Chapter 42

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 42

Chapter Title: The Fourth Blind Date

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“Haa...”

A heavy sigh escaped Lucia’s lips, leaving Sein fidgeting restlessly.

“Um, Miss... If you’re not feeling well today, should we postpone the blind date?”

“No need. I have to meet them anyway. Better to get it over with quickly.”

“But...”

Lucia noticed Sein glancing at her nervously and smoothed out her furrowed brow.

“Sorry for worrying you. I guess I’ve been getting a bit sensitive from all the stress piling up.”

“No, no! I’m fine. I just worry you’re pushing yourself too hard...”

“Pushing myself... I’m not sure about that. But since I started this, I can’t just drop it midway, right?”

“Miss...”

Lucia tried to reassure Sein with a smile, but it only made the maid’s expression darken further.

Clunk—

Right on cue, the carriage came to a stop. Lucia escaped the burdensome stare fixed on her and stepped out.

“If anything comes up, we’ll head right back, so wait here.”

“Yes. I hope it goes well for you.”

The carriage carrying Sein pulled away. Lucia let her forced smile fade as she entered the blind date venue.

‘A good result,’ she thought.

This was already the fourth time she’d heard those words. Could there really be a good outcome this time?

Entering the cafe, Lucia confirmed her date hadn’t arrived yet and took a seat in a quiet corner where few people passed.

She sat still, reflecting on her previous blind dates.

They were all candidates carefully selected by Yohan, so why had every single one been so underwhelming?

Only one had a personality issue; the other two had shady ulterior motives.

‘They all looked down on me, too.’

Thinking back, all three had treated her with condescension. They must have seen her as an easy mark.

But why?

Her family wasn’t one to trifle with, and they were strangers. It was rare for someone to underestimate her right from the first meeting.

‘Could it be...’

A sudden thought crossed her mind, and Lucia let out a hollow laugh.

‘Is it because I’ve liked Herwin for so long?’

No matter how she turned it over, that explanation made the most sense.

It was well-known in high society that Lucia had been pining for Herwin for years.

And after her unintended public confession at the Imperial Academy, the rumors had spread even further.

They probably saw her as naive or foolish—bold enough to confess publicly in front of so many, yet fixated on just one person in a pure, one-sided love.

Or perhaps the rumors themselves were a fatal flaw in the marriage market, positioning her as the desperate one. Like the second blind date, Harriet Soled, had done.

She couldn’t read their minds, so she couldn’t know for sure, but whatever the reason, it irked her.

She’d never regretted the over ten years she’d spent loving Herwin. But she hadn’t realized it would hold her back like this.

Lucia let out a self-deprecating chuckle as she composed her bitter heart.

She gazed indifferently across the table. Her fourth date still hadn’t arrived.

It felt like she’d been waiting quite a while, so she checked the time.

The appointment was at 2 p.m. It was now 2:06.

Only six minutes late, but this was the first time her date had been the one to show up tardy.

Lucia decided to wait a bit longer.

But five more minutes passed, then ten, and even by 2:20, there was no sign of him.

Lucia, who had been sitting patiently, crossed her arms and kept glancing at the clock.

“...A no-show, then.”

This wasn’t a casual meetup with a friend—it was a blind date, and being this late took some nerve. Or maybe it was a protest against meeting her at all.

She tapped her fingers on the table, watching the minute hand move before stopping.

“Alright, I’ll wait thirty minutes.”

If he didn’t show by then, she’d take it as a sign he had no intention of meeting.

Willing the half-hour to pass quickly, Lucia closed her eyes.

Snippets of conversations drifted to her ears. The clear chime of the door bell rang as people came and went.

Ting-a-ling— Ting-a-ling—

Lucia opened her eyes. The minute hand was already pointing at the 6.

She pocketed her pocket watch and stood.

“W-Wait a moment!”

Just then, a man appeared before the departing Lucia. She startled and looked at him.

A man with tousled dark green hair bowed deeply.

“You’re Miss Lucia Agnes, correct?”

Panting heavily, he lifted his head.

His face was lightly slick with sweat, glasses precariously perched on his nose bridge, and deep golden eyes nestled in gentle features.

It was her fourth blind date, whom she’d memorized from the portrait in the carriage.

Her anger at the thirty-minute delay—far worse than ten—ebbed slightly upon seeing his disheveled state, as if he’d sprinted the whole way.

“...Yes, I’m Lucia Agnes.”

“I’m truly sorry for being so late to our first meeting, Lady. Please forgive me.”

Having caught his breath, he wiped the sweat with a handkerchief, straightened up, and gently took Lucia’s hand for a brief kiss.

“I’m Bern Casper. Thank you for waiting thirty minutes.”

