SDA 24

Chapter : 24

Of course, the shirt wasn’t designed in a way that was outrageously revealing.

It was just… the problem was that Rien himself had such an impressive build that the shirt looked tight on him.

Through the thin fabric, the silhouette of his muscles showed, and glimpses of skin were visible.

‘He’s sticking to me like a cicada in such a shameless state… honestly.’

As a proper, conservative girl, I couldn’t possibly ignore this man.

My heart was pounding like a runaway locomotive.

With a voice barely distinguishable from my breathing, I tried self-hypnosis.

“Please, get a grip… please…”

Of course, I admitted that Rien de Vichell was handsome and physically perfect.

‘There’s nothing to say about his visuals.’

Even his scent kept tickling my nose.

But I knew very well.

What good is it if only the outside is well-made?

The core inside this guy is the same as Chase’s big brother.

There was no doubt Rien was dressed like that to seduce women on the streets.

How did I know?

‘Because Chase big brother does exactly that.’

And among the fish he’d set his sights on… I was probably included.

I clenched my jaw and tightened my fist.

The words slipped out on their own.

“I’m a fish…?!”

Rien de Vichell.

‘If you think I’d fall for a Casanova like you just because you dressed like that and approached me, you’re terribly mistaken.’

W—well, I did feel conscious of him, but I absolutely was not flustered.

‘If I fall for such cheap tricks, it’s a disgrace as the head of a relationship counseling center.’

So I shouldn’t think about it.

‘Don’t assign any meaning to anything he says or does.’

Just then, Rien suddenly whispered into my ear.

“Center Director, do you want to go to the sea?”

It was such a random question.

I looked up and met his eyes.

“Pardon? The sea?”

“Yeah.”

“Suddenly?”

“You were muttering ‘fish’ just now.”

It seemed he had heard me, even though I thought I’d spoken quietly.

I shook my head quickly.

“N-no. I just…”

“……”

“It’s hot… I think I wanted to eat fish.”

Even I knew it was ridiculous.

‘Damn it, I must look strange.’

I awkwardly looked away.

“I-I once heard that fish dishes help cool the body temperature…”

“……”

“In the southern regions of the Empire, it’s a famous saying. Even if you’re from the Kingdom and don’t know it, I, as a native of the Empire, have heard it!”

Rien stared at me silently, then spoke again.

“Center Director.”

His breath brushed near my ear.

Even though it was just the two of us in the alley, he was still lowering his voice to whisper.

I frowned slightly.

“What.”

Then Rien suddenly grabbed my cheek.

My eyes widened in shock.

“Wh-what are you doing all of a sudden—!”

My words slurred as my face was buried in his large hand.

He gently pinched my cheek while looking at me.

“It’s cold, right?”

Indeed, his hand was very cold.

It was enough to make me wonder if he was sick.

‘Now that I think about it, even in this heat, his complexion is pale.’

Even though he was sweating like me, his face looked strangely pale, as if he were cold.

He was wearing that sheer shirt in this weather too.

‘What is it? Is he really sick?’

But I didn’t ask.

We weren’t close enough for me to worry about his health.

‘Why should I care about him?’

I brushed it off.

“Y-yeah. Your hand is cold.”

“I’m regulating my body temperature so you won’t feel hot.”

Regulating body temperature—what nonsense was that?

‘He’s completely lost it.’

Still, he didn’t seem ill—just pale.

I pulled his hand away.

“Alright… I’m fine now. Stop it.”

“Hm? Center Director.”

But Rien quickly grabbed my hand.

Mine was swallowed by his palm like a lid covering a pot.

‘Every time, I notice how huge his hands are.’

He bent slightly to match my eye level.

“Are you really okay?”

“Y-yes, of course.”

“Be honest.”

“What do you want me to be honest about? Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

“……”

“It’s summer. Of course it’s hot.”

I rambled and looked sideways.

In my peripheral vision, I could see Rien staring at me steadily.

Then he spoke.

“That’s strange. If you’re fine, why is your face getting red?”

I was dumbfounded.

‘Red…?’

I quickly touched my cheek.

As he said, it was hot—like a piece of charcoal had been placed on it.

‘W-what?’

It wasn’t hot enough to cause this much heat…

Then my eyes landed again on his sheer shirt.

And on his blatant gaze looking down at me.

My face burned again.

‘No way. I’m losing it.’

Whether he wore that shirt or stood close to me—this was normal.

‘Then why am I embarrassed?’

I avoided his eyes.

“It’s not red. Don’t make things up.”

“It is red.”

His finger poked my cheek.

Heat flared up where he touched.

“I’m not red.”

“It’s clearly visible. Your face is as red as an apple.”

“You saying that in broad daylight must mean you’ve got eyesight problems.”

“Is that so?”

He tilted his head.

After humming thoughtfully, he said:

“Seems like it. You have hearing issues, and I have vision problems.”

“……”

“We’re truly destined for each other. We should remarry.”

There he went again.

‘Ugh…’

I snapped seriously.

“Destined for each other? My ears work perfectly fine. Don’t misunderstand.”

Before he could respond, I turned my head away.

‘I won’t make eye contact.’

If I looked into those red eyes again, I’d surely lose control.

I stared at the clothing shop instead.

‘This is just heatstroke. Definitely heatstroke.’

Otherwise, I wouldn’t be sweating like this over a shirt.

I fanned myself with my hand.

Clip-clop.

Soon, the sound of hoofbeats approached, and a carriage came into view.

A white horse emblem decorated it—it was the Veloster family carriage.

‘Yohan has arrived.’

Yohan would wait inside the carriage for a while and enter at the scheduled time.

Before that, Rien and I needed to secure our place inside the clothing shop.

I grabbed the sleeve of Rien’s shirt.

“The Marquis has arrived. Let’s hurry.”

Still not looking at him.

As I stepped forward firmly, Rien’s gentle voice brushed my back.

“Yes, yes. Let’s go.”

His tone was loose, as if he were drunk again today.

But strangely, I didn’t dislike his voice.

All of this must be because I was overheated.

Siena and Rien entered the Valenri Clothing Shop.

All the employees’ eyes turned toward them.

“Welcome to Valenri Clothing Shop.”

One female employee approached them.

Siena immediately recognized her.

‘Huh? This person…’

Wasn’t she the one who guided them last time?

“Customer, what are you looking for?”

The woman with reddish short hair and freckles on her cheeks was definitely the same employee.

It seemed she remembered Siena and Rien as well.

“…Ah.”

As she approached to assist them, her expression stiffened slightly upon seeing their faces.

‘That cold expression… that sharp gaze…’

Siena immediately understood what the employee was thinking.

‘Damn it.’

The employee likely considered them a “troublesome couple who only looked around without buying anything.”

‘This is bad…’

They needed to avoid standing out, but now they’d become targets of suspicion.

‘What should we do?’

They hadn’t even started their second mission yet, and already they were facing an unexpected obstacle from the very beginning.