Chapter: 10
Today’s first matchmaking candidate was the type of slick, butter-faced man.
Moreover, it had already been fifteen minutes since he sat down, and he still hadn’t finished his self-introduction.
It felt like looking at a boring resume that started with “I was born in a harmonious family and graduated in the 00s.”
“And why does his face look like that? It’s completely different from the portrait.”
Lenia glanced at the portrait of the matchmaking man she had received from Madam beforehand and sighed.
It was easy to imagine that someone had run a quick Photoshop filter and touched up a few spots with a correction app.
She could completely understand wanting to look good to the other person, but at this point, it was basically a different person altogether.
“It was nice meeting you today. Please get home safely.”
“Ah, but I haven’t finished talking yet…”
“The next candidate will be arriving soon. I’d appreciate it if you could give up your seat.”
“Ugh!”
Clearly rejected, Matchmaking Man #1 started sniffling and disappeared toward the exit as if fleeing.
Even without knowing the details, from the way he kept talking only about his mother, it was obvious he was a complete mama’s boy.
“Please clear the table and bring in the next candidate. Also, prepare fresh tea for me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Before long, steaming tea and the next candidate arrived in front of Lenia.
However, that man, too, was sent away before her tea even cooled.
The third man looked somewhat decent on the surface, but perhaps because he came from a fallen noble family, his attitude toward the staff was extremely poor.
“Ha, what kind of coffee is this? If you charge this much, at least the basics should be okay. Really pathetic.”
“I-I’m sorry, sir. Would you like me to prepare a new drink?”
“No need. I’d rather just drink water instead.”
Excuse me, I’m the one paying for this, so why are you talking about money?
‘If he behaves like this in front of someone he just met, he’s definitely got some serious issues.’
After closely observing his behavior, Lenia quickly decided he was insane and tried to end the meeting.
But true to his lunatic nature, the man didn’t leave politely. Instead, he started throwing a fit.
“Just looking good is enough for you? A divorced woman with a child, and yet someone like me is taking the trouble to meet you—be grateful!”
“It’s not a divorce, it’s widowhood. You can’t even remember that? Your memory must be terrible.”
“How dare you! Anyway, women these days are poorly educated. How dare they talk back to a man like me!”
Wow, look at his character.
At this level, he was worse than a back-alley thug.
“Before criticizing women’s education, maybe you should check your own level of refinement. Throwing such a tantrum in public shows your own education is at rock bottom.”
“What?!”
Despite the staff’s polite attempts to restrain him, the man continued his rampage until he was finally grabbed by the guards and dragged out.
‘This isn’t working. I need to meet Madam and settle this.’
Lenia decided firmly to leave when, without a sound, a man appeared and sat across from her, legs crossed.
‘…Did I forget there’s one more candidate?’
The mysterious man was an astonishingly handsome man.
Lenia had dabbled in idol fandom in her youth, but she had never seen anyone with such a striking appearance.
“If you choose me, you’ll never regret it. I’m good at almost everything.”
Wow, and he was skilled at flirting too.
Although she wanted to immediately sign the marriage documents, she couldn’t.
Her instincts, honed from years in the underworld, were sending sharp danger signals.
“Lenia Crestian, right? I’ve heard of your fame in the North from the Scam Guild. Want me to tell you more if you like?”
Startled, Lenia calmly studied the man.
At first, she wondered if he might be a pursuer with a grudge against her, but judging by his demeanor, that didn’t seem to be the case.
He seemed more interested in presenting himself as a normal suitor than in exposing her identity.
“…Let’s move somewhere else. This place isn’t convenient for a proper conversation.”
“Sure. Want me to escort you to the lobby?”
Lenia twisted her mouth at the calm expression of the man offering his left arm.
Escort, he said—but this seemed more like a trick to make sure she couldn’t run away.
“Don’t even think about running. I already know everything about you.”
“How much do you know?”
“More than you think. I even know that you have a cute blond boy at your mansion.”
Lenia clenched her fists at the mention of Lachan.
She hoped this man had no intention of harming the child.
If he did, she wouldn’t forgive it.
‘No choice.’
She had to accompany him, at least to figure out just how much he knew about her.
As she reluctantly linked her arm with his, the man suddenly paused, his expression twisting strangely.
“Why? You look tense for someone offering an escort.”
“…It’s nothing. Shall we go?”
He quickly returned to a calm expression and began walking ahead.
Avoiding eye contact, he looked out the window, soon changing the subject.
“The weather’s nice. A perfect afternoon for a date. Don’t you think?”
“Yeah, right. If I’d known I’d meet someone like you, I would’ve stayed home and slept instead.”
“You’d have more fun with me anyway. You can look forward to it.”
Lenia let out a long sigh as she boarded the carriage side by side with the mysterious man, linked arm in arm.
Who exactly was this man?
One relief: he didn’t seem to have any malice or ill intent.
If she sensed even a hint of danger, she would’ve thrown a smoke bomb and escaped immediately.
“So, who are you really? Definitely not some back-alley punk.”
“Guess. If you get close to the answer, I’ll praise you.”
“You wield a fairly heavy sword, mostly right-handed, but actually left-handed. Ambidextrous swordsmen are rare, but that gives an advantage in surprising opponents. You have strong muscles but a lean frame, so your hand-to-hand combat skills must be good too.”
The man, who had been resting his chin on his hand, looked intrigued, surprised that she guessed correctly even though he wasn’t carrying a sword at the moment.
“Good observation from years in the underworld. Did you figure anything else out?”
“Well… you act deliberately crude, like a commoner, but in reality you’re the exact opposite.”
“…You are sharp.”
“That’s my profession. Know your opponent and yourself, and you win every time. You’ve heard that before, right?”
Lenia shrugged lightly. The man avoided her gaze and remained silent for a while.
Confident that most of her predictions were correct, she once again checked the location of her hidden weapons while observing him.
“Where are we going? If you want to talk quietly, there’s a suitable place.”
“Wherever you’re comfortable. I don’t mind.”
Anyone who could show such composure had to be highly skilled.
“Please go toward Gradina Street.”
After instructing the coachman, Lenia arrived a short while later, accompanied by the mysterious man, in front of a quiet building.
