Chapter 50

He spoke as he entered the carriage.

“We were supposed to meet at the square.”  

“The work ended earlier than I thought.”  

“I wanted to come pick you up, but you beat me to it.”

Lies.  

His expression wasn’t one of regret but rather one of joy, as if he had received an unexpected gift.  

With a sharp click, the door closed, and Erhen sat down right next to Charlotte. She had assumed he would sit across from her, so his action left her flustered, her cheeks turning red.  

If this wasn’t flirting or an ambush, then what was it?

“The space is wide enough—why are you sitting here!”  

The luxurious carriage Charlotte had arrived in was spacious enough for even an adult man to lie down. Of course, Erhen would have to fold his long legs if he tried.  

Ignoring her startled exclamation, he slid into the seat beside her, aligning their seated heights, and tilted his head.  

Charlotte inhaled sharply as Erhen’s hair brushed against her shoulder. His hair seemed softer than hers, which she took meticulous care of daily with the finest oils. It was so soft that it even tickled her heart.

“I’m tired. Let me rest my eyes for a bit.”  

The carriage began to move cautiously.  

Since returning to the capital, Erhen had been swamped with work, filling in the gaps left during his absence. He barely had time to sit at his desk, constantly being summoned by the ducal estate and the research institute. Yet, he refused to give up his time with Charlotte, choosing instead to sacrifice his sleep.  

Today was no exception. After finishing his work with great effort to make time for an afternoon date with Charlotte, he had delegated the remaining minor tasks to Philip and was on his way to meet her.  

But to be greeted by Charlotte herself? It felt as though the magical energy drained by the moon had been instantly replenished. For the first time, he felt a desire to thank a deity he didn’t even believe in.  

Charlotte slightly lowered her shoulder at his languid voice. Erhen, noticing her gesture, spoke softly.  

“Let me know immediately if it hurts.”  

“Oh, I’d let you know faster than anyone.” 

She chuckled.  

But until they reached their destination, Charlotte’s shoulder neither hurt nor felt heavy despite him leaning against it.

* * *

After traveling for about an hour, the carriage arrived at their destination, Lake Shuvluv, just as the sky began to darken.  

The lake, with its surface shimmering like scattered starlight in the night sky, was a hidden gem known only to a select few. Its owner had turned it into a tourist attraction, operating boat rides for stargazing and a hotel overlooking the beautiful lake. Of course, the owner was none other than the Rothschild family. This lake and hotel were among the assets Caspar and Johanna had yet to disclose to Charlotte as part of her inheritance.  

For this reason, Charlotte had secretly rented out the entire lake and hotel for safety, a fact known only to a few.  

Charlotte and Erhen had come here today for a romantic boat ride.  

However, as soon as they stepped out of the carriage, the wheel broke with a loud crack. Thankfully, no one was injured—perhaps a testament to the organizer’s foresight. Though momentarily uneasy, Charlotte ensured everything was safe, as did Erhen, before focusing on their rare date.  

Leaving Lida to arrange for a new carriage, the two boarded the boat with snacks in hand. As they sat, the boat began to move along its designated course.  

Under the clear night sky, the two moons—one red and one white—shone brightly. Charlotte marveled at the boat, which moved automatically without the need for rowing.  

“It’s fascinating how magical devices still work even though Tyche’s moon prevents mages from using magic.”  

“We haven’t figured out why yet, but only the mages’ magic disappears when that moon rises. That’s why it’s essential to prepare before the moon appears.” 

Erhen said, seated across from her.  

If they could uncover the reason, wouldn’t scientific progress in this world advance significantly? Though she had grown up in this world and learned to tolerate minor inconveniences, the topic of science always made her compare it to her past life.  

Shaking her head, Charlotte took a sip of soda water.  

“What do you like, Erhen?”  

“You.”  

“No, not that!”  

Startled by his immediate reply, she choked on her drink.  

“I told you not to catch me off guard like that! I mean, what are your hobbies? Your favorite season? Color? Things like that. We barely know these things about each other.”  

“Hmm.”  

Erhen rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought. In truth, there wasn’t much he could say he liked.  

