“After going around and around, we finally made a reservation.”

Osen showed a dejected smile.

The restaurant Osen had recommended before the attack. He had joked about how delicious it must be since it took three days to get a reservation.

“Good job.”

“It’s just a reservation, nothing compared to the master who plucked out a dragon’s eye.”

At those words, Hertian pulled on his horse’s reins and asked him.

“Was it that impressive? Ever since we got back, everyone’s been talking about the dragon.”

Yesterday and today, the way knights, servants, and even passing nobles looked at him was peculiar. He thought it might be because he was covered in blood, despite having fought in several wars, but that wasn’t it.

‘Is it true that Your Grace the Duke tore a dragon limb from limb?’

All sorts of strange rumors were spreading quickly.

“Well, that’s because you deliberately stabbed the eye of a subdued dragon. Why bother with a dragon that’s already asleep from the herbs the lady gave? And you even blinded its other eye.”

Osen recalled yesterday’s terrible nightmare.

As soon as he opened his eyes in the cave, the letter burned. Swarms of vermin invaded from the cave entrance, while dragon roars echoed from deep within.

Thanks to the herbs brought by a knight from the imperial family, they were able to subdue the dragon. However, Hertian didn’t flee from the dragon. Instead, he blinded both eyes of the sleeping dragon, nearly causing not just the letter but everyone to be burned.

Nevertheless, Hertian carelessly took the eyeball as a trophy. Seeing him emit a blood-red glow, Osen felt as if he had returned to the battlefield he had long forgotten. Perhaps the war had already begun.

“If we return empty-handed, they’ll think we just barely escaped.”

“That may be so, but shouldn’t we survive to take revenge? Last time you said retreating was also a strategy.”

“That was then. From now on, there will be no more retreating.”

Hertian emphasized again to the anxious Osen. That he would never again run from forces trying to push him away. Because he had personally realized that retreating doesn’t guarantee safety.

“Wasn’t I cool just now?”

“Pardon? Are you asking why you’re so cool today?”

“I have to be cooler than the guy imitating me.”

Hertian took out a paper with Michael’s face drawn on it and crumpled it tightly. A face that was nauseating just to look at. If seen in person, the butter spread on bread for breakfast might come flying out.

‘To put someone with such a face forward. They must have been in quite a hurry.’

From stealing the letter to figuring out its contents. A time span of two days at the shortest, four days at the longest. With Anette in the capital now, it would have been difficult to find someone to imitate Casian.

So they must have hurriedly put anyone forward. That’s why he ordered fish dishes that she dislikes at their first meeting. A mistake he would never have made.

‘The one pulling the strings behind this will pay the price for such a scheme.’

He showed a satisfied smile. He was certain that the more they did this, the more Anette would lose any remaining affection, let alone gain her heart.

Hertian knew Anette’s personality better than anyone else. That’s why he didn’t carelessly reveal his identity as Casian, and even now, he couldn’t let his guard down for a moment.

“You said his name was Michael Valosone? I’ll find out what kind of person he is. No, should we set up a meeting? Shouldn’t we ask why he’s imitating the master! It’s unbelievable.”

“More importantly, we need to prepare to receive a guest before returning to the North.”

Osen was about to ask who he was inviting when he recalled someone and asked.

“Surely you’re not inviting Viscount Valosone?”

He showed a satisfied smile.

“Since we’re in the capital, we should properly entertain my wife’s most precious friend.”

“Will you bring the lady as well?”

Hertian nodded slightly. He wasn’t afraid of the fake Casian. He knew that no matter how well he imitated, he couldn’t even come close to his level.

“I’m a bit nervous.”

A meeting between the real Casian and the fake Casian.

‘And with the lady present too!’

“Can’t you invite me as well?”

Osen couldn’t hide his excitement.

“Here, eat this.”

Looking at his excited subordinate, Hertian handed him an envelope from his pocket.

“What is this?”

“I know I’m cool, but there’s no need for your heart to flutter.”

It was the arrhythmia medication that Anette always provided.

“Who said my heart was fluttering because of you, master!”

The place I found after receiving Hertian’s contact was a restaurant located in the center of the capital.

“I’ve been here before.”

It’s such a famous place that I’ve visited occasionally on anniversaries. The taste and atmosphere are the best. But I always disliked coming because it was always crowded. I absolutely hate noisy places.

‘It’s still the same here.’

Being lunchtime, even more people had gathered. I passed by the full tables and followed the waiter’s guidance. I felt drained by the people even before entering. I’m grateful for the reservation, but I already feel my energy being sapped.

I wanted to rest in a quieter place today.

“But where are we going?”

The place I entered following the waiter’s guidance was somewhere I had never been before, even in this restaurant.

