Deborah held back her desire to foam at the mouth and said.

“I’m sorry, but it’s not like that.”

“What?”

“You misunderstood. It’s true that Mr. Baker has excellent taste, but…”

It was an elegant and polite tone. The employee covered her gaping mouth with her hand and kept glancing between the devastated-looking Deborah and Zen, who had turned his frowning face away.

‘Hmm? Hmm……’

Before the employee could finish assessing the situation, Zen spoke.

“I’ll buy this coat.”

‘You’re really buying it after all. A coat that’s clearly shockingly expensive!’

Deborah wanted to clutch her head.

Zen turned to her with a frowning smile and said.

“I can’t just leave after being complimented on my excellent taste. My pride won’t allow it.”

The employee quickly pulled out a notepad and asked.

“If you give me your address, we can send it to you.”

“No. I’ll take it with me now.”

“Ah, then I’ll wrap it up for you right away!”

The employee moved quickly. Zen received the well-packaged coat in a box and strode off without even saying goodbye. Regardless, the employee bowed to him.

“Thank you. Please visit us again.”

Deborah, who nodded and accepted the greeting on Zen’s behalf, hurriedly chased after the departing Zen.

“You were displeased, weren’t you? I’m sorry for causing a needless misunderstanding.”

“You apologize at the drop of a hat. Do you perhaps have a hobby of apologizing?”

After saying that, Zen glanced back and slowed his pace to match Deborah’s steps as she diligently followed him.

“And come to think of it, you seem to lack flexibility, too much so.”

“Me?”

This was the first time she’d heard such a thing. Compared to people who rigidly adhered to rules, Deborah was a person with almost excessive flexibility.

“Seeing you earnestly make excuses for trivial matters, it seems that way.”

‘When did I make excuses for trivial matters?’

Deborah found it difficult to agree with Zen’s words. Just when had she done that?

‘Anyway, that’s one thing, but……’

Deborah asked Zen.

“That box, would you be upset if I offered to carry it?”

Zen stopped abruptly and frowned as if dumbfounded. Deborah gave an embarrassed smile.

“Why ask such an obvious thing? Do I look like a scoundrel who would make a woman carry luggage?”

“It’s not that, but as an employee, I feel uncomfortable burdening my employer.”

“That damned discomfort!”

Each syllable was emphasized. If Zen were originally a nobleman, it would be proper for Deborah to carry the luggage.

No, in fact, even now if Deborah were to carry an excessive load alone, no one would say anything to Zen, and would simply assume Deborah was a maid.

“Anyway, follow me.”

“Are you going back?”

“Are you joking? I haven’t even bought half of what I need yet.”

“What? Surely not!”

From that point on, Deborah had to make numerous efforts to dissuade Zen. She could understand things like hats and gloves, but……

“Why do I need furniture or decorations?”

“Didn’t you ask to move to a new room? Since you’re moving to a new room anyway, why not fill it with your own taste?”

“Really, really, it’s fine.”

“Is that so? You don’t have your own taste, huh. Well, alright. Then let me fill it as I see fit.”

“No, that’s not what I meant……”

Deborah agreed to accept dresses and accessories to prevent the purchase of furniture and decorations.

“Can’t we just buy one dress and one piece of jewelry……”

“You want to wear the same thing all the time? Having you look shabby is an insult to your employer.”

It was unclear how many occasions Deborah would have to wear such things for him to say that.

“Then may I choose?”

“Do you think I’m a fool? If I let you choose, you’d pick the plainest and cheapest things.”

Having dismissed Deborah’s opinion like that, Zen carefully examined the jewelry and dresses, then clicked his tongue.

“At best, I can choose a ring suitable for everyday wear and one dress for tea time. Can’t be helped.”

“Then……”

Is this the end? A ray of hope warmly shone on Deborah.

“Still, dresses and accessories should be properly tailored at a boutique. Let’s just pick out a few pairs of shoes that can be used right away.”

Zen mercilessly trampled on Deborah’s hope.

‘Ah, how could this be!’

Deborah felt so stifled that she felt like she was being planted into the ground bodily. Honestly, all of this felt like a debt she could never repay.

‘Why is this man investing so much in me? Don’t tell me he thinks I can turn Dia into a lady who dominates high society?’

That was absurd. Deborah had no such ability. Moreover, she had never done anything to cause such a misunderstanding.

‘Perhaps Madam Saint exaggerated her praise of me?’

As if introducing her pet dog as a genius, did she introduce Deborah that way?

Maybe that’s why Zen had been so persistent in keeping Deborah.

‘Such a misunderstanding.’

Deborah considered coming clean even now, but decided to keep her mouth shut. Since it wasn’t a misunderstanding caused by her fault, there was no need for her to take responsibility.

As Deborah was feeling troubled, Zen laid out some rings in front of her.

“I chose some modest ones.”

With such large stones, how could they be modest? Deborah briefly wore an expression of shock. Anyway, all the rings he chose had the same design, only the gems were different.

Deborah pondered for a moment and then examined her empty fingers. Well, after all.

“I’m sorry, but really, the rings…”

“You keep refusing−”

“No, it’s not just because I feel burdened.”

