~Chapter 102~
When Did You Start Liking Me?
The restaurant they arrived at was exactly as Eleanor had warned—quite noisy and crowded.
It was a large two-story building, with dozens of tables packed closely together, and most of the restaurant was already full with customers. The sounds of lively conversations and clinking glasses filled the air, creating a lively, almost pub-like atmosphere, rather than a restaurant.
Eleanor and Karsian sat at the far edge of the restaurant, where it was a little quieter.
Soon, their table was filled with dishes: golden-brown sausages, tangy pickled cabbage, mashed potatoes, and a foreign-style potato dish made with flour. The quality of the ingredients wasn’t as good as the ones they’d had at the mansion, but the taste was still impressive.
“How are you doing, Karsian?” Eleanor asked.
“What do you mean?” Karsian replied, looking comfortable in this lively atmosphere, clearly familiar with it. He was even chatting and moving through the crowd with ease, blending in with people who were dancing and enjoying the mood.
Eleanor, on the other hand, was more surprised than she expected. She knew it would be noisy, but this was a bit much. She had hoped for a more romantic setting, but the place seemed far from ideal.
“I mean the atmosphere of the restaurant. It’s louder than I thought. I’m sorry. I didn’t expect it to be like this…” Eleanor said apologetically.
“No, it’s fine. I’m actually used to this kind of atmosphere. But you, Eleanor, might not be so comfortable. Should we move to another table?” Karsian asked.
“No, it’s fine. We don’t have to move. How’s the food? Do you like it?”
“Yes, it’s great. That’s probably why the place is so busy.”
“I’m glad. I haven’t been here in so long, so I wasn’t sure if it would taste the same.”
Eleanor sighed in relief as she glanced around the restaurant. It had been ten years since the last time she ate here. The last time was when she was twelve, just before she was taken to the Astria Duke’s mansion.
Back then, Luke had taken her here, saying they were going out, and they ended up at this very restaurant. She remembered eating the same potato dish back then. It wasn’t a fancy dish—just a simple potato dumpling—but to her, it was a treat. She was so hungry that she ate without thinking, even though she knew Luke would be back soon.
When she finally returned, she smiled and praised her for guarding the food while she was away. A few weeks later, she became a Duchess, and life became very different. But she often came back to Delancey Street to remember Luke, though she had never entered this restaurant again, until today.
It wasn’t exactly the same, but the taste of the food still brought back memories. Eleanor smiled, satisfied that the food was still good.
As she finished eating, a middle-aged woman from the nearby table suddenly approached them.
“Oh my, you two look like such a perfect couple! You really suit each other!” the woman said, making Eleanor blush.
“Thank you,” Eleanor replied politely, though she was a bit taken aback. It was common in Delancey Street for strangers to chat with one another, and the woman didn’t seem to have any ill intentions.
But Eleanor noticed that Karsian’s face had changed. He looked like he was both pleased and uncomfortable, as though he felt guilty. Eleanor didn’t quite understand why he was reacting that way, but she asked, “Karsian? What’s wrong?”
“Did you not find it unpleasant?” Karsian asked.
“Unpleasant? What do you mean? Was it because she spoke to us?”
“No, it’s not that… It’s just that… I don’t like being placed in the same category as you,” Karsian said, looking quite serious.
Eleanor was taken aback by this, not understanding why Karsian was being so humble in front of her, especially when he had been so confident in front of Arlo. She found it strange, but also a bit puzzling. Why was Karsian lowering himself like this?
“It doesn’t make sense,” Eleanor said, trying to understand. “I’m the one who asked for this pretending to be lovers. Why do you talk like I’m so much greater than you? You’re a Duke. You’re a noble, and I’m just a fake noble who’s about to lose everything.”
Karsian looked seriously upset. “Who would say such things?” His voice was filled with a cold anger as he asked, as though he would go after whoever said it.
“You are someone I deeply respect and admire. If anyone insults you, I’ll deal with them,” Karsian added, his voice sincere.
Eleanor was surprised to hear him speak like that. She had never heard anyone speak with such respect for her before, and it made her feel strange and embarrassed.
“But why do you talk about me like that? Is there something that happened to make you feel this way?” Eleanor asked, genuinely curious.
Karsian didn’t respond immediately. He remained silent for a while, and when he finally spoke, he said, “That’s… a secret.”
“A secret?” Eleanor blinked in surprise.
“Yes, I have one secret too. But you’ll have to figure it out yourself.”
Eleanor was curious, but Karsian didn’t seem to want to share more. He then added, “Once we’re a bit closer, I’ll tell you.”
Eleanor pressed further. “But what about when you first started liking me? When did it happen?”
Karsian hesitated, clearly struggling with his emotions. Finally, he replied, “I don’t know exactly. It’s been such a long time, but I think it started when I first met you. That moment, I think, was when it all began.”
Eleanor was still a bit confused. “Which party was that?”
Karsian smiled slightly as he brushed a few strands of her hair behind her ear, his voice teasing. “I’d rather you remember that moment yourself.”
Eleanor leaned a little closer to him, her face now inches from his. Karsian flinched, clearly uneasy.
“Then tell me more about when you started liking me,” Eleanor urged, now feeling bolder.
Karsian clenched his jaw and tried to suppress his desire, but his resolve was weakening. He stood up quickly, trying to distance himself. “It’s getting late. Let’s leave.”
Eleanor glanced at the window, and the sky had turned dark. She was disappointed that their time was ending, but it was time to go.
Karsian suddenly added, “I also want to apologize for my behavior at the jewelry shop. I shouldn’t have acted that way, and I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
Eleanor was caught off guard by his apology. She hadn’t expected this sudden change in his demeanor. His politeness felt different this time, and for some reason, it didn’t sit well with her.
“I’ll escort you back,” Karsian said politely, but Eleanor felt a strange sense of discomfort. There was something about his behavior that felt different, and she couldn’t put her finger on it.
Despite not fully understanding it, Eleanor felt a mix of emotions—confusion, longing, and something else. She didn’t know what was happening, but she was certain that something was changing between them.
