Spending time with someone you don’t even want to is an extremely arduous task. Even more so if that person looks down on me.

I glumly looked at Gavis Palong, who was looking me up and down with his head held high throughout.

Gavis Palong was a man with an unpleasant gaze and a strange energy flowing across his face that was unsettling. His impression was even more terrible than described in the novel.

“I heard a lot about you from Lady Floria.”

I could roughly guess how Floria would have talked about me. She would have subtly disparaged me while pretending to be kind.

But that wouldn’t have been very important to Gavis.

With his strong desire for power, as long as I could serve as a connection to Floria, regardless of what kind of existence I was to her, it would be enough for him.

“Rather than wasting time at home taking care of children after getting married, it would be better to do your own work outside. For example, becoming the Second Prince’s wife, Her Highness’s conversation partner at the palace, things like that.”

“But I want to focus on taking care of my family at home when I get married.”

I smilingly retorted to Gavis, who was already talking about post-marriage even though we hadn’t met for long, and inwardly sighed. This jerk seems to want to marry me somehow and further solidify his position.

I was already worried about how this crazy bastard would convey his words to the Second Prince. It would be nice if there was a way to make him really sick of me.

‘Ugh.’

When my gaze met Gavis’s, who was looking at me stickily, goosebumps ran all over my body.

Thinking that I could even kiss anyone who would interfere with this situation right now, I turned my head and widened my eyes.

It was because I saw a familiar person entering the restaurant through the glass window.

‘No, does that man really have too much time on his hands or what?’

Why does he show up everywhere I go?

I looked at Cal, who was crossing the restaurant, in dismay. Maybe it was because I had been looking at Gavis, but his appearance, which usually felt unpleasant, seemed to shine dazzlingly.

Cal sat at the next table without giving me a single glance. Both women and men cast their gazes at him as he elegantly crossed his legs.

“The lamb steak here is famous. Would you like to have that?”

“And garlic soup.”

Cal, who nodded at Machi’s question from across the table, drank the water poured by the waiter.

Even just drinking a glass of water, an air of elegance overflowed from him.

I felt it several times, but Cal had an energy that drew people’s attention. Even Gavis Palong stared at Cal. Then, coming to his senses, he turned his head towards me.

“I heard that Crown Princess Floria cherishes Lady very much. If you quit your job after getting married, she will be disappointed.”

“Can’t I just visit the palace often? I don’t want to lift a finger when I get married.”

“Of course you can, but wouldn’t it be better to be with your family rather than that?”

“Actually, I want to cut ties with my family when I get married. I think it’s better to make memories with a new family that I will live with in the future rather than my old family.”

I blurted out answers that Gavis would hate as much as possible while raising my teacup.

Gavis had a displeased face at me talking back to him. Well, he was the type who liked submissive women.

But even if he didn’t like this meeting, he didn’t storm out of his seat while twitching his lips. I wish he would just storm out.

Sighing inwardly, I tilted the teacup.

When I raised my head feeling an unpleasant gaze, I saw Gavis looking me up and down as if licking every inch of my body. My mood hit rock bottom at the gaze that was clearly filled with sexual intent.

‘What the hell is this crazy pervert looking at?’

Just then, the next table became noisy. When I turned my head at the loud sound of something breaking, a glass of water had shattered under the table where Cal was sitting.

“Oh my. It slipped out of my hand and fell.”

How do you drop it like this? Anyone who saw it would think it was intentional given the position. Machi nodded as if it could happen.

“That can happen when you get worked up. Use this handkerchief.”

Cal wiped his hands with the handkerchief Machi handed him and rolled his eyes. Our eyes met for a moment.

When I withdrew my gaze as the waiter squeezed in to clean up the broken glass, Gavis spoke.

“To put it bluntly, I want to meet Miss Violet with the premise of marriage.”

“Isn’t it a bit too early to say that when we haven’t even met for a full hour?”

“One minute is enough to recognize a bond.”

His words flowed like a mountain stream. I clicked my tongue inwardly, wondering how many poor young ladies had fallen for that greasy eloquence.

I was about to just brush it off nicely, thinking that Floria might tell me to meet him again if I refused outright. That’s when it happened.

“These days, some people even sleep together before dating, what do you think? I’m fine with doing it today.”

‘…What did you just say, you crazy pervert bastard?’

I was appalled and opened my mouth at the words I never expected to hear.

