“What? Stop lying.”

“I’m not lying. I go to balls only because I have no other choice. Why should I listen to someone who keeps talking to me when I’m so tired?”

Rubica pouted, and Edgar found her so cute that he wanted to pinch her pouting lips.

“But you’re so smart and you remember everything I say.”

“What?”

“I thought you were a genius. The greatest genius in this kingdom’s history.”

That was what Edgar had heard at least a million times before, and he was sick of it. However, when it came out of Rubica’s mouth, his ears turned bright red.

“Aren’t you supposed to remember that much? Or have I overestimated your capabilities too much?”

Rubica was half teasing him, but Edgar failed to notice it.

“Pen.”

Ann quickly handed him a pen and paper. He then started to quickly write down Countess Tangt’s favorite drink, her favorite weather, her relatives, characteristics of her daughter and sons, what she had been paying attention to, and her habit of frowning when she talked about her husband, and a bunch of other things.

Rubica was shocked to see his hand move so fast.

‘It looked like he asked Ann because he really couldn’t remember who she is.’

It was amazing. She had heard about how smart he was, but she hadn’t known he was such a great man. How could he remember that much about a person who he didn’t even care about? He was a human, just like everyone else. Then, how could he be so different?

“Here.”

Edgar finished writing and handed it to Rubica. She took it, still half in shock. To be honest, it was a lot of information. Even a week wasn’t going to be enough for her to memorize everything.

“You’re really great.”

Rubica exclaimed, and Edgar couldn’t stop his lips from curling up. He met many people who praised his genius brain, but he never cared. Being smart and great was only natural for him, but when Rubica complimented his intelligence, he was so happy that he couldn’t hide it.

“You’re the one who is great.”

“Me? But why?”

“You’ve thought of hosting such a great meeting.”

Edgar smiled broadly to her, but that smile was just too awkward. Rubica didn’t know what to say at the sudden compliment and just stared at him. An awkward moment passed, and he eventually looked away.

He was so glad that she was complimenting him, so he had complimented her in return to take a step further, but it looked like she was thinking he was complimenting her for no reason.

‘But it’s not… I complimented her because I really thought it was great.’

For the first time in his life, he thought he wasn’t good at conversing with people. He wondered if he was supposed to make an excuse or something, but…

“Aha, ha, hahaha.”

Rubica suddenly burst into laughter, but Edgar didn’t know why she was laughing. She laughed so hard, beating the armrest of her chair while tears formed in her eyes. Edgar’s face turned tomato red.

“Why are you laughing?”

Edgar asked as if he didn’t know why, but he could guess the reason. His words and expression had all been so awkward.

“Oh, it’s, khmm, it’s nothing.”

Rubica tried her best to stop laughing. She tried to stop talking lest she hurt Edgar’s high pride, but it was not easy.

“Was I that hilarious?”

Too late. His pride had been hurt. He looked disappointed just like Latte looked when the other dogs stole its jerky. Rubica wanted to laugh again, but she managed to not, only barely.

“No, it’s not because you looked funny or something, not at all.”

She managed to calm down and kindly explained.

“Then why did you laugh?”

“Well, how should I explain this…”

She took a deep breath and looked for an appropriate word to describe her feeling, but it was difficult. Many things had combined to make her burst into laughter.

“You are always so cold and proud. I was surprised at first to hear you say such a thing and, for a moment, I didn’t know what to reply.”

Rubica spotted Edgar’s left hand anxiously wrapping and unwrapping.

‘Now I should explain the next part really carefully…’

She moisturized her lips. She wasn’t a good talker, but she thought he would understand if she expressed her true feeling.

“It’s just, you are so perfect. There’s nothing you cannot do.”

“That’s right.”

“So, I sometimes wondered if you were a human like me. But what you just said, the expression you made, let me know, um… there is something you’re not good at. Like, oh, you’re an ordinary person just like me. It’s kind of relieving.”

Rubica glanced at Edgar. She was saying the perfect man had a flaw, too. She was worried that it might offend him, but thankfully, he didn’t seem hurt.

“I used to think you would be great at handling women. I thought you could say something to move a woman’s heart without blinking an eye only if you wanted to.”

Now it was getting embarrassing, and Rubica had to press her hot cheeks.

“And it turned out I was wrong, and it’s a little embarrassing, and… oh, I cannot describe it well.”

She fanned her face with her hand while Edgar looked at her. He was glad, but one of the things she had just said troubled him.

“What do you mean by you thought I would be great at handling women?”

“Oh, that’s…”

Rubica’s cheeks turned bright red. She glanced at the maids in the room. Did she have to say it when there were so many people watching? But it wasn’t like they were talking about an important secret. She couldn’t ask the maids to leave and come back again after only a few minutes.

“It’s just, you’re handsome and great at everything, so you must have dated many women…”

“No.”

Rubica’s voice got smaller and smaller. Edgar cut her short, and blood surged up to his face with anger.

“That’s such a terrible misunderstanding. Who told you that?”

“People are always talking about nobles like you. They say you always change partner during balls and many women confess their love to you…”

Edgar clenched the armrest of his chair to the point that his fingernails left marks on the wood.

‘Shit, it’s all because of the king.’

The king had said he pitied all the women craving for Edgar and asked him to dance with them, and when Edgar did as he wanted, people started to think he was a womanizer.

He hadn’t cared about what others said as the people around him knew he didn’t even go on a date, much less have a serious relationship.

However, Rubica had been a low-ranked noble living in the countryside. She had no other information about him except for the rumors.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, you shouldn’t apologize.”

Rubica looked sad, and Edgar regretted yelling so loudly. Being kind was much harder than he had thought, especially because he had never restrained his anger or cared about the other’s mood.

“Well, have you decided on the type of tea for the tea meeting?”

He decided talking more about it would do him no good and quickly changed the topic, and Rubica was glad to be saved.

“The tea I served to your relatives a while ago. I think it would do well.”

“But that’s the cheapest tea. Why don’t you go with the one I served you before? That’s better.”

“But that cheapest tea is as expensive as gold. Plus, I liked it more.”

Edgar wanted her to wear and eat only the best. However, he couldn’t force her if she didn’t want it. He really wanted to recommend it again, but he managed not to.

“But, um…”

“But?”

“You seem to be interested in my tea meeting…”

Rubica glanced at him. He raised an eyebrow. It probably meant he didn’t know what she was talking about and she should explain.

“Um, as you like tea, I was wondering if you are going to stop by.”

She was wondering if it was okay to tell him not to come if he did want to come.

“… I can’t go. I’m busy.”

Edgar said so after thinking for a long time. That was the answer she had been hoping for. However, it didn’t make her happy, she rather felt hollow and disappointed.

“Okay. I know you’re busy nowadays.”

Her voice shook, and it made Edgar’s eyes shake too. He stared at her for a long time.

‘… she must be disappointed.’

Of course, he wanted to go to the tea meeting. He wanted to introduce her properly as his wife to the many nobles who would be there, but he couldn’t.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, I shouldn’t have asked that in the first place. I know you’re busy.”

Rubica smiled. She thought it would be troublesome if he came as his beauty would draw all the ladies’ attention, so she couldn’t understand why she was feeling disappointed.

‘What is wrong with me?’

It was so strange. When she first arrived at the mansion, she had wished to run into Edgar as little as possible, but these days, she kept thinking about him.

As she decided on the invitation card, she thought about him and wondered if he was doing well and if his head didn’t hurt again.

‘Is it because I know what is going to happen?’

She knew what will to happen to Seritos after four years and what kind of fate the Claymore Family was going to meet at that time.