VPSML | CH 02

Chapter 02

For Pdea, there was no such thing as stopping.

 Because of that, Jay thought, What kind of thunderbolt-like nonsense is this?

Everyone here should know that the person she liked wasn’t him but his close friend.

Feeling awkward, Jay glanced around. Pdea was walking toward him, meeting his eyes, but he wondered if maybe his friend was nearby.

Of course, his friend already liked another woman, so there was no reason for this kind of misunderstanding.

Still… compared to himself, the friend might have at least a 1% chance.

“Mmm…”

Jay made a small sound in his throat as he looked around, but no matter where he looked, his friend wasn’t there.

Feeling troubled, Jay forced an awkward smile.

“…Are you sure you were talking to me?”

His gentle and polite tone was a way of saying, Please think again. Maybe you came to the wrong person.

“Of course. They’re our children.”

But Pdea crossed her arms and didn’t back down. Her voice wasn’t even quiet, so Jay quickly looked around in alarm.

He was afraid someone might overhear such ridiculous words.

There were plenty of gossip lovers here—if a rumor started, it would spread endlessly. And since she had said “children” in the plural, people might even say they had more than one.

“…Let’s move somewhere else. How about the terrace?”

It was true that going to the terrace together might also cause talk, but it was still better than having her loudly talk about naming their children in front of so many people.

“Hm, fine. Let’s go.”

Thankfully, Pdea didn’t refuse. She just thought, He must want to be alone with me.

Jay, unaware of her thoughts, sighed in relief and hurried toward the terrace, worried she might change her mind halfway.

“Please, go ahead.”

Always courteous, Jay naturally held the door open for her. Pdea thought to herself, At least he has good manners.

Once she stepped inside, Jay followed and closed the door. After a short breath, he asked,
“Why did you say that to me?”

“That?”

Pdea tilted her head, not understanding. It wasn’t an act—she truly didn’t know what he meant.

“…The children’s names… I mean.”

Thinking she might be pretending, Jay had no choice but to repeat her absurd words himself.

“Ah.”

Finally, Pdea seemed to realize and nodded.

“I just thought, since we’ll have kids anyway, it’s fine to name them early.”

Her directness didn’t stop. She knew Jay would never end up with the heroine, so she wanted to claim him before he wasted his time.

From the moment she saw him, she had already imagined not only the wedding but also grandchildren.

“…But… we aren’t… uh… close enough for that. Not close enough to… have children.”
Embarrassed, Jay muttered the words, his face heating up.

“Oh, is that all…”

Jay flinched. He thought maybe he hadn’t been indirect enough, but Pdea’s reaction was calm.

“Then date me first. Once we’re close, you can name the kids without worry.”

“What? No… Why would I suddenly marry you, my lady?”

“Well, I planned to have children after marriage, but you said we’re not close yet. Isn’t that the same as saying we should date first?”

“….”

Jay was stunned. He had only meant to say they weren’t that intimate—how had it turned into this?

He thought she was acting strange today. If anyone should be hearing such words from her, it should be his friend, not him.

“…My lady.”

Jay decided to speak carefully.

“I know you have feelings for my friend, Claire. So, it would be better not to have this kind of conversation. You don’t want strange rumors about us either, right?”

Pdea frowned. She was about to tell him he was the one she liked when Jay added,

“And… I also have someone I like. For both our sakes, we should stop before there’s a misunderstanding.”

Her chest tightened. His eyes clearly showed affection for someone else.

“Do you mean Elena?”

“…Yes.”

She had asked just to confirm, and he answered shyly, blushing. Pdea sighed deeply.

Of course… a hopeless second male lead. He doesn’t even know he’ll be abandoned.

She didn’t like his stubbornness, but since she already considered their marriage decided, she stayed serious.

“Fine. The one who likes more has to step back.”

“…Ah! That’s a wise choice.”

Jay’s face brightened—he thought she finally agreed to stop making strange remarks.

But reality was far different.

“If you want to have fun with someone else before we marry, go ahead. I won’t stop you.”
“….”

“But when the time comes, we’ll have that close relationship you mentioned and get married.”

She thought this was a generous decision—something she would never offer anyone else.

“Go do what you want. Dance with Elena, for example.”

She gestured toward the terrace door.

Yet, even with permission, Jay didn’t move.

“…Ah.”

A thought flashed in Pdea’s mind. Does he want to see others even after marriage?

That, she couldn’t allow. Maybe after they married, she should keep him inside the mansion so he’d only look at her.

“No, no. I’ll go now.”

Before she could finish forming her plan, Jay quickly cut her thoughts short and left.

As he walked out, he felt her eyes on his back like needles.

* * *

Finally free from Pdea, Jay leaned against the wall of the ballroom.

Running away like this wasn’t knightly, but he couldn’t stay in the same room with someone so unpredictable.

“Haa…”

No matter how much he tried to forget her shocking words, they became even clearer in his mind.

Covering his face, he muttered,

“Do I really… look that much like a playboy?”

As if he couldn’t resist women at all?