066.
It was quite embarrassing.
Eclecia Salon is exclusively a gathering for women.
Last time, I could have made an excuse that I didn’t know, but not anymore.
It means that I can’t just wander around the tea shop contracted with Eclecia Salon as I please.
Still, perhaps because he didn’t expect to be separated from Sinart.
Kalen was left standing blankly at the entrance of the tea shop.
The cause was Sinart.
For reasons unknown, Sinart gave Kalen a look and led the young ladies inside.
Eliana and Serasie had initially tried to bring Kalen along, but upon realizing what kind of gathering Eclecia was, they reluctantly nodded in agreement.
As the two young ladies leading the salon went in with Sinart, the remaining young ladies glanced around and followed them.
Thus, Kalen was naturally left behind.
Why was this happening?
From their attitudes, it seemed they were not uninterested in Kalen.
However, with Sinart, of all people, leading the way and leaving him behind, there was little he could say.
“Excuse me…”
Still, there was one fortunate fact to note.
Kalen wasn’t left entirely alone.
At the entrance of the tea shop, alongside Kalen, were two other young ladies standing in Sinart’s place.
Tap tap.
One of the ladies tapped Kalen’s shoulder.
Kalen, who had been lost in thought trying to understand why Sinart had left him behind, turned around to see who it was.
“Excuse me, do you remember me…?”
“Hmm?”
“It’s something I also mentioned when we first met…”
Fidget, fidget.
Kalen looked at the young lady who had bowed her head and mumbled.
How could anyone remember someone who spoke while hiding their face?
“Daphnis, don’t you think you should show your face?”
“Ah!”
At this, the other young lady standing beside them whispered something to the one who had her head bowed.
Realizing her mistake, she lifted her head.
A girl of considerable beauty.
Though she might appear slightly less striking compared to the ones Kalen had formed memories with, her appearance was still one to be proud of wherever she went.
Her proudly arched eyebrows and eyes.
Her forehead clearly revealed an impressive presence.
Kalen carefully observed her face, but it was unfamiliar.
“I’m sorry, but nothing comes to mind. Have we met somewhere before?”
“Ahh… Ah…”
At Kalen’s words, the young lady’s eyes were filled with sadness and regret, and Kalen, without realizing it, started to feel a bit sorry for her.
But no matter how hard he tried to observe her face more closely, a memory he didn’t have wouldn’t suddenly come to mind.
“It’s okay… It was such a short time, and I hadn’t told you my name…”
The young lady answered with an expression that seemed to be forcing a smile, her way of trying to relieve Kalen of his guilt.
But her expression only heightened Kalen’s sense of responsibility.
If a girl of such beauty made an effort to apologize, what man wouldn’t feel some guilt?
Even if it wasn’t entirely his fault, it seemed valid given her beauty.
Furthermore, Kalen had already been living under the same roof for a few years with not only Eliana and Serasie, but also Sinart.
The danger of angering women.
The tribulations and trials needed to mend such rifts.
Among his peers, there was no one who could match Kalen’s experience.
Kalen subtly shifted his gaze.
By his side stood another young lady with short hair, which left just a bit of space above her shoulders, and she was glaring at him.
This young lady, too, was quite beautiful.
Her appearance exuded the elegance befitting the daughter of a noble house.
Despite being surrounded by such beautiful ladies, it was difficult to maintain calmness in such a situation.
One apologizing while blaming herself.
The other glaring as if she too had done something wrong.
Kalen repeated to himself the name “Daphnis,” mentioned by the short-haired young lady.
His mind was working faster than ever, and just as his usual serenity started to shine through,
a memory flickered in his mind.
“Wasn’t it you who met me here last time with Lady Eliana and asked for my name?”
Although the name and face of Daphnis weren’t familiar in any way, her statement about a previous conversation where she didn’t disclose her name was decisive.
Kalen successfully retrieved a memory from the past and, confirming his guess, the young lady’s face began to brighten.
“Do you remember me?”
“Yes. Well, it’s not easy to forget a beauty like yours.”
“Ah…”
The ever-changing moods characteristic of Sinart.
Surviving that had taught him something.
Nothing soothes another person’s emotions better than praise.
It doesn’t matter if it’s about appearance, personality, or a minor action — praising gently while softening their emotions is the key.
Kalen glanced at the young lady addressed as Daphnis.
A pure smile.
Seeing her covering her mouth and giggling, it seemed her mood had lifted. And glancing to the side, the short-haired young lady was looking at him with wide eyes, clearly surprised.
“Not easy to forget your beauty…”
Had the word “beauty” pleased her? Her voice carried a touch of emphasis on the word itself.
Relieved by this, Kalen spoke swiftly to keep Daphnis from overthinking.
“Why didn’t the two of you follow Sinart?”
“Sinart… Ah, Lady Drannus that you’re referring to.”
“Yes. All the other young ladies went inside.”
Upon Kalen’s question, Daphnis froze.
Her fidgeting fingers were now intertwined, unsure of what to do.
The reason Daphnis hadn’t followed Sinart was simple.
To see Kalen.
