My eyes sparkled as I eagerly clasped Nazlee’s hands.
“Miss Lilithia…?”
I sensed her utter bewilderment, but I deliberately ignored it, pressing on. “Miss Nazlee, you seem like such a wonderful person! Since this is clearly fate, would you like to have tea with me if you have some free time?”
An opportunity to orchestrate Freyer’s happy ending had practically landed in my lap. I gestured toward a nearby café with a charming storefront. “I hear the black tea there is exceptional.”
I had never actually set foot in the place, but my priority was bonding with Nazlee. We’ll eat delicious treats, chat, and get close! From there, I could casually bring up Freyer, sparking her interest in him naturally.
Nazlee’s puzzled expression quickly melted into a delighted smile. “Oh, I would love that.”
I mentally pumped my fist in victory. Yes! But just as I turned to head toward the café, a voice cut through my excitement.
“Miss Lilithia!”
Winnie was jogging toward me, having apparently finished her sweeping duties on the second floor. Right—I had only told her I was stepping out for a quick moment.
“Miss, if you were going to walk this far, you should have told me! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Only then did I realize how far I had wandered from the Trade Guild. Winnie looked frantic. “The Baron urgently requested your presence back at the manor. We need to hurry.”
I was this close to having tea with Nazlee! This was the ultimate golden opportunity to talk about Freyer…!
Flustered, I glanced back and forth between Winnie and Nazlee. Nazlee offered a warm, reassuring smile. “It sounds like you have to go, Miss Lilithia. How about we take up that tea date another time?”
She looked like she practically had a glowing halo behind her. Even though the timing was tragic, her gentle words made my heart flutter. She really is the female lead.
“I would absolutely love that!” I squeezed her hands a little tighter, my eyes shining. “If you ever happen to be in the busy district, please stop by the Baimery Trade Guild!”
“The Trade Guild?”
“Yes! I’m managing my family’s guild now. Come find me, and we’ll go get that tea!”
Nazlee smiled brightly. “Really? I’ll definitely visit.”
“It’s right on the main road—you can’t miss it! I’m so sorry, but I have to run!”
Winnie offered a polite bow to Nazlee, and I reluctantly let myself be dragged back.
Meanwhile, Freyer stood frozen, staring up at a sign reading [R. Mary]. Etched in small letters along the edge were the words: Ladies’ Lingerie. The clear glass storefront proudly displayed mannequins draped in delicate undergarments.
Naturally, a tall, handsome man standing in broad daylight outside a women’s undergarment shop drew intense scrutiny from passing pedestrians. Freyer sighed under the weight of the collective stares, but quickly composed himself.
I only need information about her.
Ignoring the curious onlookers, Freyer pushed open the door.
Ring—
The small silver bell chimed.
“Who is the owner of this shop?”
His low voice carried through the boutique, causing every woman inside to snap their heads toward the entrance. It was practically unheard of for a gentleman to visit a women’s specialty shop unless he was running a humiliating errand.
When they locked eyes with the striking, undeniably aristocratic young man, the women froze. Faces flushed crimson, and several instinctively began fanning themselves.
A woman dressed in a neat black uniform and wearing an updo stepped forward. “I am the shop owner. How may I help you, sir?”
Freyer unfolded the black ribbon from his pocket and held it out. “I have a question. Is this item from your shop?”
The owner adjusted her glasses, inspecting the fabric closely. “Yes. That is one of our garter belts.”
“I am looking for the person who bought this. I was told I could check your customer registry.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” the owner replied apologetically. “I understand you’re looking for someone, but I cannot hand over a lady’s personal information to a stranger.”
Freyer stared down at the ribbon, a hollow look in his eyes. “This is the only keepsake she left behind. It was the only lead I had left.”
Desperate, Freyer slipped a gold coin from his pocket and slid it across the counter. “I’m asking just this once.”
The owner blinked at the gold coin, glanced around the room, and swiftly slipped it into her pocket. “…Could you please wait for a moment?”
She led Freyer to a chair in a quiet corner before walking away. Freyer sat down and closed his eyes. I have to find a clue.
He frowned as he felt the heavy gaze of the female shoppers lingering on him. Whispers and awkward coughs drifted over. Though the patrons quickly pretended to look at the merchandise again, their eyes kept darting back to him.
The environment was suffocating. The heavy mix of high-end perfumes and the unfamiliar setting made his skin crawl. I want to get out of here.
