“Since you refused the prize money, I’ll give you this instead.”

Ryuel looked down at what was placed in her palm.

“Candy?”

“Yes. I happened to have two.”

Ryuel chuckled and took the candy, putting it in his mouth. As he rolled it with his tongue, savoring the taste, he suddenly called her name.

“Alice.”

He didn’t add ‘Lady’.

Maybe it was because of the candy. Somehow, it seemed to sound sweeter that way.

“This isn’t enough.”

“I guess not, right?”

Aristie smiled as if she understood what he meant by Ryuel’s words.

“It’s dinner time, so you must be hungry. Let’s find a suitable shop nearby.”

“A shop… you say?”

“Yes. We should eat. Isn’t that what you meant?”

“…That’s right.”

Ryuel answered, looking at her with complex eyes that seemed both disappointed and amused. Aristie, unaware, took the lead saying she would choose a shop.

What more could he expect from such an innocent woman? Ryuel followed her, only confessing the truth in his heart.

‘Actually, I meant something else…’

* * *

It was when darkness had completely fallen and twilight had settled that the two sat down in a corner of the shop. It was a dinner-style restaurant that served modest meals along with cocktails.

After the waiter set down the ordered food and disappeared, Ryuel poured the drinks and spoke.

“Thanks to you, I really enjoyed an eventful day.”

Fortunately, it seemed to have been eventful in a good way, as his lips curved into a gentle smile. Seeing that, Aristie’s heart fluttered without her realizing.

She couldn’t tell if it was from the excitement of her first deviation, or simply because Ryuel was handsome enough to be mesmerizing.

Maybe it was both reasons.

‘Is this what romantic feelings are like? Did Khalid feel this way about Estelle too?’

As an emperor burdened only with state affairs, he must have greatly enjoyed having normal conversations with a pretty woman like Estelle. It must have been fascinating, enjoyable, and exciting. Enough to keep her by his side under the pretext of being a conversation partner.

If so…

‘Then I don’t need to feel guilty either.’

With a feeling of defiance, Aristie picked up the cocktail glass Ryuel had poured.

“Let’s make a toast. To commemorate today.”

“Wonderful.”

Ryuel grinned and raised his glass as well. The crystal glasses clinked clearly, followed by the clatter of ice inside.

As the meal began, silence fell between them for a moment. But it wasn’t tense or awkward like at first. Rather, it felt as if they had become familiar with each other like old friends in just a day.

“I have one question.”

Ryuel spoke while cutting his steak.

“Why were you making that expression on the bridge earlier?”

“Are you curious?”

“Yes. So much that I’ve wanted to ask all along.”

“……”

Aristie hesitated before answering. It was something she could have easily made up a lie about.

But somehow, she didn’t want to. Was it because she had come to trust him?

Even though they would only be together for today, maybe she could open up a little…

“My fiancé met another woman.”

Ryuel’s hand movements cutting the steak stopped abruptly.

“He says he’ll keep meeting her, but will marry me as planned.”

“No, how could…”

Ryuel frowned and then muttered lowly.

“What a truly terrible man.”

“Right?”

“If he weren’t your fiancé, I would have cursed.”

‘I’d like to hear that curse,’ Aristie thought inwardly, but outwardly she said something else.

“I’d like to stop talking about me now. I don’t want to think about it anymore.”

In truth, Ryuel looked like he wanted to say something more. However, it would be too much meddling to interfere in someone’s private life when they had just met today.

As much as he wanted to persuade her to dump such a fiancé right away.

“I understand. It’s certainly not a pleasant topic of conversation.”

He exercised patience and backed down.

Now it was Aristie’s turn to ask.

“Tell me about yourself, Ryuel. Why were you on the bridge?”

“Ah, I…”

Ryuel hesitated just like she had.

Could he possibly have some tragic story too?

But that wasn’t the reason. He was simply reluctant because he didn’t want Aristie to feel guilty towards him.

“Actually, I was just passing by. I had a meeting with some classmates.”

“A meeting?”

Aristie asked in surprise.

Then her gaze gradually dropped. Just as Ryuel had expected.

