Chapter 58

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 58

Chapter Title: Chance Encounter in the Store

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“Lucia!”

Arista, who had been wearing an ambiguous expression upon seeing Bern, spotted Lucia emerging from behind him and lit up with a beaming smile.

Lucia gave a reluctant glance at Arista approaching with delight and Herwin standing there awkwardly.

She hadn’t expected to run into the two of them in a place like this.

“What brings you here? Don’t tell me… a date?”

Arista whispered while shooting Bern a side-eye. Lucia had no idea how to respond.

She had gone on a few dates with Bern before, but today was purely about accompanying him to shop for Tiana’s gift, so she wondered if this even qualified as a date.

As Lucia hesitated, Bern spoke up from beside her.

“Yes. I had some important business today, and Lucia was kind enough to help me out.”

“Oh, I see.”

Though he hadn’t spelled it out, both Arista and Herwin took it as confirmation that the two were on a date.

Herwin, who had been frozen stiff, finally relaxed his expression and moved.

As Herwin approached, Lucia instinctively grabbed Bern’s arm.

Bern noticed her tension and glanced at her.

“And what about you two? What brings you here? You didn’t just happen to wander into this shop together, did you?”

At Lucia’s question, Arista faltered slightly.

“Ah, well…”

“I promised Arista we’d go shopping today.”

Herwin answered on her behalf.

Lucia had suspected as much upon seeing them together, and sure enough, her hunch was right.

But even though she’d anticipated it, the impact hit harder than expected, and Lucia gripped Bern’s arm tighter.

Unlike her honest hand, Lucia’s face showed no change whatsoever.

“I see. So, what were you planning to buy?”

“Yeah, exactly.”

It was an ordinary conversation, no different from usual, yet the atmosphere felt chillingly cold for some reason. Amid the suffocating air, Arista, sweating profusely, spoke up in an exaggerated tone.

“We just got here ourselves. Want to browse together if that’s okay?”

“I’m fine with it… Bern, are you okay with that?”

Bern looked at Lucia with a smile. She glanced at Arista and Herwin before whispering so only he could hear.

“If you’re uncomfortable, we can go somewhere else.”

It wasn’t intentional, but being around his prospective fiancée’s friends would surely put him in an awkward spot.

“It’s fine. This is a good chance to get to know your friends better.”

Lucia couldn’t help but feel grateful at Bern’s characteristically smooth response.

Meanwhile, Arista watched the two with eyes full of interest at how much Bern seemed to cherish Lucia. Herwin, however, just wrinkled his nose.

The four of them began properly browsing the store.

“That one looks nice.”

As each examined items on the displays, Arista pointed to a pair of earrings.

They weren’t flashy, but their simple design was charming.

“It’d suit you well.”

“It’s pretty, but I’m not sure if blue topaz works for me.”

Arista squinted, staring at the earrings for a long while.

Finally, unable to stand it, Herwin called over a staff member to take out the earrings. He then held one up to Arista’s ear.

Perhaps because of his striking features, it suited her perfectly.

“See? It looks good.”

“Really?”

Intrigued, Arista took the earring from Herwin’s hand and checked herself in the mirror.

Still not quite satisfied, she called over nearby Lucia.

“Lucia, what do you think?”

Lucia, who had been unconsciously watching Arista and Herwin, snapped back to attention. A spark returned to her previously vacant blue eyes.

“Huh?”

“Does this suit me? I can’t tell no matter how I look at it.”

Lucia took a moment to appraise Arista. Even in a plain shirt and worn pants, her beauty didn’t fade in the slightest.

If anything, she looked more stunning than ever, leaving a bitter taste in Lucia’s mouth.

“Yeah, it suits you. Honestly, anything would look good on you.”

“Oh, come on, you’re just saying that.”

“No, really… Ah!”

Suddenly remembering something, Lucia let out a short cry.

“Come to think of it, Herwin. Didn’t you buy Arista a gift here last time?”

The last time she’d come here with Herwin, he had definitely bought what seemed like women’s accessories.

Herwin looked puzzled, not grasping what Lucia meant.

“You know, last time we were here together, you bought some women’s jewelry. Wasn’t that for Arista?”

Realizing what she was referring to, Herwin’s initial surprise slowly turned into a hardened expression.

His demeanor grew so icy that Lucia flinched, wondering if she’d made a mistake.

“You bought me a gift? I never got anything like that.”

Arista, unaware of the context, looked baffled, and Herwin’s lips twitched. He let out a deep sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.

“It’s not like that. I did buy something, but… it wasn’t for you, Arista.”

“Oh? Then who was it for?”

At Arista’s question, Herwin glanced at Lucia. But she seemed completely clueless.

Herwin’s red eyes trembled slightly, then he clamped his mouth shut as Bern approached Lucia.

“…There is one. Someone.”

“Lame.”

Unlike Arista, who quickly lost interest with a deflated tone, Lucia discreetly clenched her fist against her chest.

Her face was a picture of confusion.

‘Not Arista?’

