Chapter 22: A Date to the Garden.

Cedric and I had come to inspect a small domain on the outskirts of the capital, just the two of us.

Though “inspection” was mostly an excuse.
We’d been here several times already, and everything was running smoothly.

So this time, the real goal was to finish the formalities quickly and go on a proper date in town.

This town has a vast flower garden you won’t find in the capital.
The beds are replanted with the seasons, and at night they’re gently lit from below.
That was our destination.

We wrapped up the inspection in record time and were back at the manor by early afternoon.

Compared to the main residence in the capital, it’s modest, but it has everything we need.

I decided to change into something suitable for a date.
While I waited in the bedroom, the maids brought several dresses.

I chose a pale cream one.
Short sleeves, a skirt that wasn’t too full—easy to move in.

Elegant, but not ostentatious.

The maids did my makeup as well.

“You look absolutely stunning, my lady.”

They held up a mirror.
I really did look beautiful.
Hair perfectly arranged, makeup flawless.

“Thank you.”

I smiled and thanked them,
then headed for the entrance hall.

When I came down the stairs, Cedric was already waiting.

He wasn’t dressed as formally as he would be for a ball, but he looked effortlessly refined.
White shirt, navy jacket.
The collar slightly open, giving off a relaxed air.

His pale gold hair caught the light beautifully.

It was exactly the same outfit he wore for dates in the original game.

(No, stop… he’s too perfect, my knees are literally buckling…!)

Seeing it in real life sent my heart into overdrive.
My favorite character’s date outfit…!
It’s too sacred…!

But I kept my face calm.
I’ve spent three whole years hiding my fangirl heart next to him.
I’m used to it… or at least, I’m supposed to be.

Swallowing my excitement, I walked over.
Cedric noticed me and broke into a soft smile.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Amelia.”

I placed my hand over his outstretched one.
Warmth traveled from his fingertips to mine.

“You’re the one who waited. And… you look wonderful.”

“You’re the beautiful one, Amelia.”

My face burned.

I slipped my arm through his, and we boarded the carriage together.

First stop: an early dinner at a restaurant.

It was a quiet, elegant building in the heart of town.
We were shown to a private room.

The window offered a lovely view of the streets below.
The atmosphere was perfect.

Dish after dish arrived at the table—soup, salad, main course, dessert.

Every single one was something I loved.

“…You ordered all my favorites.”

“I may have made a few requests when I reserved the table.”

“A few?”

“Just a few.”

He smiled.

Unfair. That smile is unfair. His kindness is unfair.

The food was warm and absolutely delicious.
Ahh, pure happiness…

I glanced up and found Cedric gazing at me with the fondest expression.

He’d been watching me eat with obvious delight.

So embarrassing…

“Please don’t stare. It makes it hard to eat.”

“Sorry. You just looked so happy, I couldn’t help it.”

“—!”

My cheeks flared hotter.

“It makes me really glad to see you enjoy it.”

He smiled again.

Telling me that straight to my face is against the rules.

But I can never win against my favorite.

After dinner, we headed to the flower garden.

The moment we passed through the gate, soft light enveloped our feet.

Thin lamps traced the edges of the paths; low lanterns inside the beds created pools of gentle glow.
White flowers in the distance, purple at our feet, red and yellow scattered between,
an ocean of blossoms quietly releasing their colors into the night.

“…So beautiful.”

The words slipped out on a breath.
Yet somehow the garden felt familiar.

I searched my memories,
and then it hit me.

(This is the place in the original game where the heroine and the capture target come to confess their love…!)

I was here, with Cedric, my ultimate favorite.
It almost felt like I was the heroine living out a romance route.
A quiet thrill ran through me.

But I’m the poisonous wife.
I mustn’t get the wrong idea.

The confession scene belongs to the heroine.
Not to me.

I reminded myself sternly.

“Hand.”

I took the hand Cedric offered.
Our steps fell perfectly in sync.

The scent of flowers mingled faintly with damp earth.

“They keep this garden beautifully.”

“I hear it’s the pride of the town. They hold festivals here several times a year.”

“I’d love to come again during one of those.”

“Then we will. It’s a promise.”

Promise.

My heart gave a small, sweet squeeze.

I’m supposed to be the villainess who will eventually divorce him.
Yet right now, the word “promise” tasted far too sweet.

We crossed several islands of color-blocked flowers and sat on the edge of a fountain.
Small arcs of water rose and fell in perfect rhythm.

