While I was trying to understand Edan’s mental state by drawing on my future patience, fortunately Smith struggled to his feet, limping.

“Ugh, Miss Latieana…”

“Oh! Mr. Smith! Are you alright?”

“It, it’s this man.”

Smith pointed at Edan with a distorted face, staggering.

“Wh-what?”

“The one who was always peeking from behind…, cough!”

“Eek! Mr. Smith!”

For a moment, I was really startled, thinking he was coughing up blood.

“I-I’m fine, Miss Latieana.”

Smith smiled warmly at me, grateful for my concern, even as he painfully scrunched up his face. Then he grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards him.

“Miss Latieana. Quickly, come behind me.”

Because I had relaxed my body, I unintentionally leaned as Smith pulled, and then Smith stepped forward in front of me.

That is, as if to protect me.

I appreciate Smith’s intentions, but cold sweat ran down from the nape of my neck along my spine.

Smith… does he not know who Edan is? I cried out in thought. Of course he wouldn’t know.

In the village, the owner of this mansion is rumored to be a shut-in recluse.

Ironically, the source of the rumor is me.

Once or twice a month, I would go down to the village to buy clothes or aprons. Perhaps because it’s such a leisurely small town, the aunties in the shopping district were very interested in me. So when the curious aunties asked about the owner’s identity, I would say he was a sickly person who never left his room.

Because back then, I really thought he was a shut-in recluse.

‘And even without rumors, he wouldn’t know Edan.’

While Edan is a famous person in the empire, only his name is well-known. It’s normal for commoners, and even nobles who aren’t close to the imperial family, to not know his face well.

That’s because he mainly operates in the north, and doesn’t often show his face in social circles.

If I mentioned his name, Smith would probably faint.

To think the person he recklessly confronted is a war maniac. Moreover, Edan is the emperor’s illegitimate child…

‘Should I tell him anyway?’

As I was contemplating, I quickly decided against it. I didn’t want to.

The fact that Edan, who should be in a castle in the north, is staying in a mansion in the east means he’s hiding his identity. There’s no need for me to reveal such a secret and shorten my life. It’s better for Smith not to know either.

“You’re doing something interesting.”

Edan stepped forward with an amused smile, his eyes crinkling.

I felt Smith flinch for a moment.

It was because a chilling coldness emanated from Edan that made one’s skin crawl. Although he pretended to smile genially, he couldn’t hide the unique pressure coming from his downcast eyes.

Gulp.

Smith swallowed hard enough for me to hear, and it seemed he was finally properly assessing the man standing before him.

In the bright light, Edan’s delicate face was the first thing that caught the eye, so it seems other aspects weren’t recognized well.

With a face full of tension, Smith slowly examined Edan from top to bottom.

A tall stature that required tilting one’s head back to look at, broad shoulders. Though he wore just a comfortable white shirt with a light vest, the firm muscle lines that couldn’t be hidden were visible.

Especially the forearms exposed below the rolled-up sleeves had thick veins protruding even without flexing.

It was a physique incomparable to an ordinary person.

And above all, what stood out most was his face.

While the muscles under his shirt were uncertain, Edan’s face was remarkably unblemished.

Moreover, under the midday sun, Edan’s hair shimmered like gold dust, making him look like a perfectly sculpted statue.

A beautiful face with a body that didn’t match. Smith, overwhelmed by various shocks, seemed a bit intimidated, but he glanced at me, turning his head slightly, and then hardened his eyes with determination.

“Don’t worry, Miss Latieana!”

“Mr. Smith…”

“Tell me honestly! Your sudden change in complexion, it’s all because of this man, right? It is, isn’t it?”

“…”

Thank you, Smith. But keep your mouth shut. Edan is glaring at you.

At this rate, your ribs might really be split in two. Your internal organs will rupture!

“You know…”

If this continues, Smith might cross a line. As I stood there awkwardly, trying to somehow resolve the situation, Edan interjected.

His tone was surprisingly gentle.

“What do you like about her?”

It was a question directed at Smith.

“…What do you mean?”

Smith, whose complexion had eased a bit as if the pain in his side had subsided somewhat, asked back in confusion.

“There must be reasons why you like Latieana. Tell me. Smoothie.”

“My, my name is Smith!”

“Right. Smoothie. I said tell me.”

“It’s not Smoothie…!”

“What.”

“…”

Smith, who had boldly asserted his name, seemed about to retort again but immediately stopped the bickering at the fierce gaze. Then he appeared to contemplate for a moment whether to answer the question or not.

Edan’s question must seem strange to you. It does to me too. Even I, the person in question, don’t ask such things. Why is he asking?

Edan’s head tilted slightly to the side as he waited for an answer.

