Siena Dating Agency - Chapter 16
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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16.
I quickly found a coffee shop and scanned the menu.
The shop owner spoke to me.
“Miss, what would you like to order?”
“Um…, one iced americano, please.”
“That’ll be 20 gold.”
I wondered why there would be iced americano in a romance fantasy game world…
‘These kinds of settings must have been created by the platform.’
It’s a setting tailored for Koreans who can’t give up iced americano even in cold winter.
And the existence of iced americano wasn’t the problem.
’20 gold for just coffee? If this isn’t a scam, what is.’
Thanks to the rich male leads, prices were ridiculously expensive.
Anyway, I stood quietly while waiting for my ordered coffee.
Receiving heated stares because of the hawk…
People were whispering.
“Isn’t that person the Center Director of Willow Counseling Center? Why does she have a hawk…”
“Right. She’s carrying around a hawk that’s bigger than herself.”
“But that hawk looks really strange. It’s not a crow, and I’ve never seen such a black hawk before.”
Though I hated being the center of attention, I had been forced to become a spectacle.
‘Ugh, how embarrassing. What kind of situation is this because of this extroverted hawk.’
Later, my face even felt hot as if it were burning.
‘I need to get to the Center quickly.’
I finally received my coffee and left the shop.
“An empty carriage…”
I was planning to catch a carriage that goes around the capital to get to the Center.
‘But… would the coachmen really let me and the hawk ride?’
I wonder if there are carriages that allow animals on board.
That’s when it happened.
“Center Director.”
My drowsy mind instantly became clear.
‘This gentle and soft voice…!’
Even before checking his face, I realized that the person standing behind me was Johan.
‘Calm down, calm down.’
I’ll turn around while acting as pretty as possible.
Having decided, I turned my head like a scene from a shampoo commercial, pretending to be pure and lovely.
“Ah…, Marquis Beloster.”
“What a coincidence. Are you on your way to work?”
Johan responded with a face that showed no surprise at all.
‘Failed.’
No matter how much I imitated a shampoo commercial, it didn’t work at all on Johan who likes Violet.
Regardless, the dimple at the corner of his mouth was magnificent today as well.
Not to mention his well-sculpted features and broad physique.
It was a beauty that made me not want to set him up with Violet again.
I answered while hiding these thoughts.
“Yes, I was on my way to work.”
“What you’re holding in your hand… is that coffee?”
“Ah, yes. I felt like I’d fall asleep at the Center if I didn’t drink it.”
“Ah…, I hope you’re not tired because of me…”
Johan’s silver eyebrows drooped as slowly as his trailing words.
‘Damn, he’s right though…’
Because of your request, both the staff and I are suffering as the already backlogged work has piled up even more.
‘…But how can I say yes when you’re speaking with such a wistful face.’
I shook my head quickly.
“No! It’s absolutely not because of you, Marquis. You don’t need to feel sorry.”
Johan stared at me intently for a while.
Judging by his occasionally moving eyes, his thoughts would be like this:
‘He’s probably wondering if there’s any way he can help me.’
Because Johan is kind, kind, and too kind of a male lead.
My prediction was correct.
“Center Director, if it’s alright with you, I’ll take you to the Center.”
What an angel!
‘Johan, at this rate you’ll be chosen by God and ascend to heaven.’
I answered slowly.
“Then… I’ll shamelessly ask for your help.”
“What do you mean shameless. I’m sorry that this is all I can do to help.”
Soon, a carriage bearing the crest of House Beloster appeared.
“Please get in.”
Johan extended his hand to me.
‘An escort from my favorite character.’
What a treat this early in the morning.
‘I’m glad I stopped by the city to buy coffee.’
My oblivious heart started pounding loudly.
I could only hope that Johan wouldn’t hear this distracting sound.
“But…”
Then, Johan added more words.
I saw his gaze turn toward my right shoulder.
‘…Oh, right.’
