The moment he was about to answer yes, a voice flowed out from elsewhere first.
‘What’s the matter?’
It was Lady Grace. In place of Antonio, whose words were stuck at the sudden question, Diego answered.
‘It’s nothing. I’ll escort you home shortly.’
The Viscount’s daughter took a step forward, approaching closer. In that instant, Antonio couldn’t help but widen his eyes. He saw a pale, slender hand gently cup Diego’s cheek.
‘You don’t look well. Nothing’s wrong, is there?’
As the young lady’s gaze suddenly turned this way, Antonio hastily averted his eyes. His heart began to beat rapidly without him realizing it.
What? What did I just see?
Somehow suppressing his confusion, he informed Diego of the location of today’s gathering. And as he headed to the bar first, his head was naturally full of question marks.
If she felt his complexion wasn’t good, she could worry all she wanted. But from the Viscount’s daughter, an atmosphere beyond that emanated. Not only did she touch Diego’s cheek without reserve, but the look in her eyes as she gazed at him also contained emotions beyond simple worry. And now that he thought about it, the fact that she made physical contact—or not quite physical contact—felt like she had deliberately done it in front of him.
Could it be…
In the meantime, the bar was right in front of them. As soon as he entered, he had forgotten all about it while guzzling alcohol, but when the Master and guild talk came up, it naturally came to mind again.
No matter how much he thought about it, the young lady’s eyes looking at Diego were unusual. Antonio scratched the back of his neck and cautiously began.
“You’re not in a deep relationship with the Viscount’s daughter or anything, are you?”
“No.”
Diego’s expression couldn’t be called good even as a polite lie. It wasn’t only Antonio who had been flustered earlier. The moment the hand touched his cheek, Diego had also been quite startled. It was remarkable that he hadn’t unconsciously swatted the young lady’s hand away.
Since confessing, there had been times when she looked at him with eyes that were difficult to express in words, but she had never said or done anything that made him feel burdened. But today, the fact that she had deliberately acted in a way that could be misunderstood in front of Antonio didn’t seem like a coincidence. In fact, Antonio had brought up that very incident.
“Really not? It totally looked like that kind of relationship to me.”
“What kind of relationship is that supposed to be?”
“Don’t dodge the question. …Right?”
Though he asked if it was right, his expression was already full of certainty. While Diego hesitated, Antonio finished making his own judgment and immediately smiled brightly and wrapped his arm around Diego’s neck.
“You lucky bastard.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Of course it is. I’m only saying this now, but do you even know what the Viscount’s daughter’s eyes were like when she looked at you? And what about the hand that touched your cheek? It was an atmosphere that couldn’t possibly be created unless you were in a relationship.”
A long sigh flowed from Diego’s lips. He thought he should have just denied it, but it was already too late for regrets.
“It’s true that she expressed favorable feelings toward me. But that’s all.”
Then the smile gradually disappeared from Antonio’s beaming face, and bewilderment filled its place instead. It was an expression that said he didn’t understand what that meant.
“That’s all?”
“……”
“Don’t tell me… you mean you rejected her?”
Once again, silence served as the answer. Antonio’s eyes widened as he raised his voice in excitement.
“No, why on earth?! You said the young lady was the one who expressed favorable feelings first. If you just accept, a smooth road will unfold before you, and you rejected that?”
“……”
“Or did you just get a proposal to be a temporary partner? But even that’s an amazing opportunity.”
Antonio’s point was not wrong at all. For a man who had nothing, who was a commoner with ordinary traits, what were the chances that a noble family’s daughter would approach him sincerely? If he just closed his eyes and lowered his pride, it was an undeniable fact that he could enjoy a much more stable and comfortable life than now, just as the Viscountess had said.
But his heart was already entirely directed toward someone else. And the fact that there wasn’t even a shred of possibility that those feelings would be reciprocated disheartened Diego.
‘Love, of course it’s good. But will the other person think the same way?’
‘Since you’re a dominant Neo, it’s natural to be tempted. But I think you know better than anyone how that will end, Diego. I want to believe you’re not foolish enough to fall into momentary pleasure and miss an opportunity that will never come again.’
Diego let out a long sigh and covered his face with his hands. Even while pretending otherwise and living on, if he let his guard down even slightly, the words the Viscountess had said painfully stabbed at his heart.
Antonio’s voice mixed into his dizzy mind.
“Say something. Don’t tell me it’s because of pride or something?”
It seemed like a reprimand would fall immediately if he said yes. With a sunken gaze looking at his friend’s face, Diego spoke aloud feelings he had never once expressed before.
“There’s someone I like.”
Antonio’s mouth fell open soundlessly. It felt like the alcohol instantly sobered him up.
“Really?! Who is it?”
“…Someone I dare not presume to reach for.”
“What?”
“I’m going back in first.”
Diego rose from where he’d been leaning against the wall without hesitation. Despite getting some fresh air, his mind once again turned pitch black as if wrapped in deep darkness.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about going crazy and just confessing. But deeper despair rushed in soon after.
When he had once asked why Roman had proposed the partnership to him, Roman had answered without a moment’s hesitation. That his face and body were to his taste. Then he had added one more thing. If by chance Diego got a lover, he should tell him anytime. There was no need to be dragged around awkwardly.
After hearing such words, there was no way he could convey his feelings. Even if he confessed, the outcome was all too obvious. Roman would laugh with an uncomfortable expression or refuse while saying he was sorry. And after that, he would never again be able to embrace him or share body heat.
In this situation, what could he possibly do?
Somehow kill his feelings, pretend to be fine, and simply hope that this relationship would last even a little bit longer—that was all he could do.
***
Roman’s complexion was clearly not good at a glance. He felt terrible pain, as if someone were clutching his stomach with their hand.
Was this the price for ignoring the doctor’s words to eat only thin soup?
He laughed self-deprecatingly, but that was only for a moment. As he lay curled up like a shrimp on the bed, a knock sounded from beyond the door.
“It’s me, young master.”
It was the butler’s voice. Roman grimaced and struggled to raise his body. Soon the door opened soundlessly and the butler approached.
“What is it?”
“Diego has come to see you.”
“……”
Roman’s expression twisted even further. Brushing back his disheveled hair and staring at nothing in particular, he belatedly opened his mouth.
“Tell him I’m sleeping so he should go back.”
“Yes. I understand.”
The footsteps grew distant, and Roman let out a long sigh.
‘Why would he come at this hour?’
He had no particular guess. Today wasn’t the 15th, nor was it the 30th. And now there was no reason for Diego to come looking for him.
Unless…
“Ugh…”
Intense pain that made his vision dizzy swept over Roman. As he clutched his stomach and barely managed to breathe, after a moment the butler’s voice was heard once more.
“Young master?”
“…Come in.”
The butler, who approached with quick steps, reported the result.
“When I told him you were sleeping, he said he’d come back tomorrow and left.”
Roman’s brow furrowed terribly. Seeing his distorted expression, the butler asked in alarm.
“Are you unwell somewhere?”
“I drank alcohol and my stomach is upset. I understand, so go ahead and leave.”
“Your complexion is very poor. Shall I call the doctor?”
“No need. I think it’ll hurt more if I have to listen to nagging. It’s also very late.”
“If I call, he’ll come running right away.”
“I’m fine, so don’t worry. More than that…”
After letting out a brief sigh, Roman continued.
“I’m planning to leave the house for a while. For quite a long time.”
It was a statement half-uttered on impulse.
“Again?”
