episode_0051

Upon meeting Lucas, Darin immediately grabbed his thick wrist with both hands and dragged him to the warehouse.

Lucas had mistakenly thought of Darin as a rather assertive woman, but her intentions were not what he had imagined.

‘I don’t know how to react.’

Indeed, that was the case.

Darin was in a position where she had to lie to Lucas because of her son.

The misunderstanding that Yongsu and Kael were childhood friends and soon-to-be lovers must have been brewing.

Hence, before other servants could discover Yongsu and complicate matters, she brought him to the tangerine warehouse.

It was already suspicious for an outsider to come looking for a married lady of the house. Even more so if it was Yongsu.

There was the option of casually passing him off as her son’s friend, but she was anxious about how Lucas would react.

During a conversation between me and Lucas, it was awkward when other servants overheard someone from the church shouting that my son and I were lovers.

The only witness, Duncan, fainted as soon as he made eye contact with Lucas. He mentioned something about a magic spell that erases brief memories.

‘Perhaps even Lucas? For reasons unknown…’

Darin realized once again that Lucas also wanted to have a private conversation with her.

Lady Jajak’s head tilted upward. Her heart was pounding due to the unexpected visit, yet the trespasser was smiling mischievously at her.

“Why have you come unannounced like this? Without even a letter.”

Normally, nobles would send word through a servant or give notice via a letter before meeting.

Lucas, being a warrior and a new noble, should have known this. He cleared his throat briefly before replying in a calm tone.

“If it was rude, I apologize. Meeting fellow countrymen has become a rarity these days, hence the hasty visit…”

Upon hearing these words, Darin’s tense expression softened slightly.

‘I might have reacted too sharply. Lately, with all that’s been happening…’

As he said, both Lucas and I were the only people from our planet and country.

Darin, with her keen eyes and ears, had a rough idea of what kind of person the warrior was.

Lucas kept a harem of over five women and seemed nonchalant even about those relationships.

Recalling the moment when he argued loudly with Kael, he appeared somewhat arrogant and independent. A hint of superiority complex was also present.

‘Lucas is probably kind to me because…’

He glanced at my face then shifted his gaze towards my chest. Darin met Lucas’s eyes directly. Upon our eye contact, he made a casual awkward expression or gesture. His intentions were quite obvious.

I understand that he is pleased to meet a fellow countryman like me. But if I weren’t an attractive woman, would his reaction have been the same?

She was a perceptive woman in her own right.

Living secluded in the mansion, she had fewer opportunities to be exposed to men’s lecherous gazes, which had made her less guarded and desensitized.

However, due to recent incidents during the improvement ceremony and the vile acts her son had committed against her, her old sensitive instincts were resurfacing.

‘Not that Lucas isn’t welcome, but…’

This was also a genuine sentiment. After all, being fellow countrymen did make him somewhat welcome. Considering his vigorous age, it wasn’t unreasonable for him to show interest in women.

Given Lucas’s truly exceptional abilities, his life in this world might feel like a game, leading to a dulled sense of perception.

The wise girl did not think to dislike the hero simply for being bright and arrogant. Considering his powerlessness, outright rejection posed risks.

“…Yes, I was honestly very glad to meet you as well.”

“Are you forgiving me?”

“Forgiving over something like this? If anything, I feel like I reacted too sharply. I’m sorry.”

“Haha, thank you for understanding. As fellow travelers, our conversation flows well.”

She nodded. What if she didn’t understand? She had no power at all, after all.

“I mentioned last time, didn’t I? It seems we need a bit more conversation.”

“That’s right. I also have quite a few questions for Lucas.”

Even as they conversed, Darin’s mind raced. Besides the joy of meeting a comrade, quickly grasping who Lucas was was crucial. This way, they could build a good relationship with the hero and minimize potential variables.

“Did Lucas visit to have a secret conversation with me too?”

“You’re quick to catch on. Yes, that’s right. Now that I hold a title as a nobleman, meeting a lady with a guardian requires some tact.”

“But what if you visit so openly?”

“I sensed only two presences. I can erase memories of hundreds instantly.”

Darin’s pumpkin-colored eyes widened in amazement. Erase memories of hundreds just like that? So easily?