Figuring there must be some reason for the tardiness, Lucia sat back down.

Just seeing she wasn’t leaving seemed to relieve him; his face brightened.

“I was just about to leave since you hadn’t come.”

“I have no excuse. Actually, there was an accident on the way.”

“An accident?”

“Yes, the carriages collided, and the horse got injured...”

Lucia jumped at the mention of a more serious incident than expected.

“Oh no, are you hurt anywhere?”

“No, fortunately no one was injured. But I couldn’t possibly drive the carriage like that, so I ended up late. I’m truly sorry.”

As he apologized again, Lucia waved it off.

“It’s fine. If there was an accident like that, you should’ve sent someone ahead. We could’ve rescheduled.”

“Sending someone or coming myself made little difference. And I’m not hurt.”

Bern reassured her with a soft smile, his gentle expression seeming genuinely kind.

‘No, don’t drop your guard.’

Aren Balter had seemed nice too. This man might be smiling now, but who knew what he’d show later.

Lucia steeled her loosening resolve.

Forty minutes after entering the cafe, she placed her first order and began conversing with him.

As with the others, she stuck to polite questions and responses.

But as time passed, Lucia gradually lowered her defenses toward Bern.

It had been ages since she’d had such a comfortable conversation with anyone outside friends or family.

The first and second dates had never been easy to talk to from the start, but the third—Aren—had been conversational until she saw his true colors. The Imperial Academy connection had given them plenty to discuss.

Yet with this man, no shared academy history or prior acquaintance, the talk flowed effortlessly.

“If I were just a year younger, we might’ve attended the Imperial Academy together.”

Wary that Bern might bring up rumors about Herwin or herself, Lucia tensed.

“Did you know? There’s a secret room hidden in the second library at the academy.”

But contrary to her fears, he steered the conversation elsewhere. After a brief surprise, Lucia responded.

“No, I had no idea. How did you find out?”

“Ah...”

Bern hesitated, a bitter look crossing his face. But he quickly composed himself.

“I loved books and frequented the library, stumbling upon it by chance. I used it as my personal hideout until the professors caught on.”

“That must’ve been a fun memory.”

“Yes, those days are hard to forget.”

Lost in reminiscence for a moment, Bern smiled faintly, then snapped back, his eyes softening as he looked at Lucia.

“I feel at ease with you, Miss Agnes.”

It could’ve been empty flattery, but she sensed no pretense from him.

So Lucia answered honestly.

“Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve had such a relaxed chat.”

“I was worried it was just me, but I’m glad.”

He savored the last of his tea, adjusting his slipped glasses, then set the cup down and hesitated.

“To be honest... I was anxious you’d be disappointed in me.”

“Me? Why?”

“Yes. I was thirty minutes late to our first meeting. I ran here fretting that you might’ve already left.”

“You ran even though I might not be here?”

“You might not be, but you might be too. If you were waiting, I had to apologize in person. It’s the decent thing to do.”

Bern’s face grew earnest, his upright character shining through.

Any lingering wariness crumbled away.

Lucia chuckled and looked at him.

“Good thing I waited. A few minutes more, and I’d have missed out on someone so wonderful.”

“W-Wonderful? No need to flatter me.”

“But in this day and age, it’s hard to find someone as honest as you, Marquis.”

Her casual praise embarrassed him; he blushed at the ears and scratched his cheek.

“...Thank you, Lady.”

Before she knew it, the time she’d told Sein approached.

“I should head out now. The carriage will be here soon.”

“Ah, already? I’ll wait with you until it arrives.”

They left the cafe and waited for Sein.

Checking the time, it was just past 4 p.m.

“Um, Lady.”

Bern spoke cautiously from beside her. Lucia pocketed her watch and turned to him.

“If it’s alright with you, could we meet again sometime?”

His unexpected words widened her eyes. Bern’s golden gaze was utterly sincere. After a moment’s thought, she smiled faintly.

“Yes, I’d like that.”

Tension melted from Bern’s face, lighting it up.

“Thank you. I’ll send a letter to your estate.”

“Any time works for me, so schedule it when it suits you, Marquis. Of course, no more being late like today.”

Her light tease drew a laugh from him. Playfully, like a knight, he placed a hand over his chest.

“I’ll make sure not to be even a minute late.”

“We’ll see.”

They burst into shared laughter as the carriage appeared. The door opened, revealing Sein waiting inside.

Bern gently took Lucia’s hand, escorting her aboard.

As she climbed in, a belated realization hit her, and she looked back at him.

“Marquis, do you have a carriage to take you home?”

“I told the one I came in to return to the estate after the horse recovers. I’ll head to a rental stable for now.”

After a brief hesitation, Lucia spoke.

“If it’s alright, would you ride with me in mine?”