QOL 01

Chapter 01

When you stand on stage, sometimes there’s a spectator who stands out unusually clearly.

Like right now. And yesterday. And the day before that.

A man.

For three days straight, he had sat in the center of the third row with the exact same expression, watching only her with abnormal intensity no matter what was happening in the performance.

Even when she slipped into the darkness beyond the stage lights, Erin had to admit the unpleasant persistence of that gaze, so intense it felt as though their eyes still met.

‘…But why me?’

One arm lifted diagonally upward, balanced lightly on her pointe shoes, spinning gracefully.

Yet even as she continued the choreography flawlessly, Erin couldn’t suppress the question blooming inside her.

She didn’t know him at all. Or rather, perhaps she knew him a little.

Her fellow dancers had gossiped so endlessly backstage these past few days that it felt awkward to claim complete ignorance of who he was.

The baron’s illegitimate son. A wanderer who had roamed the world like a vagrant. And now, a billionaire who had returned in glory after founding the largest department store in the Empire.

That was the general picture pieced together from cheap gossip magazines and rumors drifting through the streets.

So why was someone who absolutely, unquestionably, could never be connected to her in any way directing such unnatural attention solely at her?

‘No way… no way. No way.’

As the finale pose ended with her cradled in the arms of a male dancer, Erin unconsciously turned her head toward the audience.

Their eyes met instantly.

The man, applauding with the same indifferent expression as yesterday, only curved his lips into a fleeting smile just before the curtain fell.

A smile more ominous than before.

Soon afterward, as the curtain rose again to slow-tempo music and all the dancers stepped out together to bow, he had vanished without a trace.

“So you’ve finally arrived.”

The man who had seemed to disappear completely was suddenly standing right before her.

After forcing smiles and finishing countless greetings, Erin returned to find the man from earlier leaning lazily against a chair, calmly meeting her eyes.

Despite entering without permission, the way he sat with his legs crossed radiated shameless arrogance.

“Who are you? In my dressing room.”

Perhaps because she was utterly exhausted, even a polite smile wouldn’t come.

Still, had it not been for all the rumors surrounding him, she wouldn’t have acted this rudely no matter how tired she was.

“Oh my, maybe he came looking for a lover? Or perhaps a mistress. Hmm?”

Even though it was publicly known he had neither wife nor fiancée, people casually tossed around words like mistress as if it were only natural.

Maybe it wasn’t surprising.

Perhaps everyone else already assumed that was the path women like her eventually took, and she alone stubbornly refused to accept it.

As Erin lingered near the doorway, the man studying her rose from his seat.

Buttoning his suit neatly, he quietly called her name—a name now known throughout the capital.

“Erin Cornu.”

“What is it?”

“I have business with you.”

Erin stepped closer without even remembering to close the door.

Surely he hadn’t really come all this way searching for a mistress or something of the sort—but despite herself, her brows furrowed.

“With me?”

“There’s no need to be so hostile. I just came from an audience with Princess Hestina. I thought that would serve as a sufficient introduction.”

“…”

She lifted her gaze silently toward him. No matter how wealthy he was, one could not casually invoke the princess’s name as an excuse.

“Did Her Highness… say she had something to tell me?”

“Yes. Something very important.”

The man nodded lightly.

Princess Hestina. Since her parents disappeared, she was the only adult Erin could trust.

A low gasp escaped Erin.

“Is it news about my parents? Don’t tell me—it really is?”

If he had been sent by the princess, it was entirely possible. But the man did not nod.

“Well. Something similar, perhaps.”

Without finishing his sentence, he turned around. A brief rustling sound followed, and when he faced her again, a bouquet rested in one hand.

Suddenly, vivid yellows and reds bloomed before her eyes, extravagantly out of place in the stale air of the dressing room.

“…Is that for me?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

As he practically shoved the bouquet into her arms, Erin accepted it reflexively.

A fresh fragrance rose between the trembling petals. They looked freshly picked from the florist’s shop, not a single one wilted.

But her attention soon drifted away.

