Chapter 28 : First Date (1)
A cozy meal at a restaurant overlooking the lake.
A boat ride on the water.
An affectionate visit to a social club before returning home.
The plan was perfect.
Every moment would take place in a public setting, making it the ideal opportunity to display their supposed marital bliss.
Aracila styled her hair in a half-up braid and adorned it with a pearl and floral headband. Against her lavender locks, it resembled a cascade of spring blossoms.
The chiffon dress with its angular neckline added a fresh and lovely touch.
Right on time, she finished preparing and descended to the first floor.
At the bottom of the staircase, Demian stood waiting in his impeccably tailored uniform.
He looked every bit the perfect husband, ready for a romantic outing with his wife.
“Demian.”
At the sound of his name, the face—sculpted as if by an artist’s hand—tilted upward.
His dark brows twitched slightly. The sunlight streaming in through the landing’s window cast a halo-like glow around Aracila.
“You look beautiful again today, Madam.”
Demian, who had been silently staring at her, praised her with a picturesque smile.
He spoke just as she reached him.
“Of course. And you as well, Demian.”
Aracila curved her eyes into a graceful smile, keeping her biting remarks about his blatant lies to herself.
The new servants from the Hugo Marquisate watched them with bright, admiring eyes.
To them, Aracila had always been a lively, mischievous young lady, so seeing her now as a cherished noblewoman was a touching transformation.
Before long, word would spread through them that the Vandermeer couple was exceptionally loving.
This was precisely why Aracila didn’t mind the growing audience.
After all, once they stepped outside, the attention would only multiply.
“Shall we go, Madam? I can hardly wait for our date.”
“…I feel the same. I’m really looking forward to today.”
For a brief moment, she almost told him to practice some patience. But instead, Aracila forced a bright smile.
With a handbag in her right hand and a parasol in her left, she stepped out of the mansion with Demian.
Knowing her husband disliked physical contact, she had deliberately created a situation where linking arms would seem unnecessary.
She maintained the same approach when stepping out of the carriage in front of the restaurant.
“Welcome to Vesta Restaurant. Your reserved table is this way.”
The manager led them to the best table by the window, offering the most scenic lake view.
It was also at the perfect distance to enjoy the restaurant’s live piano music.
Demian politely pulled out a chair for her.
Aracila put on a pleased smile and sat down.
Onlookers, who had already taken an interest in the couple, viewed the gesture as incredibly romantic.
Of course, the conversation that followed as soon as the manager left was quite different.
“At least you have some manners.”
“What do you take me for?”
“An insufferable knight commander.”
“We’re even then. You’re not exactly the most pleasant mage either.”
From the outside, they appeared like newlyweds whispering sweet nothings to each other, laughing together.
Of course, their strikingly beautiful appearances only reinforced that impression.
“Demian, we have to look like a happy couple even while eating, right?”
“Why even ask? As long as there’s a single outsider around, we must.”
“The way you talk is really irritating. As soon as the food arrives—”
She was about to say, I’ll shove it down your throat, with the sweetest smile when an unwelcome guest interrupted them.
“Aracila, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Frederick approached them with an easygoing smile.
It was their first meeting since the wedding.
He stopped Demian from offering a formal greeting and, without hesitation, sat down with them.
His actions were so smooth and natural that even Aracila momentarily forgot to ask, Why are you sitting down?
“Sir Vandermeer, I was too busy to attend the reception after the wedding, so I’m only offering my congratulations now. Congratulations on your marriage.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“To think you married someone like Aracila… You’re a lucky man.”
Frederick gave Demian’s shoulder a firm pat, his grip carrying a subtle force.
Demian quietly nodded.
“I believe so as well, Your Highness.”
“That’s good to hear. I hope your luck lasts.”
His words were meant as a blessing, yet the tone felt oddly ambiguous. The faint smile lingering at the end was just as puzzling.
Still, Demian nodded again.
Perhaps it was natural, given that the crown prince was Aracila’s close friend.
“Ah, do you know how long we’ve been friends?”
“I heard you were close since your academy days.”
“That’s right. Our friendship goes all the way back to our first year. Do you remember our first meeting, Aracila?”
Frederick turned toward her, resting his chin on his hand. From Demian’s angle, only his back and the nape of his neck were visible.
“Of course. On the day of the entrance ceremony, I got lost and asked you for directions.”
“I thought you were an upperclassman because you were so composed. When I found out we were the same age, I was completely thrown off.”
Frederick chuckled, pressing his lips against his palm. He looked genuinely happy, as if simply recalling the memory was enough to bring him joy.
From that point on, their conversation was filled with nostalgic reminiscing.
It was a topic Demian had no way of joining.
Instead of awkwardly forcing his way in, he simply leaned back and watched the two of them.
When he had heard about their friendship from Aracila, it had seemed casual, but now it appeared much deeper than he had expected.
