Chapter 3.1 – Date

‘Ugh.’

It felt like her head was about to split open. Her stomach was queasy, and it felt as if the bed itself was shaking. Berry stifled a groan and slowly lifted her eyelids. She remembered feeling good yesterday and drinking a lot of champagne. Of all things, her favorite strawberry champagne had been served, and she ended up drinking three more glasses than she was usually allowed. If she had known it would come back as such a hangover, she would have stopped at just one glass.

Berry let out a long sigh, feeling a bit of regret. As she exhaled, a soft strawberry scent seemed to rise up with her breath. Somehow, that made her giggle, and as she did, a low chuckle could be heard from somewhere nearby.

Her vision was still blurry and she couldn’t see her surroundings well, so Berry furrowed her brow, trying to figure out whose laugh that was.

Hmm, so then.

‘Where was I yesterday…?’

Why did I drink champagne?

As soon as she thought that, countless scenes flashed before her eyes. The fireworks bursting in the sky, Jeffrey Gixson being loud like a big-mouthed bullfrog. And behind him, a man, dark as a beast…

“Eek!”

I must have been crazy!

The moment she remembered how she had shamelessly leaned in first for a kiss, Berry threw off her blanket and shot upright. Her head spun and she almost toppled over immediately.

“Oh dear, are you alright?”

Immediately, someone’s hand reached out to steady her. Berry was too embarrassed to lift her face, but she couldn’t stay in this awkward position forever, so she had no choice but to raise her head. The room she was in looked nothing like the ticket she had bought; it was clearly a suite room on the ship, with bright sunlight pouring in.

And there, standing as if swallowing up all that sunlight, was a man looking down at her with worried eyes.

Yet she couldn’t help but think there was a hint of mischief in those gray eyes.

“I-I’m alright. But, why am I here…?”

“You had several glasses of champagne in a row and then passed out. Don’t you remember?”

“I… I think I do, maybe…”

“It was so late at night that it was impossible to find your room, and since we’re engaged, no one would blame us for sharing a room, so I brought you here. Of course, there are two beds, so we used them separately, don’t worry. I did nothing to tarnish your honor.”

His detailed explanation was reassuring. Berry cautiously checked her appearance. She was still in the fluttery dress she had worn yesterday. There were no signs it had been removed or anything like that.

If that was the case, she was truly grateful.

Berry forced strength into her legs and stood up. She then clasped her hands together and bowed deeply to Damian.

“Thank you, thanks to you I slept well.”

“It seems so. I didn’t know you snored, though.”

“…!?”

“I’m joking.”

Damian burst out laughing. He seemed to find her cute, but Berry’s face crumpled since she couldn’t tell if he was telling the truth or not. To be honest, she felt a bit guilty. She’d often heard from her nanny that she snored.

“Alright, I’ll call in a maid so you can change. I already asked for your room under your name earlier. I’ve arranged for your luggage to be brought, and I’ll step outside so you don’t have to worry. See, if you close this door, the space is completely separated.”

Damian looked as if he’d been up for hours. From head to toe, he was perfectly neat. His hair was smoothly combed back, and unlike yesterday, he was wearing a three-piece suit—it was very handsome.

She glanced to the side and saw a mirror. Berry nearly turned pale at the sight of her reflection. 

Goodness, what was going on with my hair? My makeup was all smudged!

“Oh my!”

As Berry jumped and cried out, Damian laughed again and left the cabin entirely. Soon after, a maid entered, and Berry was able to calm herself and look like a proper person again.

“My, what a beautiful necklace. It suits you so well.”

“Thank you.”

The maid, brushing Berry’s hair, complimented the necklace she saw in the vanity mirror. Berry gently touched the gem that truly suited her, and suddenly realized something.

Now, she had a lover she wouldn’t have to part with!

Since the conclusion was already set as marriage, there was no reason to break up after just a week!

‘Oh, how jealous Molly would be if she heard!’

Molly was the friend who had taught her how to kiss. They’d been close since they were ten, a friend from a Baron family, and it was thanks to her that Berry had managed to sneak onto this cruise party.

