✪ Chapter 10 ✪
The blind date was at a restaurant not far from the Stein Mansion.
It was located between the Magic Tower in the capital and the Count’s territory.
Even though he had dumped a mountain of work on me that morning because he didn’t want to meet his fiancée…
It seemed the Crown Prince still had a little conscience.
‘Elline and I have been here a few times.’
He had good taste.
This restaurant was famous even among the people living in the territory.
The carriage, encouraged by Elline’s bittersweet words of support, finally arrived at the destination.
“There’s still five minutes left.”
I stood motionless like a statue in front of the restaurant.
I had absolutely no intention of going in early.
If anything…
I’d rather arrive well after our two o’clock appointment.
Just then, through the large glass window, I saw a blond man sitting inside.
“Blond hair… blue eyes too.”
It was Lucas.
The male lead I knew so well.
Even at a glance, he was as tall and handsome as everyone said.
I had expected that long ago.
That was exactly why I had avoided meeting him.
No matter how handsome he was…
He was going to leave me soon anyway.
There was no point wasting my feelings.
I’d rather become the rude and inconsiderate fiancée.
I hid in a corner where I could still see through the window.
Then I created a magic timer in the air.
One minute remaining.
“…I’ll go in exactly on time.”
I didn’t know how long he had been waiting.
He looked nervous as he drank one glass of water after another.
His posture was much more elegant than I expected.
I had imagined someone carefree and playful.
Seeing him this serious surprised me.
Then again…
Anyone could be nervous on a blind date.
When he accidentally spilled water on the table while putting his glass down…
And hurriedly waved at the waiter to say it was fine…
Even I found it amusing.
I quietly laughed.
‘He really is an interesting person.’
As soon as the magic timer announced two o’clock…
I calmly walked toward the entrance.
The bell above the door rang as I stepped inside.
The man sitting by the window immediately looked up.
I walked over and held out my hand.
“I’m Rosé Stein.”
“This is our first meeting, isn’t it?”
“Yes…”
“My name is Lucas.”
“I know.”
“You’re His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“How could I not know someone so famous?”
Lucas nodded.
He glanced at my outstretched hand…
But never took it.
How rude.
Still…
At least he was determined not to hold hands with anyone except the woman he loved.
‘Elline really found herself a devoted boyfriend.’
I already knew that…
But it was still a relief that he didn’t like me.
In the original story…
Rosé Stein became engaged to him, fell in love, and suffered alone.
But my heart…
Was already as lifeless as a dead fish’s eyes.
When I lowered my hand…
Lucas’s expression darkened slightly.
Maybe he felt guilty for rejecting me.
Annoying as he was…
The male lead had always been honest when it came to his conscience.
“Shall we order first?”
After sitting down, I pressed the call bell.
When the waiter arrived…
I ordered without even looking at the menu.
“The beef chop steak and shrimp gratin are excellent here.”
“We’ll have two A Courses…”
“And two glasses of today’s red wine.”
“Certainly.”
Not long after writing everything down…
The waiter returned with a plate of fruit appetizers.
“These are complimentary for our regular customers.”
Fresh strawberries covered with the restaurant’s special strawberry syrup.
My uninterested eyes immediately lit up.
“You didn’t have to do this…”
“Thank you.”
“It seems your friend couldn’t come today.”
“You and Miss Elline always order these dishes.”
That’s right.
She couldn’t come because I was here on a blind date.
In fact…
Elline had even said she was jealous because this was her favorite restaurant.
While talking with the waiter…
I secretly glanced toward Lucas.
The moment Elline’s name came up…
I suddenly realized it.
I had no intention of being polite today…
But I still wondered how he would react.
Lucas quietly drank his water.
His expression actually looked better than before.
Maybe he was pretending not to be affected.
I quietly picked up my own glass.
There were far more surprising things about him than I expected.
‘He’s tall.’
‘His shoulders look broad too.’
I had imagined an average adult man.
Slim…
With lean muscles.
Instead…
He was much bigger than I expected.
His build reminded me of someone I already knew.
‘He looks similar.’
