Chapter 72
Inside the carriage which bore the seal of Duke Halos.
Elena’s and Lexion’s eyes barely met as they sat across from each other.
‘It’s awkward with the two of us in this enclosed space….’
Elena glanced at Lexion and then turned her gaze out the window.
‘Lexion is no different than usual. Am I the only one being weird?’
However, what Elena perceived about Lexion was different from reality.
He was always nervous whenever he and Elena got into the carriage alone.
He feared that he might unconsciously hold Elena and even touch her as if possessed.
Even today, he was busy suppressing his desire.
But Elena was oblivious to his yearning.
If she had, she wouldn’t be staring at him ardently.
Elena’s gaze, which was felt occasionally, stirred up his emotions.
So Lexion had to forcefully restrain himself until his knuckles turned white.
How much time has passed like that?
As the invisible tension inside the carriage grew more tense.
The carriage stopped in the downtown area of the capital.
“I think we have arrived!”
Elena’s face noticeably brightened.
The carriage door opened, and she felt the breath of fresh air.
“Hold on, Elena.”
Lexion escorted her with a more relaxed face.
The place where the two got off was at a dessert shop popular with women these days which was in the downtown area of the Soleth Empire.
It was Elena’s first choice for their first date.
A sweet smell wafted from the entrance of the store.
Elena smiled in satisfaction and said to Lexion.
“Lexion, do you like dessert?”
“It’s not my favorite, but I think I’ll like it if it’s with Elena.”
Lexion gave a solemn answer.
She felt it was pretty cute, so Elena laughed out loud.
“Let’s go.”
Elena led Lexion into the store.
The reason she asked Lexion on a date in the first place was simple.
Spending this one month with him was to enlighten him.
She didn’t want to hurt Lexion with her clumsy attitude.
So Elena thought she would do her best during this one month.
And after much deliberation, she wanted to give both of them the best answer.
“Wow.”
Elena exclaimed as she looked at the desserts in the cute display cases scattered throughout.
There were bite-size and cute-shaped cookies and small desserts like macarons inside those charming display cases, and various cakes and high-quality desserts in the elegant display cases.
Looking at them, Elena picked out some of the desserts she wanted to eat the most.
“You can choose, Lexion.”
“All right.”
Lexion thoughtfully chose a dessert.
Elena watched him, then turned her attention to the interior of the shop.
There were tables in the quaintly decorated shop.
Not only inside, but also on the flower-decked terrace.
There were also partitions between the tables to provide customers privacy.
‘Even though it is quite early, there are already customers.’
Elena’s ears perked as she scanned the shop. She heard her and Lexion’s names being mentioned occasionally
Apparently, the people noticed their entrance.
At least they were words of compliment like they looked good together. If it had been an insult, neither she nor Lexion would have tolerated it.
“Elena.”
Just as she was thinking about it.
Lexion, who had finished choosing his dessert, approached her.
Elena and Lexion also picked out drinks to go with it and headed out to the terrace.
As they were going to the ornamented patio, the door of the store opened.
Elena subconsciously looked at the entrance.
Unexpectedly, a familiar face appeared.
“Huh? Miss Elena.”
It was Leoter Hasnell, who smiled at Elena once he saw her.
“Marquis Hasnell.”
It was nice to meet someone unexpected in an unexpected place.
As Elena greeted him with a smile, Leoter approached her
“What brings you here?”
He blushed as he looked at her, who seemed more beautiful than ever today.
“Oh, that…”
Elena’s face turned red.
“I’m here on a date.”
She found it embarrassing that the word “date” came out of her mouth, but she endured it.
She took note that Lexion appeared uncomfortable when Leoter called her and started to get close to her.
But as soon as she uttered the word “date,” Lexion’s expression became a bit docile.
Nonetheless, Lexion was still not pleased with the sudden appearance of Marquis Hasnell.
So he remained alert and discreetly moved a little closer to Elena’s side.
He then held out his hand to Leoter.
“Lexion Halos.”
“Leoter Hasnell.”
