Chapter 60

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 60

Chapter Title: Do You Like Me?

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While they were chatting animatedly over dessert, Bern's aide approached.

"Marquess, excuse me for a moment."

The aide whispered something to Bern. Upon hearing it, Bern's expression darkened as he looked around.

"Really, I'm so sorry. Something urgent has come up, so I have to head out."

"Oh? We've pretty much finished eating anyway, so shall we all leave together?"

As Lucia started to stand as well, Bern looked apologetically at her and the other three.

"I'm sorry for cutting the gathering short because of me."

"No, it's fine. It's about time we headed home anyway."

Arista agreed with Lucia, and everyone rose to follow Bern.

Once outside the restaurant, Bern's aide was already fidgeting anxiously beside a waiting carriage.

"Marquess, we need to hurry."

But despite his urging, Bern hesitated to board the carriage. He kept glancing back at Lucia, who smiled and gently pushed his back.

"Go on. It looks urgent."

"But I should escort you home..."

Bern was concerned because Lucia had come in his carriage that day, without her maid or her own ride. He had planned to take her back himself.

"I have my friends here. I'll chat more with them and head home, so don't worry about me."

Bern glanced at Herwin and Arista behind her, then took Lucia's hand and whispered so only she could hear.

"If it's inconvenient, just say the word. I can take you all the way home."

No matter that her friends could escort her—even with Herwin among them. Hadn't Lucia just argued with Herwin at the restaurant?

If she felt uncomfortable with Herwin, Bern was ready to put everything aside and see her home personally.

Sensing this, Lucia shook her head.

"It's really fine. Come on, you'll be late."

She firmly refused his offer. Though visibly displeased, Bern finally boarded the carriage at his aide's persistent urging from the side.

"...Then I'll be off. Please take good care of Lucia."

He didn't forget to entrust her to his friends. Meeting Bern's gaze, Herwin responded with cold eyes.

"We'll handle it, so go on."

"I hope to see you all again soon."

The door closed, and Bern's carriage sped away. Watching it vanish in an instant, the three exchanged looks.

Since their argument, Herwin and Lucia hadn't properly talked, leaving an awkward air between them.

Arista, glancing back and forth between them, checked the time with exaggerated flair and clapped her hands.

"Oh, right! My father told me to come home early today!"

Lucia, who had been about to ask Arista for a favor, panicked. Before she could speak, Arista beat her to it.

"I'm so sorry about this? I'm already late, so I have to rush. Lucia, ask Herwin to take you home. Got it?"

"W-wait a second, Arista...!"

"Alright, I'm off then. See you later!"

Before Lucia could grab her, Arista hurried away with her characteristic quick steps.

Lucia looked at Herwin in bewilderment, only to find him staring back at her.

'I've set the stage—handle it yourselves.'

Hoping they'd at least make up over today's events, Arista headed straight to her own carriage.

In the end, Lucia was left alone with Herwin.

She'd thought having Arista there made it better, but she never imagined the girl would leave in under five minutes.

Feeling cold sweat trickling down her back, Lucia turned awkwardly. Herwin was staring straight at her.

She broke out in a cold sweat, feeling like she might hiccup.

Seeing Lucia so tense, Herwin said indifferently.

"You're going straight home, right?"

"Huh?"

"Are you not going home?"

Caught off guard by the unexpected response, Lucia snapped to attention.

"O-of course I am!"

"Good. Wait here a moment then."

Herwin left her briefly and returned soon after.

"The carriage will be here shortly. Just wait a bit."

"...Okay."

With that, no further conversation followed. As heavy silence settled, Lucia fidgeted, rolling her eyes.

She stole a glance at Herwin. He was just staring ahead, looking somehow drained and detached.

Forgetting their earlier spat, Lucia hurriedly spoke up.

"Um...!"

Herwin turned, his red eyes fixing on her.

"...Are you hurt somewhere?"

"What?"

"You barely ate, and your complexion looks off... Did you get a stomachache? Or does it still feel queasy?"

The worries she'd bottled up spilled out, and Lucia asked about his condition without thinking.

When Herwin just stood there silently, Lucia grew anxious and stepped closer.

"Don't do this—let's go see a doctor right away. If something serious happens..."

Her frantic worry lasted only a moment before she looked puzzled.

Herwin, who had been expressionless, suddenly smirked.

"So you were worried about me?"

"......"

"Everyone else asked about my condition, but you stayed quiet, so I thought you were really mad at me."

"I was... mad."

She had anticipated he didn't like Bern, but his reaction had been overly extreme, angering her. It was why she'd raised her voice at him for the first time.

"But of course I was worried."

Even so, her nerves had been focused on him. She'd just kept it from showing.

Feeling the sincerity in her unwavering gaze, Herwin unwittingly let out a sigh of relief.

