Chapter 6

My eyes sparkled, and I clasped Nazlee’s hands.

 

“Miss Lilithia…?”

 

I sensed Nazlee’s bewildered expression, but I deliberately ignored it and spoke.

 

“Miss Nazlee, you seem like such a wonderful person! Since this is fate, would you like to have tea with me if you have time?”

 

An opportunity to create Freyer’s happy ending had practically rolled into my lap. I looked at a building that seemed to be a café and said,

 

“The black tea there smells wonderful, I hear.”

 

I had never been to the café, but the priority now was to quickly become friends with Nazlee.

 

‘We’ll eat delicious food, talk, and get close!’

 

And my plan was to naturally bring up Freyer. Then Nazlee would naturally become interested in him, wouldn’t she? Nazlee, who had looked puzzled, quickly smiled happily.

 

“Oh, I would love that.”

 

I mentally cheered, ‘Yes!’ Just as I was about to walk toward the café with a happy heart, I turned my head at the sound of my name being called.

 

“Miss Lilithia!”

 

Winnie, who must have finished cleaning the second floor, approached me.

 

Right. I only said I would step out briefly.

 

“Miss. If you were going far, you should have told me; I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

 

Only now did I realize that this location was quite a distance from the Trade Guild building. Winnie spoke to me urgently.

 

“The Baron urgently requested your presence at the manor. I think we need to return quickly.”

 

I was just about to walk into the café with Nazlee.

 

This was the perfect chance to talk about Freyer…!

 

Flustered, I glanced between Nazlee and Winnie. Nazlee offered a gentle smile, reassuring me.

 

“Miss Lilithia. It seems you need to return now. How about we go together next time?”

 

As Nazlee spoke, she seemed to have a halo shining behind her again. Honestly, this was an inconvenient situation, but her smiling words made my heart flutter.

 

‘She really is the female lead…’

 

“I would absolutely love that…!”

 

My eyes shone brightly as I squeezed Nazlee’s hand.

 

“If you ever have a reason to come to the busy district, please stop by the Baimery Trade Guild!”

 

“The Trade Guild?”

 

“Yes! I’m working at my family’s trade guild. Let’s go have tea together then!”

 

I smiled broadly as I looked at Nazlee.

 

“Really? I will definitely visit.”

 

“It’s on the main road, so it shouldn’t be hard to find! I’m so sorry, but I have to go urgently!”

 

Winnie bowed to Nazlee, and I followed her back.

 

 

***

 

 

Freyer bit his lip, staring at the sign that read [R. Mary]. In small letters on the edge of the sign, the words ‘Ladies’ Lingerie’ were inscribed. The storefront was made of clear glass, exposing the interior, where mannequins dressed in under-dresses were displayed.

 

With a tall, handsome man standing in front of such a shop, it was natural that he drew the attention of the many people passing through the busy district. Freyer sighed at the burdensome interest directed at him by the passersby. But he quickly composed himself.

 

‘I only need to get information about her.’

 

Freyer ignored the attention and carefully opened the shop door.

 

Ring-

 

The small silver bell attached to the door rang.

 

“Who is the owner of this shop?”

 

At the low voice that echoed inside the store, all the women inside turned their heads to look at the entrance.

 

It was extremely rare for gentlemen to show up at a women’s specialty store, unless they were running an errand.

 

The women’s eyes widened at the sight of the handsome noble young man, who clearly exuded aristocracy. Immediately, the women’s faces flushed red, and they fanned themselves with their hands.

 

Just then, a woman in a black uniform with her hair tied up approached Freyer.

 

“I am the owner of the shop. How may I help you?”

 

Freyer unfolded the ribbon he held in his hand and showed it to the owner.

 

“I have a question. Is this item from your shop?”

 

The owner adjusted her glasses and examined the ribbon placed in Freyer’s hand.

 

“Yes. That is one of our garter belts.”

 

“I am looking for the owner of this item. I was told that I could view the register here.”

 

“I don’t know what you were told, but I cannot carelessly provide a lady’s personal information to someone whose identity I don’t know. I apologize.”

 

At the owner’s words, Freyer stared at the ribbon with a vacant look.

 

“This is the only keepsake she left behind when she departed, so this was the only place I could think of to find a clue.”

 

Freyer took a gold coin from his pocket and subtly offered it to the owner.

 

“I ask you just this once.”

 

“Oh, this puts me in an awkward position…”

 

The owner took the gold coin, looked around, and slipped the coin into her pocket without anyone noticing.

 

“Could you please wait for a moment?”

 

The owner led Freyer to a chair in the corner and then left. Freyer sat in the chair and closed his eyes briefly.

 

‘I must obtain a clue.’

 

Freyer frowned at the stares he was receiving from the many women inside the shop. Seeing his discomfort, the women nearby coughed awkwardly. They soon seemed to turn their attention back to the merchandise they were looking at, but their glances continuously returned to Freyer.

 

This was a space he had never been to before. The stares, coupled with the strong perfume scent, made Freyer uncomfortable.

