DDD 14

Chapter 14…

When Clarissa asked for his agreement unnecessarily, Aryan nodded, though his face was full of questions.

Behind them, Marie shook her head seriously.

‘Well, so what?’

Seeing her maid silently signaling with her face because she had covered her mouth, Clarissa’s gaze suddenly sharpened. She began to seriously estimate how much severance pay Marie might owe her.

Marie instinctively sensed the danger heading her way. She narrowly escaped disaster by pretending to clamp her mouth shut.

After this silent exchange between Clarissa and Marie, Clarissa didn’t waste a single moment before the food arrived. She busily started talking.

“It’s a bit sudden, but Aryan, do you have a favorite season?”

“Season…?”

“Yes!”

Clarissa’s enthusiastic tone left Aryan slightly flustered. He opened and closed his fists repeatedly. It was a question he had never thought about before.

But he couldn’t simply say he hadn’t considered it—the sparkle in Clarissa’s eyes was too bright.

Worried she might be disappointed, Aryan racked his brain.

“Ah, I think… summer… maybe…”

“Summer! I like it too!”

Seeing Clarissa so delighted, he felt relieved that he had chosen his answer wisely. Aryan secretly patted his chest and nodded slowly.

But Aryan had no idea that Clarissa’s barrage of questions was only just beginning.

“What about your favorite color? The weather? Oh, do you like animals? If you had to choose between a dog and a cat? Oh, and what about things you dislike?”

Even though Clarissa was the one asking the questions, it was Aryan who felt out of breath.

His blue eyes darted back and forth.

The conversation was still unfamiliar to him, but Aryan tried his best. Clarissa, whatever he answered, smiled and closed her eyes in agreement.

Most of Aryan’s responses were uncertain, blurted out in confusion, but it didn’t take long for those hesitant answers to become truths.

As the conversation grew warmer, a group of servers approached, led by the one who had taken their order, carrying silver trays.

Veal steak with a special sauce, savory meat pies, cheesy potato and mushroom soups, salads tossed in truffle oil, and a Caprese with salmon.

A colorful, fragrant feast unfolded between Clarissa and Aryan.

Without even offering the food to Aryan first, Clarissa eagerly picked up a fork and spoon, stuffing her mouth with one bite after another.

“The seasoning is just right, and the sweet-and-sour balance really whets the appetite.”

One bite, and another:

“This one… hmm, not a plain vegetable flavor—more like something that makes you feel healthy! The sauce is fragrant, I love it.”

Another:

“The first bite is a little spicy, but as you chew, it becomes sweet.”

Not everything perfectly matched her taste, since she hadn’t chosen the dishes herself. Yet Clarissa tried her best to speak only of the food’s merits.

The chef, who had appeared in the kitchen, watched her with a deeply moved expression, but Clarissa muttered to herself with slight irritation:

‘I’m not doing this for you.’

She only wanted Aryan, who couldn’t fully taste it, to at least imagine the flavors. Her vocabulary began to run thin, but she didn’t give up.

Aryan’s eyes trembled as he watched her, lips parting slightly as if struck on the head.

His gaze didn’t leave Clarissa’s face, which changed with every bite.

“Ah, I tend to talk more than I realize when I eat something delicious.”

Feeling embarrassed at Aryan’s unwavering attention, Clarissa added a small, awkward laugh.

“Is that strange?”

“N-no.”

Aryan shook his head hastily. Clarissa added innocently, “Good! I’m glad!”

Of course, she preferred to savor her food quietly rather than talk while eating.

Marie, observing from behind with disbelief, silently mouthed “Liar.”

Clarissa moved only her lips to warn her:

‘Quiet.’

Terrified, Marie immediately shut her mouth. Good. That’s right.

Having successfully silenced her chatterbox maid, Clarissa continued the truly grand (stomach-wise) ruse for Aryan with a satisfied expression.

Cautiously, she asked Aryan again, who was still a bit stiff:

“Was it uncomfortable?”

Aryan’s head shook from side to side. Though it soon sank downward, in that brief moment, Clarissa clearly saw his smile—so beautiful it seemed fragile enough to break.

The meal proceeded with Clarissa eating and talking, while Aryan followed along with the same dishes. For the first time in his life, Aryan realized that dining with someone could be enjoyable.

After finishing the meal, Clarissa took Aryan by the hand, sweeping through clothing stores, jewelry shops, and toy stores for children, visiting every possible place.

The family knights who had followed to guard her became excellent porters, and by the time Aryan’s share of items reached their level, evening was falling.

“Miss Clarissa, it’s time to head back.”

“Already?”

Marie, who looked no different from the knights, quietly reminded her of the time.

Clarissa puffed out her cheeks in displeasure but didn’t throw a tantrum as usual.

“Alright. But I’ll take Aryan home first!”

“I’m fine, Lady Lisette.”

“I’m not fine! Right, Marie?”

“Yes, of course. Absolutely.”

Though Clarissa’s demands were still stubborn, they weren’t impossible to grant. Marie nodded with gratitude.

Still, Aryan’s expression remained somber.

“Aryan?”

He had been relatively cheerful at mealtime. Clarissa noticed his sudden change and, raising her large golden eyes, approached him.

Sure enough, he seemed to be lost in unnecessary thoughts.

Stopping close enough that their foreheads nearly touched, she checked on him, causing Aryan to step back in surprise.

Realizing how suspicious his actions looked, Aryan slowly confessed:

“Miss, I… I don’t think I can accept all of this.”

“Why not?”

Clarissa silenced Aryan’s courage in just one sentence.

His eyes seemed to quake. His hands folded neatly, and his wandering gaze swept the floor.

His small red lips opened slightly, a voice more fragile than a baby bird’s chirp escaping:

“It’s too much for me…”

“It’s not too much.”

Clarissa quickly turned, taking his hands and bringing them in front of her chest.

“Aryan, you’re someone who deserves this. And more importantly… we’re friends, aren’t we? Right?”

“But…”

Despite Clarissa’s earnest persuasion, Aryan stubbornly refused to change his mind. His low self-esteem couldn’t be fixed in a day.

Clarissa realized this and changed her approach. Instead of letting him dwell on saying no, she had to prevent the thought entirely.

With that in mind, Clarissa’s head suddenly dropped, and in a voice smaller and weaker than Aryan’s, she whispered…