“This is a special area operating only for today. The person who made the reservation prepared it personally.”

He opened the door to the garden. And as soon as I took a step in, I was left speechless by the scene that unfolded.

On the terrace temporarily set up behind the store, Celotia flowers filled my view, swaying in the spring breeze. Sitting at the white table placed in the center was the perfect Hertian, making me feel as if I had arrived in heaven.

“Are you an angel?”

The pure white suit suited him well.

He smiled when he saw me.

“I still have too many things I want to do to die.”

I walked while admiring the flowers and sat down opposite him.

“What do you want to do?”

“To live a long life together with my wife.”

There must be a waiter around.

Whenever he throws lines like this, there was always someone watching me and Hertian.

But, there was no one around.

Even the door was closed. Thinking he must have been mistaken, I whispered to him.

“There’s no one here now. You can be comfortable.”

He tilted his head in response.

“I am being comfortable as usual.”

“Oh, Hertian.”

I smiled back with a face that said he was incorrigible.

“When did you prepare a place like this? After being on the brink of death until yesterday.”

“There’s nothing I can’t do for my wife.”

Is it ingrained in him now? His kindness remained even in places away from others’ eyes.

‘That must be comfortable for him.’

Because it might be confusing if he speaks guardedly.

I decided to understand him and act as thoroughly as Hertian. After all, this was the capital full of hyenas, not the North.

“Thank you. I’ve often missed the food here when in the North, I can’t tell you how happy I am.”

“But you didn’t come often because you dislike the noise, right?”

I opened my eyes wide in surprise.

That was the exact reason.

But Hertian, as always, had a face that said it was obvious.

‘How much does Hertian know about me?’

I wondered how much he had found out through investigating his contract partner.

He always seemed to know even these small details.

“You shouldn’t be surprised already.”

Just then, the door opened and a stream of dishes came out. A veal steak with a rich meaty aroma, a salad sprinkled with fragrant fruit dressing. And even potato dishes. They were all foods I liked.

My mouth watered at the sight of the dishes coming one after another.

“Please eat twice as much, including what you couldn’t eat yesterday.”

“Hertian is the best!”

The person who treats you to delicious food is always the best.

Moreover, there were only the two of us here. This place was nothing short of heaven.

I lost myself for a moment, scanning the dishes and ranking them, before finally starting to attack the soup placed in front of me.

The dishes eaten with warm sunlight and a gentle breeze were simply exquisite.

“Aren’t you eating, Hertian?”

“I am eating, but seeing you enjoy the food makes me feel full.”

That’s something a mother would say.

Sometimes, Hertian seems to take care of me more than my parents do. Should I call it overprotection? Perhaps because of his poor health, he tends to worry about me excessively.

‘Even though he has arrhythmia himself.’

I handed him a piece of meat along with a heap of vegetables good for blood circulation and added,

“If you keep doing that, I’m going to call you father.”

“Father? Did I just seem like the Count?”

Hertian, suddenly choked up, asked several times.

“Really. Do I really look like the Count to you?”

It was a joke.

Seeing his big reaction made me want to tease him more.

“Yes! It’s very professional and good when Hertian takes care of me in front of others, but sometimes you take care of me too much. Sometimes it feels like I’m more important than Hertian himself.”

I retorted primly.

Hertian’s complexion gradually turned pale.

He looked like someone who had received a severe shock. How is it that he’s looking more and more serious than when he came back after plucking out the dragon’s eye?

I chuckled watching him change by the moment, then took out a box I had put in my bag.

It was a gift box beautifully wrapped with satin ribbon.

“Here, take this.”

Because I felt sorry, I specially got up and handed him the gift directly. Hertian looked back at me with a face that hadn’t recovered from the shock, creaking.

“What is that?”

“A filial piety gift for father.”

Clang.

He even dropped his fork.

“It’s a joke. A joke! I can’t even joke with Hertian.”

He looked at me with sad eyes by now. I must have gone too far.

‘Calling a young man in his prime father-like was too much.’

As I firmly placed the gift in his hand, he asked again.

“Is it really a joke?”

“Of course. You do take care of me like a father, but you’re clearly different from my parents.”

I soothed him in a gentle and friendly tone.

He relaxed his expression and laughed softly.

“I was joking too. It doesn’t matter how you see me.”

Then he took a sip of wine with a face that really didn’t care.

A wave of bitterness swept over me.

‘So it doesn’t matter how I see you because it’s just a contractual relationship?’

Even if I dislike you?

Because there’s no reason to meet again once the contract ends?

The gift I had prepared for him suddenly felt incredibly shabby.

It was at that moment when he looked at me clearly and said distinctly.

“Because you are mine.”