 

‘I want to leave quickly.’

 

The woman from that night didn’t have a thick perfume scent that would cause a headache, but a subtle floral fragrance. This only made him think of her even more. He had to get a clue about her here.

 

The owner soon approached Freyer, who was frowning.

 

“Sir, I apologize. This item has been discontinued for a long time, so the record of its sale is no longer available. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of help.”

 

Freyer’s expression became hollow, as if he had lost everything.

 

“Thank you…”

 

Freyer felt the world collapsing because he couldn’t obtain information about her even from the last place he had put his faith in. Freyer sighed heavily, stood up, and trudged outside.

 

‘How am I supposed to find her now…’

 

Freyer walked out of the store, pressing his fingers to his throbbing temples. Just then, with a loud thud, a honey-haired woman fell to the ground in front of him.

 

“Ouch…”

 

A whimpering sound was heard, indicating she was in pain, and Freyer looked around. However, in contrast to before, there was no one passing by. Freyer sighed and held out his hand to the woman who was hunched over.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

The honey-haired woman, who had been checking her scraped knee, opened her eyes wide at Freyer’s question and lifted her head.

 

Her long, wavy honey-colored hair and pale sea-blue eyes were clearly visible to Freyer.

 

The image of his mother from his nightmare.

 

He had never imagined meeting someone who looked so similar. Startled, Freyer tried to withdraw the hand he had offered, but he felt a warm touch.

 

“Excuse me. Thank you.”

 

The woman quickly took Freyer’s hand and carefully stood up. Was it because of the contact with someone who resembled his mother? He felt the pain from the nightmare—the strong grip on his young arm that left bruises—so vividly that Freyer squeezed his eyes shut.

 

‘Is the nightmare affecting me even in reality?’

 

Even with his eyes closed, his mother’s face, coughing up blood, was vividly clear in his mind.

 

‘I need to go back quickly.’

 

Just then, a clear, refreshing voice echoed in Freyer’s ear.

 

“I think since it’s my first time going out in a while, I must have gotten distracted and tripped over a stone. Thank you for helping me.”

 

The voice was clearly different, but his mother’s voice calling his name in the nightmare seemed to echo in his ears. Freyer wanted to cover his ears and leave immediately.

 

“But is something wrong…? Why are your eyes closed?”

 

The woman, who seemed puzzled by his actions, noticed something and clapped her hands.

 

“Did I perhaps startle you when I fell? I’m sorry. I’m fine, so you can open your eyes, you know?”

 

“That’s fortunate. I must go.”

 

His hand, which had been held, was released thanks to the woman’s clap. Freyer gave a small bow and turned around, walking away.

 

 

***

 

 

“Maybe because it’s my first outing in a while, there were all sorts of things that happened.”

 

Nazlee lay in bed, recalling her outing in the busy district.

 

She couldn’t ignore the children who were in danger in the alley. She knew it was risky, but the memory of the children she lived with at the orphanage made her feet move before she could think. That’s when she met the kind Miss Lilithia.

 

“She seems like such a good person. If she hadn’t had to rush back, we could have talked a little more.”

 

After Miss Lilithia left in a hurry, Nazlee tripped over a protruding stone as she walked toward her carriage to return to the manor.

 

“Ouch…”

 

Though she had treated it, she could still feel the ache in her scraped knee. But Nazlee clasped her hands together and recalled the recent memory.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

Nazlee, who grabbed the hand offered to her and dusted herself off, blinked her eyes as she looked at the man in front of her.

 

His face, which she had to look up at for a long time. His broad shoulders. Silver hair that shimmered in the light. She nearly fell into his eyes, which looked like a deep forest. His pleasant, low voice asking if she was alright sounded like a song in Nazlee’s ears.

 

It felt as if all time around them had stopped. She saw the silver-haired man close his eyes, his full eyelashes fluttering.

 

‘Why did he close his eyes?’

 

Then, Nazlee belatedly examined herself. Her knees were scraped, and she was clearly not a good sight after falling. It must have been an action to protect her from seeing her embarrassing state.

 

‘How kind of him…!’

 

Nazlee was deeply moved and tried to suppress the emotion that threatened to burst out as she asked him about it. She told him he could open his eyes, but perhaps he was shy, as he turned away awkwardly and walked off.

 

Nazlee, filled with regret, recalled his retreating figure. She called out to him a few times, but the silver-haired man quickly vanished, as if he hadn’t heard her voice.

 

“That silver-haired gentleman seemed so kind too… I wish I knew his name.”

 

Judging by the good quality of his tailcoat, he was certainly a noble young man. Unless he was a foreign nobleman, there might be a chance to meet him again, but she didn’t know when that day would come.

 

Thinking of the silver-haired gentleman with regret, Nazlee’s face flushed crimson like a beetroot. Nazlee hugged her pillow on the bed and muttered to herself.

 

“Or I should have at least told him my name… I hope I can meet him again.”