‘Not exactly a good thing.’
The problem was that the man inserting himself between the newlyweds was none other than the crown prince.
People’s curiosity was only growing.
If the situation continued—where the wife chatted exclusively with another man while the husband sat silently—it was inevitable that unsavory rumors would spread.
“…Ah, my apologies.”
Fortunately, Aracila wasn’t oblivious.
Noticing Demian’s prolonged silence, she quickly shifted the conversation.
“It must have been boring for you, Demian, since these are stories you don’t know. We talked for too long.”
“It’s fine. I was too mesmerized watching my wife’s lips move as she chatted to feel bored.”
The unexpected remark made Aracila freeze for a moment, and Frederick chuckled as he spoke.
“That’s quite improper, Sir. If you weren’t paying attention to your wife’s words, you should apologize, not try to smooth it over with flattery.”
“My apologies, Your Highness. It seems that, being newlyweds, I become utterly entranced whenever I look at my wife.”
Determined to shift the focus of the conversation, Demian deliberately steered it toward their marriage.
What needed to be highlighted in this setting was their relationship as a couple, not Aracila’s friendship with the crown prince.
“I suspect this condition will last a lifetime, as my wife will always be beautiful.”
“Oh, you’re as objective as ever.”
Aracila beamed, genuinely amused. His shamelessness was so ridiculous that even she found it funny.
Seeing her react with such sincerity, Demian, too, broke into a genuine smile.
In an instant, the one feeling left out became Frederick.
The smile on his lips faded.
At that moment, the food they had ordered began arriving—an incredibly well-timed distraction.
“By the way, Frederick, are you planning to eat with us?”
It only now dawned on Aracila that Frederick had yet to leave.
This meal was meant to showcase their marital harmony, and having an unplanned guest join them wasn’t exactly ideal.
“Wouldn’t it be better to eat separately? It might be uncomfortable.”
“No need for that. Who knows when we’ll have another chance to share a meal like this? It’s nice running into a married couple I consider friends. If it’s not an inconvenience, I’d love to join you.”
Frederick smiled warmly, then turned to Demian. His lips curved upward in the same polite manner, but his gaze was noticeably different.
“Would that be alright, Sir?”
“Yes.”
Frederick’s brow twitched slightly at the curt response, but his smile didn’t waver.
In the end, the meal he had ordered was placed at their table as well.
Unlike Demian and Aracila, who had ordered steaks, Frederick had chosen seafood.
“Aracila, you like shrimp, don’t you? Try this.”
Frederick casually placed a grilled shrimp, coated in sauce, onto Aracila’s plate. Then, he turned to Demian and added,
“Aracila’s favorite seafood is shrimp or lobster, something along those lines. You should keep that in mind and take care of her, Sir.”
“……”
Demian silently wiped his lips with a napkin and deliberately refrained from responding.
A man acting overly familiar with another man’s wife in front of her husband?
It was a clear provocation.
Something a mere friend would never do.
‘Surely, they’re not more than just friends?’
His fist clenched and then slowly relaxed beneath the table.
Their prenuptial contract naturally included a clause prohibiting infidelity.
But if the other man was the crown prince, challenging it wouldn’t be so simple.
‘If something were to happen between them during this marriage…’
Just as his expression darkened at the worst possible scenario,
“Frederick.”
Aracila spoke in a calm voice.
“That was really unsettling. What are you doing?”
“…Huh?”
“Why are you suddenly acting out of character? Are you sick? Or do you need a favor from me?”
Her words shattered the tense atmosphere in an instant.
Both Frederick and Demian were momentarily stunned.
But Aracila remained unbothered, her tone entirely serious.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept bribes. I am an incorruptible mage, soon to be the next Master of the Magic Tower.”
With that, she picked up the shrimp and placed it back onto Frederick’s plate.
It was a bit of a shame, but it couldn’t be helped.
Instead, she lightly tasted the sauce left on the tip of her fork.
Hmm… should I take it back?
“No, Aracila, I just gave it to you because I know you like shrimp.”
Frederick hurriedly waved his hands in denial, flustered.
Aracila, however, set down her fork and stiffened her expression.
“Frederick, I’m really disappointed in you.”
“…What?”
Frederick’s heart sank at the unexpected words.
His crimson eyes wavered slightly.
“W-why are you disappointed…?”
“I like meat more. Did you forget?”
“……”
“I need to eat meat to feel full.”
That was why, on nights when she had to work late, she always made sure to eat meat.
Her energy for pulling all-nighters came from a full stomach.
Demian, watching the dumbfounded crown prince and his utterly serious wife, couldn’t hold back his laughter.
“Demian, why are you laughing? This is an important conversation.”
“I’m not—hngh…”
He buried his face in his hand, his shoulders shaking slightly.
Watching Aracila turn two men into fools at once was simply too much to resist.
Seriously, what a ridiculous woman.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───
