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Episode 40 

In his mind, Frederic kept remembering two very different sides of Delphine: the frightened girl in the Dark Forest, and the same girl who had bravely jumped in front of the Cermen and the spirit fire to protect him.

‘She’s such a scaredy-cat… so how did she run toward the Cermen like that? It’s so strange.’

But the image that stuck in Frederic’s heart the most was when she was drunk, begging him not to fire her.

Frederic knew that expression well. It was the look of someone desperate. Someone lost and overwhelmed when life suddenly changes and they don’t know what to do.

It was the face of a child who’d lost their way. The face of a child who’d lost their parents.

It was the same face Frederic saw in the mirror every day after he lost his own parents.

Frederic understood what Delphine must’ve felt at that moment. Right now, he was her only hope—her only safety net.

“……”

Frederic recalled his own lowest point in life. With an unreadable expression, he sprayed cologne on his neck.

Suddenly, he remembered a conversation he had with his mother.

—

“Mom, what’s this necklace?”

“My baby! This is a pearl necklace blessed by the Sea God.”

“Wow! So what does it do?”

“The Sea God will protect you.”

“You must really like this necklace, huh?”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because you always wear it.”

“One day, I’ll give it to you, Frederic.”

“Really?!”

“And when I do, you should give it to someone you want to protect.”

“Is that someone I love?”

“Hmm, maybe. Or maybe not. When you grow up, you’ll understand. Sometimes the feeling of wanting to protect someone… and the feeling of love… aren’t the same.”

—

Frederic capped the cologne bottle and placed it back on the shelf.

Delphine’s face briefly flashed through his mind—then faded away like sand slipping through fingers.

‘I don’t love her… but I keep thinking about her. And I want to protect her…’

When Frederic entered the Salon de Pieque, people inside started glancing at him.

“Who is that guy? He’s really handsome.”

“He was living in Shairo all this time? Where was he hiding?”

“Wait, that’s Frederic? Frederic Peredy?”

“I thought he’d be super weird since he never goes out, but he looks like a sculpture!”

The women kept stealing glances at him. Some even turned their heads fully just to admire his face.

Frederic ignored the stares and walked straight to where Charlier was sitting.

“Charlier.”

“Oh, you’re here?”

Charlier didn’t even look up from the menu, giving only a half-hearted greeting.

“The desserts here suck. I knew it—nothing beats the Salon de Chat in Shairo. Though, even that place isn’t that impressive compared to salons in the Empire.”

“……”

“But then again, you’re not a duke’s heir, right? So this is the best we can do.”

Charlier glanced at Frederic and gave a teasing smile, her eyes squinting in amusement.

“You’re not mad, right? You know I’m joking, Frederic.”

“Yeah, I’m not mad. I know, Charlier.”

Frederic nodded and looked at the menu.

“I was thinking of ordering the éclair and crème brûlée. Do you want anything else?”

“Crème brûlée? But you love éclairs. You’re not getting one for yourself?”

“I want to try something different.”

Frederic smoothly called the server and placed their order—two desserts and a pot of hot tea.

As they chatted casually, the desserts and tea arrived.

Click.

Charlier took a sip of tea, then cut a small piece of the éclair and popped it into her mouth.

“Mmm. Disappointing. Definitely not as good as the Salon de Chat. Oh right! You’ve never tried their éclair, have you?”

“I have.”

Charlier looked surprised.

“How? Only noble families are allowed in there.”

“Delphine brought me one.”

“Del… phine…?”

“……”

“How did she…?”

Charlier’s face froze. Frederic didn’t really want to talk about Delphine in front of Charlier. But lately, his entire life seemed filled with moments spent with her.

So he told her the story about how Delphine went to the Salon de Chat to buy him an éclair.

When he finished, Charlier gave a crooked smirk.

“She’s so weird, that girl. You know, Frederic? People in high society are saying she’s not mentally all there.”

“……”

“She broke off her engagement with Leo, left the Flerin family on her own… And hearing what you just said? I think she’s actually lost it! Haha!”

