely confused.

“Wouldn’t it be fortunate if two people got to know each other before walking into the wedding hall?”

He asked it as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

‘Right… this is still a romance fantasy novel.’

The setting might be moving toward modern times.

But relationships between men and women were still very conservative.

Just like Asha Delmore herself…

If both families agreed, two complete strangers could be married the very next day.

“I’ve already been married once.”

I smiled bitterly.

“I doubt a marquis’s family would want someone like me.”

I was quietly testing him.

I wanted to know whether he wanted something besides romance.

Surprisingly…

Carcel answered very honestly.

“My mother wants me to marry.”

He shrugged.

“But I’m the head of the family, so I’ve refused.”

“May I ask how old you are?”

“Twenty-four.”

He was still young.

But in this society, that was already considered rather late for marriage.

After all…

Even I, at twenty, wasn’t considered to have married early.

“I suppose your family must be in quite a hurry to see you married.”

“Perhaps.”

He smiled quietly.

“But I’ve made a promise to myself.”

Leaning slightly closer, as though sharing a secret, he continued,

“Not a single one of my ancestors married for love.”

“Not even one?”

“No.”

He shook his head.

“Many of them married, of course. But none of them truly loved their spouse.”

“How is that even possible? They all lived together…”

I murmured.

Carcel smiled.

“That’s why I decided to break that curse.”

His crimson eyes never left mine.

“I decided that I would only marry the woman I truly love.”

“Ah…”

Then it hit me.

Wait…

He already asked me to marry him!

The moment I looked back up at him, Carcel nodded as though reading my thoughts.

“That’s why…”

He smiled.

“…I want to marry you, Asha.”

It was nothing less than a direct declaration of his intentions.