Chapter 11: The First and Last Date
“Oh dear. It seems we’ve just witnessed the private affairs that noble ladies would rather keep hidden, haven’t we?”
After a brief silence, Dernick fussed as he frantically slapped Kishin’s arm.
No! Classie’s face turned bright red.
“My apologies, ladies. It wasn’t intentional. No matter how dignified one may be at a party, it’s only natural to want to run around freely inside one’s home. Of course.”
Dernick repeatedly apologized, placing one hand on his stomach and bowing deeply at the waist. But no matter how serious his tone was, it was clear to anyone that he was teasing Classie.
Classie seethed, her lips opening and closing as she glared at him before glancing behind her.
Merran was different from Classie. She acted as if such teasing was beneath her, calmly dusting off her wrinkled clothes and smoothing her hair.
Each time Merran gestured, her voluminous golden locks swayed gently. Yet, even that didn’t seem impolite—if anything, she looked like an endearing little troublemaker.
Classie’s pride was instantly wounded. No matter how composed she tried to be, she knew she could never exude that kind of effortless grace.
Merran had the aura of the youngest princess in a fairy tale, someone who had been showered with love. Even when she made mistakes or acted a little selfishly, it only made her seem lively and adorable.
When Merran slipped up, people just laughed it off as charming. Everyone makes mistakes, they’d say, brushing it aside.
Classie was the complete opposite.
She was just as beautiful as Merran, but the problem was her presence.
To others, Classie embodied the image of a flawless, impeccable noble. Because of that, if she made even the slightest mistake, people acted as if they had witnessed something they shouldn’t have, feeling secondhand embarrassment on her behalf.
Classie often felt that her cold, heavy, and stern impression worked against her.
Her second sister, Lize, would click her tongue and say:
“Your reputation doesn’t change because of that expression of yours. If you looked bright and cheerful like Merran, people would just believe you when you said it was an accident.”
Fidgeting with the hem of her dress, Classie desperately urged her frozen mind to come up with a reasonable explanation for what had just happened.
But before Classie could say anything, Merran acted first.
“Well, since things turned out this way, this is actually perfect.”
Adjusting her outfit, Merran spoke in a clear voice from atop the staircase. Then, without hesitation, she turned and commanded,
“Come this way. There’s no need to trouble my aunt, is there? You can talk to me instead.”
Without even checking whether Kishin was following, Merran simply ascended the stairs alone. She moved with the confidence of someone who knew he would follow.
Watching this unfold, Classie realized she had completely missed her chance to explain herself.
Feeling a wave of gloom wash over her, she sighed and turned her gaze toward Kishin.
That elegant-looking man will follow Merran soon enough. Just like an excited little bird.
But then, something unexpected happened.
It wasn’t Kishin who moved—it was Dernick.
‘Huh?’
Classie blinked, looking between Kishin and Dernick. But Kishin, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, remained completely still. Meanwhile, Dernick shot up the stairs like a bird ruffling its feathers.
‘Had Merran… called for Dernick?’
Classie was bewildered, wondering if she had misheard something.
That can’t be right. Merran definitely called for Kishin…
Yet, she seemed to be the only one puzzled by the situation. As Classie wrestled with her confusion, Kishin spoke beside her.
“Miss Classie, let’s go over there and talk.”
Still feeling dazed, Classie followed him.
Kishin walked straight to the front gate without looking back. Finally, near the blue columns, he came to a stop and said,
“I’m here to ask you out on a date.”
Classie had been half out of it as she trailed after Kishin, her mind still stuck on one question—Merran called for Kishin, so why did Dernick follow her?
But now, with Kishin suddenly bringing up a date, Classie felt like the dumbest and slowest person in the world.
“Aren’t you here because of the bouquet?”
She asked stiffly, frozen in place.
At her words, Kishin’s expression twisted ever so slightly.
“You thought I came because of the bouquet?”
There was a faint but sharp irritation in his tone, the kind that made people uneasy.
Did I say something wrong?
That thought flashed through her mind, but Classie still answered honestly.
“Yes.”
Kishin responded without hesitation.
“No. I’m here to ask you on a date as an apology for rudely breaking my promise.”
Classie blinked her large eyes.
So it’s not about the bouquet. It really isn’t. Then why did Dernick come? Why did Merran take Dernick with her? I heard the words, but why do I not understand any of this?
Kishin patiently gave her time to process.
After a long moment, Classie finally murmured in a small voice,
“Alright.”
* * *
A little farther from the main gate, the carriage belonging to the security force came into view. Kishin opened the door for her.
As Classie stepped inside, her arm brushed against his, making her face heat up.
She sat in the rear-facing seat, and Kishin took the opposite one. Although they sat at a slight diagonal from each other, the carriage wasn’t spacious enough to prevent their knees from touching.
