# Chapter 46
“If this isn't work, then what?”
The warmth of Edmund's hand that held mine was so foreign to me that I thought I was daydreaming as I walked.
Is it possible that this man was the one who took the initiative and grabbed my hand? Moreover...not for work?
“Do you think we only go together for work?”
“It's even strange that we walk for a reason other than work!”
He was dragging me without looking at me, until I thought I was being taken somewhere by force.
“Do you think my projects are limited to the Umfa region alone?”
I knew that Edmund had launched several projects to gain the Emperor's favor.
"True, but doesn't Dante know that better than I do?"
I did not participate in these projects at all, and even if I had accompanied him, I would not have understood their details.
When I asked in surprise, he did not answer, but tightened his grip on my hand and walked at a faster pace.
“But Your Highness, at least tell me what I should check?!”
I was confused. How would I know if we were suddenly out on the streets?
"Just go about it normally. And if you feel embarrassed... consider it a date, if you want."
"Huh?! Date...a date?!"
“It's not a real date, just think of it that way.”
Is it just an inspection tour and nothing more? But he said the work was done...what a temperamental boss.
He walked in front of me and then raised his head toward the tree and said, “Felix, wait here.”
Felix jumped from the tree and nodded. How long has he been following us? I had thought that he would continue to accompany us as the knight on guard, but it seemed that now we were truly alone.
“Is there anything you would like to do?”
"I don't know."
"When you asked us out on a date, what did you want to do? Let's do it, so people will feel normal."
In fact, I didn't even plan anything because I knew he would say no to the date.
"What's the matter? You didn't plan anything, did you?"
I smiled shyly and started searching the place with my eyes. It's not a good time for food...so what is time usually spent on a date with?
In my previous life, my first date was with Galerhead.
Then all we did was eat and gossip... Can I sit with Edmund on a bench and chat? I might die of suffocation from stress.
“How about we go there?”
“What is that?”
I don't know either. I just saw a crowd of people and pulled him towards him.
“It's a puppet play!”
In this era there were no films, only plays and operas, and because they were expensive, the common people preferred rag puppet plays.
“A puppet play, then.”
Edmund looked at the children sitting on the floor and some of the adults standing behind them, and furrowed his eyebrows. Perhaps he thought that standing up to watch such a show was unbecoming of a prince.
He is accustomed to watching the theater from his own booth, sitting on a comfortable chair with a glass of wine next to him.
“Do people find this interesting?”
The story was familiar: a brave knight defeats an evil dragon, saves the princess, and then they fall in love.
The children applauded when the knight was victorious, and the adults cheered when the knight and princess confessed their love for each other.
Well, not hot, but apparently adorable. Perhaps because I come from a world full of masterpieces, I did not find a trace of amazement in them.
I looked at him from the corner of my eye, and was surprised that Edmund was watching the show with eyes shining with admiration. What a nice view.
“Whoever enjoyed watching, put some money in the hat!”
The showrunner cheered after he finished his play, and people started throwing some coins.
I searched my pocket...
“Ah.”
Right, that's not my dress. It's the dress Edmund gave me, and I don't have any of my things with me.
“Your Highness, do you have some money?”
Edmund took a hundred-kran note from his pocket.
"Huh?! That's too much!"
One hundred krona is equivalent to my monthly salary!
“Don't you have a one-crane card?”
“And why did I carry such little money with me?”
One crown is already a lot of money here.
I looked at the hat and saw that people were putting in small coins, not papers.
“Well, as you wish. Not my money anyway.”
While I didn't mind him, he seemed annoyed by my indifference.
“It might be your money later.”
"Huh?! Is it my salary?!"
As soon as I took his hand again, a satisfied smile appeared on his face, and he took out another piece of paper.
“How generous! Ten crowns at once!” the man behind the play shouted happily.
So he had less paper! Was he kidding me? I looked at him sharply, but he continued walking as if nothing had happened.
“Do you like puppet theater?”
It is true that ten kran is not equal to a hundred, but it is still a large sum, equivalent in our world to about one hundred and fifty thousand won, a respectable sum for the common people.
“Not bad. It's my first time seeing it.”
In other words, he liked it.
“Do you like dolls too?”
I had asked him the same question when I discovered he had been shot previously. Then he hated me so much and responded with sarcasm, but now...maybe he really answers me?
“Dolls...” he muttered, smiling as he looked at me.
“Do I look like someone who likes things like that?”
“Of course not.”
I imagined him as a child, frowning and saying ‘Ang!’ seriously.
“…Right, just like you said.”
He said that and raised his shoulders lightly.
“I don't like dolls.”
As I expected. Dolls never fit him.
“Not even in your childhood?”
“Why do you care if I like her or not?”
Did I ask too much? He seemed a little upset.
“Oh, actually… They say that it is better for people to have similar tastes and ideas. When their likes and dislikes are similar, the relationship will last longer, right?”
My justification seemed reasonable, so I continued with a smile: “I saw many people around me whose relationship did not last because they were too different, even if they loved each other.”
“Really? I see it the other way around.”
He raised his eyes to me and said softly: “When they are so different, they can fill each other’s void.”
Did he mean his parents?
I was afraid I had touched a wound, so I averted my gaze.
“Maybe... you're right.”
“See?”
He smiled, satisfied with my words, and we walked around the square.
“Ah, that's delicious!”
I felt hungry after the walk, and I saw some cakes that Gallerhead had bought me.
“Do you want to eat?”
“Your Highness, if you pay with a hundred-kran note there, they will not give you the rest.”
“No need for the rest.”
I was going to ask him if he had enough money...then I remembered that he actually had enough money, so I remained silent.
“But since you don’t like sweets, let’s eat something else.”
What could not be sweet? Most street foods are either sweet or very salty.
Then, inviting Amir to eat street food...is a really bold move.
“Maybe we can go to a restaurant before it gets late?”
“Didn't you want candy?”
“We can have dessert at the restaurant!”
He nodded in agreement, and we entered a fancy restaurant. We had not booked in advance, but it was not meal time, so we found empty seats.
“Isn't there a table by the window?”
Despite his arrogant tone, the waiter kept smiling politely.
“Excuse me, sir. Window spaces are reserved for reservations or special guests.”
If the waiter knew that this prince was in front of him, he would have vacated the place immediately.
“I am comfortable here”
But we went out without guards, so we shouldn't reveal his identity.
Moreover, his eye color gave away his mixed lineage, and yet the clerk seemed friendly, unlike Galerhead, so I was satisfied.
“Okay, as you wish.”
Edmund sat down with a soft but dry voice, and I sat down carefully opposite him.
“What would you like to eat, Your Highness?”
“Call me Ed.”
"What?"
“Call me Ed.”
'Ed'? Isn't that an affectionate nickname? Why does he ask me to call him her?
“We're walking around incognito, so are you going to call me that in front of people? It would be weird.”
He sighed seeing my surprise. Ah, I understand now.
“Can I call you by your real name?”
“No. Everyone will immediately understand who I am.”
He smiled sarcastically as he rested his chin on his palm.
What a perfect face.
“Come on, say it. ‘Ed’.”
His mischievous smile and downcast eyes reminded me of Lucid, and I realized again that their blood was the same.