Chapter 1 – Broken Engagement (Part 4)

While she had her eyes closed for a moment, she heard the door open. Olivie slowly opened her eyes.

But as soon as she saw the man who stepped through the open door.

“……Oh?”

Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it was falling out of her chest, making her forget about her insomnia.

‘Why is he here?’

Seeing the man she couldn’t believe was there, Olivie rubbed her eyes.

“……”

But no matter how many times she rubbed her eyes, the well-dressed, handsome man standing at the pub door was someone she knew.

Robin Tanner.

“This can’t be.”

In disbelief at his appearance, Olivie opened her mouth.

He was such an alien presence in this pub.

‘Am I finally seeing things?’

Honestly, if that wasn’t the case, it was unexplainable.

A man so noble to his core wouldn’t step into such a shabby pub.

His usually slicked-back hair was softly falling today, softening his sharp image. But his handsomeness was unchanged, and his noble demeanor was constant.

“Why?”

Blinking in disbelief, Olivie tapped her cheeks lightly as if to snap herself out of it.

Get a grip.

She shook her head, repeating the same thought like a fool.

‘It’s none of your business.’

Where Robin went was his business. She was here too, after all.

She chuckled and shook her head, turning back to the table.

“Do you know him?”

“Ah.”

Olivie awkwardly laughed at the bartender’s question, glancing at the door, and spoke as if making an excuse.

“He’s a friend’s brother.”

“Ah, I see.”

The bartender, who was vigorously wiping a glass with a cloth, nodded as if he understood.

“He looks like he could make a lot of women cry.”

“He’s handsome, isn’t he?”

Olivie chuckled in agreement, sipping the remaining moonshine as the bartender, following Robin’s movements, leaned closer to the bar.

“So, are you leaving with that man tonight?”

“What?”

Olivie blinked, not understanding his words at first, but then blushed as she realized what he meant.

“I told you, he’s a friend’s brother.”

“He’s not your real brother, though.”

“……”

“He looks like he’d be good in bed.”

At the bartender’s comment, pointing his chin towards Robin, Olivie shook her head as if it was nonsense.

“No, thanks.”

Once was enough, having been embarrassed by him on her debutante day.

‘Oppa, just one kiss, please.’

The shame that made her stomach churn just thinking about it made Olivie swallow hard as she finished her remaining moonshine.

‘Might as well just go home.’

With Robin’s appearance, Olivie’s plan was as good as ruined. Waiting for the next person felt somehow pointless.

‘It’s a sign from the gods to go home and sleep without causing trouble.’

So much for a rebellion.

The strong liquor sliding down her throat made Olivie’s head spin for a moment, and she took a deep breath, looking up at the bartender.

“One more drink, please.”

She wiped the remaining moonshine from her lips with the back of her hand and pushed the glass forward.

The bartender alternated his gaze between the empty glass and Olivie’s flushed face, furrowing his brow.

“You seem drunk. Why don’t you call it a night?”

“Just one more.”

She wiped the moonshine from her lips with the back of her hand and smiled bashfully, shaking the glass. The bartender raised his index finger as if he couldn’t help it.

“Just one more.”

“Got it.”

Olivie grinned, reaching out to hand over her glass when suddenly—

“What are you doing here?”

“Ah!”

Startled by the voice beside her, Olivie dropped the empty glass and quickly pulled back. Without even glancing at the overturned moonshine glass on the table, she took a deep breath and blinked.

‘Robin?’

But even after confirming the owner of the voice, her body remained pulled back.

“Wh-what are you doing here?”

Olivie furrowed her brow, putting more distance between them.

“Why are you here?”

Robin stared at her in response to her question.

His eyes were cool and blue.

As she had once told Emily, his gaze made her feel like she had to apologize for something she hadn’t done wrong. Robin was looking down at her with that exact gaze. Her intoxication rose to her throat, and her heart, jaw, and ears throbbed intensely.

‘I am drunk.’

Olivie shook her head vigorously with him in front of her. Robin frowned slightly, as if displeased.

“I think I asked first.”

“……”

“What are you doing here?”

His question was tinged with slight irritation.

It was a cold voice, different from when he scolded his sister, Emily. Olivie corrected her posture and shook the glass she was holding.

“Can’t you see? I’m drinking.”

“So, why in a place like this…?”

