* * *
Why had Major Isaac Rodriguez come to visit?
Cynthia took her parasol and followed Dahlia to the garden where he was waiting.
“Hello.”
The major, in plain clothes, approached her with his signature gentle voice.
He offered her something with a welcoming expression.
“The macarons you gave me that day were delicious. I was wondering how to repay you, and I chose this gift. I hope you like it.”
Cynthia checked the gift he offered.
Confirming that it was a ruby brooch similar to her eye color, she looked up at him in surprise.
“Sheesh, isn’t this too expensive compared to what I gave you?”
“Is that exclamation from a language of the Republic?”
‘I was so surprised that I unconsciously used a modern word.’
Cynthia explained with an embarrassed smile.
“It’s a complex exclamation with different emotions and meanings depending on the situation… Anyway, thank you. I really like it.”
One should never refuse a gift.
She held her hand out of the parasol and admired the ruby’s sparkling appearance in the sunlight.
“Wow, it’s so pretty. I’ll keep it safe and pass it down through generations.”
“It’s not that much, but I’m glad you’re happy.”
Major Rodriguez, who looked like a male lead in a romance fantasy novel, gave a bright smile.
‘Are all Esat people so innocent and sparkling?‘ Cynthia thought, carefully observing his appearance.
“Major, I’ll serve you some warm black tea. Let’s go to the reception room together.”
“No, I just stopped by on my way, so I’ll just accept your kind offer.”
“Ah! You’re going on a date. No wonder you’re dressed so nicely.”
He scratched his silver hair and smiled awkwardly.
“I don’t have a lover.”
“You have the face of a handsome man that people wouldn’t leave alone. Major, you have a cold color but an overall warm feeling.”
In short, the major, who felt like a warm ice mage, said,
“My lady, you are beautiful in both appearance and heart. When I first saw you, I mistook you for an angel who came to pick me up.”
“Isn’t that the Grim Reaper?”
After that, an endless compliment battle between the sunshine-like woman and the gentle man continued. It was so warm that it was hot, melting the eyes of those around them.
Cynthia, who had poured out all the compliments she knew, held out her hand to him for a handshake.
“I feel like… we could be good friends.”
They were definitely kindred spirits.
They both had sensitivity and romance attributes.
Moreover, they even had a sense of empathy because they both had experience being discriminated against.
The major carefully took her gloved hand.
“Are you saying you want to be friends with me?”
“That’s right. I came from the countryside and don’t know anyone. I’m working hard to make friends these days.”
“I’m honored. But, your eyes are red. Did something happen? I’m worried as a friend.”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Cynthia shook her head. It was a little embarrassing to say that she had been peeling onions between seeing him twice.
Major Rodriguez looked at her with a kind gaze and said,
“If there’s anything I can help you with, please tell me anytime. Counseling is also fine.”
‘Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve met such a kind person. By now… he must know that I’m a fallen royal.’
She felt warm and fuzzy at the unconditional favor she felt after a long time.
Everyone else looked at her with eyes like, ‘Ugh, an evil royal who ruined the country! She must have a bad personality!’
It felt like meeting a kind golden retriever who wagged its tail and licked her hand even though it was their first meeting, after only seeing Masera, a cat-like person who hissed and threw cat punches.
“Can you chat with me like a friend? Everyone gets tired of my chatter.”
“I’ve mostly been the one listening, so I’m confident I won’t get tired.”
The two shook their hands up and down. Anyway, it was a moment when something only the two of them knew was concluded.
At that time, Masera, who was passing through the garden, happened to witness the scene of the two of them together.
* * *
Masera’s brow furrowed as he saw Cynthia and Major Rodriguez shaking hands vigorously.
‘What is that?’
He still didn’t completely trust Cynthia, so he watched the two of them from a distance with his good eyesight.
He repeated, it didn’t matter who Cynthia met.
However, it would be a different story if it was Major Rodriguez, Brigadier General Steve’s direct subordinate.
‘So that’s why I feel so unpleasant. It wouldn’t matter if the two of them only had pure romantic feelings for each other.’