“It’s been a while since we could relax like this.”

“Yes… finally.”

I stole a glance at his profile.
Lit by the garden lamps, it was even more breathtaking than any game illustration.

(Please stop assaulting me with real-life resolution date CGs…)

Our eyes met.

Instead of looking at the flowers, we were looking at each other.

“Amelia? Something wrong?”

“No, I just… got lost staring.”

“At the flowers?”

“At you, Cedric.”

“—I’ve been staring at you this whole time too.”

We spoke at the same moment, then fell silent together.
Our gazes locked… and we both broke into smiles.

“We’re supposed to be looking at flowers, and here we are.”

“True… but I’m having fun.”

“Me too.”

We walked slowly, time itself seeming to stretch.

“Shall we head back soon?”

We’d seen almost everything, so we turned toward the exit path.

“Yes… oh?”

A cold droplet touched my forehead.

“…Rain?”

The next instant, thin needles of water poured down all at once.
From scattered drops to a roaring deluge,
a complete guerrilla downpour.

I never expected it at this exact moment.

“Kya—!”

“Let’s hurry!”

I lifted my skirt with one hand and grabbed Cedric’s arm with the other.

“This way!”

A guard rushed over with an umbrella, but it was too late.
By the time we reached the garden gate, our hair and the hems of our clothes were thoroughly soaked.

We tumbled into the carriage, and a maid immediately offered thick towels.

“Here you are, my lady.”

“Thank you.”

I pressed one to my dripping hair. Cold.

I glanced at Cedric.

He was soaked too.
Water dripped from his hair; his shirt clung slightly transparent.
Wet strands clung to his forehead, and his blue eyes gleamed.

My heart skipped.

(As expected of my favorite… this is what “dripping with charm” literally looks like…!)

My chest thumped hard,
and at the same moment,

Achoo.

An utterly uncute sneeze escaped me.

Cold is the enemy.

“Are you all right?”

Cedric sat beside me, worry in his voice.

The next second, something soft and heavy settled over my shoulders.
A large bath towel draped around me from behind,
and at the same time, Cedric’s chest pressed against my back.

His arms crossed in front of me, wrapping me completely.

“—!”

“Does this help with the cold?”

His low, gentle voice resonated right by my ear.

I wasn’t cold anymore.
In fact, my body temperature shot up,
though that was purely from embarrassment.

My face, my ears, everything burned.
My heart pounded wildly.

“I-I’m fine…”

“Good.”

I answered in a tiny voice.

But he didn’t let go.
Our breaths mingled.

The rain hammering the carriage windows turned the space into an even smaller, private world.
My fingers clutched the edge of the towel, unable to move.

What do I do? I don’t have to do anything, but what do I do?

We stayed like that the entire ride home.

The pouring rain became a curtain of sound, cutting the two of us off from the rest of the world.

Embarrassing, yet somehow calming.
The contradictory feelings left me bewildered.

Wondering if Cedric felt the same, I turned my face sideways.

Since he was hugging me from behind, his face was right there.

Our eyes met at point-blank range.
Those blue eyes gazed straight into mine.

Tiny water droplets still clung to his lashes.

Our gazes tangled, impossible to untie.
His arms tightened just a fraction.

We drew closer. Closer still.
The distance between our lips shrank… I started to close my eyes,

and right then the carriage stopped.

“We have arrived at the manor.”

The dull thud of the wheels halting.
My shoulders jumped.

The coachman’s voice outside the door.

My face turned crimson.

“S-sorry…! Um, thank you for the towel.”

“No, my apologies.”

He released me and gave a small, gentle smile,
one that somehow carefully wrapped up all the heat from moments ago.

I’m done for. My face is definitely bright red, ears included.

The door opened, letting in the scent of rain.

“After you.”

I placed my hand in his once more.

My heart still raced.
My chest squeezed tight.

(…What was I about to do?)

Under the bright light of the entrance hall, I pressed a hand to my heart.
It was still beating a little too fast.

“I’ll have something warm prepared.”

“…Yes. Thank you.”

The warmth from earlier still lingered on my shoulders.

(That was close.)

We’d nearly kissed.

But that would have been wrong.

His destined partner is the heroine.

I mustn’t get in the way.

I repeated it to myself like a mantra.

Yet deep in my heart,
a tiny part of me had wanted that kiss more than anything.

“—We were so close… I wanted to kiss Amelia… If only the garden had been a little farther away…”