TMST 28

chapter 28

“The Duke is not here at the moment.”

It was a phrase she felt like she had heard many times before.

Fortunately, he had returned to his usual somewhat pale complexion. He must have been eating and sleeping well lately.

Karin boldly pushed open the half-open door Arken was holding.

“I know. I’m just going to come in for a bit.”

Watching Karin stride confidently into the mansion, Arken let out a small sigh. Unable to bring himself to stop her, he quietly followed behind.

As he had expected, their little procession did not last long.

“The drawing room is not that way.”

“Oh, really? Then here?”

“Not that way either.”

“Then it’s this way! Right?”

“…I’ll lead the way.”

It couldn’t be helped. Karin grumbled and stepped back.

She had thought she could find it easily since she had been there once before, but apparently not.

Arken navigated through the maze-like mansion as if by instinct and soon led her to a familiar room.

A chandelier brightly illuminated the drawing room, furnished with sofas and a table. Karin flopped onto a sofa as though it were her own home.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in this room.”

“You may wait here.”

“I know, so sit down for a moment.”

Karin pointed to the sofa opposite hers.

“Just for a minute. Really, just a minute.”

Arken frowned slightly as if he didn’t trust her, but he did as she asked.

He might show his displeasure, but he listened surprisingly well. The thought crossed her mind suddenly.

After hesitating, Karin finally spoke.

“Um, you know…”

“…”

“At the trial… you worked really hard.”

Why was she so nervous? It wasn’t even a confession. Karin had to make an effort to untangle her tongue.

“I was really grateful.”

“If you’re trying to thank me, there’s no need.”

He answered as if he had been expecting it.

“That’s not… well, actually, I guess it kind of is, but…”

“…”

“What I mean is…”

How was she supposed to start this?

As her pauses grew longer and she continued fumbling for words, he looked at her curiously.

This wasn’t working. She would show him first and explain afterward. Surely something would come out once she committed.

Karin pulled something from her coat and placed it on the table.

It was a small box tied with a ribbon.

“I prepared a small gift.”

Just as she had predicted, her tongue finally started cooperating.

Arken looked slightly surprised. He stared silently at the gift box before reaching toward it.

Karin was incredibly curious about what expression he would make after seeing the contents.

She hoped he would be happy. Better yet, she hoped he would smile brightly.

And if he actually put it on, she planned to shower him with compliments about how well it suited him.

While Karin sat there filled with anticipation, imagining various possibilities—

He placed a hand on the box and gently pushed it back toward her.

“I will not accept it.”

Why?!

Seeing her startled expression, he spoke firmly.

“I did not do it expecting compensation.”

Caught completely off guard, Karin lightly bit her lower lip.

She had worried about whether he would like the gift or not, but it had never crossed her mind that he might refuse it entirely.

“I know that. Who doesn’t know that? I’m giving it to you because I’m grateful.”

“Even so, I cannot accept it.”

Karin pushed the box back toward him, and he immediately pushed it back.

The gift box became an air hockey puck.

“Come on, just take it. There’s literally nobody else I can give it to.”

“Luca—”

“Don’t even bring up Duke Lucas. The Duke didn’t do anything at the trial anyway.”

“…”

At those words, Arken pressed his lips together.

It was true, so he probably had no response.

“Come on…”

As Karin pushed the box toward him again, he caught her wrist.

“Isn’t Duke Tricia still here?”

“Do you honestly think my father would look good wearing this?”

Karin blurted out indignantly.

That chubby man wearing a sophisticated tie pin would practically be a crime against eyesight.

After shouting, she wondered if she had raised her voice too much. But the expression that appeared on Arken’s face moments later confirmed that she had made exactly the right choice.

“You’re curious now, aren’t you?”

“…No.”

“Come on, open it. I spent forever wondering whether it would suit you. It’s incredibly elegant and beautiful.”

Actually, she had bought it the moment she saw it.

Karin lied without batting an eye.

If it meant getting him to accept the gift, what was a little lie? She would have worn a clown costume and danced in the middle of the city if necessary.

“It’s limited edition. I waited in line forever and bought the very last one.”

