Chapter 103
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------
I'm a homebody who ended up possessing the body of a villainess locked away in a desolate tower.
Chapter 103
"Oh, no, that's not it."
Regardless of why such a book existed here, forbidden texts could result in punishment merely for reading them.
I had stumbled upon it by accident, but I couldn't drag Ian into this mess.
I hastily distanced myself from the bookshelf where I'd placed the volume, while simultaneously stepping closer to Ian.
"I think I've seen everything I came to see. Shall we leave now?"
"...Yes, let's do that."
And so Ian and I left the Public Library just as the day was drawing to a close.
Sigh, though unintentional, I'd ended up making Ian work overtime again today.
'I feel a bit guilty about that.'
An outside assignment and overtime on top of it.
Wasn't I becoming an exploitative employer at this point?
Knowing that Ian had looked particularly exhausted lately, I felt an inexplicable sense of guilt toward him.
I wanted to compensate him somehow...
"Say, would you be interested in having dinner together?"
Come to think of it, Ian, who had been moving about with me all this time, hadn't even managed a proper meal.
Wouldn't it be better to treat him to a decent dinner rather than returning to the Grand Duke's Residence and parting ways coldly?
Of course, I was aware of how dreadful company dinners could be for working people as an extension of their duties, but I had so few ways to express my gratitude!
"Mm."
Instead of answering immediately, Ian fell into brief contemplation.
Would he refuse me?
Even if he declined due to exhaustion, I had nothing to say in response, so I waited slowly for him to speak.
"Since the Young Lady suffers from severe motion sickness, it would be best to use a teleportation magic circle after the meal."
The answer that came from him was not a cold rejection.
Though taciturn, it carried consideration, which was somewhat surprising.
"Then, I shall lead the way."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
Shortly after, Ian and I arrived at an ornately decorated Upscale Restaurant.
But then.
'This feels familiar...'
A glittering commercial district frequented by the wealthy and nobility, adorned with resplendent interior design.
Now that I looked at it again, this was the restaurant I had found particularly delicious when I visited the Imperial Capital before.
And it seemed I had come here with the Blaire Grand Duke at that time.
"Hmm..."
"What's the matter?"
"Oh, well."
I, who had been hesitating near the entrance rather than going straight in, asked Ian casually.
"Actually, I've been wondering for a while—did someone perhaps give you a hint about this place?"
"Pardon?"
"I, well, I've been here before. So I was wondering if perhaps..."
His face stiffened noticeably enough that anyone could tell something was amiss.
Ah, and I hadn't even properly teased him yet.
I spoke to him with a playful smile.
"Ian must have been on quite a few dates in the Imperial Capital, haven't you?"
"Ah...."
At my words, bewilderment flickered across Ian's face.
"What did you just... What do you mean by that?"
"It's not strange at all. Ian is quite handsome, and you seem to be popular with the opposite sex."
Moreover, given his profession, he had an excellent physique, and with his composed demeanor, he was precisely the type of man women would find appealing.
Since even I found him quite impressive, others would surely see him the same way.
'Wait, hold on.'
Now that I thought about it, Ian was truly an excellent prospect.
As a romantic partner, that is.
His features were sharp rather than rough, and his proportions were so well-balanced that one could say he resembled Blaire Grand Duke, the most handsome man in the world I knew.
And wasn't he a gentleman with refined manners who, despite being somewhat taciturn, thoughtfully arranged dating courses on his own?
As my speculation spiraled further and further, a distinctly exhausted voice reached my ears.
"...That's not it."
"Come now. You needn't be embarrassed. I understand everything."
"What exactly do you think you understand?"
"Well, at a young age, the more you date and experience romance, the better. Time passes so quickly, after all."
At that, Ian looked at me with a peculiar expression and asked.
"Then Young Lady... are you saying you wish to date a lot?"
"Me?"
Oh, well... I'd never really thought about it.
It was true. I'd been too busy simply surviving each day to spare a thought for something as leisurely as romance!
But...
'I am young right now, aren't I?'