The anxiety growing unconsciously within him melted away like snow.

"So, you're really not hurt anywhere?"

Lucia leaned in, scrutinizing his face once more.

"It's nothing like that. I just wasn't hungry. No pain. You know I don't get sick easily."

"...Good, then."

Just as Lucia finished, the carriage arrived. Herwin offered his hand to escort her, and she took it, boarding.

Inside, the atmosphere was far more relaxed than when they'd first been left alone.

Seizing the moment, Herwin asked.

"But why didn't you ask if I was okay back there?"

"It wasn't the time. Bern was right there..."

At Bern's name, Herwin frowned. But with the carriage dim, Lucia didn't notice.

"And you—why were you like that today? Do you know how on edge I was every time you spoke to him?"

"...I just don't like the guy."

"I could tell."

Lucia sighed deeply. A stone seemed to drop into Herwin's chest at the sound. Feeling uncomfortable, he crossed his arms and furrowed his brow further.

"I don't know why you dislike him, but he's not as bad as you think."

Lucia tried hard to change Herwin's view of Bern, explaining earnestly.

"He's always patient even when my reactions are slow because romance is new to me, never rushing me. He's so considerate—I've escaped big trouble more than once thanks to him. And..."

Mid-sentence, Lucia hesitated. She wanted to say, 'He never asked about my crush on you,' but it was too awkward with the crush in question right there.

She softened it instead.

"He's someone who accepts a flawed person like me as I am, without a word."

While others nitpicked her long-time crush on Herwin, Bern alone had accepted her fully.

"...Flawed?"

"Yes. So you shouldn't see him only negatively—try to get along..."

Lucia trailed off mid-sentence. The red eyes across from her gleamed menacingly.

Just then, light filtered through the window, illuminating the carriage. Now she could clearly see Herwin's hardened, furious expression—far angrier than at the restaurant.

"Who the hell called you flawed?"

When Lucia didn't answer, his red glare grew fiercer.

"Did the marquess say that to you?"

"No, it's not that."

"Then why the hell are you saying you're flawed?!"

After a pause, Lucia looked down. The situation felt oddly ironic.

She'd been belittled by other men just for liking Herwin, yet here he was, getting angry on her behalf.

It was touching, yet bittersweet.

No matter his anger for her, his heart wasn't hers.

"It was just something I made up. No one's ever called me flawed."

Herwin didn't buy it. He hadn't expected her to believe that easily.

"What I meant was, Bern isn't a bad guy, so give him a chance. If you keep acting like this, it puts me in a tough spot."

Lucia forced a smile, but Herwin saw through it and didn't soften.

"Still, I don't like him."

Meeting her eyes again, Herwin tried to persuade her.

"I know you're not the type to call yourself flawed for no reason. For you to say that while dating him means something happened you couldn't speak of."

"Nothing like that."

"You can tell he's a decent guy after a few talks. But he won't do."

"Why?"

Lucia couldn't understand why he'd dislike someone he knew was kind.

"Why not Bern?"

Herwin hesitated to answer. More precisely, he couldn't pinpoint it.

There was a reason on the tip of his tongue opposing Bern, but articulating it was hard.

It was tangled in emotions even he didn't fully grasp.

"...There's just something. Call it my gut."

"What kind of answer is that?"

"Anyway, my instincts are screaming no, so think about it! Do you really have to get engaged to the marquess?"

His persistent opposition frustrated Lucia. Glancing at him, memories of his behavior toward her and Bern all day flashed through her mind.

Erasing all expressions from her face, Lucia spoke.

"Herwin, could it be that you..."

The carriage jolted, light spilling in again.

"...like me?"

For a fleeting moment, their gazes—clear gray and red—locked.

Lucia was calm, but Herwin was shaken. The darkness hid his turmoil.

As time passed with no reply, Lucia spoke.

"You don't like me."

"......"

"You're not going to marry me."

"...Lucia."

"I've met so many suitors and chosen him. I think he's fine."

Her slow words held no tremor. In that instant, the lingering attachment Herwin had clung to sank into the abyss, helping her stay composed.

"So... you're really going to marry him?"

"I think so."

Finally, Herwin's heart plummeted with a thud. The unprecedented shock rocked him to his core.

The jolting carriage stopped before the Agnes Count House. Lucia descended, leaving the frozen Herwin behind.

"Herwin."

At her call, he barely turned his head.

Lucia smiled softly.

"Even if it's not Bern, I'll marry someone someday."

Herwin frowned. For a split second, he looked like he might cry, but Lucia chalked it up to the dim light.

"So cheer me on to live well. We're... friends, right?"

Herwin always called them friends, but in that moment, he couldn't utter a word.

Lucia watched the silent Herwin, then turned and entered the mansion.