I was carrying a black hawk, that’s right.
I rolled my eyes and smiled awkwardly.
“Is it… possible for the hawk to ride along too?”
That’s how I learned that Johan didn’t have ornithophobia.
* * *
My mind had been dazed since getting in the carriage.
Well, because Marquis Johan Beloster Young&Rich Tall&Handsome sitting across from me was so, so handsome.
‘Wow, Johan…’
Of course I knew you were incredibly handsome, but facing each other alone like this, it’s quite serious.
‘How can you shine so brightly even in the morning.’
I’m swollen with mismatched double eyelids, but you’re just perfect.
While the carriage wheels rolled, I was internally gushing all sorts of praise.
Johan suddenly broke the silence.
“I don’t know how to express my gratitude to you, Center Director.”
“…”
“I’m so grateful… but my way with words is lacking, so I can’t express it well.”
He who had been speaking gently soon lowered his gaze as if embarrassed.
I secretly clenched my fist.
‘This is really annoying.’
If you’re this handsome, cute, and kind, how can I detach myself from you…
Johan’s blue eyes were wandering aimlessly on the floor.
Suddenly, words spilled out of my mouth on their own.
“…I’ll work hard from now on.”
Then Johan looked up and gazed at me.
Words spilled from my lips once again.
“I was secretly proud of successfully orchestrating the first meeting between the Marquis and Violet.”
“….”
“I want to feel that satisfaction again. I’ll work hard until you two become complete lovers.”
Damn it.
‘I don’t want to see you and Violet get together!’
But seeing Johan’s innocent expression, different words came out than what I truly felt.
Because I didn’t want to disappoint my favorite character.
‘My mouth is such a troublemaker….’
I cursed my damn tongue and bit down hard on my teeth.
Johan, oblivious to my inner turmoil, smiled beautifully with his eyes again.
“Thank you. Center Director, you’re truly a wonderful person.”
With my duplicitous inner thoughts, I couldn’t bring myself to respond to his words.
A silence stretched between us for a while.
‘What should I talk about.’
I fidgeted with the hem of my clothes and stroked the hawk sitting beside me.
Then, Johan spoke up once more.
“Do you know that there will be a ball at the Imperial Palace in a few days?”
I shifted my gaze from stroking the hawk’s smooth beak to Johan.
“Ah…, yes. I know. Will you be attending that day, Marquis?”
“That’s right.”
Actually, I originally had no intention of attending the ball.
Because it was a place where all sorts of nobles gathered from across the Empire to put on fake smiles and pretenses.
‘Forcing myself to smile in front of people I’m not even close to gives me body aches.’
But if Johan was attending the ball….
Then I had to change my plans.
‘Besides, Violet will be there too.’
Although she was attending the ball to meet the Crown Prince.
However, thinking about it differently, this was an opportunity.
‘If I keep creating meetings disguised as coincidences, Violet might start to find it suspicious.’
So it would be better to use the ball.
I continued speaking.
“Well…. When I was initially investigating Violet, I found out that she’ll also be attending the ball.”
“Ah…, is that so.”
As soon as Violet’s name came up, Johan’s eyes sparkled for a moment.
“So we should target the ball. It’s a place where you can easily meet Violet without having to disguise it as a coincidence.”
“That would be good.”
“….”
“But…, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to catch Violet’s attention that day.”
I tilted my head.
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
“Won’t there be many other young nobles attending the Imperial Palace Ball as well?”
“….”
“In a place with so many wonderful and impressive people, how could I possibly stand out….”
Johan drooped his shoulders as if to prove his words were sincere.
‘Johan, are you crazy.’
What kind of nonsense are you spouting this morning?
‘You’re devastating even if you just breathe and do nothing.’
I was getting angry at Johan for being so utterly clueless about himself.
Maybe that’s why.
Words leaked out of my mouth on their own again.
“I’ll take responsibility for you, Marquis.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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