CH 75

“I don’t mind if it’s just a little bit. However, I can’t stay long because I have company with me, and I don’t want to talk about anything too strange.”

Although I had been exposing my true self lately, I put on the mask of a familiar smile. Otherwise, I would have quickly hidden behind Dennis’s back, remembering what happened back then.

Emilio nodded with a strangely refreshing smile, whether he realized it or not.

“Of course, I won’t say anything strange. But I’m glad… I thought you hated me, to be honest. When we met a little while ago, you didn’t even respond to me properly.”

Emilio said this with a relieved and genuinely happy expression.

This is the rumored bewitching smile.

It certainly has considerable destructive power. He used it to deceive women in the capital by pretending to be Aurelio and seducing them one after another.

Well, I’m still a woman, so I can understand how the women who were seduced by him must have felt. Just by smiling, he emits an unusual amount of sex appeal. Aurelio didn’t have this. However, I said that I wouldn’t lose to the sex appeal of a playboy.

“Yes, that’s right, um, oh, at that time, my voice was weird because of a cold.”

I thought to myself what a stupid lie it was, but once said, it couldn’t be taken back. Emilio suddenly became aware and approached me with a questioning look, getting a little closer to gauge my reaction.

I almost recoiled at the sight of his beautiful face.

The structure of this shop is so annoying.

The door is wide open so that the hats displayed inside can be seen clearly. It’s probably because it’s a busy street. Sitting on the chair placed there, there is no wall separating me from the passersby.

“That’s too bad. Are you okay now?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Please don’t worry about it.”

“That’s impossible. You’re a very lovely woman. If you were suffering, I would be too.”

I thought to myself what a guy he was.

It’s even worse because he looks so sad. Everyone has fallen for this kind of thing. It’s not just about looks anymore. It’s about behavior and actions. What a smooth talker, what a womanizer.

The name “Casanova” came to mind in my head.

I never thought I would meet someone like him in this way, someone I thought I would never have anything to do with in my life. You never know what will happen in life.

Actually, I doubted if there really were living Casanovas, but it turns out there are. The world is full of surprises.

While thinking about unnecessary things, I replied, “W-Well, then I’ll be careful about my health from now on.”

“Please do. Oh, by the way, not only your health, but I don’t recommend going out for a while.”

“Huh? Why is that?”

When I asked, Emilio raised one eyebrow and tilted his head slightly away with a puzzled look. I couldn’t help but feel relieved.

“Haven’t you read the newspaper? The capital has been dangerous lately, especially places where the upper class gathers.”

“Oh, you mean the explosion incident.”

I nodded, remembering what Duke Astorga had said. Certainly, Jeremiah had also warned me to be careful. However, today was Paula’s invitation, so I thought it would be okay.

“Well, there haven’t been any deaths so far, but we don’t know what will happen. Above all, I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Somehow, Emilio’s behavior had been strange since earlier.

I was confused about how to react and silently frowned at him while he looked back at me.

As we stared at each other for some reason and my head became even more confused, a voice came from the back of the store.

“It’s your turn soon, Lorraine…”

Then, Paula came over to me on her own initiative. She frowned as she saw the incomprehensible scene unfolding before her, then came over to me with a charming smile.

I let out a small scream inside.

This smile is just like Jeremiah’s. It’s a smile that doesn’t show any joy in the eyes, but is shown when one is deeply frustrated.

“Oh, if it isn’t the officer with no morals. Do you have any business with my cute future sister-in-law?”

“No, I was just passing by and wanted to say hello.”

“I see. Well, you’ve done that now. Isn’t it against manners to stay here any longer?”

Although Emilio should be taller than Paula, they look almost the same height. Emilio smiled wryly at Paula.

“Of course, I got Lady Lorraine’s permission. But if I’m bothering you, I’ll take my leave for today.”

“I see.”

Paula nodded with a smile. Even Emilio seemed to be taken aback by her intimidating smile. He looked at me regretfully and was about to say goodbye.

It was at that moment when I thought I should say something.

A tremendous explosion sounded from a building quite far from the hat shop.

There was no time to scream.

As I stared in disbelief at the trembling air and rising dust, people started running towards us from the direction of the building after a short pause.

Finally, some people started screaming.

“Damn, we didn’t make it in time.”

Emilio muttered under his breath, gritting his teeth and staring at the point of the explosion.

“That place was where a tea shop that even the upper class gathered at was located.”

Then Paula said with a stern expression.

Her words brought a certain image to my mind. I trembled involuntarily at the thought. If we had stopped by there for tea after visiting the hat shop and had time, we could have been caught up in it too. In other words, there was a possibility that we were also involved in it.