# Chapter 36
Suddenly, he told me to speak with relief. Did I look nervous?
Galerhyde scratched his head as if he was ashamed.
“I call you Gallerhead, don't I?”
“You dropped the 'master', it seems we've gotten an inch closer.”
He smiled warmly and held my hand. Are we walking hand in hand so fast? I hope my hands don't get sweaty!
I was surprised at how quickly things moved, but fortunately we arrived at the restaurant Galerheid had booked, so I was able to withdraw my hand.
“Sit down.”
Gallerhead held the chair out for me. As I expected, he's really polite.
“They say the steaks here are delicious.”
“So, let's ask her first?”
We finished the order quickly and exchanged conversations. Perhaps I should infer from these conversations whether he is my master or not.
“It looks like Gallerhead eats beef?”
“Yes, my family is not very conservative. We originally came to the empire to open up to the world.”
This was new information, but I do not know whether my master was a Conservative or a Reformist, so it was not very useful.
“I heard that Olivia received support from the temple, right?”
“Not literal support. I lost my memory during the civil war.”
While eating steaks, we shared many stories.
I talked about growing up in the temple, while he talked about his experience as an outsider.
We both suffered in our childhood, so we developed common ground.
“But since Olivia is so smart, the High Priest must be supporting you for this reason, right?”
“Hmm, I don't think so.”
Or is it? Perhaps the priest has received a holy admonition to help me resist Satan's temptations?
Of course, they were offering me more facilities than usual for a war orphan.
"Anyway, I have to give back through my work. Seriously, donate too, right?"
“So, you will continue to work under the First Prince?”
“Most likely? Being promoted to executive assistant is a big leap in my career.”
It's only been a few months since I joined, and this is an exceptional promotion that I can't pass up.
“Hmm...”
At my response, Gallerhead slowly put down the cutlery, as if confused.
“What's wrong?”
“I feel a little disappointed.”
His bushy eyebrows drooped down.
“In fact, I heard that you have been admiring His Highness Edmund for a long time.”
Yes! I almost spit out the meat I was chewing.
I quickly grabbed a tissue and wiped my mouth, then drank the water greedily.
It wasn't entirely surprising, but who told Galerhead that?!
“I also heard rumors that you two are in a relationship.”
Did those rumors reach Galerhead? Thus, my great plan to steal their hearts will collapse!
I rushed to offer rambling justifications: "Of course, there was a time when I confessed my love to him every day! But I won't do that anymore! I was a little wrong!"
It seems a bit strange for me to say this. Confessing love because of a mistake?
Like I just liked the look of it and then moved on to Galerhead!
“So, saying you two are in a relationship...”
I saw his eyes sparkle as he looked at me in confusion. Is this jealousy?
"Of course not! We're never in a relationship!"
I shouted, hitting the table with my hands.
Maybe my voice was too loud, as I felt the eyes of others.
I calmed down and lowered my voice.
“I know the rumors spread because I took a bullet for him, but even if it had been someone else in his place, I would have done the same thing.”
“Even if it was me?”
He apparently felt that his question was childish, as his ears turned red.
“Of course! If it were you, I would throw myself harder to save you!”
Gallerhead seemed satisfied with my response. He smiled happily and then returned to his seriousness.
"But don't do that. If something like this happens, I'd rather get hurt than see you get hurt."
We resumed dining in warm conditions.
“It was delicious, wasn't it?”
“Yes, indeed.”
“I'm craving dessert.”
I heard the cakes here are very delicious.
***
While I was excitedly waiting for dessert, I heard annoying noises from the back table.
“This place has lost its level.”
“Exactly. Why would they let anyone in, spoil our appetite.”
“Eating in the same restaurant with a stranger is really disgusting.”
Are they talking about us?
I looked forward, and saw Galarhyde smiling softly.
“It's okay, I'm used to this.”
“Used to this?”
“So, no need to worry.”
Other than my confusion, he was completely calm, or so it seemed.
“No matter how hard His Majesty the Emperor tries, the empire’s inherent superiority will not disappear.”
I knew that foreigners were discriminated against, but should they hear such words even while eating in a restaurant?
“Come on, Gallerhead.”
I didn't want to make him listen to these words any longer, so I grabbed his hand to pull him away, but the candy arrived at that very moment.
“Aren't you excited for dessert?”
Until recently, I was looking forward to tasting tiramisu.
“Here, try it.”
Galerhyde fed me himself with a fork, and I ate it reluctantly.
Why did the smooth cream that melted in my mouth feel dry?
...I can't stand this.
I took Galerhyde's hand.
“I don't want to eat.”
"What? But... are you okay?"
“I don’t want to eat sweets in a place where people with low morals share with me!”
I said, staring at the back table. It was a man and a woman who looked like a couple, but instead of feeling shy, they started to get rudely angry.
“Ha, you're the one eating with garbage and talking about morals?”
“Exactly. You look good, so why are you sleeping with a foreigner?”
garbage? foreign? Do they use such words with people?
“Apologise!”
At my words, the man suddenly stood up.
“Do you know who I am?!”
"I know! Someone who doesn't know literature!"
“Olivia, I'm really fine!”
Galerhyde held my hand to calm me down.
No, I won't let my first date be ruined by these humans!
“Basically, why does the garbage come here?”
Oh my God, I was going to leave quietly, but they kept saying “trash”?!
I wanted to face them, but… huh, I'll endure for Galerhead's sake.
I can't look like a naughty chicken.
“We are not running away out of fear, but because you are disgusting.”
I was very angry, but I tried to control myself.
But it seemed that my words provoked the man, as he approached me with a red face.
“I was going to ignore you, but you said we were disgusting?!”
He raised his large arm, looking menacing.
Well, hit me. I will report you immediately for violence!
But at that moment, a black-haired person stood in front of them amidst a crashing sound.
“You look like you want to die.”
"Wait a minute, Your Highness! Didn't we agree not to interfere?"
Wait.
Why do Edmund and Felix appear here?
How long have they been around?
“How much is the fine for discrimination against foreigners?”
“Five cranes.”
“Only five karan, so these people are talking nonsense.”
Edmund laughed sarcastically as he looked at the man and woman trembling in front of him.
“So, how much is the fine for insulting the royal family?”
Felix didn't answer this time.
Because insulting the royal family is not treated with a fine.
"Oh, right. Isn't it punishable by death?"
Edmund raised his red eyes and pulled Felix's sword from his waist.
Insulting the royal family could lead to immediate execution depending on its seriousness, as Lucid did when he shot the Baron and his wife who were disrupting his business.
“Your Highness, this is too much!”
Felix looked at me trying to calm Edmund down, as if pleading with me to stop him.
Even if you look at me like that, do you think Edmund will listen to me?
“Your Highness! How can we insult the Great Prince?”
“Right! We're just talking about this foreigner!”
They shouted, pointing at Galerhead, as if he were the only one guilty.
Why are they staring at him?
“He is one of my men.”
Edmund said in an annoyed tone as he raised the sword.
“They are my subordinates who I chose for their competence. They are a hundred times better than people like you who only have their mouths. It is not them who are underestimating this place, it is you. Understood?”
At Edmund's words, the two of them knelt down and nodded vigorously.
“Get out.”
“Sh, thanks!”
They quickly escaped, and Edmund returned the sword to Felix while groaning.
Then my eyes met Edmund's.