Chapter: 07
“An introduction? You mean like a matchmaking meeting?”
When Dana asked back, Kira nodded.
“You’ll need to get married soon. I asked my sister to find a good man for you.”
“But I prefer natural encounters…”
“If you keep waiting for that, your life will be ruined!”
“Tch.”
Kira was always right.
Still, isn’t it reasonable to at least get to know the man you’re going to live with?
Dana quietly asked about him.
“What kind of person is he?”
“Seems like his family situation is similar to yours. He wants to start a new family quickly.”
That guy’s a pushover too.
Dana felt a pang of pity for someone she hadn’t even seen yet.
“What does he do?”
“He’s a colleague of my sister’s at the law firm.”
“I see.”
“So, what do you think? Shall I set up the meeting?”
Hmm. Dana hesitated, despite knowing the urgency of the situation.
She had never really experienced family love in her life.
Maybe that’s why she vaguely wished to build a true family with the man she loved—something she had wanted for a long time.
Meanwhile, Edwin…
“Getting married so recklessly?”
He felt his temper rising as time went by.
A royal descendant with dragon blood always had at least one heightened sense.
For Edwin, it was his hearing.
Thanks to that, he could clearly hear their conversation even from afar.
“That can’t be. The Dana I know…”
Edwin recalled the past.
“I want a love that gradually seeps into my heart, rather than a sudden encounter.”
She had definitely said that.
Now, all his plans to approach her slowly while hiding his identity were useless.
The thought that Dana might marry another man sent a chill through his chest.
Like cold wind clawing through an empty space.
Like the fortress he had patiently built over years collapsing in an instant.
Then, as if Dana had made a decision, she parted her small lips.
“Thank you, Kira. I…”
“Senpai.”
At that moment, a low, clear voice rang out.
Startled, Dana looked to the side.
When had he arrived? There had been no one nearby.
Hiding his presence and walking quickly had long been Edwin’s habit.
Dana could never have read the movements of a man seasoned on battlefields for years.
“We’ll talk later.”
Dana silently mouthed to Kira.
Kira nodded and returned to her seat.
It was almost time for Layton to arrive.
Dana hurriedly led Edwin to the office.
Then she smiled.
“You’re late saying hello. Good morning, Edwin.”
“Good morning, senpai.”
Huh? His voice sounds darker than usual.
Dana quickly checked his face.
He wore a full smile, as always.
Was it just her imagination? Dana quickly looked away.
Soon after, a loud bang announced Layton’s arrival at work.
Being thirty minutes late had long been his habit.
Today, Layton was in a bad mood.
The reason? Absurd.
Because he had come to work.
He scanned the surroundings with a sharp, irritated gaze.
The employees began avoiding his eyes.
To avoid becoming his target.
Layton’s gaze fixed on Edwin, who stood unusually straight.
He had never liked him from the start.
Handsome face, annoyingly tall, and that strangely irritating smile.
Most annoying of all was his arrogant look.
Even with proper etiquette, his eyes seemed to look down on him.
“Better crush this newbie’s spirit.”
Layton pointed at him with a finger.
“Hey, Edwin.”
“What is it?”
See that? He doesn’t even come when called, just answers from afar.
Hah! Layton said, exasperated.
“I wanted to talk up close.”
“Is that so?”
Finally, Edwin rose from his seat.
“Finally, he listens.”
Layton’s lecherous grin froze.
Edwin had dragged a spare chair to Layton’s desk.
Basically, if he wanted to talk, he had to come to his desk.
“Pft!” Someone snickered.
Realizing, they pretended to cough lightly.
Layton’s face turned dark red, almost black.
No matter how he looked at it, this had to be a subordinate mocking him.
In this tense moment, Dana looked at Edwin.
He smiled calmly, seemingly unaware of the situation.
Of course. He had spent his life commanding people.
“Competent, yet clueless…”
Dana looked at the newbie with a sympathetic face.
Then whispered to him.
“Go to Layton’s desk.”
Ah, that’s it? Edwin’s eyes widened.
“Thanks for letting me know.”
His long eyes slowly narrowed.
Then he rose deliberately.
His neat and graceful movements only further enraged Layton.
Edwin stood in front of him, calm to the very end.
“Did you call me?”
“Yes, I did.”
Layton handed him a messy stack of documents.
“This is your task for today. Organize the potions by type.”
The papers printed the order quantities for each potion.
Edwin skimmed the sheets lazily.
“This much won’t be necessary.”
If anyone saw this, they’d think it was a war situation.
Layton jumped up at his muttered comment.
“What do you know! If the boss says so, that’s the way it is.”
He snapped at Edwin, clearly pricked.
In fact, he had indeed ordered more than usual.
He wanted to see the newbie struggle while organizing the potions.
Besides, the potion storage was near the Department of Alchemy.
Meaning it was quite a distance.
“By the time he’s done, it’ll be quitting time.”
Hmm. Edwin’s red eyes scanned the documents carefully.
Unlike when dealing with Dana, a sharp aura surged from him.
“Why is he acting like that? Did he notice something?”
Layton shouted loudly on purpose.
“Hurry up, and take your mentor with you!”
“Yes, sir.”
At the instruction to go with Dana, Edwin quickly returned to his seat.
His face oddly seemed excited.
Edwin prepared a picnic-style lunch and said to Layton.
“Once we finish, we’ll leave immediately.”
Everyone was left speechless at his confident tone.
Regardless, he neatly packed Dana’s things as well.
Dana, caught off guard, was nudged out with him.
“……”
“……”
The office fell silent at the newbie’s audacity.
“Senpai, come this way.”
On the way to the potion storage room, Edwin called Dana into the shade.
He stood in the sunlight outside.
“Aren’t you thirsty? I brought six bottles of apple juice.”
“Six bottles?”
All six bottles fit in that small basket…
Edwin carried it effortlessly with one hand.
Dana admired silently.
“You know, Edwin. I need to go back to the office for overtime.”
“Working late again today?”
“Yes.”
“Do you do this every day?”
“Yes.”
A wrinkle formed between Edwin’s delicate brows.
Why did Dana Hartwin overwork herself like this?
“Is it related to the marriage she mentioned earlier?”
Edwin pondered quietly.
Dana laughed aloud at his serious expression.
“Edwin, you can ask if you’re curious.”
“……”
“You’ll find out naturally if you work with me anyway.”
She laughed openly and said,
“My family has debts, so I’m busy paying them off.”
Family debts? Was the Hartwin family really that struggling?
No, more importantly, what about her family?
Seeing him tense, Dana said,
“So the office people call me a pushover. And they’re right.”
“……”
“But now, I’m planning to quit. I’m going to step away from the family.”
It was something everyone would eventually know, no matter who she married.
Telling Edwin first wasn’t particularly special.
“Still, it’s a shame to get married without experiencing love.”
She forced a bright smile, but her blue eyes looked lonely.
Now Edwin understood why Dana was in such a hurry to marry.
His alluring red lips parted.
“Senpai.”
“Hm?”
“If you’re going to leave your family anyway, you should stop being a pushover too.”
“……”
“Live for yourself.”
Dana’s eyes widened.
Edwin’s words threw a pebble into the calm waters of her heart.
Excessive work had become a habit.
She had trained herself to not even consider stopping.
Overtime felt natural.
“A life for myself? What is that?”
Dana had had no hobbies until now.
Edwin slowly approached her.
As he got closer, his refreshing scent brushed against her nose.
He bent slightly to meet her eyes.
“Stop the overtime…”
He spoke softly.
“Spend the remaining time with me.”
“……”
“Tonight, let’s be together.”
At those words, Dana swallowed hard.