The only people Herwin would gift were his mother Scarlett or Arista—who else could it be?

No matter how she racked her brain, she couldn’t figure it out.

“Lucia.”

At the voice calling her, Lucia looked up. Bern had approached without her noticing.

“Would you come with me for a moment?”

“Pardon?”

Lucia dazedly took the hand he offered and followed.

The area he led her to displayed necklaces made of various gems.

A staff member from across the counter handed Bern one necklace. He gently held it up to Lucia’s neck.

“Hm, it suits you perfectly, as expected.”

“…Um, this is…”

“Do you like it?”

As Lucia struggled to comprehend his actions, Bern chuckled softly.

“I wanted to repay you for helping me today. Would that be okay?”

“Huh?”

Lucia yelped in surprise, drawing the eyes of Arista and Herwin to them.

“N-No, I didn’t do it expecting something like this…”

“I know. I just wanted to do this for you.”

Lucia fidgeted anxiously, alternating glances between Bern and the necklace in his hand.

“Still, this is too much…”

“You don’t dislike it, right?”

At his question, Lucia examined the necklace closely. A slender gold chain held a neatly cut emerald that stood out elegantly.

It was a design perfect for everyday wear.

“…Yes, it’s pretty.”

“Then that settles it.”

Before she could protest further, Bern asked the staff to wrap it up. As Lucia stamped her feet in distress, he placed a hand on her head.

“Please accept this much. It’ll put my mind at ease.”

After rolling her eyes, Lucia finally nodded. Bern patted her head affectionately, as if she were a good girl, and headed to the counter.

Left alone, Lucia brushed the spot on her head where his cool hand had been. That was when Arista and Herwin approached.

“…What was that just now?”

“Looked like he bought her something.”

Unlike Herwin’s low, subdued tone, Arista’s voice brimmed with curiosity.

Lucia, still unable to tear her eyes from Bern, murmured blankly.

“He bought me a necklace.”

“Oh my, really?”

Behind the excited Arista, Herwin’s brow furrowed deeply.

For the first time, seeing Lucia so flustered, he pressed a hand to his chest.

‘What’s wrong with me…’

He’d concluded he didn’t like her. He’d even resolved to cheer her on with Marquis Casper.

Yet less than half a day later, that resolve was crumbling.

His chest, which he thought had cleared up, began clogging again— not just blocking, but feeling weighed down by a massive boulder.

If he were honest about his current emotions…

“…It bothers me.”

“Hm? What did you say?”

Lucia turned at Herwin’s mutter.

Seeing himself reflected clearly in her sky-blue eyes, Herwin’s gaze wavered.

He opened his mouth, then clenched his fist.

“Nothing. Forget it.”

Lucia tilted her head before hurrying over to Bern, who had finished paying.

As she left, Arista sneaked a glance at the one beside her.

Herwin was watching the two chatting amiably and shyly.

Unlike Lucia, who hadn’t heard him, Arista had caught his words clearly— along with the look in his eyes as he gazed at Lucia.

Arista shifted her gaze from Herwin to Lucia and Bern.

Somehow, she felt she understood what he was feeling.

“Hey, we’re all done shopping. What about you two?”

Lucia approached with Bern.

“Nah, I’m not buying anything.”

“Me neither.”

Arista and Herwin shook their heads, having decided against purchases.

With all their business finished, they left the store.

The sun was already dipping low, painting the sky in sunset hues.

“It’s gotten this late already.”

“Yeah, it’ll be 6 soon, right?”

Just 15 minutes to 6. As they pondered whether to head home at this awkward hour, Herwin spoke up.

“Since we ran into each other like this, it must be fate. How about dinner together?”

Herwin suggested it first to Bern. Lucia and Bern’s eyes widened in surprise at the offer from someone they thought disliked him.

Bern, initially hesitant, soon smiled and accepted readily.

“Sure, let’s do that.”

“Bern!”

As Lucia called out hurriedly, Bern patted her shoulder reassuringly with a smile.

Watching this, Herwin’s brow furrowed even more.

Arista, gauging the situation, chimed in.

“Shall we head somewhere else then? Dinner rush will hit the restaurants soon.”

Everyone agreed and made their way to the dining district.

As she watched Arista and Herwin walk ahead, Lucia lagged slightly behind to whisper to Bern.

“Are you really okay with this?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? Like I said before, it’s a great chance to talk with your friends. Unless… you don’t want me getting close to them?”

“No, it’s not that. It just feels… too sudden, you know?”

Running into them at the store was coincidence, but this dinner was entirely Herwin’s idea.

Unable to explain properly and fumbling, Bern whispered back so the two ahead couldn’t hear.

“Truth is, I’m trying to score some points here. Seems like that friend of yours doesn’t like me much.”

Bern subtly pointed at Herwin. He clearly knew Herwin didn’t care for him either.

Pumping his fist with determination, Bern grinned, but Lucia couldn’t shake her unease.

A foreboding premonition lingered, as if something was bound to go wrong.