Ch.347Side Story. Change

“What, why are they here?!”

A warning bell rang in Deia’s heart, which had been gloomy all day.

Shinwoo Kim wasn’t in the hotel room because he was sleeping in the lab, and this morning she had briefly talked with Erika about where they would be meeting for a blind date…

“Erika Briiiight!”

She must have come here based on what she heard then. It couldn’t be anything but intentional.

The flustered Shinwoo Kim occasionally entered her field of vision. He too had looked at her at first, but then completely turned his gaze away, which also displeased her.

“What’s his deal?”

Seeing his calm demeanor, as if he wasn’t concerned about her, made Deia’s heart sting.

“Are you alright?”

The man sitting across from her asked with a smile. He was the best among all the men she had met for blind dates so far.

He had excellent looks, was considerate, and showed good manners even in simple actions.

He also didn’t try to hide that he was interested in her.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Deia answered demurely, unlike her usual self, and the man gave her a gentle smile.

“You’re Erika Bright.”

“…”

Everyone in the restaurant had seen Erika enter.

Since everyone knew who her fiancé was, people were already gossiping about her being alone with another man in the restaurant.

A woman who killed her fiancé meeting a new man.

Though it was for the greater good, it certainly wouldn’t be viewed favorably.

“Shall we move to another table?”

The man asked quite considerately.

He seemed to think she would naturally want to avoid Erika given their complicated relationship.

“No, it’s fine.”

But Deia had no intention of avoiding them. Avoiding them would openly show that she cared, and that would feel like losing.

Time continued to pass.

The man tried his best to impress Deia by keeping the conversation going kindly.

But Deia’s gaze kept drifting toward the other two.

The sight of them chatting and eating together felt repulsive.

‘What’s the point? He can’t even taste anything since he has an artificial body.’

Seeing him still putting some food in his mouth out of consideration for Erika made her feel terribly upset.

She couldn’t understand what he was thinking. He wasn’t the type to be led around like that, even when being considerate of others.

‘…Is it because it’s Erika?’

Her shoulders drooped, and she couldn’t even tell what she was eating anymore.

“Lady Verdi?”

“Ah, yes.”

Deia responded a beat late to the voice calling her. Startled, she forced a smile, and the man ruefully fiddled with the edge of the plate on the table.

“I heard you’re currently meeting men from various noble families.”

“…That’s right. Was that uncomfortable for you?”

She thought it would naturally be uncomfortable, but the man shook his head.

“No, I understand your situation well enough.”

Because of Deus Verdi, the value of the Verdi family continued to plummet.

They were barely maintaining their form thanks to King Orpheus’s mercy, but it was far from what it used to be.

“You must be meeting potential matches for the sake of your family.”

Actually, she was going on blind dates to deny her growing feelings for her second brother, but…

It wasn’t wrong.

If someone truly suitable appeared, Deia could marry for the sake of her family.

“To be honest, I don’t really like these kinds of arrangements. I’ve always yearned for fateful encounters, natural connections. That sort of thing.”

The man shrugged and smiled. Deia’s expression showed she didn’t quite understand what he was getting at.

“But my thinking has changed. I realized, after meeting you, Lady Verdi, that even through arranged meetings like this, fateful and natural encounters can happen.”

An explicit courtship.

A strong appeal that he was interested in her.

While she had met some perverts obsessed with lust during previous blind dates, there were also considerate people like him whose kindness radiated from within.

At times like this, Deia felt sorry.

Perhaps reading her emotions, the man smiled bitterly and answered.

“But it seems I’m not your fate.”

The man wiped his mouth with the napkin placed beside him. Though food remained, it signaled the end of the meal.

“Lady, is there someone you like?”

“What, what?!”

Deia’s shoulders jumped in surprise. The man smiled, saying her reaction had already given her away.

“Have confidence. You’re more than capable.”

“…”

“I enjoyed dining with you today. For the sake of my pride, please allow me to say that I wasn’t interested.”