It was only two men shaking hands, but why was Elena suddenly getting nervous?
She inwardly sighed.
Fortunately, there was no petty war of nerves between the two.
“I shouldn’t get in the way of two people dating. Have fun then.”
Leoter smiled at Elena and then left the store.
His eyes looked a little lonely, but Elena didn’t pay much attention to it.
“Have a seat.”
Elena smiled brightly and led Lexion.
As soon as Leoter left, Lexion’s expression lightened.
He still didn’t like Marquis Hasnell, so it was a bit nice to see him disappear.
“Pretty.”
The terrace was decorated with seasonal flowers.
So when the sun came down, one felt like they were in a garden.
Elena smiled in contentment and sat down on the chair.
As she sat across from Lexion, the drinks, and desserts that the two ordered came out.
“Hmm. This is delicious. Try this too, Lexion.”
Elena, who took a bite of the macaron, offered with a happy face.
Following her, Lexion took a macaron and put it in his mouth.
Lexion’s eyes curved nicely.
“It’s delicious.”
“Right? I heard this shop is popular these days, so I wanted to come with Lexion.”
Elena said with a smirk.
Lexion’s cheeks were dyed red in response.
Then, he carefully opened his mouth.
“… In fact, I was glad when Elena asked me to go out on a date.”
“Ah….”
Elena unthinkingly let out a sigh as she looked at Lexion.
As he spoke shyly to her, the sunlight added brilliance to him, which made him look like a painting.
Golden hair shining beneath the sunlight and red eyes glimmering brightly like jewels.
‘Isn’t Lexion an angel that came down from heaven?’
Elena stared at him for a long time, mesmerized.
*****
After a fun date at the dessert shop.
Elena and Lexion were strolling around the downtown area.
The mere sight of them walking down the street attracted much attention.
Elena was very concerned about their gazes, but Lexion didn’t mind.
‘It’s always like this when I go out with Lexion. I shouldn’t care either.’
Elena followed Lexion and tried to ignore their stares.
It was difficult at first, but as she focused all her attention on Lexion, it was gradually possible to ignore them.
Then, at some point, she too became at ease as Lexion.
“Lexion. Would you like to see a play?”
In between their walking and chatting, they passed by a theater.
There was a play that would soon start, so Elena casually mentioned it.
Lexion replied.
“Ok. Let’s see it then”
Their curiosity led them to the theater, and they found it satisfactory.
There were still seats available, and the staff, recognizing Duke Halos, escorted them to the VIP seats.
With Elena and Lexion being warmly welcomed, they headed to the VIP section.
As they reclined on the soft chairs, the staff handed her a pamphlet for today’s performance.
“Romeo and Juliet?”
Elena looked at the pamphlet and smiled softly.
‘It’s similar to the classic novel I’ve seen in my previous life. I wonder if the story is the same?’
Unlike in her past life, Romeo was a woman and Juliet was a man. And when she read the plot in the pamphlet, it was almost the same.
‘By the way, Jane saw this play with Hayes in the original.’
Elena’s smile deepened at the sudden memory.
‘I think I should watch this play with Lexion.’
While she looked delighted, Lexion, who was sitting next to her, opened his mouth.
“Elena.”
“Yes?”
“What’s making you so happy?”
“Ah. I think this play is similar to a book I’ve read before.”
“Really?”
Elena handed the pamphlet to Lexion and nodded.
Lexion skimmed through the plot.
“I think it will be fun.”
“It is, isn’t it? Oh, come to think of it, I don’t have anything to drink.”
“I’ll bring it.”
“No. I’m closer, so I’ll go.”
Elena got up first before Lexion could.
She needed to go to the bathroom anyway.
She hurriedly left the VIP room.
*****
As soon as she left the VIP room, she ran into an employee who was carrying drinks, so Elena was able to return to the VIP room quickly.
However, some people were hovering around Lexion who was supposedly on his own.
“Oh, Duke Halos!”
“It’s nice to see you here!”
There were two noble ladies, blushing bashfully and pretending to be surprised by Lexion’s unforeseen appearance.
