“Let’s spend the night together.”
“………..”
What did he just say…?
Dana’s startled eyes shifted to Edwin’s sleek lips.
For some reason, his crimson lips looked especially captivating today.
Could he be… seducing me?
Even though Dana had never been in a relationship, she understood the implications.
Her mind started racing ahead on its own.
“Uh, Edwin! I…”
“We’ll just talk, eat delicious food, and have fun together.”
“Oh…”
What in the world was I thinking?!
Dana’s face flushed red, as if a touch would leave behind a rosy stain.*
‘Did he notice what I was thinking…?’
She cautiously glanced up at Edwin, but his expression remained calm as ever.
Summoning a bold voice, Dana spoke up.
“Y-yeah! Let’s have fun tonight!”
Flustered, she agreed without thinking—without realizing that Edwin was actually asking her out on a date.
Before she knew it, they had arrived at the Magical Pharmacology Division.
The person in charge of the storage room opened the door and commented,
“No matter how I look at it, the order quantity seems excessive… Are you sure you can handle it?”
“Of course! It’s fine, so please don’t worry.”
Dana flashed a practiced, professional smile.
The person in charge, still looking concerned, soon disappeared.
“Edwin, could you hand me the documents?”
Edwin neatly straightened the papers before passing them to Dana.
As she reviewed the quantities, she tilted her head in confusion.
“This is definitely strange. The order volume has increased even though there haven’t been any particular issues…”
It seemed she wasn’t the only one who found it suspicious.
Edwin asked in a gentle tone,
“Is the decision for order quantities made solely by Manager Rayton?”
“Mostly, yes. We report to the higher-ups once a month.”
“And who submits the report?”
“We write it, but Rayton is the one who presents it.”
That means the numbers could easily be manipulated.
Edwin quickly assessed the situation.
Then, Dana’s voice took on a sharp edge.
“Honestly, it does seem suspicious. The potions in storage are disappearing way too fast.”
“Are you suspecting him?”
“It doesn’t have to be Rayton… but…”
Either way, she was implying that Rayton was the prime suspect.
Potion management was strictly overseen by the Imperial Palace.
Leaking or selling them was a serious crime.
“We need to investigate this.”
“It’s useless.”
Dana sighed.
“Toni, our direct supervisor, will always side with Rayton, and any report to the higher-ups must go through Rayton first.”
“Then let’s follow him.”
“Follow him…?”
“I have a friend in the Magical Artifact Management Department. They’ll lend me a magic recording orb.”
“Wow.”
Dana was impressed by the rookie’s boldness and quick action.
Normally, acquiring a magical artifact required at least three months of waiting—unless granted special approval from the imperial family.
And he was going to get one immediately through personal connections?
‘The power of networking is truly amazing.’
Just then, a spark of realization flickered in Dana’s eyes.
‘Wait, a magical artifact…’
A smirk crept onto one side of her lips.
She turned to Edwin and asked.
“Can I borrow one too?”
“Of course.”
“Thanks. I want to give my brother a nice gift.”
Dana’s voice carried a strange excitement.
***
At that moment, at Viscount Hembern’s club house…
“Since it’s come to this, please have a little more faith in my younger sister and invest a bit more.”
Jamie, Dana’s older brother, pleaded pitifully with Viscount Hembern.
The Viscount narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“Haven’t we been through this before? Not once have you ever repaid me.”
“This time, the investment is with a trustworthy trading company!”
The Viscount ran his tongue over his lips in amusement.
This place, the club house, was established as a social gathering spot for noblemen—but in reality, it was just a gambling den.
It was here that Jamie had first become acquainted with the Viscount.
“I hear your sister is quite the beauty?”
Jamie immediately nodded eagerly.
“Yes! She’s a bit old-fashioned, but she has a fine face.”
“And I assume she’s too busy to have ever dated?”
“Of course, of course!”
“A woman should be virtuous, after all.”
Seemingly satisfied with Jamie’s response, the Viscount signaled for someone.
Soon, a document and a check were placed on the table.
“Just sign here, and the money is yours.”
“Thank you!”
Without even reading the contents, Jamie hastily signed the paper.
The Viscount smirked and asked,
“Did you read what you just signed? I’m not lending this money to your sister—I’m lending it to you.”
“What do you mean…?”
“You’re responsible for bringing your sister to the wedding hall. If you fail, Jamie Hartwin, you will be held accountable.”
“Ahaha, don’t worry! She listens to family without question.”
Jamie grinned greedily.
***
After labeling, counting, and organizing the potions, it was finally time to leave work.
“Senior, shall we go home now?”
