~Chapter 7~
Sir Harbor’s eyes shook violently as if I had hit the mark.
Instead of blushing red, his face turned pale white. His eyes asked, How did you know?
‘Because I can see your heart above your head.’
I blinked twice quickly. At once, a big heart appeared above his head.
Since I kept getting dizzy from seeing everyone’s worry-emojis, Omok changed the setting so I could turn them on only when I wanted.
“W-wait… How did you know?”
Even now, Sir Harbor couldn’t lie. His voice trembled.
“I’m just sharp in these matters.”
“Was it that obvious?”
“Hmm…”
I naturally thought of Sir Harbor always sticking close to Lysa.
To be honest, the only “obvious” thing was that he always hovered near her, taking care of chores and doing the hard work.
For a normal person, it would have been too subtle to even notice.
“No. It’s just that my instincts are unusually good. That gift you bought today—it’s for the person you like, right?”
“…Yes.”
“Can I ask what you bought?”
“Perfume.”
Oh, perfume.
Lysa didn’t need perfume—she already had the natural heroine aura of smelling good. But still, as a gift to the opposite sex, it wasn’t a bad choice.
“She once mentioned in passing that she wanted perfume, so I tried picking one. But I’m not sure if she’ll like it.”
Now a blush appeared on his pale face.
But unlike his embarrassment, I tilted my head in confusion.
The Lysa I knew, like most knight-heroines, never really cared for things like perfume or fashion.
Well, people’s tastes could change suddenly. Not impossible.
“What kind of scent did you choose?”
“I picked one I thought would suit her… A soft, sweet floral scent.”
“…Huh?”
Lysa and floral scent? I couldn’t think of a worse match.
With her image, a fresh citrus scent or a light woody scent would suit better.
‘Still… maybe in Sir Harbor’s eyes it fits. He is in love, after all.’
I tried to accept his taste.
“Why do you ask?”
“N-no, I just worried I was prying too much.”
“It’s fine. In fact, I’ve wished I had a lady to ask advice from. I’m not good at expressing myself, and neither is she. It’s difficult.”
…Lysa? Not good at expressing herself?
There’s probably no woman in the Empire more straightforward than Lysa!
The more he talked, the stranger it seemed.
Something felt wrong. My instincts told me I had made a big mistake.
“Sir Harbor… the person you like isn’t Lysa?”
“W-what?!”
Sir Harbor nearly jumped to the ceiling. His face turned even paler, as if I had insulted something sacred.
That reaction confirmed it—my guess had been completely wrong.
“How could I ever…! Absolutely not! Have I done anything that made you think that?”
“No! It was just my mistake.”
I hadn’t even planned to matchmake him with Lysa, but if I accused him twice, he might faint on the spot.
“I’ve never once had that kind of personal feeling toward the vice-captain. Please believe me.”
“Yes, I believe you. Sorry for saying something strange.”
The starting assumption itself had been wrong.
Well, at least this meant Sir Harbor wouldn’t face heartbreak. That was good.
Still, it was bitter that I had guessed wrong.
But I wasn’t someone to give up just because plans changed.
“Then, who is the person you like? As an apology, I’ll help you succeed.”
This was my new plan: the “Chicken Instead of Pheasant Strategy.”
Aside from seeing worries, I had another special ability locked behind hidden achievements.
Omok and Jjorongi hadn’t told me details (stingy things), but I did know that if I successfully formed a couple, I would unlock my first extra ability.
Even if I couldn’t use him as a minor villain, if I could help Sir Harbor’s romance succeed, I’d gain both his favorability and a new skill. Perfect.
“It’s a little embarrassing to say.”
“You don’t have to, if you don’t want. But I’ll tell you—I’m like a love Cupid.”
“…Cupid?”
“Cupid is like an angel who brings couples together. That’s me.”
“…I see.”
“I’ve already helped more than one couple succeed, thanks to my advice.”
Of course, that was back in real life… but love works the same everywhere.
Fortunately, Sir Harbor seemed convinced.
“The person I like is… Sir Claire.”
“Ah! So it’s Sir Claire.”
Claire, another of Lysa’s direct subordinates. Known for being Lysa’s “shadow.”
So that’s why Sir Harbor was always right by Lysa’s side.
‘Then what I have to do is clear…’
System
🎯 Target Locked!
(∩๑•ㅂ•)⊃→
Will you become the Cupid for Rowen Harbor?
Yes
No
The system window floated in front of me as soon as I gathered my thoughts.
The couple-matching project had finally begun.
“Sir Rowen Harbor had tea with Lady Amelie.”
Richard’s eyes turned to the photo on his desk.
It showed Amelie Garnet and Rowen Harbor sitting together in a teahouse.
He had worked so hard to keep them apart—yet they had managed to meet and talk behind his back.
“Did it look like a planned meeting?”
“No, Your Highness. Sir Harbor applied for leave that very day, so it was sudden.”
“Anything suspicious? Did Harbor look displeased?”
“No. Although, his face did change color several times. Pale, then red, then pale again. He even jumped up once, startled.”
Even with the report, Richard couldn’t guess what they had talked about.
The teahouse was quiet and secluded, and Eric had been stationed outside the building, so the conversation was completely hidden.
“What happened afterward?”
“The mood was fine. Lady Amelie left first, but Sir Harbor didn’t look displeased at all.”
“If even Harbor reacted that way, then it must have been fine.”
Rowen Harbor was famous in the order for his respect toward Lysa.
If he had spoken with Amelie without bad feelings, then it wasn’t something to worry about.
‘Still, she might be plotting something worse.’
So far, Amelie Garnet had never openly harmed Lysa.
She always acted like she cared for her, pretended to be pitiful, and drew closer like that.
Just recently, she even let Lysa get hurt, then lay sick for days with a so-called fever, using it as an excuse.
Then she shamelessly demanded Lysa come visit her.
And yet Lysa always defended her. No one else even knew of her misdeeds.
Amelie Garnet was cunning beyond measure.
“How is her reputation in the knight order?”
Richard’s sharp blue eyes gleamed again.
“They say it’s very good. She often brings handmade drinks and snacks. She’s friendly, cheerful, and everyone welcomes her.”
“…Amelie Garnet? Friendly?”
Back in academy days, Amelie Garnet had never been friendly.
Because of her weak health, she was timid, sensitive, and always hid behind Lysa.
But Richard himself had noticed the change.
Ever since that supposed fever, her eyes and attitude had completely changed.
She no longer bothered him, and instead grew closer to Lysa—and even approached others first.
As if she had become a completely different person.
“I never knew how precious Lysa was. There’s no better friend than her.”
Richard recalled the words Amelie had once said.
They say people change after facing death. Maybe that so-called summer fever, which even dogs didn’t catch, had been life-threatening to a weak girl like Amelie.
Maybe she had reflected and changed.
“…Ha. As if.”
Richard cut off his own thoughts.
He had seen too much to believe in such idealistic reform.
“Amelie Garnet hasn’t changed. At best, she’s just acting out a ridiculous play.”
People don’t change.
Especially not those blinded by selfish, one-sided love.
That was his conclusion.
