SDA 04

Chapter: 04

As soon as Rian’s breath hit my ear, my expression naturally soured.

‘Is this… words or a fart?’

I roughly ruffled my bangs.

“What… when did I ever say you shouldn’t talk?”

“You did. When the young ladies came out, you grabbed the back of my head and slammed it into this table while saying that.”

Rian furrowed his brows and pointed at the table. Then he tapped his cheek with his index finger.

“Don’t you see the mark on my face because of the center director?”

What was truly annoying was that there actually was a mark on his face shaped like the table.

‘Ah, this is infuriating…’

I barely held back a sigh.

“Well…”

“…”

“I-I’m sorry for just slamming you like that. I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“No, it didn’t hurt at all. Our center director has a soft fist.”

Rian’s right eye narrowed, as if his habitual wink was about to show. I quickly responded before his wink habit flared up.

“Anyway… it’s not that I told you to shut up completely, it’s that I said not to talk nonsense. We need to eavesdrop on Violet Young Lady and her friends.”

Rian blinked slowly. Soon, the corners of his eyes subtly drooped.

“Center director.”

“…”

“So all the things I said until now were useless…?”

Without a second of hesitation, I answered.

“Of course.”

A small sigh escaped Rian’s lips.

“Ha… it’s shocking, I can’t say anything.”

“…”

“How can you be so cruel to me? I’m the youngest, and you’re the center director.”

“…”

“Don’t you feel sorry for me, coming all the way from afar?”

Rian placed his hand on his forehead and pretended to sob.

‘Excuse me, Rian. You said you can’t say anything, yet here you are babbling.’

I again held back a groan.

‘What were we even talking about…’

It was always like this whenever I talked to Rian. He talked too much, and everything he said would fluster me and drag me into it.

A little later, I refocused the conversation.

“Anyway… did you hear what Violet Young Lady and her friends were saying, or not?”

“Can I tell you now? I’ll say it if the center director allows.”

Rian, who had been sulking, immediately changed his expression and smirked.

‘After talking so much, now you’re asking for permission to tell me.’

I had never met someone so particular in my life.

‘Even worse than Chase Orabun.’

Since I needed the answer, I decided to play along with him.

“Yes, I’ll allow it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. So, did you hear it or not?”

“I heard it.”

“They said ‘Your Highness’… right?”

“Yeah.”

So I wasn’t the only one who heard ‘Your Highness.’

‘Then it’s confirmed.’

Violet must have someone she likes. That person is the one called ‘Your Highness.’

My frustration immediately lifted.

“Johan couldn’t even confess and got rejected by Violet.”

Johan Veloster, you got rejected!

Just as I was thinking I’d have to give my favorite to another girl, that wasn’t the case.

‘God must be on my side.’

A plan quickly formed in my mind. If I reject the request and approach Johan pretending it’s a coincidence, I could win his favor…

“Center director.”

While imagining my wedding with Johan, Rian interrupted.

I jolted and snapped out of my daydream.

“Yes…?”

Rian, who had been watching me closely, added,

“Why do you like him?”

“…Excuse me?”

“The center director is smiling right now.”

“…”

“Like you’ve just regained something precious that was taken from you.”

His tone, once lazy like Chase Orabun’s, was now sharp.

‘W-what…?’

The way he eyed me like a spirit, the suddenly deepened voice—Rian felt like a different person in an instant.

‘Why is he acting like that all of a sudden?’

Whatever the reason, I couldn’t let him catch me imagining myself in a wedding dress.

“I didn’t smile.”

“You did.”

“I didn’t.”

“I said you did.”

“Then I guess it’s just how I look when I’m smiling.”

“Since joining the center, I’ve only seen the center director smile four times.”

Rian held up four fingers.

‘This guy… counting that…’

I turned my gaze away, ignoring him. Then a thought struck me.

‘But… who exactly is the ‘Your Highness’ that Violet likes?’

Of course, those called ‘Your Highness’ would have a specific status: crown princes, princes, grand dukes, and dukes.

‘Only people of such high status are called Your Highness.’

But the problem was… there were too many people with that status in the Carnon Empire.

Because this world is like a game packed with all the popular male leads.

I recalled the numerous ‘Your Highnesses.’

‘Grand Duke Calrain Leversel from <I Got Possessed While Typing>.’
‘Grand Duke Euclid Aaron from <I Regret Loving You>.’
‘Grand Duke Trosian Politeum Locksherd from <There Must Be Someone You Like>.’

‘…If I try to list all the grand dukes here, I’ll stay up all night.’

Suddenly, Rian tapped my shoulder.

“Oh? Center director, I guess the young ladies are leaving now?”

Sure enough, Violet and her friends were moving a little farther into the salon.

‘I can’t miss this.’

I jumped up and gestured.

“Follow me, quickly.”

“Oh my…”

Rian shook his head left and right, snickering. When he finally stood, a large shadow fell over me.

“I understand your heart, center director. You say things harshly, but you still need me.”

“…”

“You want to come with me so badly, baby…”

Rian, who had been mumbling, suddenly stopped talking. He held his breath and stared at me. Like a frozen statue.

‘Uh…?’

What’s with him?

For a moment, his red eyes regained focus.

“Ah…”

“…”

“…Flapping your hands like a little baby bird.”

“…?”

“If that’s the case, why did you refuse to come with me earlier? Is this what they call ‘push and pull’?”

A sly smile appeared on Rian’s face again.

I pressed my lips together in displeasure.

‘Baby bird… push and pull…’

How does his brain work that he can say things like this without hesitation?

I wanted to smack his mouth, but Violet had moved a little farther, so…

‘I need to be patient.’

I grabbed Rian.

“Enough. Just follow me quickly. And please, keep your mouth shut while we move, will you?”

“Yes, yes.”

A playful voice drifted from behind. I grabbed his sleeve and started walking.

‘This guy… can’t we fire him for incompetence?’

I seriously considered a forced resignation while walking.

After parting with her friends, Violet headed somewhere alone. She soon stopped in front of Valenri Dress Shop.

I, hiding in the alley with Rian, watched Violet enter the shop.

“Valenri Dress Shop…”

Even I, who disliked getting dresses made, knew this place was famous.

‘The designer has great taste. Once you go, you can’t stop coming back, or so they say.’

The fortunate thing was, this place wasn’t exclusive to reservation-only clients.

Meaning I could observe Violet up close inside.

‘But…’

The problem was, once someone enters the shop, attendants would follow.

I saw several staff waiting beyond the window.

‘Then we’ll just have to act naturally so it doesn’t look weird.’

I poked Rian’s side; he lowered his height to meet my eye level.

“Hmm?”

“Listen carefully, youngest. From now on, you and I are a newlywed couple.”

I said it without thinking.

‘What else could work better than pretending to be a couple while sneaking in?’

But Rian seemed slightly surprised. He stared blankly without blinking, and only after 10 seconds did he draw a short breath.

“…Center director.”

For some reason, his eyes narrowed.

“What is it?”

“That’s what this is about?”

“What is?”

Rian didn’t answer immediately, instead sending me a blatant gaze.

‘Is he about to say another brilliant nonsense?’

I narrowed my eyes.

“Say it. Quickly.”

Then, suddenly, Rian pressed his hand against the wall and cornered me.

Startled, I hunched my shoulders.

“Why… why are you doing this?”

“I had no idea. Really, none.”

Rian leaned closer, bringing his face near mine, and in this situation, whispered into my ear.

“I never knew the center director wanted to marry me.”