“…”

“There were ten people behind me, and every single one left disappointed. They kept saying, ‘If only I’d arrived ten minutes earlier.’”

Her exaggeration worked.

Unable to overcome his curiosity, he finally picked up the box. His navy leather-gloved hand tugged one end of the ribbon, and it unraveled smoothly as if it had finally found its rightful owner.

Soon, he opened the box and looked inside.

A silver tie pin sparkled atop a purple velvet cushion.

The gemstone set into the tie pin reflected in his blue eyes, shining brilliantly. Instead of speaking, he expressed his admiration with his gaze alone.

It was Legendary-tier.

“I told you, didn’t I? It’s gorgeous, right?”

“…”

“Ridiculously gorgeous, right? It suits you perfectly, doesn’t it?”

“…”

“I hope you’ll be wearing it the next time we meet.”

Just imagining Arken wearing the tie pin she had given him made her smile.

“Then I’d be the happiest person in the world.”

“…”

Arken stared silently at the tie pin before carefully closing the lid.

With a troubled expression, he fidgeted with the box for a while before finally placing it on the table as though making a major decision.

Please, just don’t push it back.

Karin stared nervously at the box.

“If you insist to that extent…”

Without taking his eyes off it, he said,

“I will gratefully accept it.”

Yes!

Karin broke into a beaming smile.

And there was another reason to celebrate.

Looking up at her radiant expression, Arken slightly curved his lips.

It was a gentle, elegant smile.

‘Two Legendaries in one day…!’

There had been a reason her dream the night before had been so auspicious.

Her chest swelled with emotion.

The joy was short-lived, however, as he stood up with the box in hand.

“The Duke will be returning soon.”

The moment she heard those words, all her excitement deflated.

Did he still think she liked Duke Lucas?

There was no way. She had made her dislike of the Duke obvious countless times.

Anyone with eyes and ears should know that…

Then again, maybe not.

After all, he had completely failed to notice how obvious she had been about liking him.

What an oblivious fool.

Karin decided that this was the perfect opportunity to firmly engrave one fact into his head.

She couldn’t tell him she liked him.

But she could certainly tell him she disliked the Duke.

“I absolutely did not come here to see the Duke. Absolutely not. I didn’t happen to visit you while coming to see him, either. And I wasn’t just passing by. I came here to see you. Purely you. Anyway, I gave you the gift, so I’ll be going now.”

That should do it.

She had emphasized it three separate times.

Even an elementary school student would understand.

Karin rose from the sofa feeling refreshed.

What she really wanted was to cling to him and ask him to have tea with her.

But since Duke Lucas could return at any moment, the risk was far too great.

“I can find my own way out. We literally just walked through there.”

When he moved as though intending to escort her, Karin waved him off.

Having read <Clueless… omitted>, she knew how much work he had to do.

She didn’t want to take up any more of his time.

She had given him the gift and seen his smile.

That was enough.

Karin waved cheerfully at him.

“Take care.”

Arken inclined his head toward her.

Karin answered with a nod and left the drawing room with light, cheerful steps.

Everything had gone according to plan, and she felt wonderful.

Her feet moved almost to a rhythm.

Thinking about his smiling face made her steps even lighter.

Now then, how many expressions of Arken’s had she collected so far?

One by one, Karin recalled them.

Starting with the bewildered look she had captured on that day of pouring rain.

Then the first smile he had shown her on the way to meet Marta.

The concerned gaze he had directed toward her.

And that wasn’t all.

The laugh he had let out on the day of the trial had been nothing short of magical.

Finally, there was the elegant smile she had seen today.

At this point, she had probably collected nearly every expression worth collecting.

The completed album was perfect beyond words.

Smiling in satisfaction, Karin closed its final page.

If things continued like this, uncovering his secret during the Ashite Flower Festival would be as easy as pie.

She was actually looking forward to the festival now.

She would uncover his secret and save him no matter what.

And if he happened to become her life partner in the process, even better.

Lost in these thoughts, Karin walked down the corridor.

Her steps were so light that anyone standing far away could have guessed how happy she was.

As it happened, there really was someone watching her.

There was a man who could not take his eyes off her until the sight of her flowing red hair disappeared beyond the corridor.

A man holding a small box in his hand.