Chapter: 11
‘Huh? He’s not following me for once?’
Dana turned back with a slightly surprised look.
Her superior, Tony, had a personality similar to Layton’s—
the type who acted arrogant toward those weaker than him.
But right now, Tony was frozen in place, standing still.
Anyone could tell from his face that he was terrified.
Just then, a gentle voice drew Dana’s attention away.
“Senior, how does the business trip work?”
“Oh, Edwin, this must be your first time.”
The two had already arrived at the fountain and sat on a bench, opening their lunchboxes.
Dana began explaining the trip.
“As you heard earlier, we’re going to check on the knight orders belonging to the Empire. Most of the medical work will be handled by the imperial physicians. We just need to deliver potions and conduct surveys.”
She smiled brightly.
“It’s mostly just for formality.”
“I heard we’re visiting the Rune Knights this time. Are we going to a monster-infested area?”
“We won’t go that far. We’ll just meet the knights at their base. It’s always been like that.”
“I see.”
So we’ll meet the guards first.
Edwin recalled the knights standing watch.
They were all people he had personally selected.
‘What criteria did I use again…?’
There wasn’t really any.
He probably chose those who wouldn’t get bored staying in one place—
the ones who would keep talking endlessly.
Or talk to dolls.
‘Even now, that was an excellent choice.’
Edwin nodded to himself in admiration.
“The north is still cold.”
Dana reminisced about her time working there.
“Even in spring, the snow piles up to your ankles.”
“That must be really tough when we go.”
At Edwin’s words, Dana laughed.
“And you won’t have a hard time?”
He simply smiled without answering.
After years in the north, he was already used to it.
“If you get tired while walking, just cling to me.”
“What am I, a kid?”
“You slip a lot on snowy paths, don’t you, Senior?”
How does he know that?
Dana’s eyes widened.
Snow was rare in the capital.
That’s why she often slipped on unfamiliar snowy roads in the north.
“How do you kn—mmph!”
A piece of bread was suddenly shoved into her mouth.
Edwin had fed it to her.
After that, he kept putting different foods into Dana’s mouth one after another.
Without any chance to speak, she had no choice but to chew and swallow everything.
‘It’s delicious again today.’
For Dana, who usually had to eat the same meals every day, Edwin’s food felt like the height of luxury.
Watching her expressions change with every bite, Edwin smiled with satisfaction.
‘This feels less like affection and more like raising livestock…’
Dana swallowed her food, feeling strangely conflicted.
At that moment, an angry voice rang out.
“Look at this! I knew it!”
It was Tony, trembling with rage.
“You two are dating, aren’t you? That’s why you rejected me!”
Before Dana could even turn her head, another piece of bread was stuffed into her mouth.
“I’ll handle the conversation. Please continue eating, Senior.”
“You will?”
“You should only look at pretty things, Senior.”
That made Tony even more furious.
“So I’m not good-looking?!”
Edwin slowly stood and walked toward him.
With his height and build towering over Tony, he exuded pressure.
His long eyes curved gently.
His smile was so radiant it was hard to tell whether it was sunlight or a halo.
Dazed, Tony snapped back to his senses.
“Hey, Dana! You shouldn’t date someone just because of his face!”
“It’s not just his face, though.”
Edwin cut him off.
Tony looked him up and down.
It took quite a while.
Edwin stepped closer.
“You.”
“What do you mean, ‘you’?”
“You knew Dana always ate lunch here, didn’t you?”
“……”
“With those rotten sandwiches.”
“…So what?!”
“And you knew she worked overtime every day.”
“……”
“And all the exhausting business trips were her responsibility. You always avoided them.”
“S-So what!”
The corner of Edwin’s lips lifted.
The playful smile vanished, replaced by something dangerous.
As he stepped closer, a shadow fell over Tony.
“While Dana was struggling like that… what were you doing?”
“…That was Dana’s own choice—!”
“Who said anything else?”
Edwin shrugged.
“I’m just telling you to think from Dana’s perspective.”
“……”
“A superior who lives comfortably, pleasing others while she suffers… and then suddenly proposes without any warning.”
“……”
“That’s what you are.”
A sudden confession was enough to fluster anyone—
especially someone who had no feelings for you.
Tony’s face turned dark red.
“You—I’ll spread rumors about you two! Saying you’re slacking off and dating instead of working—!”
“That part is true.”
Edwin clicked his tongue.
“Senior Dana is someone I like on my own.”
It was one-sided love.
He patted Tony’s shoulder.
He didn’t want Dana to get caught up in rumors and be put in a difficult position.
“Now go. I need to finish my meal.”
Edwin spoke coldly.
At that moment, Tony shoved him aside and ran toward Dana.
That sudden action made Edwin lose his composure.
His hand shot toward Tony’s neck—
just like when he dealt with monsters.
Heat gathered at his fingertips, forming flames.
Then, a calm voice stopped him.
“Senior Tony.”
At Dana’s voice, Edwin halted.
He had almost shown her an ugly side.
Tony, on the other hand, looked startled as Dana approached him first.
Soon, he shouted in frustration.
“What am I lacking?! Why won’t you accept me?!”
It was pitiful.
Dana let out a sigh.
Then she spoke clearly.
“Stop whining so pathetically.”
“Whining?!”
“And… why did you think I would obviously accept you?”
“Well, of course—!”
“I hate your cowardice. The only time you step forward is when you’re flattering someone.”
“……”
“And I’m sick of hearing you judge women passing by. It’s disgusting. And stealing your subordinates’ achievements? That’s ridiculous too.”
“I didn’t steal them, we worked together—”
“Also, I want a better life than this. If I married you, it feels like my life would just repeat like this.”
“S-Stop… stop…!”
Tony, who had been listening in a daze, finally started crying.
“What’s wrong with you? You’re supposed to be kind and gentle!”
“I’m not gentle. I was just too tired to bother talking.”
“……”
That hit him harder than anything Edwin had said.
“Do… do you really hate me that much?”
“Yes.”
“You’re making me cry…”
“Go ahead.”
Sniffling, Tony wiped his tears with his sleeve and ran off.
“That was a lot of talking… I’m thirsty.”
Dana sat back down and drank her apple juice.
Watching her, Edwin burst into laughter.
“Why are you laughing?”
She asked after finishing the bottle.
“Because it’s new.”
He couldn’t stop laughing.
Maybe he had thought the same as Tony.
That Dana was just kind.
But she could also be this firm.
She wasn’t indifferent—just too tired to care most of the time.
Dana was multifaceted.
Even the way she boldly spoke her mind was lovable.
“I really like you, Senior.”
Now, his sudden confessions didn’t surprise her anymore.
“Oh, right!”
Dana suddenly remembered something.
“That magic tool I mentioned last time—can I borrow it today?”
“Of course. Just tell me what you need, and I’ll bring it.”
Edwin replied gently.
Even high-ranking nobles had difficulty obtaining magic tools, yet Edwin could borrow one instantly—his connections were impressive.
Dana smiled brightly.
“Then please get me a recording orb.”
At her request, Edwin immediately stood up.
He didn’t even ask what she would use it for.
Before long, a carefully packaged magic tool was delivered to Dana.
She was amazed at the speed.
“Thanks, I’ll take good care of it.”
“Use it comfortably.”
You can even treat it roughly.
He smiled softly at her.