Now that I thought about it, that was the case. In this world too, I couldn't simply work myself to death.
Besides, I'm now a free person whom no one treats like a slave, so if I wanted to date, I could.
But first, wouldn't I need someone to date? Haha.
'Let's set Blaire Grand Duke aside for now.'
I answered with an awkward laugh.
"Well... if the opportunity arose, I did think I'd like to experience it plenty."
Though I'd been too busy with work to remember it clearly.
"Wanting to do it a lot means... dating 'multiple men,' is that what you're saying?"
Since my past experience was limited, wouldn't more experience going forward be better?
Besides, there's no one here who would point fingers at me for dating around!
"That doesn't seem like a bad idea."
My words were so unexpected that Ian stared at me intently.
What is this? Why do those golden eyes that pierce through everything feel like they're burning with such intensity?
"Just now, it wasn't... bad... was it?"
"Pardon?"
What did he just say? It sounded like his teeth were slightly clenched—did he bite his tongue?
"...No, it wasn't."
Ah, so this was completely unexpected for Ian.
I came to my own conclusion and nodded.
I suppose I couldn't blame Ian for being surprised.
After all, during all the time Ian had been protecting me, I must have seemed like a workaholic who knew nothing but labor.
"Ian, truthfully, I haven't given much thought to this sort of thing until now, but thanks to you, it feels like an opportunity has presented itself."
"What do you mean..."
"Dying after doing nothing but work seems rather unfair. People should enjoy what they can enjoy."
Yes, thanks to Ian, countless solutions seemed to be occurring to me.
In fact, when I realized that the restaurant Ian had brought me to was this place, I was quite startled—because it was somewhere I had come with Blaire Grand Duke.
What does that matter?
Well...
'Because the memory from that day was pleasant.'
Even just talking about work that day had been entertaining enough. Or perhaps it was even more entertaining precisely because we only talked about work.
Blaire Grand Duke was... the only person with whom my thoughts on work truly aligned.
Perhaps Blaire Grand Duke had mistaken this unfamiliar emotion for romantic affection between us, which was problematic, but I too had a problem—feeling a flutter in my heart when thinking of him.
'This is truly strange.'
Blaire Grand Duke was, after all, the person who had kidnapped me, and our relationship had begun with a decidedly unpleasant first meeting.
Yet whenever I thought of Blaire Grand Duke, my chest would feel strangely suffocated.
The reason I hadn't handled this maturely and had simply avoided Blaire Grand Duke was precisely because of this—my heart was acting strange!
But now I felt as though I understood the solution to this problem. And that solution was...
'I should fall in love too!'
Not only had Blaire Grand Duke never properly dealt with the opposite sex—neither had I.
Without a worthy focus, perhaps my heart was racing at the mere thought that this handsome (?) Blaire Grand Duke was interested in me?
"I'm going to fall in love."
"Pardon?"
Ian, who had been watching me with a lukewarm expression, suddenly asked in a chilled tone.
"Have you already decided with whom?"
"Huh? No, not yet... I don't have a partner yet."
Sadly, so far there hasn't been another man showing interest in me besides Blaire Grand Duke.
But if I search and explore somehow, wouldn't someone eventually appear?
"Still, I'm going to search earnestly from now on. Thank you, Ian! Thanks to you, I've found the will to fall in love."
Yes. Rather than waiting for an opportunity, from now on I would create my own opportunities!
"...Well then, shall we go inside?"
At Ian's suggestion, I entered the restaurant and took my seat quietly.
'But how do I create romantic opportunities....'
While I was lost in thought, Ian ordered our dinner with practiced ease.
"...Yes. How would you like your steak cooked?"
"Both medium rare, please. And..."
When I finally snapped back to attention, Ian was pointing at me as he spoke to the server.
"For the Young Lady's steak, please cook it just slightly more than medium rare."
In that instant, my thoughts came to an abrupt halt.
'...What? Why does he know me so well?'
Now that I thought about it, hadn't Ian been the one to bring up the question about romance first?
Could this possibly be... a green light?
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------