The woman from that night hadn’t reeked of heavy perfume; she had carried a subtle, refreshing floral scent. Thinking of her only deepened his ache. He had to find a lead here.
After a few minutes, the owner returned with an apologetic look. “Sir, I’m terribly sorry. That particular item was discontinued a long time ago, and the sales records have already been purged. There’s no trace left.”
Freyer’s expression crumbled, as if his last remaining anchor had snapped. “…Thank you anyway.”
Feeling like his world was collapsing, Freyer stood up and trudged heavily out of the shop. How am I ever supposed to find her now?
Pressing his fingers to his throbbing temples, he stepped out onto the street. Suddenly, a honey-haired woman stumbled and collapsed right in front of him with a soft thud.
“Ouch…”
Hearing her whimper in pain, Freyer blinked and looked around. Unlike before, the street was completely empty. Sighing, he extended a hand toward the fallen woman.
“Are you alright?”
The honey-haired woman, who had been busy checking her scraped knee, gasped and snapped her head up.
Long, wavy honey-colored hair and pale sea-blue eyes came into focus.
His mother from his nightmares.
He had never imagined meeting a stranger who looked so striking a resemblance. Startled, Freyer instinctively tried to pull his hand back, but her fingers caught his.
“Um… thank you.”
She quickly used his support to stand up. Contact with someone who looked so much like the woman from his trauma sent a jolt through him. The vivid memory of his mother’s harsh grip—the one that left bruises on his young arms—flashed through his mind. Freyer squeezed his eyes shut.
Is the trauma haunting me even in broad daylight?
Even with his eyes closed, he could see his mother’s face, pale and coughing up blood. I need to get out of here.
Just then, a clear, refreshing voice broke through his panic.
“I guess since it’s my first time out in a while, I got clumsy and tripped over a stone. Thank you so much for helping me.”
The voice was entirely different from his mother’s, yet the haunting echoes of the nightmare still rang in his ears. Freyer just wanted to block it all out and flee.
“Is something wrong? Why are your eyes closed?”
The woman blinked in confusion before clapping her hands lightly in realization. “Oh! Did I startle you when I fell? I’m so sorry! I’m completely fine, you can open your eyes now, you know?”
“That’s… good. I must be going.”
Her clap broke her hold on his hand. Freyer offered a stiff, hurried bow, turned on his heel, and walked away without looking back.
“Maybe because it’s my first time going out in a while, everything today has been so eventful.”
Back in her bedroom, Nazlee lay staring at the ceiling, replaying her trip to the busy district.
She hadn’t been able to ignore the children in danger in the alleyway. Knowing the risks hadn’t stopped her; the memory of her own childhood at the orphanage had forced her feet to move on instinct. And that was how she had met the lovely Miss Lilithia.
“She seemed like such a kind person. If she hadn’t had to rush back, we could have talked so much more.”
After Lilithia hurried off, Nazlee had accidentally tripped over a protruding stone on her way back to her carriage.
“Ouch…”
Though she had patched up her scraped knee, a dull ache still lingered. But when she closed her eyes, her mind bypassed the pain and landed on a very specific memory.
“Are you alright?”
She remembered taking the hand that had been offered, dusting herself off, and looking up at the man standing before her.
He was impossibly tall, with broad shoulders and silver hair that caught the sunlight like spun glass. His eyes were deep and mesmerizing, like an ancient forest, and his low, soothing voice felt like a melody.
Time had seemed to freeze. She even remembered him closing his eyes, his dark lashes fluttering against his skin.
Why did he close his eyes?
Nazlee belatedly remembered her state: scraped knees, slightly disheveled clothes after a fall. Realization dawned on her. He must have closed his eyes to spare me the embarrassment of being seen in such a messy state!
“How kind of him…!”
Deeply touched, her heart did a frantic flip. She had wanted to reassure him, telling him it was safe to open his eyes, but he had turned away shyly and walked off before she could say a word.
Flicking through her memories with a tinge of regret, Nazlee groaned and buried her face in her pillow, her cheeks burning bright red.
“I should have at least told him my name… I hope I run into him again.”
Judging by the exquisite tailoring of his coat, he was clearly a young nobleman. Unless he was a foreigner visiting the capital, there was always a chance their paths would cross again.
Hugging her pillow tight, Nazlee smiled into the fabric, whispering to the empty room, “Next time, I won’t let him slip away so easily.”