Chapter 3. The Third Meeting

Sunday dawned.

Karina’s room had been bustling since morning, she even declined family lunch.

“Go heat up the iron more. We need to add more curls to Miss’s hair.”

“Find a hairpin that matches the color of these earrings.”

“Is this all the new dresses that were ordered? Go downstairs and check again.”

It wasn’t this hectic even when attending balls at the imperial palace.

No. A ball would have been easier. She would just need to choose the most beautiful and elaborate dress from among those that famous salons begged her to wear.

But today’s Karina was different. She was being picky, unsatisfied with anything she tried on.

Too flashy.

Too plain.

Too ordinary.

Too eye-catching.

Despite how difficult it must have been dealing with Karina’s demands of dissatisfaction no matter what, the maids’ eyes were burning with enthusiasm.

None other than Dominic Winchester.

‘The’ Dominic Winchester.

He was the most suitable man among all those their Miss had met so far. No, not just suitable — he was an exceptional man whose equal would be hard to find even in the future.

‘Miss must be serious about someone like him.’

She had been preparing thoroughly for today, doing skin massages she usually found bothersome and going to bed early for several days.

Having given up all her favorite hobbies and made up her mind, Miss was in peak condition today.

‘Peak’ was almost an understatement for how perfect she looked.

Her fair skin gleamed with radiance, and her hair shone especially bright today as it flowed.

But among all her beautiful features, her eyes were the crown jewel.

Those peculiarly sparkling blue-green eyes were burning with determination.

She was called the rising star of social circles even when she dressed casually. The maids were just as motivated as Karina who had prepared so thoroughly for today.

‘To think she could be this beautiful!’

The lily and the rising star of social circles.

Unlike a star in the sky, a lily is something that can be reached and held if one desires.

Though both were praises of beauty, their implied meanings were clearly different. While Karina had many people around her, none seriously considered her as a marriage prospect, whereas countless young men kept Olivia Lindid in mind as a potential marriage partner.

Blood is thicker than water, and the Crawford household maids never thought their Miss was inferior to Olivia of the Lindid family.

The maids who had been disappointed that their Miss’s progressive behavior in conservative social circles gave her a lower reputation than Olivia Lindid thought with one mind.

This was an opportunity.

An opportunity that seemed would never come — for Miss to settle down with one man.

They couldn’t let such a precious chance slip away.

“The hairpin! How much longer?”

The maid’s clear voice echoed beyond the room and into the corridor.

Karina, sitting straight-backed at her vanity and staring intently at herself in the mirror, called for Alisa.

“Alisa.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“How do I look?”

“Do you even need to ask? You look perfect.”

“Really?”

“Yes!”

Alisa nodded confidently. Today’s Miss was truly perfect.

The navy blue dress was chosen after trying on countless outfits. The deliberately modest color made her platinum blonde hair stand out even more.

Moreover, the form-fitting dress silhouette perfectly revealed her slender figure.

The thin legs occasionally visible beneath the voluminous skirt that flared from the waist were so beautiful that even the female maids found themselves staring in a daze.

“Well then, I’m off.”

Alisa and the maids all wore enraptured expressions. Only after seeing their reactions did Karina smile with relief.

“Have a good time!”

“Enjoy yourself!”

“And try to come back late!”

The maids waved goodbye, each expressing their own hopes. Karina waved back to them with a playful smile as she got into the carriage. Soon, the scenery outside the carriage window began to flow by.

* * *

2 PM.

Dominic, waiting for his companion in front of the clock tower in Midway district, recognized her at first glance.

The navy blue dress was modest, yet at the same time, it didn’t feel modest at all. Rather, perhaps due to the contrast with her brilliant platinum blonde hair, her thin arms and straight shoulder line seemed to catch his eye even more.

Her posture was perfect as she walked with precise steps. Strangely enough, even her way of walking caught his attention. As she recognized him and walked toward him without wavering, somehow…

‘What is this?’

Somehow his heart seemed to beat a little faster.

