Chapter 4 – Operation Name: The First Is Hard, The Second Is Easy

“It’s simple—you just have to make Sir Landon fall for you all over again.”

Layla and Chloe spoke in unison. For once, they were in agreement and looked delighted.

April, showing little interest, watched with a bored expression, so Layla scurried over to sit beside her.

“Don’t dismiss it as nonsense. Just—hear us out seriously for once.”

There was nothing serious to listen to, but April didn’t have the energy to argue, so she said nothing. Layla seemed to take her silence as agreement and chattered away.

“There were quite a few girls who liked Sir Landen, right? But he never paid any attention to women.”

“That’s why there were rumors he liked men instead.”

Chloe, who had come over to the bedside, naturally joined in.

“Right! The rumors spread so widely. Who was it… What was Sir Landen’s friend’s name again?”

“Sir Joseph Bear?”

“Yes, Sir Bear! Remember how rumors spread that the two were lovers? Neither of them really denied it, so people started to wonder if it was true.”

Layla’s voice rose in excitement, and her freckled cheeks flushed red. At this point, April couldn’t tell if Layla was trying to help her or just gossiping with her friends.

“Didn’t you also talk a lot about the two of them dating?”

When Chloe brought up Layla’s past gossip, Layla’s face turned as red as a ripe tomato.

“Can you not talk about the past? That’s not important right now!”

“You brought it up first, Layla.”

“Hmph. Anyway, you were the only one who caught Sir Landen’s attention, Lily.”

Layla pointed at April, then ran her hand up and down April’s arm.

“This is just my opinion, but weren’t you exactly Sir Landen’s type? That’s why he fell for you at first sight. Didn’t you say back then that he asked you out after only a few conversations?”

Was that so? April recalled what Kyle had once told her. He hadn’t said she was his ideal type, but he did say her smile was so beautiful that he couldn’t look away. When she mentioned that, Layla clapped her hands.

“That’s exactly it! What man says he fell for your face because it’s his type? Saying he fell for your smile is much more romantic! Even if he says that, he really fell for your looks.”

“But…”

Kyle wasn’t that shallow, April wanted to argue, but Layla seemed to read her mind.

“It’s human nature to appreciate beauty. It’s not about being shallow. Your looks just matched Sir Landen’s aesthetic ideal.”

“But…”

“Of course, later he must have fallen for your other charms. I’m just talking about first impressions, so don’t take it the wrong way, Lily.”

Chloe chimed in,

“Anyway, that’s not the point. The point is, if Sir Landen already fell for you once, it shouldn’t be hard for him to fall for you again.”

“Do you think so?”

“Of course. So, what dress did you wear on your first date with Sir Landen?”

“A yellow dress…”

“Perfect, let’s go with that!”

The two friends brought out a yellow day dress from the dressing room. April dressed up in front of them. With the help of the maids, her makeup and hair were done, and Layla and Chloe smiled in satisfaction.

“With this look, even Sir Landen won’t be able to resist you again.”

The two friends even escorted April to see her off.

“Got it, Lily? Make sure you win Sir Landen’s heart.”

“Mm, I will.”

April waved out the carriage window. As the carriage set off, her friends’ figures grew smaller.

Without her friends to rely on, she grew nervous. April touched the ribbon on her chest and took a deep breath.

‘I can do this.’

She kept repeating that to herself.

* * *

From morning, Joseph bustled around the Landen ducal residence as if he were the one going on a date. He gave orders to the servants on Kyle’s behalf and managed to dress Kyle up from head to toe.

“Good. With this look, Miss April will fall for you again.”

Kyle wanted to say that the problem wasn’t April, but himself, but held back.

Then, as Joseph circled him for final inspection, he asked slyly,

“So, what gift are you giving Miss April on your first date?”

“A gift? Is that necessary?”

Joseph clutched his head at Kyle’s indifferent answer.

“Such an inflexible friend. You did the same thing on your real first date with Miss April, and now you’re doing it again.”

He picked up a pen from the table and started jotting down something. It was the address of a flower shop in the bustling city center.

Joseph forced the note into Kyle’s hand. Even as Kyle left the mansion, Joseph kept emphasizing,

“Got it? Don’t go empty-handed!”

Kyle sighed, looking at the note he’d been forced to take. After a moment’s thought, he handed it to the coachman.

“Take me here.”

But even after arriving at the city’s most famous flower shop, he couldn’t go inside, just lingered outside. Joseph had said he’d visited this shop countless times, but Kyle had no memory of it. From what he could recall up to age twenty-one, he’d never been to this shop, or even a flower shop at all.

Trying to do something he’d never done in his life, his feet wouldn’t move easily.

‘Should I just go back?’

He hesitated, but then remembered Joseph’s face, turning red with frustration.

Honestly, Kyle didn’t see what was so special about a bouquet. Would someone really be moved by just a bunch of flowers? It didn’t make sense to his practical mind.

Kyle took a deep breath and entered. The bell on the door jingled to greet him.

“Welcome… Oh my, isn’t it you, Sir Landen? I heard rumors you’d returned.”

Joseph’s claim about being a regular customer must have been true, as the woman who seemed to be the owner recognized him. News of his return was spreading through the city, but the rumor that he’d lost his memory had not. Thanks to the Landen family keeping things quiet.

Afraid to say something wrong, Kyle just tipped his hat as a greeting.

Fortunately, the owner didn’t seem suspicious. She wiped her hands on her apron and approached.

“Are you here to buy flowers for Miss Myles?”

Again. He couldn’t remember, but everyone else automatically paired him with April. It bothered him—not because he was offended, but because it weighed on his heart. He felt guilty toward April.

As he remembered April crying before him, Kyle quickly nodded. The owner brightened and chattered away.

“What kind of flowers would you like today?”

“Just… something suitable…”

He was about to ask her to choose whatever she thought best, when a flower caught his eye. Kyle couldn’t look away from the fresh yellow roses. For some reason, he pictured April smiling as she held a bouquet of yellow roses. It would suit her well.

On impulse, he spoke.

“These.”

“Oh, you have a good eye. I’ll prepare them right away. Please wait a moment.”

The owner quickly made up a bouquet. It was a lush bouquet, centered on yellow roses.

Kyle paid and left the shop. It felt a bit embarrassing, but looking at the bouquet, he thought he’d made the right choice.

He got back into the carriage and headed for the meeting place. His heart thumped pleasantly.