IBWMD 41

~Chapter 41~

‘Why is Jeremy here?’

As far as I knew, he rarely ever left the Duke’s estate. Was something urgent going on?

But before that—

“Did you say uncle?”

“Ah, let me introduce you. This is my nephew, Jeremy.”

The skewer shop owner nodded in response to my question.

‘So they’re family.’

Now that I knew, I could see the resemblance.

They both had red hair, handsome faces, and well-built bodies.

‘…Wait a second. This little punk Jeremy—’

Could it be that the reason he’s been acting more respectful lately is because he knew his uncle and I were involved in some kind of business deal?

But who would’ve told him that?

‘Maybe it’s just a coincidence?’

Well, Saint Portou is a big place that feels small sometimes.

While I was pondering that, the owner had already begun introducing me to Jeremy.

“And this young lady is…”

“I’m Elaine. We look around the same age, so can we speak casually?”

I quickly stepped in, pretending to be meeting him for the first time. Then I sent him a signal with my eyes.

‘Smile. Now.’

It wasn’t like I was out pretending to be the Duchess today.

I wasn’t trying to hide my identity, but if I revealed it now, the skewer guy and I wouldn’t be able to act as comfortably with each other as before.

‘No need to get all formal and awkward over nothing.’

Jeremy’s face twitched awkwardly at my eye signal. I stared him down harder.

“Your nephew’s very… dashing, huh?”

“Right? You’ve got a good eye, miss. The kid’s actually pretty sharp too…”

“…Please stop.”

Jeremy rolled his eyes like he wanted to groan out loud.

Still, he didn’t say anything to blow my cover. I guess he’d decided to play along.

“But what brings you here, anyway…”

The shopkeeper asked what I’d been wondering.

“…We should leave.”

And Jeremy shut him down instantly.

“Huh?”

“This place is too closed, dark, and secretive…”

It felt like I could hear my old homeroom teacher shouting, “Turn the lights on and open the curtains, you gremlins!”

“…It would be better to go outside.”

Or like one of those self-righteous internet comments: “Get out, get some air, meet people.”

But… why exactly did we have to go out?

The shopkeeper seemed to be wondering the same thing.

“What for?”

“We’re not done talking yet.”

I chimed in too.

‘We were just getting to the good part.’

What we were discussing wasn’t something we could have outside. Even if we were almost finished.

“Jeremy. I can’t tell you everything yet, but we’re handling something important—”

“Uncle.”

Jeremy suddenly grabbed the shopkeeper’s shoulders, looking dead serious.

“We don’t have time to waste.”

“Then at least explain why!”

“Because being alone in an enclosed space with an unmarried young lady is inappropriate!”

“AAACK!”

“GAAHHH!”

The shopkeeper and I screamed at the same time.

“Especially with such a ch-charming young lady!”

“AAAAH!”

Charming?! I got goosebumps all over my arms.

Even worse, he said it like it physically pained him.

‘This brat…’

I never got accused of flirting back when I dressed as a man.

Same with Karl. Why does everyone act like I’m some shameless flirt?

‘This is defamation!’

I’m filing complaints!

But the skewer guy was faster.

“Are you trying to say I’m creeping on a girl young enough to be my daughter?!”

“Uncle!”

“If I’d married earlier, I could have a daughter her age!”

“Move, I have something to say too! Don’t go around making me sound like a pervert!”

“Jeremy! I can’t believe you think so little of me…”

“It’s just a figure of speech!”

As we all got riled up, Jeremy flushed beet red and huffed.

Even he looked like he regretted saying anything.

Which was ridiculous, because he was the one who said it in the first place.

“I just meant… she’s my age, so, you know…”

“…Wait. Calling her charming and all… Don’t tell me you’ve got a thing for her?”

“AAAAACK!”

“UGHHH!”

Another bomb dropped. I screamed and then deadpanned.

“He’s not my type.”

“What? My nephew’s a catch!”

“If I had to describe my type, I’d say… someone bigger. Muscular. Strong. Refreshingly unpredictable but also serious when it counts…”

Halfway through, I started feeling weird. That was oddly specific.

“Well, Jeremy is big, muscular, strong…”

“UNCLE! Please stop saying things that will get us both in trouble!”

While Jeremy flailed, I got lost in thought.

‘Wait. Do I actually… have a type?’

I’d never really thought about romance or ideal partners.

Turns out, I’d had a type all along—and I just blurted it out unconsciously.

And oddly enough… it reminded me of a certain someone.

“Let’s go. Now!”

Jeremy interrupted my thoughts and practically shoved us out the door.

The shopkeeper and I bolted to avoid this mess turning into something worse.

“I’ve never been accused of being that kind of man in my life—wait, huh?”

The moment we stepped outside the teahouse, we stopped in our tracks.

A familiar face.

“Karl?”

“…”

Why was he just standing there like that?

Arms crossed, leaning against the shop’s window with a strange look on his face.

‘Is his urgent work finished?’

Seeing him after so long, I suddenly felt glad.

“What brings you here?”

I noticed the fur cloak he was wearing—it was new and stiff, different from his usual ones.

It was made from the bear pelt I’d given him.

Seeing it made my chest flutter weirdly. I nearly forgot how he’d avoided me for days.

“You already had it made into a cloak?”

“…”

“Looks good. Really suits you.”

I meant it. It looked really good.

“Wow, who tailored it? The craftsmanship’s amazing.”

…But something was off. He should’ve said something snarky by now, but he was totally silent.

I looked up at his quiet face and tilted my head.

“…”

‘What’s going on?’

His face looked slightly rougher, like he’d been through a lot. There were shadows under his eyes, making him look strangely alluring in a tragic way.

‘I guess being handsome means even exhaustion looks hot.’

His sharp frown and serious look made me think—

‘Someone bigger, muscular, strong… fresh but serious when needed…?’

Yup. That exact ideal I’d just listed off.

He fit all of it. Big, strong, muscular…

‘I don’t know if he’s fun, but he’s definitely… intense.’

Usually, I’m the one who leaves people speechless. But Karl always turns it around on me—

‘Okay, stop thinking.’

Fox, thief cat, I chanted like a prayer, repeating everything Beth used to yell at me.

“Why are you just standing he—”

Poke. I jabbed my finger right into the middle of Karl’s frown before he could finish speaking.

His skin was surprisingly warm.

“…”

As I smoothed the wrinkles between his brows, Karl didn’t flinch or complain. He just stared down at me like he was asking what are you doing?

I blurted out an excuse.

“You know if you keep frowning like this, you’ll get permanent lines.”

While I rubbed at his forehead—

Hell’s own mouth reopened.

“So… you’re saying you touched me because you care about me?”

There it was. I was wondering when it would come.

“That’s not why I touched you.”

My hand dropped. Karl’s face subtly leaned after it, then paused.

“Then what was your reason?”

“I mean… Don’t waste your best asset.”

“Which is?”

“That you’ve got a great face even when scowling.”

“So you do think my face is great.”

“…? Yes.”

And like magic, the deep frown between his brows smoothed out completely.