“Then you should have said so. I had no idea…”

“No, it’s fine. As it happened, a much more important appointment came up.”

“What? What do you mean…”

“A date. With a lady I fell for at first sight.”

Aristie’s cheeks flared up. They turned so blatantly red that she couldn’t even pretend otherwise. Ryuel curled his lips and held up his glass filled with ice.

“Have a drink. It’ll help cool you down.”

‘How mischievous. Giving the disease and the cure at the same time.’

Still, she didn’t dislike it. There wasn’t a single thing she disliked about his words and actions today.

She knew that even his last comment was a joke made to ease her mind. Just how familiar with social circles must he be to have such flawless manners towards women?

“It’s fortunate it’s not hot tea.”

Aristie replied primly as she emptied her glass. Even though the cold sensation flowed down her throat, somehow she felt like her insides were getting hotter and hotter.

“I’ve felt this from the beginning, but you seem quite skilled at conversing with women, Ryuel.”

She indirectly conveyed her inner thought that he seemed to have dealt with many women.

However, Ryuel understood right away.

“Does it seem that way? I was surprised too. I had no idea I had such a side to me until I met you, Miss.”

“No way.”

Aristie laughed as if she couldn’t believe it.

“It’s true. I only enjoyed hanging out with friends, and had no interest in the opposite s*x at all, which worried my older brother a lot.”

Ryuel answered seriously. Judging by the lack of humor in his expression, it seemed to be true.

“You have an older brother.”

Aristie murmured as she put down her fork. It wasn’t particularly a question, but Ryuel’s expression brightened considerably.

“Yes. I have one. He’s someone I personally respect a lot. My brother…”

Ryuel, who seemed like he was about to go on and on bragging about his brother, suddenly closed his mouth.

“No, I won’t talk about my brother today.”

“Why not? I don’t mind listening.”

“Well… it’s because whenever I bring him up, people around me tease me saying I’m a typical brother complex…”

Ryuel trailed off, looking embarrassed. It was the first time Aristie had seen him look so awkward.

His friends probably teased him out of affection. For a man who seemed nearly perfect, to have someone he follows and respects like a child.

She was curious. But she didn’t want to force a conversation the other person was reluctant to have.

So she decided to just guess. The affection Ryuel held for his brother was probably similar to how she felt about Aiden.

“I understand Ryuel. Actually, I have a brother I’m just as fond of.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. No matter what anyone says, he’s an incomparably wonderful brother to me. But I’ll set aside talking about my brother too. I don’t want to seem like a braggart in front of you.”

“It feels like we’ve caught each other’s weaknesses.”

Ryuel laughed out loud.

* * *

After leisurely enjoying their meal, they ordered additional drinks along with dessert. By this time, Aristie had become quite talkative.

Unlike her initial unfamiliarity, she was now actively participating in the conversation.

Not only did she respond enthusiastically to Ryuel’s words, but she also threw out questions that came to mind without filtering. Some of them were quite sharp.

“Let me guess one thing. You’re from another country, right?”

Ryuel’s eyes widened slightly at Aristie’s question.

“That’s correct. How did you know?”

“Your accent is subtly smoother. Natives have a distinctive accent.”

“Ah… I see what you mean. No matter how much I practice, the accent doesn’t seem to improve much.”

“Don’t change it. It’s plenty good as it is. How should I put it… It sounds just like a song?”

Ryuel smiled and threw a joke.

“Isn’t it because my voice is good?”

“That’s true too. Your voice… Why is it so pleasant to listen to?”

Aristie said such an embarrassing thing without any hesitation. She seemed to have let her guard down while engrossed in the conversation, but she didn’t seem to realize it herself.

She even boldly pulled Ryuel’s upper body closer and reached out her hand when she saw his Adam’s apple move.

“Can I touch it for a moment? I’ve been thinking about it for a while, it’s so fascinating. The way it protrudes…”

Ryuel flinched at the touch of her fingers.

For a moment, he seemed to back away, but then he changed his mind and moved his own hand to counter.

“Then let me confess something too. I’ve wanted to touch it all day. Your hair looks so soft.”