At that time, he saw Major Rodriguez rubbing his eyes and bowing his head.
Cynthia looked at him with a genuinely worried and pitiful expression.
Looking closely, Cynthia’s eyes were red and bloodshot.
‘Was she crying?’
Masera unknowingly narrowed the distance and approached.
Then he stopped when he saw the major’s face, which had also turned red.
A tear streamed down the major’s blue eyes.
“I’m sorry… you’re hurting because of me.”
“It’s fine.”
It looked like a situation where they were rejecting each other’s feelings and hurting each other.
Unlike when he thought he didn’t need to care if the two of them only had romantic feelings for each other, he felt even more unpleasant.
It was a feeling similar to when he saw Cynthia’s brother, Carlos, a feeling like swallowing a hot stone that burned from his esophagus.
The Major, who was disgracing the military by shamelessly wiping away tears, soon took his leave of her and left.
Masera turned around and stood still in that spot.
Soon, he heard the sound of light and cheerful footsteps, and Cynthia’s voice came from behind him.
“Brigadier General, what are you doing here?”
It was a nonchalant voice, unlike the situation just now.
Masera turned his head and looked at her calm expression.
Shouldn’t a woman with a fiancé have at least a hint of surprise or embarrassment?
‘Does she not care about me at all?’
He felt strangely twisted. When he thought about it, he was always the only one swept away by emotions.
Even if he acted indifferently, acted resentfully, or said hurtful things, that white and harmless woman was as bright as the White Nights.
Did she build a solid defensive position in her heart?
“Why were you crying?”
Masera asked.
But why did she cry in front of that man like someone who had taken off her smiling mask? That was the most unpleasant thing.
“Oh.”
Caught off guard, Cynthia belatedly panicked, then quickly hid both hands behind her back as she took a step away.
“The onion I ate earlier was really spicy.”
What kind of excuse was that? Masera’s expression hardened.
But Cynthia had her reasons.
‘I can’t exactly say a princess peeled 38 onions a second ago.’
She had a battle with the servants to see who could peel the most.
Odds were only the kitchen staff would be scolded.
Besides, the innocent Major Rodriguez inadvertently rubbed his eyes after shaking hands with her, causing him to shed tears. All because she had forgotten to wash her hands after peeling onions.
‘If he finds out I basically tear-gassed an officer with onions…’
She absolutely couldn’t let that happen. Like a guilty suspect hiding a crime, Cynthia carefully watched Masera’s expression.
Seeing such Cynthia do as much, Masera’s fierce eyes became even sharper.
“I don’t care who you meet. It’s not as if I had any reason to expect your loyalty in the first place.”
Cynthia, who completely lost on the context of his icy lowered voice, gave Masera a blank look.
“Alright.”
She’d heard this sort of thing every cooldown cycle or so. It barely registered anymore.
Then, suddenly, a lightbulb moment, ‘this is one of those ‘sweet potato’ scenes that happen in rofans with a regretful male leads!’ (TL/N: Sweet potato = awkward/slow/frustrating)
She jumped in quickly.
“Still, I’d prefer if you didn’t bring in a mistress. And if you do, at least let it be a man. I’ll go through a proper interview process and choose a woman myself. Not as a mistress, more like a soulmate arrangement…”
Honestly, Masera didn’t seem like the type to bring in a mistress and yell ‘Cynthia! How dare you harm my fragile, innocent darling!’, but hey, you never know.
Masera’s lips twisted noticeably at Cynthia’s words.
‘Why is he the one sulking? What did I miss?’
She rapidly ran through all the possibilities in her head.
And incredibly, the only thing that even remotely matched what Masera seemed upset about was Major Rodríguez. Who just so happened to be standing nearby.
“Wait, is this about me talking to Major Rodríguez just now?”
“No.”
Masera strongly denied it.
Bingo.
He was one of those Confucian boys who didn’t even allow his woman to talk to other men. (TL/N: Confucian boy/girl ≈ conservative)
Didn’t think he was the type… what a petty man.
Cynthia gave him a dark, judging look.
