A few days later. A leisurely lunchtime.

Evan combed his hair with his hands in front of the mirror.

“Why do you look like that, Captain?”

John of the Imperial Knights asked teasingly.

Who on earth is the Captain meeting that he looks so excited? He’s normally called the Ice Man.

“I don’t know.”

As expected, an Ice Man. His excited emotion soon vanished as he stared with his dry eyes.

But his expression remained stern, and he lifted his chin and checked his face.

‘Finally, I’m meeting her.’

Liese Willington.

Even after he interviewed her, he couldn’t forget her pure face.

Evan, who had never been close to a woman, felt a strange emotion these past few days. It was longing, wanting to see her, a burning heart.

A woman with a pure heart like a blank canvas.

His heart fluttered while thinking of meeting her.

“If the Emperor looks for me, tell him I went out.”

“The future Empress has entered the palace, where are you going?”

John’s words made Evan Clark’s brows furrow.

‘Ariel suddenly entering the palace… What’s going on?’

He was puzzled but it was soon time for their agreed appointment.

Evan patted John’s shoulder and said,

“Take care.”

“What? Captain!”

He quickly left the Knights’ building and headed to the stable.

‘I can’t be late…’

Evan mounted his horse and drove to the restaurant he had reserved.

He was worried about what might have happened to Ariel, but he thought it was something he could check after lunch.

He tied his horse behind the building and entered the restaurant.

Ding—

“Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”

“Evan Clark.”

“Please follow me.”

Evan was guided by the waiter to a table set outside.

He arrived a bit earlier than the appointment time, he checked his wristwatch.

‘…Was waiting for someone always this anxious and tense?’

His mouth went dry. Soon, Evan sipped the glass of water on the table and quenched his thirst.

As he drank the water and looked towards the entrance, Evan’s eyes widened.

Behind the waiter, a beautiful lady appeared.

Liese, with her long brown hair, slowly approached the table with her pure beauty.

She was wearing an outdated crinoline dress.

“Over here.”

Evan raised his hand.

“How have you been, Evan.”

“Yes. I’ve been fine without any particular issues. How about you?”

“Thanks to you… I’ve been well.”

They were happy to see each other, but they had an awkward stance as they conversed.

“Let’s sit and talk.”

Evan smiled brightly and pulled out Liese’s chair for her.

She blushed and sat down, unaccustomed to such courtesy as a lady.

“Thank you.”

She saved up her salary and finally bought a dress on clearance.

She never thought there would come a day to wear it.

Although it was an old dress that was out of fashion…

Just changing clothes made her feel much lighter.

“You must have had a hard time coming here.”

“Oh, no. It wasn’t far from the Holy See.”

Liese said with a flushed face.

She thought his invitation to eat was just a polite remark, but he actually sent a letter.

「You should give me a chance to keep my promise. Let’s go eat something delicious. …」

Liese hurriedly replied and looked forward to this day, eager to face the reliable and trustworthy Evan again.

“This place is famous for its steak and pasta.”

Evan sat opposite Liese and opened the menu, then handed it to her.

“Liese, order whatever you want. I’m fine with anything.”

“…I’m embarrassed to say, but I’ve never been to such a place before so I don’t know what’s tasty.”

“It’s okay. Read through the menu and pick something you want to try.”

Evan handed back the menu that Liese hesitantly pushed away.

Liese reluctantly took the menu. But for someone who was forced to hold a menu, her expression was good.

A gentle smile hung on her lips.

Looking at her, Evan also smiled faintly.

But soon he withdrew his smile. The reason was that the dress Liese wore suited her very well, but… it pained his heart to see how worn it was.

***

Evan and Liese left the restaurant after finishing their meal.

The two walked, keeping a distance where their arms could almost touch each other.

They were so conscious of it. As if they had a third eye on their arm.

The pleasant noise created by people on the street. The skin that almost touched each other as they moved their steps.

Those were enough to make their hearts flutter.

Occasionally, when their arms brushed against each other, Liese would be startled, and Evan would hide his pounding heart, pretending it was nothing.

“Where are we going now?”

In Liese’s eyes, filled with sparkling sunlight, Evan’s image was reflected.

His face was filled with excitement. He looked like a man who had just started to fall in love.

Of course, Liese didn’t know his heart. But seeing his bright expression, she felt relieved.

‘Even when I think about it, I’m such a boring person… I’m glad that spending time with me doesn’t seem so boring to him.’

“There’s a famous bakery. It’s a place my younger sibling really likes.”

When he mentioned a bakery, Liese’s eyes sparkled beautifully. She had only ever passed by, never entering to buy anything.

Evan glanced at Liese and then caught her warm, smiling eyes.

Suddenly, something indescribable boiled up in his heart. He felt so overwhelmed that he was momentarily lost for words.

He looked at Liese with gleaming eyes and slowly continued.

“It would be a shame to just walk in. Let’s buy a cake and take it with us.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“No, it’s okay. I owe it to you after the issue about Ariel. Take it and share it with the other priests.”

“Ah… Evan, thank you.”

Thinking that his kind and friendly attitude was because of the issue with Lady Ariel, Liese felt a pang in her heart.

‘Evan, it’s not that I like the cake… I enjoy spending time with you. I want to hold onto even the briefest moments.’

Liese hid her tender feelings and smiled brightly.

Evan, unaware of her feelings, became increasingly focused on the soft touch of their brushing hands.

He walked, adjusting his pace to match Liese’s, pondering.

‘I want to hold her hand… but would that be rude?’

Evan repeatedly clenched and unclenched his hand, fighting the urge to grasp Liese’s hand.

After doing this dozens of times, they arrived in front of the bakery.

‘Why can’t I muster the courage?’

It’s no wonder, since he had never been close to women in his life.

Evan caught the door handle and sighed secretly before opening the door and entering.

“One whipped cream cake, please.”

The clerk packaged the cake at Evan’s request.

The financial situation of a low-ranking priest was obvious.

She couldn’t afford to buy an entire cake from such a high-end bakery. Liese had lived a restrained life in isolation for quite some time.

Although she had only spent a short time with Evan, at this time, she could feel the satisfaction that comes from enjoying the simple things in life.

‘Can I even dare to eat something so beautifully made?’

Liese looked at the bakery’s showcase with wonder.

Evan watched her and felt very uncomfortable and displeased.

So many young ladies, including Ariel, took for granted what was so special to Liese.

“It’s ready.”

Evan took the cake from the clerk’s hands, nodded as a form of greeting, and then turned around.

“Take it.”

Liese looked into the transparent box like a child with her mouth agape.

She held the shining whipped cream cake with both arms, worried it might fall.

After paying, Evan hurriedly opened the door for her.

When they stepped out, Liese looked up into Evan’s eyes.

“Thank you.”

He’s a kind person. A person whose consideration was ingrained in his being. This was Liese’s impression of Evan.

Thump thump.

‘Why is my heart beating so fast?’

Liese felt her face heating up.

At this timing, why is this happening…

Liese quickly turned around, worried that Evan might see her flushed face.

‘Let’s just focus on the cake like a mad person while we walk together.’

Liese made a determined face.

“I’ll take you to the Holy See.”

“Oh, no need. You must be busy; I can go alone.”

Hearing his voice from behind, Liese shook her head and vehemently declined.

But Evan couldn’t let Liese go alone while she was distracted by the cake box.

What if she didn’t see a stone and fell? If the cake got ruined, her disappointment would be great.

Evan grabbed Liese’s wrist as he stood behind her.

“It’s okay. I don’t have any other plans today.”

A flat-out lie slipped through his thick lips.