# Chapter 49
Edmund wanted to enjoy his first real date with Olivia.
He wanted to complete the apology that he had not been able to say that day, and to ask her to wait for him until he named his feelings that he had not yet found a name for.
With Dante's advice, he was able to secure a VIP seat at an opera that is very popular among women these days.
He had also rented an entire restaurant and café with an upscale atmosphere, and was very eager to schedule a date on the weekend.
As soon as the meeting ended, he hurried back to his office.
But since it was lunch time, the office was empty.
Edmund hurried to the dining hall.
Amidst the large crowd in the Imperial Palace restaurant, his eyes caught Olivia with amazing ease, as if the sunlight belonged to her alone.
She was truly beautiful, her hair waving the color of the clear sky, and her transparent eyes were smiling as she laughed lightly.
What was she talking about to make her laugh so beautifully?
When he looked up a little, he saw the man sitting in front of her - the one who was clearly expressing his admiration for her.
His chest burned with rage; To see her smiling at that man, not at him, was as if the clear water had been stained with mud.
What only made matters worse was that the office employees were enthusiastically encouraging the new love story between the two young men.
'Should I reduce their bonuses?'
He is the one who pays their salaries, so why should they encourage that idiot instead of their crown prince?
He did not listen to the warnings of Dante, who was trying to stop him, but rather rushed directly towards them.
In a moment of madness, he almost asked Olivia on a date in front of Gallerhead in public—perhaps it would make him stop caring about her.
But as soon as he heard their conversation, he was unable to say anything anymore.
He knew that Olivia had made an appointment with Galerhead for the weekend, not with him.
In a fit of jealousy, he rudely said that she had to work that day, using a false pretext.
It was a silly, childish trick, but he chose to consider it a first step toward asking for an appointment.
Until Ikla stormed in, ruining his plan.
“Why did you even use work as an excuse?”
"silent."
Dante, who had reserved the opera seat for him after much trouble, complained: “And what do you intend to do now? Sit in the VIP seat between Olivia on one side and Eclat on the other side?”
“Are you crazy?”
Edmund pounded the table nervously.
“I will get rid of Ecla before the date, and I will spend time with her alone.”
“But the opera starts at two in the afternoon.”
“Then I'll cash it out before then.”
While he was thinking of a way to get rid of Ikla, he heard an annoying voice like a thunderbolt: “I heard that you are going to the Umfa area this weekend?”
That was Lucid, the one who always got on his nerves, smiling coldly as usual.
“What about you?”
“Why should I not have any business?”
Lucid opened his eyes with feigned innocence and said with a smile: “Oh, didn’t you hear? Olivia invited me to go with her as well.”
"… To where?"
Edmund strove hard to calm his trembling voice.
“To the Umfa area, of course. Where else?”
“Why, why did she invite you?”
"Who knows? Maybe she wanted me to be with her."
His hand spasmed until his fist nearly broke.
If Dante had not waved to Lucid from behind Lucid to control himself, he would have punched that arrogant face on the spot.
"Anyway, I'll see you at the weekend. Maybe then I'll invite her to dinner together?"
A sly smile appeared on Lucid's lips.
"Isn't she really pretty? She's also smart. Isn't it a shame that she's just an assistant in your office?"
“What's beautiful about it?”
Edmund blatantly lied, he knew very well how beautiful she was.
He knows that her eyes sparkle like a light dancing on the surface of the water when she expresses her opinions, and that her smile shines like the sun when someone listens to her.
"Anyway, if you don't want it, send it to my office. I really like it."
"Be quiet."
Edmund looked at Lucid, who walked away, humming cheerfully, and felt despair wash over him.
'If only she were beautiful in my eyes.'
Or if only he could say it belonged to him alone.
But as long as she is beautiful, she will look beautiful in the eyes of others as well.
He began to hear employees talking about her everywhere: “Isn’t she Prince Edmund’s lover?”