“Yeah.”
As they stepped outside, Dana looked up at the sky.
It was early evening, the atmosphere tinged with a faint blue hue.
Around them, the streets were filled with people heading home.
‘It’s been so long since I’ve seen a scene like this…’
For Dana, the sky had always been only two things— The morning sky she saw while rushing to work and the dark night sky after overtime.
As she was lost in thought, Edwin’s voice pulled her back.
“Senior, is there anything you’d like to do today?”
“Hmm.”
Even though she had finished work early, she had no idea how to have fun or what to enjoy.
Edwin smiled reassuringly.
“Then shall we start with dinner?”
Instead of leading her home, he took her to the plaza.
Children laughed brightly, delicious aromas filled the air from food stalls, and street performances brought life to the scene.
Dana was completely captivated by the lively atmosphere.
Then, Edwin called her name.
“Today, I’ll follow you, Senior.”
“What do you mean?”
“For just one day, do whatever your heart desires—without plans, without overthinking.”
It had been a long time since Dana had been given the freedom to choose.
Her life had been structured and rigid for so long.
As she hesitated, Edwin’s gentle voice reassured her.
“It’s not difficult. Just go wherever you feel drawn to, wherever your feet take you.”
“…Alright.”
Strangely, his words eased her mind.
A pleasant flutter spread through her chest.
For the first time in a long while, Dana walked through the plaza with no worries.
She admired the flowers at a market stall, listened to a street band’s performance—
And Edwin quietly matched his pace to hers.
Eventually, they arrived at a small restaurant.
It looked like a cozy home that had been converted into a dining space, decorated with an abundance of flowers.
The garden was in full bloom, and potted plants lined the windowsills and roof edges.
Seeing Dana’s delighted expression as she admired the garden, Edwin asked,
“You like flowers, don’t you?”
“Yeah, being around plants gives me energy.”
Dana smiled.
“It might sound strange, but I feel like I connect well with them.”
“Really?”
“For some reason, flowers that were wilting seem to regain life when I touch them. That’s why I take care of all the potted plants at the office.”
At that moment, a gentle spring breeze blew past.
Under the pink blossoms, petals drifted down softly.
Breathing in the fresh scent of spring, the two of them entered the restaurant.
Inside, it was quiet—there were no other customers, just Dana and Edwin.
The owner quickly served a fragrant floral tea as soon as they placed their order.
Dana smiled as she admired the fresh flowers placed at the center of the table.
“You must be tired today. Organizing potions seems simple, but it’s not easy work.”
As Dana looked around the restaurant, Edwin’s gaze remained fixed on only one thing—her.
He spoke while watching her carefully.
“You too, Senior.”
“Hm?”
“You did well today. You endured it all with patience and dedication.”
“……….”
It was the first time anyone had acknowledged Dana’s efforts in such a way.
Her bosses and family never cared about how hard she worked; they only demanded more from her.
Maybe that’s why Edwin’s words hit her so deeply.
Forcing herself to brighten up, she smiled.
“Thank you, Edwin. You always say the nicest things.”
“I mean it.”
Edwin tilted his head slightly.
His vivid red eyes locked onto Dana’s.
“It might sound arrogant, but…”
With a serious expression, he continued,
“You worked really hard today—so much so that no one could possibly criticize you.”
“…….….”
“So now, take some time just for yourself.”
Then, Edwin flashed a playful smile again.
It was surprising how deeply his words resonated with Dana, even though they had only known each other for a short time.
‘He seems like a warm person.’
A kind, gentle person…
Wouldn’t it be nice to marry someone like that?
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Dana gasped inwardly.
‘What am I thinking about a junior colleague for!?’
Shaking off her thoughts, she blinked rapidly.
At that moment, Edwin leaned in closer.
Sitting across from her, he reached out toward Dana.
When his fingers brushed her ear, Dana shivered slightly.
The sweet aroma of floral tea mixed with the sensation of his fingertips almost touching her cheek…
Even though she hadn’t had a sip of alcohol, her mind felt hazy.
She forgot to breathe, her body frozen.
“Edwin, wait a second—”
“Got it.”
Edwin pulled back.
Between his fingers was a pink flower petal.
“It was stuck in your hair.”
“Oh…”
It must have fallen on her when they were standing under the blossom tree earlier.
Embarrassed, Dana quickly took a sip of water—only for Edwin to ask,
“Senior, would you like to go on another date with me tomorrow?”
Pfft!
Dana ended up spitting out her water.
🍓; *It’s a poetic way of saying that Dana’s face is deeply flushed, almost like her skin is so warm and red that the color feels tangible.
