Kirian chuckled softly. For some reason, feeling embarrassed, I avoided his gaze and nervously played with my hands. Damn beauty standards. It was useless to age.

“Even if my personality is bad?”

As Kirian’s smile deepened, I suddenly snapped back to reality.

“Your personality isn’t that bad…”

“Then, I’m lucky.”

I glanced anxiously at Kirian. What’s lucky about that? He seemed to be an advocate of looks being everything in life.

“When I was young, I used to behave badly and it saddened many people, you know?”
Kirian seemed to be very good at self-reflection.

“…No, forget about the past. Since then, he hasn’t treated me badly even once.”

Contrary to his extreme aversion to people, he treated me exceptionally well. Sometimes, Kirian treated me so well that I doubted whether I even belonged in the category of people.

I glanced at Kirian’s face. Well, looking at such a face every day might make me seem less human.

Kirian pushed a lemon tart toward me.

“I’ll continue to treat you really well, Nuna.”

“Sure.”

Feeling embarrassed again, I stabbed the tart with a fork, but when it came time to open my mouth, I hesitated. Surely, if I opened my mouth wide to eat such a large piece, I would look like a fish trying to swallow bait.

I continued to be conscious of Kirian, who was still staring at me.

In the end, without putting the tart in my mouth and putting the fork down, Kirian slightly furrowed his brow.

“Why?”

“Not really appetizing.”

Kirian muttered quietly.

“It’s a big deal if the tart isn’t appetizing.”

What’s the big deal? As I was about to retort, the cafe owner quickly approached our table.

“Ant-nim, does the tart not suit your taste?”

Seeing his expression turned sour, it seemed he was worried about next month’s rent.

“No, I’m just full.”

“Even if you’re full, Miss, you used to say there’s always room for dessert…”

Kirian murmured something pointless again with a worried look.

As I pondered whether to hide somewhere, the cafe owner took something out.

“I hope you’re not upset because I didn’t prepare this ahead of time.”

As soon as I recognized the item, my eyes widened.

“I should have placed it on Ant-nim’s designated table every week, like I used to. I apologize.”

“No, that’s—”

I hurriedly gestured to put it back, but it was too late.

The gossip magazine was already in Kirian’s hands.

“A Viscount A who was spotted with his illegitimate son, what is the fate of the Viscountess who bore only daughters?”

I could only watch in astonishment as Kirian calmly read the magazine, lowering it slowly.

“Estranged wife A has nightly encounters with her escort knights?”

I covered my face by pulling down the hood completely. It felt like it would be okay to just disappear like this.

“I have something to share too.”

The sound of crisp paper being passed was followed by Kirian’s calm and low voice.

“The Imperial Sage of Estira, Lord Kshia, is he snatching away the fiancée of a marquess secretly?”

Feeling like my heart would leap out of my mouth, I urgently covered my mouth.

“It has been confirmed recently that the engagement between the Marquess’s daughter, Magnae Viscountess Mazine, known for secretly engaging with Imperial Sage Lord Kshia, is true, and they frequently meet.”
A moment of silence passed. Kirian, who had stealthily raised the hood to check, was slightly raising his eyebrows as he glanced at the magazine.

“According to the royal aides, the Crown Prince, who was engaged to a fake noblewoman by the Duke, approached Viscountess Mazine first to seek revenge against the Duke. According to reliable sources, due to the pain of unrequited love, the Crown Prince is currently unable to lead a normal life. The large-scale demon subjugation that was abruptly halted seems to be related to this.”

Kirian’s voice, which had been gradually stiffening, flowed as soft as the next two syllables.

“……Nuna.”

Better to cut losses. I nonchalantly raised the hood again.

“Yeah?”

“Did you read this every week?”

“Yeah, no?”

I tried to lift my head as naturally as possible, but Kirian, with keen eyes, didn’t miss my trembling pupils.

After calmly putting down the magazine, Kirian’s forehead wrinkled slightly.

“Surely, you didn’t believe this?”

“Uh, no…”

As Kirian persistently stared at me, I finally confessed.

“During the time I was away from home, I, I might have believed it a little…”

Kirian silently looked at me, but somehow, he seemed pitiful, as if he were on the verge of tears.

“It’s not like that anymore! Now that I see it, it was all completely false.”

I forced an awkward smile.

“I don’t know what I was thinking back then… I just thought everyone was doing well… Magazines were filled with stories of powerful engagements, successful subjugations, and good news.”

“So, that’s why you didn’t come back?”

His breath, slightly rough and harsh, had a gentle tone.

Unable to look Kirian in the eyes, I nodded with my head bowed deeply.

“Ha…”

A shallow sigh was audible.

“Haha.”

I laughed awkwardly.

“I’m such a fool.”

“No.”

To my surprise, Kirian’s firm voice made me lift my head slightly. Despite the laughter, Kirian’s eyes were slightly furrowed, and he whispered softly.

“It’s my fault for not saying it sooner.”

At that moment, Kirian gently cupped my face, and our eyes met.

His eyes, facing mine, shimmered with the aftermath of past pain.

“My life without Nuna was hell.”