“As you wish…”

With those words, the man left. Clean, understanding, comforting, and kind.

Deus Verdi.

More precisely, a man resembling Shinwoo Kim.

Yes, that should be enough.

Even just someone similar should be sufficient.

She had thought so before.

But Deia’s lips didn’t move. Her reason told her to be satisfied with this, but her hands didn’t reach out to stop him at all.

In the end, the man left.

Sitting alone at the table, Deia reached for the wine glass but withdrew her hand.

“I see.”

Substitution was impossible.

Being satisfied with someone similar?

Such thoughts now only left Deia feeling empty.

Even while being with that man who resembled Shinwoo Kim, her eyes kept turning toward him.

Having finally realized her feelings, Deia abruptly stood up.

She took her chair and invaded the table where the two were dating.

The restaurant servers rushed to stop her, but Erika gestured for them to leave.

“How was your blind date?”

To Erika’s question, which she asked despite already knowing everything, Deia snorted and replied.

“He was a good man. But not satisfying enough. He matched what I thought was my type, but… it turns out it’s not about type.”

Shinwoo Kim’s gaze briefly turned toward her.

She grinned at him as he seemed to be searching for something to say.

“I thought I liked someone who was secretly kind, thoughtful, and responsible…”

“And?”

Erika prompted her to continue, and Deia shrugged.

“But that wasn’t it.”

Yes, that wasn’t it.

She didn’t like that type of person.

“I just like Shinwoo Kim.”

It wasn’t that she liked that type of person.

The person she liked just happened to be that type.

“…!”

Shinwoo Kim’s expression twisted strangely again. He nervously twitched his lips, seemingly trying to find something to say, which oddly appeared cute to her.

“How cute.”

Crossing her legs, Deia spoke toward Shinwoo Kim, and his expression contorted bizarrely once more.

As if he never thought he’d hear such words.

“Right? He has surprisingly cute sides too.”

For some reason, Erika chimed in to help her, and Shinwoo Kim bit his lip and sighed.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Hear what?

“I’ll act like none of this happened.”

Like what?

Such questions were actually too obvious.

His declaration that he would pretend everything he just heard and yesterday’s events never happened.

Erika glanced at Deia.

As if urging that it was now her choice, and while Deia shook her head in disbelief…

She rested her chin on her hand and gently declared.

“It did happen.”

“…”

“I kissed you.”

I’m sorry, but.

“I told you I like you.”

Now, I won’t hold back anymore.

“It can’t be undone, brother.”

As the man who left said.

Have confidence.

She was certain.

She could make him happier as a wife than as a little sister.

* * *

After seeing off Deia and Erika, who said they would visit again soon, I returned to my home in the Republic of Clark.

Though it had only been two days, I felt as tired as if I’d been on a long journey, and I’d unintentionally taken on some troubling concerns.

‘This is difficult.’

It was too difficult.

Deia’s impulsive declaration and aggressive behavior had left my head spinning.

“Kiya.”

But.

The atmosphere twisted instantly as if the world had changed.

A chilling voice greeted me with a sinister laugh.

“You stayed out all night?”

Findenai was glaring at me with her arms crossed, having placed a chair right in front of the door.

I thought she wouldn’t welcome me back warmly, asking what took me so long.

“…I had my reasons.”

As I offered my excuse, Findenai was about to say something but frowned deeply after seeing my expression.

“What is it? What happened?”

Perhaps she noticed my complicated expression. Findenai, who was about to get angry, approached me with concern.

[Did you bring souvenirs?!]

[Did something happen?]

The Dark Spiritmaster and Stella also greeted me right away. I sat at the dining table with my complicated feelings.

“Everyone, come here.”

I need to clarify Stella’s plan that Erika mentioned.

I also need to discuss matters related to Deia and Erika.

Finally.

It’s time to ask about the intentions of the women I’ve been implicitly avoiding.

Many things will probably change after this.