Every time the carriage jolted, Classie felt the firm pressure of his knee against hers, making her glance around nervously.
When she sneaked a look at Kishin, however, he didn’t seem like a man who had just asked someone on a date. He was merely gazing out the window, completely indifferent.
Even so, just sitting there with him made Classie feel a little giddy, and she found herself smiling quietly to herself.
The carriage eventually stopped in front of Rochez, a restaurant on Driblue Street—the very place where Classie had spent the entire day waiting for Kishin.
“Have you eaten?”
Kishin asked before opening the carriage door.
Classie had eaten breakfast not long ago, so she wasn’t hungry at all. But she deliberately lied.
“No. I was just getting hungry.”
“I see. I actually already ate.”
“!”
“But since Miss Classie is hungry, let’s get you something to eat first.”
Classie screamed internally. I don’t need to eat!
But it had been less than a minute since she had claimed to be hungry.
As Kishin stepped out and held the door open for her, Classie quietly recited a prayer in her head and climbed out of the carriage.
Inside the restaurant, a few staff members recognized her immediately.
One of them glanced at Kishin standing beside her, then turned to Classie and gave her a thumbs-up.
‘Don’t do that!’
Their silent encouragement made Classie’s face turn even redder.
Fortunately, Kishin either didn’t notice or chose to ignore the staff’s actions—at the very least, he didn’t tease her about it.
Classie peeked at Kishin’s profile and only felt relieved when she confirmed that his expression remained unchanged.
“This way, please.”
A waiter guided the two of them to a spacious and quiet corner seat. A large window was right next to it, allowing the sunlight to pour in diagonally with warmth.
As Classie took her seat, Kishin handed her the menu outright and said,
“I’m already full, so I’ll just have coffee and a light brunch. You can order anything you’d like for the main dish.”
Classie was also completely full. In fact, her stomach was so stuffed that even drinking coffee felt impossible.
But what choice did she have? She had no option but to pick the restaurant’s recommended dish of the day.
Unfortunately, that recommendation turned out to be a mountain of stacked meat. She nearly fainted at the sight of it but forced herself to eat at least half.
Because of that, she had no room to feel embarrassed while eating. In fact, when she finally put her fork down, she felt a sense of liberation.
Once they had finished their meal, Kishin asked,
“Is there anywhere you’d like to go? A theater? Do you enjoy plays or musicals?”
Classie wanted to take a walk.
“I’d like to go for a stroll. Would that be alright with you, Sir Kishin?”
“That’s fine. Let’s do that. I heard you recently moved here. Have you been to Driblue plaza yet?”
“No, but I’ve heard about it. I heard that Princess Memoir decorates the plaza promenade with a different theme every month.”
“Yes. Then let’s head there.”
When they arrived at the square, they found it bustling with people, even though it wasn’t a festival day.
Just before entering the promenade, Kishin extended his arm toward Classie. She looked up at him in surprise, and he explained,
“I heard that your legs sometimes give you trouble.”
“You remembered? I only mentioned it in passing. I didn’t expect you to recall it.”
Cautiously, Classie placed her hand on his arm, and her face turned red once again. Even through his clothes, she could tell that his arm was as solid as a rock.
Perhaps because he was a knight, his build felt especially strong.
Throughout their walk, Classie was distracted by the warmth of Kishin’s arm against hers and the subtle scent that lingered near him.
She wasn’t the type to be particularly quiet, but since she had never been alone with a handsome and unfamiliar man before, she had no idea what to say.
Kishin, too, seemed to have a personality as reserved as his appearance suggested. He barely spoke, so their conversation was almost nonexistent.
Still, Classie found even the sound of their footsteps in sync pleasing. Despite wearing thin layers, she didn’t feel cold at all.
By the time the stroll ended, she was actually feeling warm. She couldn’t even remember what theme the promenade was decorated with.
At the end of the promenade, Kishin looked down at her standing there with a flushed face and asked,
“Shall we head back now?”
‘Already?’
Classie lowered her head in disappointment.
‘I thought dates lasted until nighttime, where you part ways reluctantly when it gets late. Or is it because I was silent the entire walk and he got bored? Should I have said something—anything?’
Once again, Kishin patiently waited for her to sort through her thoughts.
But even after seeing her hesitation, he didn’t ask, “Would you like to stay out a little longer?”
With no other choice, Classie nodded slightly in agreement.
The carriage moved swiftly on the way back. Inside, Classie kept debating with herself—should she ask to spend a little more time together?
“Miss Classie.”
But before she could decide, Kishin spoke up first.
“Yes!”
She immediately straightened up and responded.
For a brief moment, Kishin’s gaze wavered. But soon, he regained his usual calm and said,
“With this, my debt is repaid. So from now on, please refrain from spreading nonsense to others.”
“!”
* * *
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