TCBUP 45

Chapter 45

 Threats and Flirting.

“Thirty minutes ago.”

“Huh?”

Joshua and Eugene’s expressions turned into the kind people give when they think someone’s gone crazy.

“Wait a second. Were you proposing in that alley just now?”

“You saw that?”

“Of course I did. I couldn’t tell if it was a threat or some clumsy flirtation.”

“It was too weak to be a threat, and too pathetic to be considered flirting.”

Eugene offered his flat assessment while Joshua stared in disbelief.

When Leon clicked his tongue like he couldn’t believe it either, Eugene turned to me.

“And you accepted it?”

“Ah, yeah. I guess I did.”

“Is that even possible? What kind of man proposes in a creepy alley like that? Was there a ring? Any flowers? No? Not even one?”

Joshua anxiously examined my hands and looked around me.

I awkwardly smiled and showed him my empty hands.

He sighed and pressed his hand to his forehead.

“Oh my god, Miss Sienna. What part of that made you say yes? You should’ve held out until he gave you at least something small and shiny.”

“Maybe it’s just personal preference.”

Eugene’s comment felt unfair.

It wasn’t like I didn’t want a genuine, heartfelt proposal.

It’s just that this engagement wasn’t real.

But I couldn’t admit that, so I just gave Eugene a strained smile when our eyes met.

His gaze was like the deep ocean, absorbing all light.

Not as sharply clear as Leon’s or as openly cheerful as Joshua’s—more like a colorless void, unreadable and hard to understand.

“You said fiancée?”

“Yeah.”

“On whose side?”

“Apparently, he recognized me when we met at the palace.”

“Sharp eyes, then.”

“Haha…” I laughed awkwardly, trying to brush it off.

Soon after, Eugene stood up.

“It was nice meeting you, Miss Sienna. I have something urgent to attend to.”

“Ah, yes. You’re working hard.”

“Until next time.”

With a polite bow, Eugene left the room.

Once he was completely gone, Joshua immediately leapt over the back of the sofa and sat down in his seat.

“Eugene seems really busy.”

“He’s always unnecessarily busy, that one.”

Joshua replied nonchalantly, then turned to me with a gleam of curiosity in his eyes.

“But really, Miss. Are you okay with that kind of proposal?”

“Ah…”

“If any of my sisters got a proposal like that, the whole family would’ve stormed over there to raise hell.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have any sisters like that to do that for me.”

“Should I do it for you then?”

“You just want an excuse to nag me, don’t you?”

Even at Leon’s scolding, Joshua just smiled brightly like he couldn’t be happier.

The conversation stayed light and cheerful the whole time.

The day had started with a storm in a shady alley nobody dared to enter, but it looked like it would end surprisingly smoothly.

Still, deep down, I couldn’t help feeling anxious—unsure how this engagement would affect the affection levels of the other love interests.

On the way home, Leon insisted on walking me back, saying the alley would be even more dangerous now that it was dark.

The prince himself offering me an escort—what a burden.

I tried to decline, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“I’m really fine.”

“Just come along. I’m not letting you go wandering around with a kitchen knife again.”

“….”

When did he even see that?

Embarrassed, I turned my head away—just in time to see a shadow reflected in a cracked window.

It was Eugene.

Even though I’d spent a long time chatting with Leon and Joshua, Eugene hadn’t shown himself since his brief goodbye earlier. Now he was standing with his arms crossed, watching.

Our eyes met—but he didn’t look away.

Instead, his gaze narrowed and his lips tightened into a firm line.

“Sienna?”

“Ah, no. Let’s hurry back. I’m really tired.”

“Understandably. Oh, and throw out that kitchen knife. I’ll buy you a sharper one.”

“Is that an engagement gift?”

I hadn’t meant it as a joke, but Leon chuckled.

Then he leaned in close.

Though his lips still wore a playful smile, his eyes were sharply serious—icy blue and piercing.

“I proposed without a ring or flowers—of course not. And I’m buying a knife I’ll be using more than you, so it’s for me.”

“Don’t cook anymore.”

“Why?”

“How could I eat something made by a prince? It feels too… royal.”

Now that I knew who he was, I couldn’t treat him the way I used to—him, with his massive frame hunched awkwardly over my tiny kitchen.

“That’s just a hobby of mine.”

“Still, Your Highness…”

“….”

“Ah, sorry. I’ll be more careful with how I speak. Maybe I said something inappropriate today… I’m still a bit overwhelmed.”

“Drop the ‘Your Highness’ crap.”

I’d spoken sincerely, worried I’d been disrespectful, but Leon’s face hardened.

Then, suddenly, he relaxed and reached toward my robe.

His large hands gently fastened the collar near my neck.

His face returned to its usual carefree expression.

“I’ll prepare a proper engagement gift, so look forward to it.”

“No need. I’m not expecting anything.”

It’s not real anyway, so there’s no reason to receive gifts.

I firmly refused, but Leon just smiled and patted my shoulder before walking ahead.

Back when I didn’t know he was hanging around me because of Damian’s request, I might’ve had hopes for a real relationship.

Now… I wasn’t sure.

His affection level was only 20%.

Lower than the other male leads.

We were now bound by this engagement, and I had no idea what to do with him.

“….”

Oh no.

While I’d been risking my life in the whirlwind of events, I hadn’t been paying attention to Nox.

His affection level, which had once reached nearly 50%, had dropped back down to 46%.

The bigger problem was the picture on his desk.

Or rather, the blonde woman in the drawing done by one of the orphanage children.

“Ah. You like cakes from Le Doux Flora, right? I got some yesterday. Please have one.”

“Did you buy them?”

“Miss Lily brought them—said it was a gift for the orphanage children.”

I was about to be touched, thinking he went all the way there to buy a cake just because I liked it.

But then Nox’s next words crushed my mood.

So that woman in the drawing really was Lily.

“You must’ve been busy lately. I’m impressed you still found time to visit the orphanage.”

“I wouldn’t call it impressive. I go there often.”

He still hadn’t looked up from his paperwork as he responded flatly.

Even at 46%, his affection level must’ve dropped enough to affect his attitude—he seemed colder.

Was he telling me to stop chatting and get back to work?

Still, I acted innocent and kept talking.

“I wouldn’t say that. You’re someone worth learning from.”

“Learning what exactly? Suffering? Volunteering?”

Only then did Nox finally look up.

Thankfully, there was a hint of playfulness on his lips, and I let out a small laugh in relief.

“Both.”

“In that case…”

Nox pulled out a massive pile of documents.

I gulped.

Anytime he pulled out paperwork, it meant a mountain of tasks for me.

“Sir?”

“Start with the suffering.”

Ugh. My instincts were never wrong.

Between missions and engagement talk, I’d been slacking off—and now I was going to pay the price.

“Oh, right. You can eat the cake while working.”

Holding back tears, I gathered the mountain of papers and the cake and returned to my desk.

I glanced back at Nox, just in case.

But he was already focused on his own work again.

I opened the cake box.

“Ha… Strawberry shortcake.”

It was Le Doux Flora’s signature menu, the one I recommended for dates with Damian.

And now it had been used on Nox?

I snapped the box shut in irritation.

I once swore I’d never give up on strawberry shortcake no matter how bad things got.

And yet here I was—completely turned off by it.

This won’t do. I need a new strategy.

This is a dating simulation game, after all—so it’s time I started playing it properly.