I knew he was a pervert, but I didn’t know he would make such a blatant and vulgar request. I could tell how easy he thought of me. Feeling humiliated, I seriously considered pouring the teacup I was holding over him. Right then…

“Ahhh!”

Hot soup dripped onto Gavis’s head. Gavis screamed and jumped up, shaking his head.

“Oh dear. My hand slipped again. I’m sorry.”

“What the hell is this…!”

Gavis, who had suddenly been doused with hot soup, exploded. But when Cal, who was a head taller than him, looked down at him intimidatingly, he shrank back with his tail between his legs.

“Be, be careful, what kind of behavior is this?”

“I said I was sorry.”

“You said? How dare you talk down to me, a noble!”

Gavis’s face turned red and blue as he flared up.

But when Cal looked down at him with his chin raised, Gavis couldn’t argue further and just bit his lips before stepping back. Gavis, who was huffing and puffing while shaking off the spilled soup, turned to look at me sharply.

“I’ll have to leave first today. Next time, let’s find another opportunity to see… Ugh!”

Gavis, who was continuing his words, let out a groan. It was because Cal tapped his shoulder.

“You got some here too. Sorry about that.”

Despite the apology in his words, his hand brushing off Gavis’s shoulder was rough beyond compare. Gavis, who was staggering, grabbed his things and fled the restaurant as if running away.

‘He’s really awful, awful. No matter what, how could he abandon the lady he came to see and leave alone like this? Of course, it’s a thank you for me, but still.’

As I clicked my tongue, Cal leaned against the chair Gavis had been sitting in and sat down.

“What is it?”

When I looked at him with a face asking why he was sitting there, Cal raised his eyebrows.

“Shouldn’t a word of thanks come first?”

“Huh? For what?”

“You looked at me earlier with eyes that seemed to say ‘please get rid of that crazy bastard’, didn’t you?”

“When did I…”

Of course, I had been thinking that it would be nice if he did that the whole time I was sitting here. Did I unintentionally look at Cal with such eyes?

“They say people’s hearts are different when they enter and leave, and you’re exactly that.”

“Thank you. Is that enough?”

“Is that the attitude of a grateful person?”

Cal smirked.

“Besides, the person who just left is the Second Prince’s secretary, can you act so recklessly towards him? You’ll run into him at the palace.”

“Are you worried about me?”

“No.”

“Not bad.”

Cal seemed pleased that I was worrying about him. He rested his chin on his long fingers and curled up the corners of his mouth.

Realizing it would be useless to insist otherwise, I shut my mouth.

Actually, I was kind of grateful that he got rid of that Gavis jerk right in front of me, and I was also a bit concerned that he might face some disadvantage because of it.

“You should finish your meal.”

I changed the subject, pointing to the next table.

“I’m done eating.”

What is he talking about when the red-haired man is just starting to devour the newly served dishes alone?

“Then how are you going to repay this gratitude?”

“Pardon?”

“Come to think of it, you owe me quite a lot.”

“Me?”

I looked at his cheeky face in dismay.

“It’s not just today, I’ve helped you more than once or twice.”

He remembers each and every one of them, how petty of him despite his appearance. If I stay still, he’ll be grateful on his own, but he’s verbally discounting it all. As I clicked my tongue in distaste, Cal laughed as if it was amusing.

Then he cocked his head.

“I’ll give you a chance to repay one of them today.”

“I’d rather you paid me back my money first.”

“You’re more persistent than you look.”

“Look who’s talking.”

Cal, who smirked, continued.

“It’s something I need your help with. Let’s go.”

“But sir. He just started his meal.”

When I turned my head to the red-haired man, he raised his hand while eagerly eating.

“Ah, don’t mind me. I actually prefer dining alone.”

“There you have it.”

Cal jerked his head towards the exit. Well, since he did chase Gavis away for me, what could I not do for him? I readily followed him.

“What can I help you with?”

“My younger brother is getting married soon. So I’m thinking of getting a wedding gift, but I don’t know what to choose.”

“Is your brother a man or a woman?”

“A man.”

“Then just get him an expensive bracelet or something.”

“Isn’t that too halfhearted?”

“Classics are always the best. Usually, gentlemen often give things like bracelets as wedding gifts, you know.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, didn’t you know?”

Of course he wouldn’t know. I just made that up. But I’ve never seen anyone who doesn’t like receiving expensive accessories.

Cal took the lead without much question at my words.

The place I followed him to was a jewelry store that looked high-end. I gaped at the price tags of the accessories on display.

‘Damn, does he have money to buy this but no money to pay me back?’