After setting a new date to return Everett’s handkerchief, I returned home and collapsed onto my bed, lying back with only my upper body on the mattress. I kicked my legs in the air furiously, trying to release the overwhelming emotions swirling inside me.
I buried my face into the pillow and screamed into it until I finally managed to calm down.
Careful not to let my shoes touch the bed, I stood up and began pacing around my small room in circles.
‘This is definitely a green light, right?’
I had already taken action, and now I was second-guessing everything, worried that I might be overstepping or misreading the situation entirely.
My thoughts were flipping back and forth by the minute, making me feel like a confused character from a tragic play.
‘But, if we keep meeting, things will get sorted out one way or another, right?’
Sitting on the edge of my worn-out desk, I tugged at my hair, trying to soothe myself, before deciding to just go to bed early.
‘Let’s just sleep on it, for now.’
It was an escape, but I took it.
* * *
The next day, I woke up earlier than usual, thanks to the dopamine rush that left me more energized than ever. Even after finishing all my morning preparations for work, I still had plenty of time left. Unsure of what to do with myself, I decided to head to the office early.
‘I might as well catch up on some work.’
I chose to walk instead of taking the shared carriage, but even then, the office was completely empty when I arrived.
I brewed a strong cup of tea and took a sip before settling down at my desk. As soon as the warm tea touched my lips, signaling the start of my workday, the door to the office creaked open, and Connie walked in.
“Rina, you’re here early!”
Connie, noticing that I was the only one in the office, waved her hands enthusiastically.
“Yeah, so are you,” I replied, matching her small wave with one of my own.
Connie, with a mischievous grin that suggested she was up to something, approached me quickly.
“Perfect timing,” she said, her smile turning more wicked, making me instinctively take a step back.
“What’s perfect timing?” I asked, trying to back away from her as she closed the distance and linked her arm with mine.
“I couldn’t sleep at all last night because I was so curious,” she started, making my anxiety spike.
“Who was that guy you were with at the restaurant near the fountain yesterday afternoon?”
Connie tightened her grip on my arm, almost as if she was holding me captive.
“Restaurant? A guy?” I feigned ignorance, even though it was clear she was referring to Everett Roxas.
“Are you keeping secrets from me now?” Connie huffed, placing her hands on her hips in exaggerated frustration.
“I have proof, you know. You remember my friend Heather from my hometown? She lives next door to the fountain and saw everything.”
“That’s you! Heather lived right next to the shrine!” I retorted.
“Exactly, so I saw everything. Now, fess up,” Connie demanded, and I sighed deeply, realizing there was no escape.
“Was that Everett Roxas with you?” she asked, hitting the nail on the head with her guess.
And then, without waiting for confirmation, she jumped to conclusions.
“So, are you two dating?”
I waited for her to calm down a bit before cautiously denying it.
“It’s not like that.”
“You’re telling me you went to the most romantic restaurant in the city on your day off, just the two of you, and you’re not dating?” Connie’s interrogation skills seemed to have sharpened during her brief stay in the palace’s temporary holding cells.
But I couldn’t just let her assumptions slide.
“Just because we had a meal together doesn’t make us a couple. By that logic, I’d be dating half the students at the academy!”
“Sure, but you didn’t share a couple’s set at the most romantic restaurant in the city with them, did you?”
For a moment, I wondered if Connie had followed us and watched us eat. She even knew exactly what we ordered, making me flinch involuntarily.
Noticing my reaction, Connie grinned wickedly again.
“So, you did have the couple’s set, huh?”
By accidentally revealing too much, I had given Connie even more ammunition.
‘Is she the one who got interrogated at the palace, or was she the one doing the interrogating?’ I thought, my annoyance shifting towards Duke Camelot, whose actions had led to this entire situation.
‘If he hadn’t been causing trouble, Connie wouldn’t have honed her interrogation skills, and I wouldn’t have been caught sharing a couple’s set with Everett!’
But in the end, my evasive maneuvers were all for nothing.
“Oh, Miss Carolina Diaz, your eyes are wandering! Are you thinking about Sir Everett?” Connie teased when she saw my distracted gaze.