Having read Sinart’s intentions and setting the mood for others to follow, Daphnis seized the opportunity to stay behind.
She wanted nothing more than an exclusive chance to be with Kalen.
Initially saddened by Kalen’s failure to recognize her, her spirits rose when she saw him trying to recall their earlier encounter.
At the same time, she understood.
Why she couldn’t stop thinking about this young boy since that day.
Why he wouldn’t leave her mind ever since.
However, there’s a vast difference between understanding and voicing such feelings.
Daphnis, who was well aware of the responsibilities that came with the surname Lerkalin and her background, knew that her feelings for this boy could be summarized simply as “wanting to get to know him better.”
Of course!
Of course, the boy’s face wouldn’t leave her mind, and she found herself thinking about him constantly since that day!
Still, the feelings she cherished for him weren’t that deep.
Since when would she act like a naïve girl just from seeing someone a few times?
She was Lerkalin’s stern daughter.
She had the mission of upholding the Lerkalin name in the empire.
There wasn’t any way she would fall at first sight for someone she just met.
…But how, and by what excuse, could she make the young boy, Kalen, understand?
Having grown up under her parents, who placed a heavy emphasis on truth, Daphnis considered lying a sin.
Yet telling the truth, she thought, might cause misunderstandings.
Daphnis, thus, remained silent for quite a while,
and just as the awkward silence extended, she said,
“Because of my interest.”
Daphnis was so shocked by the unexpected confession from right beside her that her legs almost gave out.
“Ri… Lady Licheisa?”
“Interest?”
“Yes. I want to have a conversation with you, sir.”
Daphnis turned to Licheisa in disbelief at what she had just said, only to see her smile back, assuring her it was okay.
Just as Kalen was about to ask what she meant,
Licheisa turned back to Kalen and continued speaking.
“Ladies Eliana and Serasie seemed like they knew you well.”
“…”
“Is the person you are is the young master?”
Kalen felt a chill run down his spine in that instant.
Though her appearance and eyes seemed as pure as they could be, anyone seeing her would surely envision a gentlewoman from the countryside.
However, at that moment,
Kalen read the emotion in her eyes — an insight of a fourth-tier magician who had overcome countless trials.
This much excitement suggested she had been meticulously masking herself until now.
Although Kalen couldn’t realize it, he immediately became wary at the chill he felt from Licheisa.
“No, that is not me.”
Blamia had advised Kalen not to reveal himself to her.
Additionally, since it wasn’t something that would benefit him if it got out, Kalen took a step back.
“Even though the two young ladies seemed to know you quite well?”
But the further he stepped back,
Licheisa advanced two steps forward.
With an expression that clearly showed she wouldn’t let him go,
it looked somehow familiar, and for a fleeting moment, Kalen thought he understood the emotion that lingered beyond her eyes.
“If your identity as the young master becomes known, would that be inconvenient? Can you create illusions, young master? Or…”
An endless stream of questions.
Licheisa wouldn’t let go of Kalen,
and questions that seemingly struck at the core made Kalen unable to hide his surprise.
Most importantly, there was no malice.
She wasn’t cornering him or trying to make things difficult for him—she was merely curious.
Seeing Daphnis fidgeting awkwardly on the side and the subtle awareness Licheisa had for her,
Kalen, who had been calmly facing Licheisa, felt he had a vague understanding of her character.
“Could you answer…?”
“Lady Licheisa?”
But this wasn’t right.
If she had questions, she should ask respectfully.
This kind of prodding went against etiquette.
Even though Kalen might have understood her intentions,
her attitude did not sit well with him.
Based on Kalen’s assumptions,
the emotions Licheisa harbored toward Daphnis went beyond friendship.
This impatience likely slipped out subconsciously.
Sometimes, people obsessed with something they love let go of their self-control and surpass reasonable limits.
Kalen felt that Licheisa belonged to such a category.
And the most effective approach for such people is…
“Please speak slowly. Take it slowly.”
Making her aware of her current state.
Using the momentary fluster as an opportunity after leaning closer to her face,
Kalen gave her the space to reflect on herself.
Licheisa, taken aback by Kalen’s sudden proximity, sucked in her breath and realized she had pressured him too much just then.
Slowly.
His voice urging her to go slowly was vivid.
Daphnis would easily get excited over anything concerning men related.
Licheisa knew her own temperament well as she blinked a few times and lowered her head.
“I’m sorry, Young Master.”
“It’s okay. Can you please explain slowly?”
Honestly, she was surprised.
Licheisa, knowing herself well, also knew what happened when her distorted nature surfaced inadvertently.
Ten times out of ten.
Hundred times out of a hundred.
People always viewed her as if she were mentally unstable.
Even if there was no ill intent, people, by nature, don’t deeply wish to know others.
Especially when concerning someone who was pressuring her until just moments ago.
Licheisa looked up and met Kalen’s dark eyes.
Almost as if they were acknowledging her lack of malicious intent,
he displayed no contempt or disdain in his eyes.
To Licheisa, men were akin to animals frolicking on the palm of her hand.
She had always thought they were utterly useless.
But now, for the first time,
she felt she was facing a man who could have a conversation with her as equals.