“No, they say it's one-sided love.”
“I heard she dumped him and is looking for another man.”
"Really? Then I might have a chance!"
"With that face of yours? At least I get to compete."
Even the Knights of the Outer Palace didn't stop mentioning it.
That chatter made him lose his patience, so he decided to take her for a walk right away.
***
“Sounds like a fun date without me, doesn't it?”
Felix emerged from the shadows, frowning, while Edmund was still feeling the warmth of her hand lingering in his leather glove.
“You were following me anyway.”
“I cannot leave Your Highness alone. It would be a breach of my duty.”
“Leave me alone for a moment. I'm not a child.”
“A child is one who is not aware of his feelings until he almost loses them, then realizes them too late.”
The handsome brows furrowed angrily.
“I can handle it now.”
“Well, today wasn't bad. But next time, make a more elaborate appointment.”
“It wasn't up to me, I was going to date on the weekend.”
He said nervously, remembering that he would have easily pushed Ikla away, but Lucid's presence made it impossible.
“Next time it will work.”
“Yes, next time.”
He raised his hand to wipe his hair, then looked at the sky, which had turned from the blue of his hair to black similar to his own hair.
“I liked the color.”
"Excuse me? What did you like?"
“The color of the sky.”
“But it is dark today, there are no stars.”
“That's why I liked it.”
Let her world be immersed in him alone, colored only by his color.
And lest he be colored by the colors of others.
Then Edmund continued walking in the dark.
***
As for Galerheid, he did not show any confusion when I suddenly changed our appointment.
“It's even better, I'll get to spend more time with Olivia.”
That answer almost embarrassed me more than surprised me.
I replied with a fake smile while sipping my tea.
“So, see you at the weekend.”
When the expected appointment came, I arrived early, but he was there ahead of me, waiting for me with a warm smile.
“You don't have to run.”
He said it gently while treating me as if I were a fragile piece of glass.
“Shall we go?”
“Ah, yes!”
We walked together between the shops, pretending that our goal was to buy a “birthday present for his sister.”
“Have you thought of a specific gift? I collected some suggestions from the employees.”
I opened the paper I had prepared earlier and began to read: "If she likes sweets, the First Street bakery sells a famous selection of cookies. If she prefers jewelry, the stores on Fifth Street are excellent. As for cosmetics and perfumes—"
“Do you know a store that sells cute dolls?”
“Does your sister like dolls?”
I asked him, thinking about whether his sister was that young.
“Luckily I added a toy store to the list.”
“This particular store was recommended to me by Natasha, and she says it's very popular with kids these days!”
I looked at the paper to confirm the name.
“Vivo store on 4th Street! Should we go there?”
"amazing."
The streets were more crowded than usual.
Even when I had been with Edmund in the square before, it had never been this crowded.
I collided with pedestrians several times.
“Olivia.”
"Yes?"
Galerhyde put out his hand sheepishly, his cheeks flushing.
“You better hold my hand, the crowds are big.”
His voice was very polite, and I shook my head in agreement.
My hand touched his warm cotton glove, and I heard my heart beating lightly.
Unlike Edmund's black leather gloves, his touch was soft and warm, and yet...I don't know why his face kept coming back to me.
Maybe because the two are complete opposites.
“Stay close behind me. Since I'm big, people will get out of the way.”
His reddish ears hung in front of me, shaking lightly with his steps, as if they were a blue flame leading me into the unknown.
“Here we are, this is the Vivo store.”
Before he entered, he squeezed my hand for a short moment and then released it regretfully.
“Shall we go in?”
The small doorbell rang as we entered, and we were greeted by a sugary scent similar to cotton candy.
Among the colorful toys, I picked up a soft teddy bear and held it up to him.
"What do you think? Isn't she cute?"
“Unfortunately, Angel doesn't like toy animals.”
gospel.
My heart beat violently and sank to the bottom of my chest.