‘That’s so unfair.’

Darin keenly felt the disparity between her mediocre ability and the hero’s power, feeling unjust. Where did his abilities end, exactly?

Seeing Darin’s disappointed expression, Lucas chuckled knowingly. He must have seen through her thoughts.

“Darin, can’t you make oranges taste delicious at least?”

“…Thank you for the compliment.”

He raised both hands in a gesture of ‘not at all.’ There was no alternative but to control his expression even to suppress laughter.

“But your dress looks quite shabby. I’d like to provide you with a few new ones.”

He also looked puzzled. Despite being from a fallen family and serving as a ward, wasn’t Darin a viscountess from the Orange House?

The Bayoren Viscount is known for successfully running a fur business, a mercenary guild, and even an orange farm, making them quite wealthy. So, there was no need for her to wear such shabby dresses…

“You just saw it. I work at the orange farm. Utilizing this ability.”

“Perhaps, as a ward, are you being exploited against your will using that ability as an excuse…”

“…Absolutely not.”

Darin vehemently shook her head. Rather than immediately revealing herself as a viscountess, she had to say something like this. She hadn’t even discussed it with Kyle, let alone aligned their stories.

Though she felt a pang of conscience, there was also the risk of repercussions if she unilaterally revealed herself as a viscountess.

In her current state of not knowing him well, their relationship could sour. Or if Lucas grew close to her son emotionally. She could potentially expose the relationship between the two hats.

No matter how innocent and kind Darin was, having lived 30 years as a veteran viscountess married to a nobleman, she wasn’t foolish and had no reason to act hastily.

“I should repay some kindness to the Bayoren family who takes care of me… What’s the difference between just cooking rice and being a gourmet?”

Lucas nodded with a warm smile.

“Darin seems to be just like me, a modern person for sure. Originally, noble young ladies are blood-related and self-respecting; they don’t try to dig in the dirt.”

He recalled the noble young ladies he had encountered. They generally disliked any blemishes on their precious bodies, even if they were benefiting from someone’s favor. They often made do with brief gifts and superficial gestures.

“…Is that so? I’ve been harvesting tangerines for a long time, so I haven’t thought about that.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes.”

Darin replied with a faint smile. She was also somewhat tense, but she didn’t dislike conversing with him.

Cael, facing her clean smile with a vacant expression, slowly spoke up.

“I’m curious, Darin, may I ask what you did in your past life?”

“What I did and who I was… I passed away in middle school…”

“Oh! You said you were from Jeju Island? You passed away due to an allergy while eating tangerines, hehe…”

Embarrassment appeared on the woman’s face. Is that man a psychopath? Laughing at someone’s death like that, well, I know that it’s a ridiculous fate, but…

“Oh, I apologize. I didn’t mean to laugh at others. It wasn’t a significant death.”

“…How did Lucas end up in this world?”

“I came over due to a traffic accident.”

“Ah…”

Unintentionally, Darin felt a pang of sorrow. Should she consider it fortunate that she faced a proper accident-related death unlike him? Well, she wouldn’t feel inferior at least.

“Why are people so kind?”

Feeling sorry for the fate of someone she had just met as if it were her own.

“I thought I could respond playfully.”

Since she had lightly joked about this girl’s death just now, Darin had expected her own death to be mocked as being hit by a truck in this world, but it seemed that this girl fundamentally had a different way of thinking than him.

“It seems like a change in atmosphere is needed here.”

Let’s make amends for the sudden awkwardness.

“Haha, you don’t have to take it too seriously. Life isn’t that tough with cheat-like abilities, as you can see.”

After hearing Lucas’ words, Darin nodded in agreement. While one shouldn’t take lightly the end of others, for now, he didn’t seem to have suffered like her despite appearing invincible.

“Oh, his face and personality are so lovely.”

Due to the cute appearance of the adorable girl staring at him with wide eyes, a natural desire arose within him.

Although he pretended to be a gentleman on the outside, Lucas was originally a suspicious man full of ulterior motives. As a trendsetter, he naturally wanted to advance his relationship with beautiful women quickly.

“Why is she suddenly staring at me like that…?”

On the other hand, Darin was anxious that Lucas might see her as a woman, but nothing more.