If her parents and Philip had found out, she still didn’t know.

“Berry.”

A little later. After digging through her luggage, tipping the maid, and sending her out first, Berry stood in front of the door, taking about fifty deep breaths. The door leading out of the cabin had a small round window, and though it was frosted, she could tell Damian was standing outside.

‘Hoo…’

Placing her hand over her heart, Berry took one last deep breath and opened the door. The click of the latch echoed loudly in her ears for no reason.

“Sorry for being late. Did you wait long?”

As she said that and looked straight ahead, Damian, who had been leaning against the wall reading, closed his book. Apparently, he wore a monocle when reading, and seeing it on one eye was another new charm that made Berry swallow nervously.

“It’s a gentleman’s duty to wait for a lady to get ready.”

Damian removed his monocle and smiled. Then he reached out his hand to her.

“Shall we have breakfast first? You must be hungry.”

“S-sure.”

In truth, her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst, but Berry lifted her chin and pretended to be calm.

Goodness, what kind of man is this?

How could a monocle suit someone so well?

Linking her arm with Damian’s solid one as they headed to the restaurant, Berry was giddy with excitement. Among the books she and Molly had secretly read together, there was a romance novel featuring a male lead with a monocle, and the two had been such fans it was almost embarrassing.

‘He’s like a male lead from a romance novel.’

The restaurant Damian led her to was the most expensive outdoor dining spot on the ship. They served exotic dishes hard to find elsewhere, and since it wasn’t meant for domestic guests, the menu itself was written in a foreign language she could hardly read.

But Damian pointed to several items and explained them smoothly.

“This is steak made from young veal tenderloin marinated in basil. I think it was something you liked.”

“Yes, it’s one of my favorites.”

“This is lobster baked with cheese on top.”

“I like that too, but… this place serves foreign food, right? I want to try something new.”

Berry was not the type to shy away from new experiences. Damian, seeming to accept her opinion, slid his finger from the right to the left side of the menu.

“Then this might be good. It’s a dish of grains coated in squid ink. It’s savory and very nutritious.”

“What about this one?”

“It’s a poached octopus dish… They cook a whole small octopus, place it on mashed potatoes, and pour plenty of olive oil over it.”

“…Ugh.”

Correction. She didn’t like octopus.

When Berry instinctively grimaced, Damian, as if expecting it, suggested an alternative.

“This is sweet melon slices layered with cured ham from the pig’s hind leg. The ham is salted and dried by a special method, so the flavor is quite unique.”

“Hmm, alright. Then I’ll have the lobster dish and this one.”

“Alright.”

Damian raised his hand and called over a staff member. While he placed their order, Berry gazed up at the white parasol above her head and out at the sparkling blue sea beyond the railing.

The weather today was absolutely perfect. It was so bright and clear that she felt like she could just dive into the sea for a swim. There were hardly any clouds in the sky, and the sunlight pouring down seemed to gently color the whole world.

Berry wriggled her nose, taking in the scent of the sea. Just like in a novel, it was the scent of freedom. Now, having run away this far, she actually thought it had been the right decision.

“This morning, I sent a telegram to Earl Swanton. I thought he might be worried.”

“Ah, thank… you.”

“This time, it’s fortunate since I just returned from studying abroad, but next time, promise you won’t do something so reckless. Everyone is worried about you, Berry.”

A staff member came by and set down freshly baked baguette and balsamic vinegar. Berry, feeling a bit embarrassed, fiddled with her bread and nodded. Damian never pressured her or got angry. But somehow, his gentle tone felt even more intimidating.

Damian took the bread from her hands and tore it for her, adding a word as he did.

“If you ever want to break the rules, do it with me. After all, we are lovers now, aren’t we?”

Lovers.

At that sweet word, Berry lifted her head in surprise. Damian, with a faint smile, placed a piece of bread in her mouth.

“You can promise me that, right?”

“Y-yes.”

Her voice was muffled as she chewed, but Damian seemed satisfied with just that, tearing off another piece and putting only the soft part of the baguette on her plate. Berry’s face brightened since she didn’t like the hard crust.