The memory of that face…
And the dark storage room…
Crossed my mind at exactly the same moment.
Without realizing it…
I frowned.
Why had Sir Carlo suddenly come to mind?
“Ahem.”
Feeling strangely embarrassed…
I finished the rest of my water.
Silence continued while we waited for the food.
Neither of us made any effort to start a conversation.
Not a single word passed between us.
‘Has he actually matured?’
The male lead who never stopped talking in the novel…
Now looked unbelievably quiet.
The food finally arrived.
I immediately took a bite of the delicious-looking chop steak.
While I was eating…
Lucas picked up the water pitcher and quietly refilled my empty glass.
Only after swallowing did I notice.
I nodded.
“Ah.”
“Thank you.”
“…You’re welcome.”
“And I’m only asking out of courtesy…”
“You don’t have anything you’re curious about regarding me, do you?”
I asked while scooping up some gratin.
Lucas seemed to think for a moment.
Then he quietly shook his head.
Instead…
He gently pushed the plate of gratin closer to me.
After a while…
He finally asked something.
But it wasn’t what I expected.
“Would you like me to peel the shrimp for you?”
“I’d love that…”
“But shouldn’t you be peeling shrimp for someone else instead?”
I sounded like I was refusing.
But I was already smiling brightly while watching him peel the shrimp.
Wow.
He really was thoughtful.
Seeing the honesty on my face…
Lucas smiled for the first time.
It was a small, quiet laugh.
“It’s strange.”
“There aren’t any other customers today.”
“This place is usually packed.”
“Some days are simply quieter than others.”
Lucas replied expressionlessly as he sipped his wine.
‘Stop lying.’
‘You rented out the whole restaurant.’
A restaurant this popular would never be empty.
Pretending not to know…
I looked around in amazement.
Well…
At least fireworks were pretty.
Instead…
My tax money had been spent on something like this.
‘We really don’t suit each other.’
I quietly muttered to myself while taking another spoonful of gratin.
“Mmph!”
No wonder the cheese stretched so much.
It felt like I had lava inside my mouth.
“Spit it out here.”
“…?”
“Isn’t it too hot?”
“Quickly.”
Lucas hurriedly held out his palm in front of my mouth.
What was this?
He wasn’t even trying to flirt.
He was simply…
Being kind.
Startled…
I hurriedly swallowed the burning-hot gratin instead.
“You could have spit it out.”
“Are you alright?”
Even if I wasn’t…
I had to swallow it.
His reactions were far too overwhelming.
‘…Why is he acting like this?’
He looked genuinely worried as he poured me another glass of water and handed it to me.
Watching him…
Made me feel strangely uncomfortable.
Because it truly seemed like he was worried about me.
“I won’t steal your food.”
“Take your time.”
“No… it’s just…”
By the time we finished eating…
He noticed some sauce near my lips.
Then he personally took a napkin and handed it to me.
Was kindness simply a habit for him?
Or…
Was he really this interested in me because I was a water mage?
‘Why are you treating me like this?’
Once or twice, I could ignore it.
But remembering that he had probably treated Elline the same way…
Made my chest feel heavy.
I rubbed my mouth hard with the napkin.
It was time to build a wall between us.
“If you’ve finished eating…”
“Shall we go to the theater?”
“I reserved opera tickets in advance.”
“I don’t like opera.”
“The sound echoes throughout the entire hall.”
“I really can’t stand it.”
“Then let’s watch a play instead.”
“A commoner’s play?”
“You’d be alright with that?”
Go on.
A Crown Prince couldn’t possibly do something like that.
To refuse him…
I removed the jeweled hairpin from my hair.
Then I took off my expensive tweed jacket.
Standing there in nothing but a simple blouse and skirt…
I watched Lucas.
For some reason…
He took off his own coat too.
“…!”
A moment later…
He casually unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt.
Then he brushed his hair back.
“Will this do?”
“What are you…?”
In only a few seconds…
The Crown Prince looked like nothing more than an ordinary young man.
He held out his hand toward me.
“Come.”
“Let’s go.”
