Chapter 4

“…Well, that’s a relief.”

Chase, who had momentarily faltered, soon sat up straight.

Meanwhile, a waiter approached and placed various desserts on the table.

Of course, Judith hadn’t ordered any of these. She hadn’t planned to sit with Chase for long.

Chase probably felt the same way.

Huh, did the waiter make a mistake?

“What are you doing? Why are you just staring?”

“Huh?”

Chase extended a silver fork towards Judith. She accepted it for now.

“Eat. I don’t have the hobby of eating alone with someone sitting in front of me.”

“Oh, thank you.”

So Chase had ordered them.

Now it made sense. He hadn’t left for sword practice because he had ordered desserts.

Contrary to his appearance, Chase seemed to like sweet things.

Looking at the cake sprinkled with sweet chocolate, she unintentionally thought of Axel.

Axel, who looked sweeter than anyone, disliked sweet things.

Yet, it had only been a few years since Judith, who had watched Axel for over ten years, learned this fact.

Because Axel always accepted the cakes or cookies Judith offered without complaint.

So when Madame Fedelian told her that Axel had never touched sweet food since he was a child, she was utterly shocked.

She even felt a bit betrayed.

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘Tell you what?’

If he had just mentioned that he didn’t like sweets, Judith would never have offered him anything sweet.

She wouldn’t have handed him overly sweet macarons from a new bakery, which were sweet enough to make her tongue tingle just by looking at them.

But Axel had replied in a meltingly soft voice.

‘I was happy that you wanted to give me something. It meant you thought of me that much.’

He smiled then.

A smile so bright it could conquer someone in an instant, as if deliberately trying to seduce someone.

‘Even though I dislike sweet things, I can eat anything you give me, Judith.’

…Lost in thought, Chase called her.

“What are you thinking about?”

“…You must like sweet things.”

Judith lied after a brief silence. She couldn’t honestly say she was thinking of Axel.

But Chase, holding a fork, mashed the cake playfully and said,

“I don’t.”

Judith looked at the chocolate cake that had been smashed with one fork stroke, then raised her head.

As soon as she looked up, her eyes met his, which had been staring at her intently. His red eyes were as clear as glass marbles under the sunlight.

“Then why did you order them?”

“Isn’t it something you like? Most girls like these things.”

Did that mean he ordered all these desserts because of me?

Judith soon looked at Chase with a wary gaze.

Like a cat seeing a stranger, she stood on edge, her eyes sharp.

“What’s your reason for doing this?”

“For what?”

“Why are you being so kind to me?”

She was sick of being swayed by someone’s meaningless kindness.

Judith, thinking there must be another motive, tightened her grip on the fork.

“Is that a problem for you?”

Chase said, sounding incredulous. As if it was absurd to be angry even when someone was being nice.

But Judith couldn’t help but be cautious.

Buying her these things wouldn’t earn Chase anything in return.

Chase skillfully twirled the fork in a circle and spoke.

“What if you suddenly say you won’t get engaged? So consider this a kind of bribe.”

“…If that’s the reason, there’s no need. I’m not going to cancel the engagement.”

Saying that, Judith glanced at the scenery outside the window beyond Chase.

Outside, it was still green as a summer day, but the sun was beginning to set. She had to return to the dormitory before curfew.

She opened her mouth to end the argument.

“If the engagement breaks, it’ll be entirely because of you.”

“How can you be so sure? People’s feelings change easily.”

Chase added lightly.

“What if you suddenly fall in love with someone and break off the engagement?”

At that moment, as the sun set, the afternoon sunlight fell on Judith’s golden eyes.

A mix of burning red, orange, and gold swirled together.

Certainly a warm color. But Chase felt there was something cool about that gaze.

Judith softly curved her lips.

“I told you that won’t happen.”

Fortunately, Chase didn’t ask Judith anything more.

Perhaps he wasn’t interested enough to pry further.

Anyway, after that, Judith mechanically chewed on the almond cookies on the pretty plate, looking out the window. She did it to finish them quickly.

She didn’t taste much of anything.

People moving busily somewhere. People laughing. Couples and families. The pink cotton candy in a child’s hand and the large fountain in the center of the square.

Everything was as usual. Even when staying still, time passed, and the world moved.

And… wait.

Judith, having discovered something, hurriedly moved towards Chase and hid behind his back.

Startled by Judith’s sudden action, Chase flinched slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just a moment.”

Axel, it was definitely Axel.

Even from quite a distance, Judith could immediately recognize Axel among the crowd.

Thump thump, her heart started to beat faster.

Judith grabbed Chase’s jacket, hiding behind him, and peeked out the window.

Thinking it was fortunate Chase had broad shoulders from his sword training.

But something was strange. Axel, who had been walking to the right, turned as if he had spotted something.

As if he was heading towards this dessert café where Judith was…

Startled, Judith tightened her grip on Chase’s jacket.

“You’ll tear it. If you had a complaint, you could just say it.”

Chase muttered something sarcastic. But it didn’t register in Judith’s ears.

Her attention was entirely focused on Axel.

Meanwhile, Axel was approaching. With a face full of certainty, striding confidently.

With every blink, the distance noticeably shortened.

Ding-.

Soon, with the sound of a clear bell ringing in the shop, the man Judith really didn’t want to meet entered.

Axel Fedelian.

His hair above his forehead was slightly tousled, as if he had run.

After catching his breath for a moment, Axel slowly ran his hand through his hair. The soft black hair fluttered between his fingers and gently settled back on his forehead.

After gathering his breath, Axel turned his head and looked in their direction without hesitation.

As if he knew from the start that Judith was there.

The moment his light gray eyes met hers, it felt as if the air floating around them had stopped for a moment.

Soon, Axel took a step forward.

The shop was crowded with many people, but Axel’s gaze was fixed solely on Judith. As if he saw only her.

And it was the same for Judith. Even knowing she should avoid him, she couldn’t move, as if rooted to the spot.

But just a few steps away from her, Axel had to stop.

Because Chase was blocking the way between them, as if trying to protect Judith.

Hidden behind Chase’s broad back, Judith finally let out the breath she had been holding.

“Do you have any business with my fiancée?”

“Fiancée?”

Judith couldn’t see Axel’s face, obscured by Chase, but his voice sounded as gentle as ever.

It was a relief. It seemed Axel wasn’t angry with her.

Judith, who had resolved to sever ties with Axel, still didn’t have the courage to face an angry Axel.

Feeling relieved, she patted her chest, and Axel asked in his characteristic soft tone.

“Judith, what does he mean by that?”

Though the question was directed at Judith, it was Chase who answered.

“What do you think it means? It’s exactly as it sounds.”

Chase grabbed the arm of Judith, who was hunched and hiding behind his back. There was no hesitation in his action.

He stood Judith beside him, who was wide-eyed, and even put his arm around her shoulder. Then he boldly declared to Axel.

“Judith is my fiancée. We’re going to get married soon.”

Suddenly standing beside Chase, Judith found herself facing Axel directly.

After a brief hesitation, she looked up to see Axel smiling gently as usual.

When their eyes met, that smile faltered for a moment. But Axel quickly regained his composure.

“What is…”

However, perhaps shocked by Chase’s words, the end of his voice trembled slightly.

The reason Axel was shocked was simple.

His closest friend hadn’t informed him of such important news in advance.