Deborah spoke carefully, but at the same time with conviction.

“Really, just for the rings, I really can’t.”

Rings carry meaning. Of course, noble young ladies wear simple rings even before engagement, but Deborah was not a noble young lady.

“If you really want to give me something, how about a necklace? Ah! A brooch would be nice. It’s very versatile.”

Zen said nothing. To dislike receiving a single ring so much that she babbled on about other items. Was this the same woman who was dying from feeling burdened just moments ago?

‘Is a single ring more burdensome than anything else?’

In the end, instead of the pretty rings Zen had chosen, Deborah picked a star sapphire brooch with a gold star pattern on a black background.

“This isn’t a design suitable for a young lady.”

Despite the employee’s cautious words, Deborah chose that brooch. It was the item she liked most among those chosen today.

Deborah wanted to grab a passerby and ask. Were there any other maids in this country who dined alone with their employer at a restaurant besides her?

“It’s the first time I’ve seen someone pray with their eyes open before a meal.”

Zen said to Deborah, who was staring blankly at the food for a while.

“I’m sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment.”

“Ah. I thought you were a devout person praying, but I guess not.”

Zen said sarcastically. He must have been picking on what Deborah had said in the study this morning.

To her, who wore an embarrassed smile, Zen said.

“Anyway, eat quickly. Even the best food is terrible when it gets cold.”

“Yes. Then I’ll eat with gratitude.”

Deborah picked up her spoon and scooped up some soup. The warm cream soup seemed to comfort Deborah, who had endured a day of torture in all but name.

‘It’s delicious.’

Zen, sitting opposite Deborah, also seemed to be enjoying his meal comfortably. However, Zen kept secretly glancing at Deborah, twice scooping up soup from thin air.

Even if the table was wide, it was remarkable that Deborah didn’t notice this fact.

“You seem very tired today.”

When Deborah’s soup was half gone, Zen asked.

“No. I was a bit perplexed, but I had a good experience thanks to you, Mr. Baker.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Really. To be honest, I thought I might get kicked out of the department store because of my clothes.”

Deborah said jokingly. Then Zen said with fire in his eyes.

“What kind of crazy bastard would do such a thing?”

At such a fierce reaction, Deborah smiled and quickly opened her mouth.

“It was a joke. But I can’t shake the feeling that the respectful treatment I received from the staff today was thanks to you, Mr. Baker.”

If Zen hadn’t been by her side, would that doorman have held the door for her?

“Ah, that’s not to say I doubt the character of the staff I met today. I just wanted to say how impressive your influence was, Mr. Baker.”

Deborah added an explanation, lest there be any misunderstanding.

Furrowing his brow, Zen said.

“I know. So don’t make excuses for everything.”

‘It wasn’t an excuse, it was an explanation.’

Well, whatever. As long as he didn’t misunderstand. Deborah picked up her spoon again. It was delicious. Honestly, soup recipes are all pretty much the same, so why does this one taste so special?

The soup placed in front of the two people was clearly the same soup, but while one person marveled at the taste of the soup, the other person tasted nothing. They were just swallowing the soup down their throat.

As time passed and the soup bowls showed their bottoms, a waiter approached as if he had been waiting and said.

“Today we recommend two types of wine.”

One was a wine with a strong oak flavor, the highest alcohol content in this restaurant, and the other was Graciano’s pride, a sweet wine. After the waiter finished his explanation, Zen replied.

“One glass of the first one for now.”

“Then for the madam?”

‘Madam?’

Deborah’s eyes widened slightly at the waiter’s words. It wasn’t unreasonable for him to see Deborah as a married woman. She was at an age where it suited her better to be seen as a mother rather than a young lady, and she had actually been married once.

But the ‘madam’ the waiter was referring to now didn’t seem to be in that broad sense. It was probably a misunderstanding of the same kind they had experienced at the department store.

Before Deborah, who had cold sweat on her hands, could make any excuses, Zen answered again.

“The second one.”

“Then I’ll prepare that for you.”

The elderly waiter left with the empty bowls, wearing his characteristic elegant smile.

Deborah said in a daze.

“I’m sorry.”

“Apologizing again. How many times do I have to tell you not to?”

“But……”

Deborah’s head throbbed. Why did she keep causing these misunderstandings? Are men and women beings that are misunderstood as couples or lovers just by being alone together?

‘Think about it again. Is it even possible for a man as splendid and handsome as Zen and a plain woman like me to be seen as that kind of relationship?’

Deborah knew that this kind of thinking wasn’t good, but in this world, such narrow-minded thinking was taken for granted.

‘So according to the common sense of the times, we shouldn’t be seen that way.’

To her, who was lost in deep thought again until new food arrived, Zen asked.

“Are you planning to pray every time new food comes out?”

“What?”

To Deborah, who answered blankly, Zen raised one eyebrow and asked.

“Good grief. What are you thinking about so much?”

“I was thinking about ways to prevent these kinds of misunderstandings.”

At Deborah’s unexpected answer, Zen furrowed his brow. And just as Zen was lifting his glass to wet his lips, Deborah said.

“So, what if I called you ‘Master’, Mr. Baker?”

“……”