That must have been why.

“How about me?”

“What?”

“I asked if I’m not worth collecting.”

The crazy thought he had never intended to voice came out as sound.

Karina’s expression froze at Dominic’s words.

“Wh-what are you saying?”

Ironically, Dominic felt satisfaction at Karina’s stuttering response. He even felt somewhat pleased that this woman, who had been composed throughout, was nervous because of him.

“I mean exactly what I said. How about me? If I’m your next partner, there’s no need to go out looking, is there?”

“W-wait. That. Just wait.”

Karina waved her hands, interrupting Dominic’s words.

“Brigadier General, you already have someone you like, don’t you?”

“I believe that was the same for Lieutenant Emgiet.”

“B-but…”

“Didn’t you just say it yourself? That dating experience is quite helpful. For Lady Crawford, the female partner, and the man himself.”

“Wait.”

After crying ‘wait’ several times, Karina took several deep breaths in and out.

Her heart was beating so fast it felt like it would burst. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been this flustered.

“Are you serious?”

Karina’s ears and cheeks flushed red. Dominic too finally came to his senses at her reaction.

However, having seen Karina’s flustered appearance when she was usually so confident, he couldn’t just say ‘never mind’ now.

“I am serious.”

“If you’re serious with me… I mean.”

“Yes.”

Watching Karina trail off, Dominic’s collar felt tight, so he loosened his cravat slightly.

“How can I know if I meet the criteria or not?”

Even an extra character like Emgiet was an excellent man. What need was there to speak of Dominic Winchester, one of the four protagonists? But Karina’s mind had stopped working at Dominic’s sudden words.

“Surely you’re not going to say I don’t meet the criteria?”

Karina’s mouth, which was about to say he didn’t meet them, snapped shut.

“If that’s the case, I’d like an explanation of how I’m inferior to Lieutenant Phiex Emgiet.”

“Ah, no. It’s not exactly like that.”

“Then that means you can help me too.”

“Well, if you put it that way…”

“Is that right or not?”

“That’s right, but… Wait. Why am I having this conversation with you, Brigadier General.”

She wanted to sort out the situation, but Dominic didn’t give her a chance.

“I heard you told Lieutenant Emgiet he lacked a natural attitude toward women.”

Dominic continued slowly.

“Can you give me advice too?”

Right, Phiex Emgiet must have transparently confessed everything about his relationship with her, to the point where it seemed he had said everything possible.

“Advice?”

“Yes.”

“Do you really need my advice?”

Dominic nodded. At his response, Karina let out a groan.

‘What should I do…’

Thinking he would probably keep persisting if she didn’t say anything, Karina sighed deeply and looked up at him.

“Alright. Since you say you need advice, I’ll tell you. Brigadier General, you lack experience.”

“Experience? What kind of experience?”

“Try enjoying more dates with women. Especially regarding physical contact, you need practice. Everyone’s clumsy at first, after all.”

It was sincere advice in its own way. Having read the novel, she could say for certain. What he lacked was, without doubt, experience.

“Is that enough now?”

Dominic nodded. However, Karina, who was about to stand up, had to freeze awkwardly at what Dominic said next.

“Then should we verify my skills now?”

Skills? Karina frowned at Dominic, not understanding what he meant.

“Skills? What skills?”

“When taking on a swordsmanship instructor, don’t you first get tested by the master to see which areas need work?”

“Ah…”

Only then did Karina understand what Dominic meant.

So…

This man is talking about kissing now.

Really.

‘Is he really saying he wants to learn how to kiss?’

Karina felt dizzy.

Of course, she could teach him if asked. However…

The person in question is Dominic Winchester.

The male lead’s counterpart.

One of the four male protagonists.

Because it was Dominic, with his proper and diligent image like a priest, his proposal sounded even more dangerous.

Her instinct was warning her.

That if she got involved with this man, troublesome things would surely happen.

“Um, excuse me! Weren’t you someone who valued meaning in relationships between men and women? I don’t understand why you’re suddenly acting like this.”

“I was like that. But after meeting Lady Crawford, my thoughts have changed somewhat.”

“What?”

“Speaking of meaning, I’ve already done something that should have been most special with someone.”

Karina’s mouth snapped shut.

That’s right.

If we’re talking about meaning, nothing is more important than the first kiss.

If we talk about valuing meaning, that day’s incident should have been his first kiss.

If we say not to value meaning, that day’s incident could be dismissed, but she would have to go along with Dominic’s crazy statement.

It was a dilemma either way.

“Now seems to be just the right time. Since there’s no one around.”

At his matter-of-fact response, as if he were asking to take an entrance test to the Knight Order, the dynamics between Dominic, who had been stuttering like a guilty person until just now, and the consistently composed Karina suddenly reversed.

“Uhhh, ah. No!”

“No? What do you mean no?”

“Well, that. Before! We already confirmed your skills before so there’s no need to check again. Yes! That’s right.”

At Karina’s rushed words, Dominic made an “ah” expression.

“I see. Since we already confirmed my skills then.”

“Yes!”

“Then when can we start the lessons?”

At his relaxed demeanor and gentle smile, Karina’s face turned even redder.

Don’t show an unsightly appearance even if you’re flustered and caught off guard, Karina Crawford!

“Well…”

Trying to appear nonchalant, crossing her legs as haughtily as possible, Karina took a deep breath.

“I’ll have to check the situation. May I look at my schedule?”

“By all means.”

Karina stood up and told the maid waiting outside the reception room to bring her diary from her room.

“What? Miss. A diary…?”

The maid’s eyes widened at her mistress suddenly asking for a diary she had never kept even in her childhood.

“Shh!”

Afraid Dominic might hear, Karina quickly put her finger to the maid’s lips.

“Bring anything, anything that looks reasonable will do.”

The maid with her mouth covered nodded. Then she began running to Karina’s room with quick steps.

* * *

“Miss. I’ve brought what you asked for.”

Shortly after, the maid who had been sent on the errand returned to the reception room and handed Karina a small notebook. Dominic’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at that notebook.

“Hmm. Let’s see. Schedule… hmm.”

Opening to a blank section, Karina pretended to consider while appropriately furrowing her brow.

“It seems difficult.”

She counted to ten in her mind, knowing that answering too quickly would reveal the lie. This should be enough. Karina closed the notebook casually and said.

“The schedule is packed. What should we do?”

She didn’t know.

That the man sitting across from her had already noticed that the notebook the maid brought was completely new, without any signs of being opened before.

“Is that so?”

“It’s unfortunate. But this isn’t because you’re lacking, Brigadier General, it’s because I’m too busy…”

“May I take a look at that schedule?”

“What? Why?”

“No reason. Just wondering if there might be any empty slots.”

“Uh, there aren’t any?”

“When managing multiple schedules, sometimes the timetable can get disorganized. But if we look carefully, there might be some free time in between.”

She couldn’t hand over the empty notebook to Dominic who was reaching out his hand. Finally, Karina reluctantly hid the notebook behind her back and said.

“Well, looking again, it seems there might be some room in the schedule.”

“Is that so? That’s fortunate.”

Smiling slightly, Dominic asked.

“Then when should I clear my schedule?”

“That… um. Next week.”

“You mean the weekend?”

“No? Not the weekend. Don’t you have any free days?”

A free… day. Her thoughts in specifically asking about days other than the weekend were crystal clear.

Until just a few weeks ago, Karina Crawford had enjoyed dates with different men every weekend, seemingly unconcerned about others’ eyes. And in quite public places at that.

She must know well that this is an extremely busy time for the navy. Hadn’t she enjoyed weekend dates with Lieutenant Emgiet?