Robin’s gaze swept lightly around the shabby pub. Olivie chuckled at his gaze and shrugged her shoulders.

“This is my regular spot, right?”

The bartender turned away, ignoring Olivie’s expectant wink. Olivie pouted and turned her head.

“Then, um, Sir Tanner…”

She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should call him “Sir” here.

“Wait.”

“……!”

Olivie froze, unable to finish her sentence, as Robin leaned in close.

His scent hit her, making her heart pound, and she couldn’t breathe properly. Her throat tightened, preventing her voice from coming out. It wasn’t just because she was drunk; her whole body tingled, and her fingertips felt prickly.

Perhaps because of nervousness.

Olivie bit her lips a little deeper.

“Breathe.”

Robin lightly rubbed her cheek with his thumb, where the fine hairs stood on end, and then stepped back to create distance.

“You had foam on you.”

As if it had been a mirage, the distance between them widened quickly, and Olivie looked up in a daze. She belatedly came to her senses and rubbed the spot where his hand had touched with the back of her hand.

“You could have just told me.”

Her cheek was red, as if she was trying to erase the moment by rubbing it away. Robin glanced at the red mark before turning his head.

“Right.”

Olivie let out a shallow breath only after she was out of his sight. Honestly, she hadn’t realized she was holding her breath.

‘I almost got ensnared by the charmer again.’

You know how it is.

Being an oblivious prey, caught by a charmer or monster without realizing it.

That’s exactly what she felt like right now.

‘I need to get a grip.’

Shaking her head to regain her composure, Olivie turned to Robin.

“Then, finish your business and go…”

“I’m looking for someone.”

“What?”

Olivie looked up blankly as Robin glanced around and pointed to the floor with his index finger.

“I’m here to find someone.”

That seemed to be the answer to her question.

It seemed to be the answer to her question. After a delayed response that felt like ages, Olivie nodded as if coming to her senses.

“Ah.”

She was a little curious about who he could be looking for in such a pub, but she suppressed it.

“I see. You’re here to find someone.”

“……”

Olivie was surprised by her own soulless voice that came out without thinking.

It was reminiscent of how the knights in Elphano would laugh hollowly and awkwardly respond in front of her father. They would focus intently on taking down every word he said, only to change as soon as their master turned his back. Remembering their empty eyes, Olivie bit her lips deeply.

Otherwise, she felt she might burst out laughing.

She lightly brushed her lip corners with her thumb to hide a smile.

But Robin, already noticing her smile, raised an eyebrow in mild disapproval.

It was a look she had never seen before.

Somehow, his face looked more human, and she turned her head, resting her chin on the table.

“So, did you find them?”

“……”

Robin looked back at her and nodded briefly.

“Yeah.”

Then he sat down next to Olivie and raised his hand towards the bartender.

“A glass of wine, red if possible.”

In the bustling atmosphere, Robin’s voice ordering red wine caught Olivie’s attention as she watched the bartender. Recently, relations with the Lefancier region weren’t great, making it difficult to procure red wine. Most pubs in the Kingdom of Plen mainly served white wine, which was easier to distribute.

Even high-end salons said getting red wine was like reaching for the stars.

‘He knows less about the world than I do.’

Olivie tilted her head slightly, adopting a more defiant posture.

“The moonshine here is really something.”

“……”

Olivie shook her light glass and smirked at Robin’s unreadable gaze.

“If you haven’t tried moonshine, you should take this chance. I’ll buy.”

She grinned and shook her glass at the bartender.

“Not wine, fill it up with moonshine.”

“Just one glass, right?”

“Of course, two glasses.”

The bartender shook his head and took the glass from her hand, filling it with moonshine. He poured the drink into a clean, new glass and handed it over. Olivie eagerly accepted the glass and brought it to her lips.

Robin fixed his gaze on her as she gulped down the drink smoothly.

“Ah.”

He looked as if he hadn’t expected her to drink so well. Feeling his somewhat entranced gaze, Olivie set the glass down. She wiped the remaining liquor from her lips with the back of her hand and asked,

“Aren’t you drinking?”

“……Ah.”

Robin seemed to come to his senses and looked at the glass in his hand. The glass, made of wood similar to an oak barrel, had a large, rough handle, and foam was slightly spilling over. It was a drink and a glass that didn’t suit him at all.