Track 03. A Ruined Matchmaking Meeting (Part 3)

Even though she had returned to her home, where she should feel most comfortable in the world, she couldn’t fall asleep.  

‘To think he’d send such a message right after arriving in the capital.’  

She felt a surge of emotion, but when she thought about it for a moment, it was only natural. After being apart from the person he loved for so long, it was perfectly reasonable to send a message as soon as he returned to the capital.  

‘Maybe he suggested returning to the capital quickly not because of me, but because he wanted to meet her sooner.’  

Perhaps he had already met the woman yesterday. Not in the frantic way Vivian had undressed Kanin, but slowly, carefully, as the woman unbuttoned her clothes to reveal her beautiful figure.

At that thought, Vivian shook her head vigorously. She felt ashamed of herself for even imagining such things.  

‘As expected, I shouldn’t rely on Kanin.’  

No matter how much Kanin reassured her, he had someone precious to him.  

‘I need to pull myself together. Strongly. So that I won’t waver again.’  

She resolved and resolved again, staying awake through the night.  

The next day, though she didn’t want to step outside her room, she couldn’t avoid showing her face at the dining table after returning home for the first time in a while. Pressing her darkened under-eyes with her fingers, she went down to the grand dining hall.  

In the dining hall, her grandfather, with his shining golden hair, was already aggressively clearing his plate. As soon as he saw her, he smiled and asked,  

“Was everything alright?”  

Even before she could sit down, the barrage of questions began. Vivian tried to pull out her chair quietly as she answered,  

“There was one instance where I got separated, but it was fine.”  

“Separated?”  

“Yes, yes. I rolled down a mountain slope when a wyvern shot Ice Breath.”  

“That sounds dangerous.”  

Her response made her mother and father’s faces pale, but her grandfather, who had roamed countless battlefields in his youth, didn’t even bat an eye.  

“When you’re on a mission, you’ll encounter wyverns, goblins, and all sorts of things. You never know when or where your weapon might break, so you must never neglect physical training.”  

He wasn’t wrong. No matter how powerful a mage’s magic was, their magic could still run out.  

‘He’s right, but….’  

Vivian gave an awkward smile. Even though a delicious meal was laid out in front of her, she couldn’t bring herself to touch her spoon and fork.  

‘Ugh, it’s so distracting!’  

Unable to hold back, she finally said to her grandfather,  

“Grandfather, everything’s fine, but could you please put down the dumbbells while eating?”  

Yes! Her grandfather wasn’t just advising her to maintain physical training – he was lifting and lowering dumbbells even while eating breakfast!  

‘Isn’t this extreme exercise addiction? To not even put down dumbbells during breakfast!’  

She thought he would grant his granddaughter’s request, especially since it had been a while since they’d seen each other.  

But of course, her grandfather wasn’t an ordinary man.  

“The fork is too light, and I’ll lose muscle mass.”  

“……”  

Could muscle loss really happen in such a short time? 

She thought muscles needed rest periods to grow bigger, but she held her tongue, not knowing how to argue back.  

It was then that her grandfather spoke again.  

“Since you’ve returned earlier than expected, there’s no need to delay any further.”  

“Huh? Delay what?”  

What was he talking about? My Moonlight Division retirement ceremony?  

Her grandfather shrugged lightly as he looked at her puzzled expression.  

“What else? Your matchmaking meeting with Young Master Brille.”  

“Ah…….”  

She had forgotten. The matchmaking.  

Her grandfather chewed on chicken br*ast as he continued,  

“I met him once before you came back, and he’s a really decent man. He truly cherishes you.”  

Vivian almost dropped her fork at those words. She stared at her grandfather with wide eyes, astonished.  

“Grandfather, what did you say? You met him in advance?”  

“Of course! Do you think I’d let an unverified man meet my granddaughter first?”  

“Well, still…….”  

She was an adult; why did she have to be scrutinized like this?  

‘I know he’s doing it out of concern for me, so I can’t even get mad.’  

Feeling annoyed but unable to express it, she chewed on her nails. As she fidgeted, her grandfather added,  

“Let’s have you meet him tomorrow.”  

“What?”  

“Do you dislike it?”  

“Well…….”  

As she hesitated, Kanin’s words from their journey to the capital came to mind.  

• If it’s something you’re giving up because of someone else’s words, don’t give up, Vivi. I told you before, you suit being a mage.  

Kanin’s words had given her great courage. His kind, supportive words cheered her on.  

‘But Kanin has someone more precious than me.’  

Someone he missed so much that he hastily sent her a message.  

‘He can’t stay by my side forever.’  

Thinking about the one person who had supported her leaving her side made her heart feel like it was crumbling. Vivian bit her lip.  

Her grandfather’s sharp eyes were fixed on her.  

“Alright.”  

In the end, Vivian could only nod.  

* * *

To prepare for the matchmaking tomorrow, her grandfather insisted she rest to make her skin smooth, so Vivian spent the day lying on her bed.  

She was already very tired, so staying inside wasn’t difficult.  

‘Except for the fact that Kanin keeps coming to mind.’  

Being alone, she couldn’t shake off thoughts about Kanin.  

Kanin’s voice, Kanin’s touch, the kindness he showed her, and the events of that day all came flooding back.  

‘Was Kanin really this important to me?’  

Realizing the place Kanin held in her heart, she felt a bit flustered. She couldn’t understand how she had interacted with Kanin all this time without realizing it.  

‘What should I do?’  

She closed her eyes. Her mind was in turmoil.  

‘I just want to stay like this forever.’

But time never stops, no matter how deeply she wished to stay submerged. Time flowed steadily, and the next day’s sun rose.  

It was the day of the matchmaking.  

‘Oh, I feel queasy.’  

Her heart raced at the thought of her first-ever matchmaking.  

“Young Lady, try to relax.”  

“Don’t have that blank look on your face like usual.”  

“Matchmaking is like a battle for your life and future! You have to determine if the other person is someone you can spend your life with in just that short amount of time!”

Perhaps because it had been a while since there was talk of matchmaking in the house, not only the maids but also the head maid, nanny, and tutors all chimed in with advice. Vivian smiled awkwardly.  

‘Am I going to a battle?’  

From their explanations, it didn’t seem much different from going to a battle.  

The matchmaking took place at the hottest café in the capital recently.  

After reluctantly dressing up and entering the café, a man with dark green hair who had arrived earlier stood up from his seat.  

“Oh, hello. I’m Raphael Brille!”  

“I’m Vivian Gerhartz.”  

She was a bit surprised.  

‘Did he recognize me right away?’  

Ain had mentioned that her brother liked her, but Vivian thought it was just talk.  

‘Where did he even meet me?’  

Unlike Kanin, who helped Duke Albrecht, Vivian avoided public affairs due to the unpredictability of her magic, so she rarely met others.  

But here was Raphael, clearly knowing her.  

“Well, um.”  

“Shall we sit down first?”  

“Should we order tea first?”  

“Yes, what kind of tea do they have?”  

The two, unfamiliar with matchmaking, unintentionally created a comedic scene. After some fumbling, they ordered chamomile tea and sat down, but Vivian already felt drained.

‘Phew, I’m already exhausted.’  

It felt like she had already used up all the energy she had for the day.