“You’re early? You haven’t waited long, have you?”

“Not at all.”

“Hmm. Well, at least you pass for not keeping a lady waiting.”

Whatever the reason, she had already accepted this. Karina nodded with a proud expression.

“So. Where are we going now? Do you have a date location in mind?”

“I was thinking we could go for tea.”

“Tea. A safe if unoriginal choice. Well… that’s not bad. So where did you have in mind?”

“A new café called Roadhog.”

“Hmm. Roadhog.”

Karina nodded. She knew the place. It was quite a decent choice even if she imagined Olivia there instead.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

Karina gave her permission.

The two walked together. No, the word ‘together’ wasn’t quite accurate.

Karina finally stopped in her tracks after having to take quick steps to keep up with Dominic, who was striding ahead without properly escorting her.

Only after walking quite far did Dominic realize Karina wasn’t beside him and turned around.

And only then did he notice her. Karina standing with her arms crossed, glaring at him.

Karina didn’t move. Seeing that fierce gaze, Dominic quietly retraced his steps back to stand before her.

“Do you walk like this with Lady Lindid too?”

Karina protested angrily to Dominic. She was going to demand if he was acting this way because she wasn’t the woman he liked.

However, Dominic asked back as if he didn’t understand what she meant.

“I wouldn’t know… since I’ve never had occasion to walk like this with Olivia.”

“Huh?”

To Karina who opened her eyes wide as if asking what that meant, Dominic replied with slight hesitation.

“I don’t have occasions to come to the city. Usually, I just meet her at the mansion or see her at social events.”

“But still, you two are childhood friends.”

Karina looked up at Dominic in disbelief. Judging by his expression, he wasn’t lying.

Her fierce gaze softened at his implication that it wasn’t intentional.

“Here.”

Karina extended her hand. Looking at her hand, Dominic hesitantly asked.

“Hand? What am I supposed to do?”

“Escort me! Are you not going to? What kind of man strides ahead alone leaving his date behind? Brigadier General, how tall are you?”

Seeing him lost in thought about his height at her words, Karina lifted her skirt slightly in frustration.

“Look at me. I’m wearing heels, right? And even in these heels, I barely reach your shoulder. Of course our walking speeds would be different.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Dominic understand what Karina meant.

Their strides were different, their speeds were different. If they were to walk together, it was the faster person who should adjust to the slower one, not the other way around.

“I understand.”

“Good. You do know how to escort properly, right?”

It wasn’t that he didn’t know how. It’s just that he had never met women in the city streets in broad daylight like this, and he was thrown off by Karina’s deliberately dressed-up appearance.

Dominic took Karina’s hand and tucked it into his arm. He could feel her body leaning against his arm where they touched.

“Ah. Much better.”

Dominic caught himself smiling at Karina’s muttering about how men should try wearing heels sometime, and quickly covered his mouth in surprise.

* * *

Even after arriving at Roadhog, Dominic had to endure several scoldings from Karina.

First, for not making a reservation. There was no way good seats would be available at a popular café without advance booking.

If the Roadhog server hadn’t known Karina, they probably would have had to turn back without even getting seats.

“Brigadier General, do you know why this café is famous?”

“Hmm.”

“It’s because of the cityscape view through its open windows. But if we’re going to sit at these cramped seats against the wall, there’s no point in coming here at all.”

The seats they barely got were not only noisy being near the walkway, but it was also annoying as people who recognized them kept coming to greet them.

After this happened several times, Karina’s enthusiasm deflated.

Why had she put so much effort into preparing for this date?

‘He really is awkward with women.’

From escorting to planning the date course.

Seeing him so clueless, to the point where it was hard to believe he was the same person who had provoked her that day, Karina unconsciously decided to help him sincerely.

Perhaps it was because it felt wasteful that she had skipped meals and groomed herself not wanting to lose to Dominic.

When the server returned with menus, her forgotten hunger began to surge.

“What will you have, Brigadier General?”

“I’ll have black tea.”

“Alright. Then please prepare black tea and mint tea.”