IDTRAFTML 41

~Chapter 41~

A little later, at last, the clear result appeared in the two lattes set side by side.

“Did it come out?”

System
Target locked!
(∩๑•ㅂ•)⊃→

Will you become the Cupid for
‘Lillian Perez’?

Yes / No

Just as Lillian asked me for the result, the notification popped up in front of me.

Of course, after coming this far, I had to become her Cupid.

Feeling confident that this would lead to a successful match, I boldly pressed Yes. Then I slid the lattes toward her.

“Lillian, I think the man who suits you better is William.”

“Oh my, so in the end, looks are more important than personality!”

‘Wait, how did the result end up like that?’

The conclusion seemed to have nothing to do with the latte art. My head filled with question marks.

Ah… right, she did say William’s face was her type.

So maybe she just wanted an excuse, because she felt guilty choosing only by appearance?

I was suspicious, but in the end, it wasn’t something I should interfere with.

“But how do you even know that from these drawings?”

“Look here. On the first cup, the little white heart has a fine crack across it, doesn’t it?”

The latte art I made while thinking of Robin—at first just a small spot, but it had spread and turned into a fine crack across the heart.

It might mean things start well but drift apart later. In any case, it wasn’t a good sign.

Lillian leaned in, staring at the mug closely, and nodded.

“Oh, yes, I see.”

“Meanwhile, the second cup’s drawing came out without a single flaw.”

“You’re right. This kind of fortune-telling is amazing—I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“I hope it gave you some kind of answer, Lillian.”

I smiled at her sparkling eyes.

Judging from the way she looked so relieved at hearing William’s name, she seemed to have already made up her mind.

Now that her heart was set, I hoped she’d hurry and become his lover.

“You’ve been such a huge help, Amelie! I was seriously wondering if I should elope with both men to another country. Thanks to you, I can stay here in the Empire.”

“…Excuse me? Lillian, that was a joke, right?”

She no longer seemed shy, speaking boldly now that she felt comfortable with me.

Because of that, I couldn’t tell if she was joking or serious, and I was left flustered.

“Wasn’t that a bit too serious to joke about?”

“Ha, ha… Lillian, you really do have many charms.”

“Oh my, thank you for the compliment. But oh dear, look at the time already.”

Lillian checked the clock and stood up.

“I should get going, Amelie. I need to sort out my relationship quickly.”

“Alright. I hope you gain a wonderful lover, Lillian.”

“Thank you. Once everything’s settled, I’ll come back again!”

Unlike when she first came in, Lillian now left Requies lighthearted and cheerful, waving goodbye with a bright smile.

“Not bad for the first client, huh?”

I hadn’t started with much expectation, but after meeting my first real client, a greedy desire to do well stirred inside me.

Alright. Time to properly draw in more customers!

As I tidied the quiet shop, I burned with new determination.

“Lady Amelie opened a counseling office, but they say not a single customer came.”

Richard, who had been about to move a chess piece, lifted his eyes toward Bastian.

Bastian Viender.

A man who lived eight parts of his life as a joke, looking at his younger brother now with a playful expression.

“Are you even interested in the affairs of a mere viscount’s daughter now?”

Richard replied curtly on purpose.

That gleam in Bastian’s eyes—like he was having fun—was already suspicious. More than that, Richard worried his brother’s “interest” could become nothing but trouble for Amelie.

“It’s not right to call her just a mere viscount’s daughter. She’s the moral support of the Imperial Knights, and also a victim of the palace’s poor security.”

But even at Richard’s cold response, Bastian’s curiosity didn’t fade.

“If you feel gratitude and guilt toward Amelie Garnet, then the right thing to do is not give her unnecessary attention.”

“I might be able to help her somehow, though.”

“Since when have you ever given help without wanting something in return, Brother?”

“…Am I really such a shallow man to you, little brother?”

He drooped his shoulders as if hurt, but his lips still curved with a smile.

What on earth about Amelie had caught his interest?

Ever since she had stayed at the palace, Bastian sometimes brought her up like today.

Especially after he found out she’d accompanied him on the Hiltaite Street investigation, her name came up even more.

And every time Amelie’s name came from Bastian’s mouth, Richard felt… displeased.

“Why do you keep bringing up Amelie these days?”

At last, he asked directly.

Why Amelie Garnet, of all people?

Curiosity mixed with suspicion—he could no longer ignore it.

“That’s the best question you could think of?”

With a small laugh, Bastian moved his chess piece, capturing Richard’s.

Richard answered casually while moving his own piece.

“Is there more I should ask?”

“Well… that’s up to you to decide.”

“Then my one question is enough. For now.”

“For now, huh…”

Bastian muttered, scanning the chessboard with sharp eyes. Soon he placed his hand on the white queen.

“Richard. The reason I keep asking about Amelie is because you never mention her anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“You used to talk about her all the time. How sly she was, tormenting Lyssa behind the scenes. Remember?”

“…Yes.”

“But then, at some point, you stopped mentioning her at all. I think it was around when she started coming to the knight order every day.”

He was right.

Richard could even pinpoint the exact moment.

The first time he thought, maybe Amelie Garnet has changed.

From then on, he couldn’t bring himself to talk about her with Bastian.

“It makes sense. Back when her reputation was worse, she was nothing more than a bad woman to you.”

Bastian’s queen slowly pressed into Richard’s defenses.

“But now?”

Richard could only watch helplessly as his last line of defense collapsed.

“Can you still define Amelie Garnet in such simple terms?”

The white queen advanced to his black king, blocking every path and crushing his defense completely.

“…I lost.”

Richard quietly admitted defeat and tipped his king over with a touch of his finger.

“You’re not going to answer my question?”

For once, Bastian’s smile faded as he pressed again.

Somehow, just this time, he didn’t want to let Richard dodge the question. Maybe he had seen something familiar in him.

Richard stared at him silently, then let out a short sigh.

“I wasn’t avoiding it. I was just choosing the right words.”

“You don’t need to choose. Some answers only come out right when you speak them as they are.”

“…If I blurt it out thoughtlessly, you’ll just use it to tease me.”

He felt oddly like Bastian had struck his weak point, but at least he still had enough sense to be cautious.

“That’s why clever people aren’t fun. So what’s your carefully chosen answer?”

Smiling again as if nothing had happened, Bastian pressed him.

What would he say?

Richard’s personality was careful and deliberate. What answer had he settled on?

“…I should follow Amelie Garnet.”

“…What did you just say?”

But Richard’s resolute reply was far from the answer Bastian had expected.