There were things he cherished, such as the brooch Charlotte had given him as a birthday gift during their marriage. Even after their divorce, he always wore or carried it, a constant reminder of his loss.  

But if he thought about the literal definition of “liking”—something that brings joy or desire—then yes. His favorite hobby was anything he did with Charlotte. His favorite season was any season spent with her. His favorite color was coral, the color of her hair. Oh, and the shade of green-blue in her eyes, somewhere between a lush forest and the sea, was also lovely.  

Everything Erhen liked revolved around Charlotte. So if anyone asked him what he liked, her name would inevitably come up.  

Blinking slowly, Erhen finally spoke.  

“No matter how much I think about it, it’s just you.”  

“Don’t you enjoy reading research papers and conducting experiments?”  

“That’s not something I like; it’s something I’m good at.”  

“Wow.”  

As a former graduate student who had spent countless hours in a lab, she found his response slightly annoying.  

Watching her flush red and gulp down her sweet soda, Erhen smirked.  

When had he first started feeling this way about Charlotte? Perhaps it was three years ago, after his brother’s memorial. Or maybe it was even earlier—on the day of their simple wedding ceremony, when she stood before him in her pure white dress, smiling radiantly. From that day on, he couldn’t imagine anyone else standing beside him.  

Seeing Charlotte glare at him with narrowed eyes, Erhen spoke with interest.  

“So, what do you like?”  

“Me?”  

“I wasn’t satisfied with my answer, so I’ll take notes.”  

“Really? Hmm, where should I start? Ask me anything. I can answer by category.”  

“Well, I know you like food. And money. And among foods, it’s fried chicken.” 

Erhen confidently stated.  

His tone, as if he were showing off a perfect test score, left Charlotte speechless, then self-conscious, and finally amused.  

She couldn’t help but laugh as she recalled how, back in Heringen, he’d always brought her fried chicken whenever she looked a little pale.  

“Hahaha, you’re unbelievable, Duke.”  

In the middle of the serene lake, surrounded by shimmering light, Charlotte’s laughter echoed beautifully.  

Encouraged by her joy, Erhen confidently began listing more of her preferences, like a student answering questions in class.  

“Your favorite drink is coffee.”  

“Isn’t that too obvious to say with such confidence?”  

“I told you, liking something and being good at it are different. This was a tough question.”  

“Wow, just wow.”  

Despite her incredulous reaction, Erhen continued.  

“And your favorite alcohol is cocktails.”  

“Which one specifically?”  

“Martini.”  

“Oh, correct! How do you know all this?”  

Surprised by his accurate answer, Charlotte asked sincerely. Erhen gave her a soft smile.  

How could he not know?  

It was the drink she enjoyed most at the Marquisate.  

“And your favorite weather is a sunny, dazzlingly bright day.”  

During their marriage, she loved laying out a picnic mat in the garden with Daniel on such days to enjoy tea time.  

“And your favorite time is the quiet moments just past midnight.”  

When the world was silent, she would sit on the terrace with a warm cup of tea, savoring the stillness.  

As Erhen’s gentle voice reached her, Charlotte found herself speechless, staring at his face.  

This wasn’t fair.  

“And your favorite color is… hmm, this one’s really tough.”  

“……”  

Since she always preferred clean aesthetics…  

“White.”  

Charlotte, who had been staring blankly at him, finally smiled.  

“Wrong. Finally, you got one wrong!”  

“Lies.”  

Erhen leaned closer, his face now right in front of hers. His blue eyes, reflecting the moonlight, sparkled brilliantly.  

“A pure woman like you couldn’t possibly dislike white.”  

The moment their lips were about to meet—

“I, I—!”  

Charlotte tightly shut her eyes and shouted. Erhen, who had suddenly stopped, let out a soft chuckle.

Her heart pounded wildly, and Charlotte gripped the side of the small boat tightly.

“…The color I like is!”

She opened her trembling eyes. The sparkling blue eyes before her were so clear.

The answer, which seemed as fleeting as a cloud, had been so close all along that it almost felt ridiculous.

And just as Charlotte opened her mouth to speak—

Crack.

With an ominous sound, the small boat they were on began to sink.