GDASP 09

Chapter 09…

Cynthia was just about to get into the carriage when she suddenly turned sharply toward Ruth.

“D–Did you say Count Adrian? Count Adrian Castillo?”

“Uh, yes? Yes, that’s right.”

Ruth nodded hesitantly, startled by her overwhelming reaction.

Cynthia clutched at her chest, where her heart was pounding like crazy, and slowly took a few steps back. She stared at the tightly shut door of Count Adrian’s carriage, which was parked not far away.

It was that Adrian!

‘Adrian is…!’

Adrian was Cynthia’s favorite character in <One Page Act>.

Unlike Tession, he had quite a significant presence in the story — gentle, kind, and endlessly devoted to Elizabeth, even though she constantly hurt him with her careless attitude. He was the embodiment of pure, selfless love.

Ba-dump, ba-dump.

Right now, Cynthia was standing at the threshold of seeing her favorite character in real life, right before her very eyes.

“Milady, did you perhaps forget something…?”

Behind her, Tession’s puzzled voice called out.

“N–No! My ankle just… hurt for a moment. I’ll be right there!”

“Your ankle? Where? I’ll call for treatment at once—”

“It’s fine! Oh, it doesn’t hurt anymore! Must’ve healed already!”

Cynthia said anything she could think of to stall for time. She lingered, hoping and praying that the door of that carriage would open soon.

Come on… hurry…!

At last, the carriage door slowly opened.

Gulp.

Cynthia didn’t even blink, afraid to miss a single moment as the door inched open.

“Duke Tession.”

Then, Count Adrian stepped out of the carriage, calling the Duke’s name in a friendly tone.

Soft brown hair, blue eyes, a relaxed posture, a deep, pleasant voice—and that noble, graceful aura overflowing from him…!

Wow. Insane.

Cynthia stood frozen, utterly mesmerized as Adrian walked toward Tession.

“Count Adrian.”

Tession spoke, glancing briefly toward Cynthia, who still hadn’t left.

Adrian, who had been approaching, turned his gaze toward her—meeting the fiery look in Cynthia’s eyes—and opened his mouth.

“And this lady is…?”

“Ah, my fiancée—”

“Hello! I’m Duke Tession’s f–fiancée, uh… Elizabeth Bailey.”

“When did you—”

Cynthia hurried to Tession’s side and gave Adrian a polite bow.

“Elizabeth?”

Adrian tilted his head, scanning her curiously from under her hat.

Was Elizabeth always like this?

“I believe we met once as children at a royal banquet, but I don’t think we’ve seen each other since then.”

Cynthia recited the novel’s backstory naturally, thinking that being confident was the best way to avoid suspicion.

“I heard you left to study abroad in a neighboring country. Have you returned now?”

“Ah… yes, I came back to Dirotein a few weeks ago.”

“Welcome home!”

“T–Thank you…”

Oops, maybe that was too much.

Between the two men who looked rather uncomfortable, Cynthia was the only one excitedly bouncing inside.

I just couldn’t help it—meeting my favorite character like that…

Tession, noticing the unexplainable cheer in her voice, subtly stiffened his expression.

“Ahem. W–Well then, I’ll take my leave. I hope you both enjoy your time together…”

Cynthia, finally regaining her composure, began to walk away.

It’s fine. I saw him. That’s enough!

Feeling satisfied with the unexpected encounter, she headed toward the carriage that would take her back to the Bailey estate.

“Wait a moment, Milady.”

Tession’s voice stopped her.

Cynthia turned around, trying to suppress the smile tugging at her lips.

“Yes?”

“Please wait. I believe I should escort you myself.”

“Your Grace, I’ve just arrived, though…”

“Count Adrian, I’m sorry, but could you visit again another time? For now, my priority is to see my fiancée safely home.”

“…”

Adrian fell silent, looking at Cynthia.

Fiancée? Since when were they that close?

He had heard plenty about the engagement between Duke Tession Lumanov and Elizabeth Bailey—it was nothing more than a political arrangement between families, brokered through the Ritemper Merchant Guild.

They were so indifferent toward each other that both families had to force them to spend time together.

“Oh, I’ll be fine!”

“I’d feel uneasy if I didn’t.”

Tession tapped his cane lightly against the ground as he began to walk.

Adrian stared blankly for a moment before lowering his head with a resigned sigh.

“…Then I’ll visit another time.”

Ah… Adrian…

Cynthia looked at him with sympathy as he bowed his head.

This is my fault…

“Milady, shall we?”

“Y–Yes!”

At his voice, Cynthia snapped back to reality.

Inside the spacious Lumanov carriage, an awkward silence filled the air.

Cynthia glanced sideways at Tession, who had looked oddly displeased since earlier.

What’s wrong with him? Did I do something wrong?

“Milady.”

His composed voice broke the silence.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Cynthia straightened up immediately, unable to shake the feeling that she was being scolded.

“Are you well acquainted with Count Adrian?”

“Ah…”

Cynthia hesitated, rolling her green eyes behind her special contact lenses as she considered how to answer.

Obviously, she had to respond as Elizabeth would.

“I first met him at the royal ball when I was about ten years old. It was during Dirotein’s centennial celebration. We only exchanged brief greetings, as far as I remember.”

She knew Adrian had never actually met the adult Elizabeth, so she felt somewhat safe saying that.

Still… I shouldn’t have approached him so eagerly.

But he’s my favorite… I couldn’t help it.

Hearing her tense, nervous tone, Tession sighed softly and rubbed his face with one hand.

“I didn’t mean to make things awkward. I’m not angry with you, Milady.”

“Oh, I didn’t think you were!”

Her quick, earnest reply made the stiffness drain from his expression.

“Milady, you really are…”

Did I mess up again?

Cynthia blinked at him, puzzled. Tession let out a small laugh and dropped his gaze to the floor.

“I didn’t realize Lady Elizabeth could be so… adorable.”

“…What?”

Uh-oh. That’s not good… Elizabeth isn’t supposed to be cute!

A cold sweat ran down Cynthia’s back.

She felt like she was single-handedly destroying Elizabeth’s original personality.

“…It’s a shame, though. I’m not usually like this.”

“What do you mean, a shame?”

Cynthia asked cautiously.

“I just think… it would’ve been nice if we’d met once when we were young, like you and Count Adrian.”

If that had happened, I might not even be sitting here right now.

Cynthia looked at him, who sat with his head bowed in thought. After a moment, she shrugged and said lightly,

“There’s no special memory between me and Count Adrian, really. I was so young back then, I barely knew who anyone was.”

“Even so…”

Tession’s brows furrowed slightly.

“If I had met you just once before I lost my sight, perhaps it would be easier to picture you as you are now.”

Ah…

Cynthia fell silent.

He was curious about what Elizabeth looked like as an adult. Of course—how frustrating must it be to be unable to see even your own fiancée’s face?

She looked at him with gentle sympathy.

“I didn’t mean to make things heavy again. Please just forget what I said.”

“Your Grace…”

“It’s not as though I dwell on it all the time. It’s just… sometimes. Sometimes, it gets hard.”

Cynthia looked quietly at his solemn face, then spoke softly but firmly.

“I understand. If you ever get curious about something, please tell me.”

She continued with determination.

“I’m not very well-read, so my descriptions might be a little childish, but if there’s something you want to know, I’ll tell you everything.”

“You will?”

“Yes! What things look like, how they feel, what kind of thoughts they bring to mind—I’ll tell you all of it.”

Elizabeth would never say something like that, but Cynthia gave an awkward little smile anyway.