“No, I’m not!” I snapped, making Connie laugh out loud.
After she had her fill of laughter, Connie suddenly lowered her voice, her expression turning serious.
“If you don’t tell me the truth…”
She paused for dramatic effect before continuing.
“I’ll make plans with you every single weekend.”
She wasn’t going to let this go easily. Hearing footsteps in the hallway outside, I quickly whispered to her.
“We’ve only met a few times. We’re not a couple.”
“So, you’re not dating, but you’re on your way there, huh?” Connie quipped, still teasing as she whistled and returned to her desk when someone else entered the office.
At that moment, I would have welcomed anyone—even Donovan, who should have been toiling away in a mine somewhere. But alas, it was just Andrew Nofen.
The feeling of relief lasted less than a second.
* * *
As soon as lunchtime arrived, Connie, who had disappeared, returned and pulled a chair over to my desk.
“I did some digging about Sir Everett Roxas,” she whispered conspiratorially.
I quickly clamped my hand over her mouth to stop her from saying anything else.
Connie struggled against my hold, making muffled noises as she tried to break free.
“Miss Constance, please,” I whispered urgently in her ear. “We’re not dating, okay? What have you been up to?”
I was so tempted to shake her by the shoulders.
Connie raised her hands in surrender, and I finally let her go. She exhaled deeply before lowering her voice.
“Do you think I’d go around openly asking if he’s your boyfriend? No, I just mentioned that I got to know him from that incident and…”
And his existence, apparently.
Connie, sensing my irritation, quickly added, “I just said that since he’s close to His Majesty, I was curious about what kind of person he is. I made it sound like I was trying to see if I could make a useful connection.”
At least I didn’t have to worry about rumors of me and Everett getting married by tomorrow morning.
‘This cursed government office…’ I thought. It was the kind of place where asking for a good doctor could lead to rumors about re-enrolling in medical school.
Noticing my exasperation, Connie leaned in like a devil tempting a sinner.
“Aren’t you curious about what I found out?” she whispered.
I couldn’t deny it; I was curious. Connie looped her arm around mine, pulling me along.
“Let’s talk outside, then.”
Reluctantly, I followed Connie as she led me to the most secluded spot in the garden behind the Ministry of Finance building. Once she was sure no one was around, she finally began.
“First, Everett Roxas, he’s 30.”
“What?” I reacted, surprised by his age.
‘I’m 22, so that’s an eight-year difference?’
Sensing my surprise, Connie hastily added something to soften the blow.
“But he joined the army as soon as he became an adult, so he doesn’t have any past relationships.”
I pretended to be disinterested, but I kept listening.
“He’s from the eastern provinces, born into a family of serfs.”
Most commoners in the empire were free citizens, but some regions still had remnants of the feudal system, where serfs were tied to the land. Serfs were the lowest rank among commoners.
Knowing I wasn’t too concerned with social status, Connie didn’t dwell on this point.
“But he earned his knighthood through military service and is expected to receive a fief soon. And this is from someone who knows him personally…”
Connie puffed out her chest, proud of her information-gathering skills.
“According to reliable sources, he’s kind and gentle…”
‘Kind and gentle?’
I thought of the image of Everett sending a thug to an early grave.
‘He’s polite, but I wouldn’t call him gentle…’
But despite my doubts, Connie continued.
“He’s close to the emperor, and despite being quite handsome, he’s known to keep a clean slate when it comes to women.”
I could overlook the “kind and gentle” part because people can behave differently depending on the situation.
But there was one part I couldn’t let slide.
“That face is just ‘quite handsome’?” I blurted out, reacting as if I’d just heard that the moon had two faces. Connie scoffed.
“Why don’t you just come out and say, ‘He’s the most handsome man in the world’ while you’re at it?”
She shivered as if she had goosebumps and rubbed her arms.
‘It’s pretty much true, though.’
But I had missed the opportunity to argue my case.
‘If that face is just “quite handsome,” then the empire should change its name to “The Land of the Beautiful” or “Face Utopia.”’
I couldn’t help but feel a bit indignant.
