The evening sun spilled through the window.

“…Did I hear it wrong? Reserving a magic seal?”

Seated across from Olivia in the restaurant, Edwin chuckled as if he had heard an amusing joke. Olivia, wearing an ivory dress, grinned and confirmed,

“You heard correctly.”

Upon Olivia’s straightforward denial, a faint look of confusion passed over Edwin’s face, as if he found it amusing. Edwin, usually relaxed, rarely showed such reactions. Therefore, when Edwin seemed taken aback or shy, Olivia would sometimes feel mischievous.

But this time was a bit different.

To think that the magic seal, a cherished heirloom of her mother she desperately wanted to reclaim from the Baeksujeong Mine, would elicit such a bewildered reaction.

…She expected him to be pleased. Like when he had a overwhelmed expression after learning about the mine yesterday.

Olivia, suppressing a lingering sense of disappointment, explained with a tinge of bitterness,

“Let me explain it exactly again. By placing a reservation on the magic seal, on the day we get married, the Baeksujeong Mine automatically becomes joint property of Duke Bikander and his spouse, just like the way royal engagements used to be done among the nobility.”

The method Olivia thought of was similar to the ‘one-year grace period’ mentioned in the ancient books, preventing her and Edwin’s marriage.

Olivia briefly turned her head to look at Beserny standing behind her.

“…Of course, ‘Northern Sorcerer’ Beserny would have to help.”

“Whatever Miss commands, I am more than willing to help.”

Beserny smiled brightly. This was exactly the reaction Olivia anticipated.

As Olivia, with a forced sense of disappointment, managed a smile, Beserny quickly gestured to Edwin with her eyes.

It meant, ‘What are you waiting for? Accept it quickly.’ However, Edwin couldn’t easily smile.

He had hoped for a good night’s sleep. He had wished for the sudden idea of ​​transferring the Baeksujeong Mine to be dismissed. But now…

When he saw Olivia talking about giving him the Baeksujeong Mine with an excited face, he involuntarily clenched his hand under the table.

It was unbearable because of the soreness inside.

Olivia, who spared no effort to give presents to him, a man she was not always comfortable with, was someone who spared no expense for the people of Yeniv District despite her harsh tone.

Edwin, who was always stubborn, was now caught off guard. Was Olivia trying to treat him better because she felt burdened by how she treated him?

Just as Edwin was about to lift his head to scrutinize Olivia,

“Excuse me.”
The tender voice was excessively close. Edwin’s eyes widened as Olivia’s face came right in front of him.

Olivia’s gaze was slightly higher than Edwin’s as he sat in his chair. The feeling of looking down at Edwin, whom she always looked up to, was unfamiliar, so Olivia smiled a bit.

“I don’t even know why I’m coming close to you.”

Despite asking Beserny, Interfield Kyung, and even the servants standing behind her, Olivia’s expression darkened as if she had heard a sad story, not a gift.

Not just the expression but also as if she had heard a sad story rather than received a gift, Olivia swallowed her words. Unidentifiable emotions were swirling above her red eyes as she looked down at Edwin.

Different from his usual gaze, which always looked at her affectionately and sometimes teasingly, it was now somber and heavy. Olivia waited silently for Edwin to continue speaking.

Soon, Edwin slowly opened his lips.

“Olivia, why do you always insist on giving?”

“Me?”

Olivia, momentarily taken aback, pointed to herself.

In the moment of Edwin’s slow utterance, Olivia bit her lips. It was overwhelming, to the point that she couldn’t bear it, even though she tried to restrain herself.

She wanted to say this on the day Yeniv Street was completed.

She didn’t know she was this impatient.

Because she couldn’t bear to express these emotions that welled up.

Olivia suddenly grabbed Edwin’s hand. With a sudden warmth, Edwin looked at Olivia with slightly surprised eyes.

“Really? I thought I… I thought I resembled Edwin.”

Whether it was due to tension or anticipation, her lips felt parched.

She did well to keep people away in advance.

Olivia slowly unfolded Edwin’s hand, showing the palm.

The moment Olivia’s heart pounded as she stared directly into Edwin’s eyes and pressed her lips onto his palm.

The palm against her lips trembled softly. It was an incredibly tender and desperately wanted touch. Olivia kissed the hand she wanted to touch so badly today.

Hoping my confession reaches you completely, Olivia separated her lips from the hand.

“I’m also earnestly requesting.”

“Did you know what kissing the palm means? To plead desperately?”

The meaning of a kiss on the palm.

I earnestly plead with you.

Olivia pretended to be nonchalant as she spoke in response to Edwin’s suppressed voice.
Olivia responded casually to Edwin’s suppressed voice.

“Surely, did you think I still wouldn’t know? You’re quite innocent, Your Grace.”