“You don’t have any? Then was it a lie?”

“A lie…! My feelings are sincere!”

“Then tell me. What do you like about her?”

Under Edan’s questioning, Smith glanced at me and then immediately flushed bright red on both cheeks.

“Her, her smile is always so pretty…”

At those words, I also ended up blushing.

It wasn’t because I particularly liked Smith, but because the compliment that I was pretty felt good. Suddenly, this thought occurred to me.

Wait, did I perhaps underestimate this body too much by using Ivy’s appearance as a standard?

Am I actually quite pretty?

“That can’t be.”

As soon as I had the thought, Edan shattered my illusion in 0.1 seconds.

I secretly glared at Edan, my flushed cheeks cooling down.

With his hands in his pockets, Edan lightly kicked Smith’s shins with his toes, making him step back.

“Ah! It hurts! Hey, you!”

Smith was pushed back without being able to resist, naturally separating from me, and Edan came to stand beside me.

Stopping at an appropriate distance, Edan spoke to Smith, standing with one leg askew.

“I can’t believe such an absurd reason, so find something more detailed and tell me.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“About 10,000 pretty things?”

“…Pardon?”

“What? Too many? Then I’ll concede a lot and make it 1,000. How’s that?”

“Wh-why should I say such things to you?”

“So it was a lie after all. You can’t even find 1,000 pretty things about the woman you like. If it were me, I could say more than 100 million.”

You’re the one who’s lying!

Unless Smith is a fool, he wouldn’t fall for such childish provocation…

“I-I can find them! First, her eyes! Nose! Mouth!”

…He fell for it right away.

“Skin! Face shape! Hands! Feet! Legs! Toes! Ears! Navel! Fingernails! Toenails!”

“…”

Smith began praising all of my body parts, even those he had never seen.

After that, he even mentioned internal organs, stomach, and blood vessels.

But of course, 1,000 was too much, and before long, Smith’s words were cut off.

“So, Miss Latieana. Still, my feelings are sincere! I really think you’re pretty and I really… like you a lot…”

Smith’s voice had clearly become smaller, cowed compared to the beginning.

Edan, satisfied with looking down at the defeated Smith, turned his head towards me.

“So, what’s your answer?”

At Edan’s words, Smith, who had been lying limp, jerked his head up.

Both of their gazes fixed on me.

I opened my mouth slowly but without hesitation.

Because the answer had been decided from the start.

“Thank you, but I’m sorry. I have a fiancé.”

“What?!”

Smith’s face was colored with more shock than when he had been hit by Edan.

That’s right. I’m engaged.

My fiancé’s name is Jenald Johan. Jenald treated me when I was injured after falling from a carriage.

We promised to marry after 3 months, and Jenald, who even planned to emigrate from the empire for me, is currently working in the capital.

He’s not strikingly handsome, but kind and affectionate Jenald and I were planning to save money and leave the empire.

That was the reason I got a job here in the first place.

“That… that… I thought you were single.”

Smith’s lips trembled.

“Tr-traitor…”

Did you think I was absolutely single to feel such betrayal, Smith? I feel a bit offended.

“I hate you, Miss Latieana!”

Bang! Smith threw out a resentful cry and ran out the gate.

Only Edan and I were left in the garden.

But, what is this? Somehow I can’t look to the side.

Even without looking, I could feel it. For some reason, Edan seems incredibly annoyed.

I hugged the fallen grocery bag to my chest.

“Sh-shall we go inside?”

I felt like I wanted to quickly escape this situation.

But Edan blocked my path, standing with his back to the sun.

“You, you had a fiancé?”

“Yes…”

“Since when?”

“I’ve had one from the beginning…”

As soon as I finished speaking, Edan’s beautiful face froze coldly.

Is he angry because I didn’t tell him? But there wasn’t a section for fiancé status on the employment contract.

I didn’t mention it because he didn’t ask…

Edan was looking at me with an expression of utmost displeasure.

Through his slightly parted bangs, veins seemed to have popped up a bit on his forehead.

No matter how I thought about it, I didn’t seem to have done anything wrong, but feeling like a criminal, I watched Edan’s reaction.

The moment I met his red eyes, which shone brightly even with his back to the sun, I was reminded of his blood-covered appearance.

Feeling a chill, I awkwardly pulled up my lips into a smile.

Then Edan opened his mouth.

“You’re not even pretty, how dare you?”

“…”

This man just spat on my smiling face!

Edan pressed down on my head with his large hand and turned to leave first.

I quickly turned my body to follow him.

His back view as he returned to the entrance, hands back in his pockets, looked utterly satisfied and relaxed.

After making a statement that shattered my self-esteem, no less.