Chapter Eighty-one: Market Date
Karen slipped away from the center of the commotion as if fleeing. Julius, of course, went with her. Having retreated to the second floor, Karen asked him:
“…Master Julius, were you pleased with it?”
“As I said earlier, I was truly happy. I’m sorry for suddenly embracing you, Karen.”
Julius and his family had felt uncomfortable with the tradition of continuously displaying Winfried’s portrait. That’s why Karen thought that if she had Winfried’s portrait taken down and Julius’s portrait hung in its place, it would surely please him. As she had intended, Karen interpreted that he was so delighted he couldn’t help but embrace her.
If that was the case, then Karen deserved to have Julius thinking about her alone today, at least for this one day. As Karen turned around with a flushed face, Julius looked down at her with narrowed eyes. His golden eyes were sparkling brilliantly. Despite an overwhelming urge to look away, Karen found herself unable to avert her gaze as she said:
“…I look forward to spending today with you.”
“Likewise, Karen.”
Julius’s smile made Karen feel like she might melt as she nodded.
As they were about to leave through the back door after detouring around the entrance hall, Sara, who had followed them, whispered while helping Karen put on her coat:
“You could stay the night, you know… I’ll handle everything else smoothly.”
Karen silently flicked Sara’s forehead in response.
When they left the lord’s mansion, the sun was beginning to set. However, magical lamps brightly illuminated the area everywhere, the bustling activity continued without interruption, music was being played here and there, and people were happily walking back and forth along the thoroughfare.
The main street connecting to Earl Ehlertt’s mansion was called Ehlertt Street, and during the New Year’s Festival, the entire street bustled as a New Year’s market. While there were many families, couples were by far the most numerous. This street was, any way you looked at it, clearly designed for dates.
“We can’t help attracting attention.”
Julius gave a wry smile at the surrounding gazes.
Although he wore a hooded cloak, Julius still stood out considerably. But of course, this was Julius’s hometown. It was bound to happen. People couldn’t help but glance their way, though no one dared approach them.
Occasionally, Karen could hear the hushed word "seduction…" among the whispers. Everyone assumed Julius was only staying close to Karen to win her over.
“What if I wore that mask over there? I’ll go buy it—wait here a moment.”
Julius spotted a mask stall and spoke up. Karen figured the mask wouldn’t help hide him at all, but still saw Julius off.
“…What am I even doing?”
Karen sighed.
She had no intention of marrying Julius. Therefore, there was certainly no need for this date. But if Karen had refused, Julius might have gone around the New Year’s Festival with someone else. Knowing Julius, he wouldn’t have had any trouble finding someone to invite, even on the same day. That person might be Waltride, or it might be someone else.
Karen realized that if she didn’t want anyone else in that position, regardless of who it might be, she had no choice but to occupy that seat herself.
“Karen, how about this one?”
Julius returned, now wearing a mask.
At least his brilliant face was hidden behind a black dragon mask, but that was all. None of the noble and radiant aura emanating from Julius’s entire body was concealed. But since there was no point in mentioning it, Karen simply voiced her honest thoughts:
“I think it suits you very well.”
“Thank you. I got a cute one for you.”
With that, he handed her a Carbuncle mask—a mask clearly meant for young girls.
No one would likely care whether Karen wore a mask or not, but since Julius went out of his way to get it, she put it on. This way, she could also hide her ridiculously flustered face from Julius.
“It suits you, Karen.”
“Thank you.”
From that point on, strangely enough, she became less conscious of people’s gazes. Although she thought that a single mask wouldn’t be enough to conceal Julius’s presence, the people on this street were mostly absorbed in their own worlds and weren’t looking around.
“It’s crowded. Would it be alright if we held hands so we don’t get separated?”
“…Yes.”
When Karen nodded with a small voice, Julius took her hand. Her face was, of course, burning hot, and her heart was pounding loudly. In her previous life, she had held hands with men plenty of times. She had even lived with someone and had been on the verge of marriage.
Karen tried to remind herself of this, but her heart wouldn’t calm down at all. She even began to worry about her sweaty palms. "Am I a teenager?" she mentally scolded herself, only to remember that, physically speaking, she actually was. Was this because her body was nineteen years old? Or could it be that, despite having memories, the Karen of this life wasn’t truly the same person as the one from before?
Distracted by this newly emerged possibility, Karen momentarily forgot she was holding hands with Julius. He suddenly pulled her hand, and before she knew it, she was in Julius’s arms.
“You were about to bump into someone coming from the front, Karen.”
“I-I’m sorry… Thank you for helping me.”
“It can’t be helped with this crowd.”
Julius whispered while encircling Karen’s body protectively with his arms.
“There’s a place I’d like to take you if you don’t mind?”
Karen, feeling like she was about to melt into a puddle, managed to nod.
As she was led by the hand, Karen closed her eyes tightly for a moment and told herself:
This couldn’t continue.
Even if she was a different person with just the memories of her previous life, she would become an empty-headed person interested only in romance, just like in her previous life.
Therefore, she had to end it after this.
She didn’t intend to marry him, nor did she want to be seduced by him—so she had to let go of this selfish desire to keep Julius close.
Since this was the end, she would enjoy it to the fullest.
Karen took a deep breath, looked up, and gently squeezed Julius’s hand in return.
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