Though he might not be skilled in relationships between men and women, he wasn’t foolish enough not to know that dates usually happen on weekends.

She doesn’t want to be seen by others. If possible, she’d prefer the date not to happen at all. Karina’s expression as she glanced at him was saying exactly that.

Why exactly?

It somewhat hurt his pride.

Not to disrespect Lieutenant Emgiet, but what made him inferior?

The fact that Karina Crawford, who had appeared multiple times in official places with him, was trying to push him away somehow stimulated the competitive spirit unique to soldiers.

A soldier couldn’t possibly have free time during weekdays. But if he said that, the woman before him would be delighted.

“You’re busy, aren’t you?”

At Karina’s delighted response, exactly as he had predicted, Dominic gave her a relaxed smile.

“Not at all. I’ll try to make some time somehow. I have plenty of vacation days left anyway.”

Due to his diligent nature, he had never properly used his vacation days since becoming a soldier.

He had forcibly applied for vacation after Lucas’s rebuke that subordinates couldn’t rest properly because they were conscious of him, but even then, Dominic had worked from home.

“So when should I clear my schedule?”

Faced with Dominic who wouldn’t give her a chance to escape, Karina finally had to heave a deep sigh.

“Brigadier General.”

“Yes, what is it, Lady Crawford?”

“Let me be honest. Wouldn’t it be better to get help from somewhere else?”

It was now a cliff she couldn’t back away from. The thought that if she got any more entangled in Dominic’s rhetoric, she might actually end up setting a date made Karina snap to her senses.

Get help from somewhere else.

At those words, one of Dominic’s eyebrows raised.

“What do you mean by that? Are you suggesting I meet other women?”

Karina nodded slightly.

She knew well that among noble women, those who liked men in well-fitted naval officer uniforms far outnumbered those who didn’t.

“It’s not that you can’t meet them, it’s that you choose not to. If you were to ask anyone for a date, they would gladly accept.”

“No. That would be disrespectful to her.”

“No, it’s not disrespectful… Wait, so it’s fine to be disrespectful to me?”

“Didn’t you just say with your own mouth that what we do is ‘practice’?”

“Ah…! Well, I mean, ugh. Anyway, it can’t be me.”

“Why not?”

“You’re my brother’s friend. And his work colleague too.”

It was unexpectedly sensible reasoning. Dominic thought this as he stared at Karina.

“We’ll keep running into each other, so what if things get awkward? And if you don’t want help from women, there are plenty around you. Popular men. You could get advice from them.”

For example, her brother Lucas was one of those popular figures treated as public property in social circles, so he could be plenty helpful.

“No.”

“Why!”

“Because it hurts my pride. You heard your brother’s laughter that day too, didn’t you?”

At his childish but honest answer, Karina shut her mouth. Indeed, she doubted anyone would want to get relationship advice from Lucas Crawford, who had laughed so hard he fell over and broke a glass.

“Well then, other people…”

“And I don’t think there’s any reason things would become awkward. Why do you think things would become that way between Lucas and me?”

“Well, when a close friend and his sister date…”

“It’s not dating, it’s practice, isn’t it?”

“That’s true, but…!”

Ah, whatever.

Karina decided to become more brazen and honest since things had come to this.

“Sometimes. No, it happens often.”

“Often?”

“I mean people who don’t let practice remain just practice.”

“Ah.”

Understanding her words, Dominic’s eyebrow twitched again.

“You understand?”

There had been ‘quite’ many men who started out clean but gradually forgot their purpose and became fixated on her as time went on.

She felt she had explained it clearly enough by now.

‘Why do I have to have this kind of conversation with him, really.’

The situation was awkward — having an intimate conversation about relationships between men and women with someone she hadn’t even spoken to until a few days ago.

But regardless of how awkward it was, honestly rejecting his proposal was the right choice. It’s better to handle things clearly after all.

Thinking this, Karina waited for Dominic’s response.

I understand.

Or.

I apologize for my rudeness.

A clean conclusion as spotless as his attire.

However, the answer Karina heard was far from what she expected.

“No. I cannot understand.”

“What?”

Dominic leaned back against the chair and gazed at her intently.

“People who don’t let practice remain practice. I cannot accept Lady Crawford’s probability theory that I might be one of them.”

After saying that, Dominic smiled crookedly and spoke again.

“If anything, I’m worried about the opposite.”

“Wh-what… What did you just say?”

“I’m wondering if Lady Crawford might be the one we should worry about.”

A provocative statement came with his languid smile.

“If you’re not confident, there’s nothing we can do.”

“H-hey. Brigadier General Winchester. When did I say I wasn’t confident? No, I’ve never been like that, okay?”

“This is thoroughly inductive reasoning. You know that inductive results cannot always be true. Just as continuous peace doesn’t mean war has disappeared.”

Karina’s body trembled.

This was a challenge to her authority.

Even though she knew he was provoking her, it was hard to ignore.

The delusion of a man who couldn’t even kiss properly was too inflated.

Karina laughed “Ha!” and crossed her arms.

“If you put it that way, I can’t help but accept the challenge.”

“It’s not exactly a challenge… but your enthusiasm is good to see.”

“We were talking about dates, weren’t we? I’ve changed my mind.”

She had tried to be considerate since he was her brother’s friend and a male protagonist candidate, but now she felt she needed to see him squirm to feel better.

Karina looked straight into Dominic’s eyes. Dominic didn’t avoid her gaze. For a long while, they stared at each other like that…

“Next Sunday. You choose the time.”

“Very well.”

Only after receiving the answer he wanted did Dominic finally stand up.

Their unpleasant second meeting came to an end.

* * *

A few days later, a short letter arrived for Karina. The sender was Dominic Winchester.

<Sunday. 2 PM. In front of the clock tower in Midway district.>

Receiving the note written in neat handwriting, Karina clenched her fist. The maid panicked seeing the note being crumpled in her hand.

“Miss! If you crumple the letter like that…”

“What does it matter.”

Really.

What does it matter.

Sunday at 2 PM. Midway district.

2 PM in the district filled with famous restaurants and cafes.

That place would be packed with people who had finished their lunch, leaving no room to step. Dominic’s note suggesting to meet in front of the clock tower, the most representative meeting spot, could only be interpreted as provocation by anyone who saw it.

―I’m wondering if Lady Crawford might be the one we should worry about.

‘What?’

Karina’s expression turned grim as she recalled that day.

‘If you’re not confident, there’s nothing we can do?’

After hearing him say that, she felt she absolutely had to see that man’s flustered face.

Karina’s grip tightened. The maid paced anxiously, not knowing what to do as the paper was being crumpled beyond recognition.

He said just because peace continues doesn’t mean war has disappeared, did he?

When it comes to understanding relationships between men and women, the difference between her and Dominic was like that between a lion and a deer.

However,

“Even a lion gives its all when hunting a single deer.”

Especially if it’s a deer that speaks such arrogant words.

“Alisa!”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Go slice some cucumbers.”

“Cu-cucumbers?”

The maid stammered at her mistress’s sudden order.

“Why cucumbers all of a sudden…”

“I need to do a skin massage.”

“Massage? But you usually say it’s too bothersome…”

“Even if it’s bothersome, sometimes it’s necessary. Go get them quickly.”

Karina steeled her resolve to absolutely see that detestable man’s flustered face.