Charlier laughed like it was hilarious.

“……”

Frederic said nothing.

Normally, this was the moment he liked Charlier the most—when she laughed. But today, she didn’t seem beautiful at all.

“Anyway, Frederic, I have a favor to ask.”

Charlier reached her hand toward his on the table. When Frederic lightly touched it, she quickly pulled it away.

“Not in public! People will gossip.”

“……”

She lowered her voice.

“My favor is this—kick that girl, Delphine, out of your house.”

Frederic’s expression went cold. Charlier didn’t notice and just kept going.

“She’s in a pathetic spot right now. Got kicked out of her family, broke off her engagement… she’s only clinging to your house because it’s all she has left. I hate it. Why should she rely on your family? Just fire her already.”

“……”

After a moment, Frederic spoke.

“If I fire her now, she has nowhere to go.”

His voice was as cold as a winter night. Still, Charlier didn’t pick up on it and even laughed.

“Exactly! That’s what makes it funny, Frederic! Haha! A noble lady with nowhere to go. Isn’t that hilarious? High society will go nuts over it!”

“……”

Frederic’s heart went cold. He knew Charlier had changed over the years. But part of him wondered—maybe she never changed at all.

‘Was this how she felt when she cut ties with me six years ago?’

Frederic looked quietly at her face. Only then did Charlier notice how serious things had become. Her smile vanished.

“Wh-What? I was joking! Just kidding!”

“Charlier. I don’t like talking about other girls when I’m with you.”

“B-But you’ll still fire Delphine, right? For me? Please?”

“Charlier.”

Frederic’s voice sank.

“Do you remember when my parents died?”

“Yeah, of course. Why bring that up now? That was hard for me too—losing my pa—”

“I’m not trying to talk about us back then. What I remember… is how people turned cold. When my parents were alive, everyone acted nice to me. But when I really needed someone, they all turned their backs on me.”

“……”

Charlier went silent.

“I don’t want to be like those people.”

“…But I don’t like it! I don’t want that girl in your house!”

She threw a small tantrum, frustrated.

Frederic didn’t respond. He just took a bite of the crème brûlée. It tasted good, but not as good as the one Delphine had brought him.

“Charlier, I want to give you whatever you want. That’s how important you are to me. But let’s stop this talk. This has nothing to do with you and me.”

“……”

Charlier looked upset. She slammed her spoon down on the table and crossed her arms. Then she loudly muttered so Frederic could hear:

“What even are we? Someone might think we’re actually something special.”

“……”

Frederic stayed silent. He knew from experience that it was best to leave her alone when she was angry.

Charlier clenched her teeth and glared at the éclair, still mostly untouched.

‘Ugh, so annoying. Frederic acts all high and mighty now that he’s rich. I liked the old Frederic better—sweet, soft-hearted, and easy to control. Well… not like I’d be hanging out with him now if he weren’t rich.’

Charlier left the Salon de Pieque and got into her carriage.

“Salon de Chat.”

She gave the next destination to the coachman and climbed in. It was time to see Leo.

‘I wonder what Leo looks like now?’

A smile curled on her lips.

Everyone knew Delphine Flerin had rejected Leo’s proposal.

‘Will Leo be sad? Or mad? Maybe he’ll just ignore it to protect his pride. He’s like me that way. That’s why we get along so well. Hehe.’

This turn of events was perfect for Charlier. Now Leo didn’t have many choices left. Among the noble daughters in Shairo who were of marrying age, only two were left—her and Delphine.

‘If I wait just one more year, maybe Leo will propose to me.’

Charlier started humming to herself.

Compared to a prince, a duke’s heir like Leo didn’t exactly impress her, but for now, he wasn’t a bad catch.

Neigh!

The horse neighed and the coachman called out.

“Young Lady Charlier, we’ve arrived.”

Wearing a luxurious fur coat, Charlier stepped out of the carriage. The manager of the Salon de Chat rushed over to greet her.