# Chapter 17
From Edmund's expression, I realized I had spoken my thoughts out loud.
I suddenly closed my mouth, felt as if the wine had evaporated, and began to roar.
“Get up, it's getting late.”
Fortunately, Edmund seemed to decide to ignore my drunken lapse.
Tomorrow, I have to wander around Umfa to look for a foreigner who might be a doctor, so I reluctantly get up. The temple bell rang to signal midnight, and the bar began turning customers away to close.
“Walk properly.”
I was stumbling from dizziness. Edmund sighed and grabbed my wrist.
“I said walk right.”
“I walk right, it's the world that stumbles.”
"prattle."
Edmund laughed sarcastically.
It was a quiet night. Under the moonlight, he walked with steady steps while I stumbled. Even our shadows were contrasting. Even his shadow is handsome.
Is this the feeling of being drunk? The world is spinning even as I stand, and my legs give out. Edmund held my arms tightly, sighing, but he wouldn't let go. Fortunately, he has some magnanimity.
With each step, his hand on my arm grew stronger. We got closer, and I ended up leaning on his strong body. I felt the heat of his body.
“Oh, I'm giddy.”
“Why did you order wine then?”
He pressed his temples, as if his head hurt.
I am drunk and have a headache, so what about him when he drank more?
“Your Highness, drink honey water tomorrow morning.”
“Drink it yourself.”
When we reached the temple, Edmund let go of my hand and shook his hands.
“I live in the palace and eat good food, but here you are...”
He sighed as he looked at the temple.
“They don't give you food if you miss dinner? That's why your growth has stopped.”
“My growth has stopped?!”
Why is he making fun of my height? I think I'm average for women.
I felt embarrassed, so I raised and lowered my heels, and then suddenly felt like I didn't want to go back. Maybe because Edmund was nice today? Or because he looked handsome under the moonlight?
“Your Highness!”
“What now?”
“This is our first date, right?”
"… What?"
"We walked around, ate, and drank! This is a date!"
Maybe the alcohol is still affecting me.
“Not wandering, but checking out.”
Edmund corrected the word. I expected him not to confess easily.
“Same thing.”
I muttered, and Edmund laughed sarcastically and looked at me. That surprised look, how many times do I see it every day?
“Felix is there too.”
He pointed to a tree. When I narrowed my eyes, I saw a black shadow on the branch. Why is he hiding there?
“I don't see it, so it doesn't matter.”
Edmund paused, as if searching for another argument. I decided to beat him.
“Today is our first date!”
“What date?!”
“Your Highness!”
“What now?”
"I love you!"
I raised my arms to form a heart above my head. Edmund looked at me with a sullen expression. I had never seen him with that expression before, so I laughed out loud.
“You said confession is once a day.”
“It's past midnight.”
I pointed to my watch and smiled.
"This is today's confession. Come back safe!"
I suddenly felt embarrassed and rushed to the temple. I looked out the window, but Edmund had left. There are no romantic moments when the temple is looked at with nostalgia.
Isn't that supposed to happen after confession?
“Maybe...love isn't for me.”
After a month of work, I continue my emotional attacks daily, but my relationship with Edmund has not changed. He just appreciates my skills.
Well, I am a war orphan and a commoner, so how can I be in the eyes of a prince?
The prince is surrounded by beautiful girls with amazing figures!
I reviewed my notebook in which I had recorded information about Edmund and what I had heard from others. He hates crowds, noise, and sweets.
Everything written is things he hates. Doesn't he like something? How can Amir's life be so dry?
“Well, his life was rough.”
Even though he was the son of the Empress, because of his foreign blood, he had to compete with the son of the Imperial Empress for the throne.
Despite his clear superiority over Lucid, he must strive for recognition.
“…But why did you form a heart above my head?!”
What a shame! I didn't plan to confess there, but the atmosphere seemed appropriate and I couldn't help myself.
That's why they say that alcohol is the enemy.
"Yes!"
I kicked the bed in embarrassment several times before I finally fell asleep.
***
The next day—
“Really?”
“Yes, on the day of the festival, someone who said he was a doctor looked like the man who saved me.”
I went with the priest Rowan to Umfa. We looked everywhere, from small clinics to herbal shops, but I couldn't find the young man I saw.
“Is there a doctor my age here?”
“All the doctors here are old.”
“Have you ever seen a doctor with a cut on the back of his hand?”
“I haven't seen anyone like that.”
I came back disappointed. Rowan patted my shoulder consolingly: “Olivia, don’t be sad. Maybe he is in another area.”
“Maybe...”
“The man you saw may not be him.”
"correct."
I agreed, but I was disappointed. The word “angel” is not enough to confirm that he is my master. But I couldn't move on easily.
Despite searching the nearby areas where foreigners lived, I could not find him, and the working day came again.
“Oh? My office…”
My desk was always at the entrance. But now my desk is completely clean.
The table, the papers I had arranged, and my favorite pens were all gone.
"Do…?"
Did you get fired?
“What are you doing standing there like an idiot?”
Edmund looked at me from the doorway.
“Your Highness!”
“What now?”
“That's a lot!”
"What?"
“Didn't you like my suggestions yesterday? Did you use me and then get rid of me?”
How could he fire me like that? Does he think I really love him?
“Why are you treating me like trash all of a sudden?”
“I don’t know,” Edmund asked Dante, who shrugged in confusion.
“Or did you feel upset about calling yesterday a date? Or did the EKG go bad?”
“Hey, the new employee.”
"My name is not the new employee, it's Olivia! And if you fire me, I'm no longer a new employee!"
She shouted angrily, and Edmund stopped, surprised, and closed his mouth.
“It is unfair to be expelled!”
“Olivia…”
Dante lightly patted my shoulder as I complained about the injustice.
I turned around and saw everyone looking at me. Ah, I was annoying in front of others.
They must work.
“Sorry, I'm leaving now.”
She looked at Edmund with an angry look. Are you the hero of the story? Poor Ecla! Live your life well!
“No, no, look.”
Dante turned me around and pointed to a place.
My things were neatly arranged in a desk across from Dante, right next to Edmund.