“Thank you for the flowers. But… could I hear what you were saying earlier again?”

“What I was saying?”

“More importantly, what exactly should I call you?”

“Why? Have you only ever met servants without titles?”

“No. That’s not what I meant.”

As if their conversation kept slipping sideways, she frowned slightly, and the man tilted his head.

“What? Don’t tell me you don’t know my name.”

“Was I supposed to?”

“Look carefully at this face and say that again. You truly don’t know?”

“Oh, sorry then. I genuinely don’t.”

The man stood there blankly for a moment before placing one hand over his stomach and bowing elegantly. His expression made introducing himself seem like some grand act of generosity.

“Then call me whatever you like, Miss Erin Cornu. My name is Eden Fletcher, owner of the department store ‘Lepite’ on Second Avenue. Combine whichever parts you prefer, and I’m sure you’ll come up with a decent title.”

“Very well, Mr. Fletcher.”

“My, and you picked the dullest option possible.”

“What?”

“Just talking to myself. Don’t mind it.”

“Could you explain earlier in more detail, Mr. Fletcher? About my parents—”

“We can discuss that gradually later.”

“Later?”

“Yes, yes, enough of that. Since you’ve accepted the flowers, Miss Cornu…”

Interrupting her, the man met her eyes directly.

“Will you marry me?”

Erin blinked slowly.

It took several moments for the words to register. Because surely… surely something about this was terribly wrong.

“Unfortunately, even if you dislike the idea, you’ll have to do it.”

Unlike his calm voice, the smile on his lips was playful.

But his eyes held nothing but sincerity, and amid her confusion, Erin instinctively stepped back.

“H-Hey. Are you making fun of me right now?”

“Making fun of you? Would I really waste precious money and even more precious time for that?”

“Then what exactly was that ridiculous thing you just said…?”

As Erin demanded answers, she suddenly looked down at the bouquet in her hands in alarm and practically threw it onto the table.

A few petals snapped from the impact and fluttered to the floor near her feet. She hurriedly crushed them beneath her shoe.

That was how much the strange gentleman’s words felt like mockery.

“What exactly is the intention behind that absurd statement?”

“You’re old enough, yet you’re asking because you don’t understand the meaning of a proposal?”

“No, I mean…!”

Erin, glaring furiously, abruptly stopped speaking.

Only then did she remember the still-open door. She hurried over and shut it with trembling hands. As the lock clicked into place, the outside noise faded away.

“I’m asking why you’re proposing to me!”

“Why? Because I want to become your husband.”

“What? Husband?”

Erin frowned without hesitation.

“You dare toy with me when we’ve only just met? Are you insane? Yes, you must be. Completely insane.”

“Insane? I even carved time out of my busy schedule and obtained permission from your guardian before coming here. That’s rather harsh.”

“…Guardian?”

Seeing the uncertainty in her eyes, he leaned closer, staring directly at her. Then he nodded teasingly.

“Yes. Her Highness the Princess already approved it.”

“The princess? That can’t be.”

“If you don’t believe me, go confirm it yourself.”

The moment he mentioned her guardian, Princess Hestina, the force behind Erin’s anger weakened.

“Even so… we’ve never even met before…”

Murmuring to herself, Erin retreated step by step until the back of her legs hit the crowded vanity table.

In the mirror, her straight shoulders trembled faintly.

“In any case, it’ll happen soon enough. I’ll return within the week to continue arrangements.”

“N-No. Why would you come back…?”

Erin’s eyes sharpened again.

“This is ridiculous. I don’t even know who you are. I can’t accept this.”

“…Can’t?”

Eden, who had been heading for the door, paused. After a moment of thought, he turned and approached her instead.

“Even if Her Highness approved it, my parents aren’t here right now. I mean, they’re in the territory. And besides…”

“And besides what?”

“It’s too sudden! The more I think about it, the less sense it makes. You… me… I mean, you…”

“What about you?”

“You don’t even love me.”

It was the question that pierced through every doubt blooming inside her.