I received a confession.

“There’s no need to answer right away. You probably need some time to think about it too.”

Kabir said that. He didn’t demand an immediate response from me.

I lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

I had prepared myself for a confession, but now that I’d actually received one, my mind was blank.

‘Is it because it’s the first time I’ve ever received a confession?’

But no, when I felt a hint of it from Eric, it didn’t affect me like this.

Was it because Eric was always out of my sight?

Was it the same with Kabir? I couldn’t even understand my own heart.

“…….”

After pondering, I picked up the phone in the hotel room.

I just picked up the handset, and immediately, the call connected.

〈Did you have fun?〉

I heard a familiar voice. Just hearing that voice made me feel at ease.

I took a breath and said,

“Manager, could you come over for a moment?”

〈Hmm? Sure.〉

The manager agreed without asking any questions.

It wasn’t long before the manager arrived.

He still looked like Bates.

“What’s up?”

“…….”

I greeted the manager with a serious expression.

“I received a confession.”

At those words, the manager’s expression changed slightly.

Then, he said, without much concern,

“…Well, it’s not surprising. You approached him with the intention of receiving a confession, didn’t you?”

“That’s true, but… now that I’ve actually received one, it feels a bit…”

“Shaken?”

“Very much so.”

It wasn’t necessarily that I liked Kabir.

It was just that the realization that someone liked me felt new.

I fiddled with my hair and said awkwardly,

“It’s obvious I’ve never been loved, isn’t it…”

To be shaken just because someone showed me their feelings. Isn’t that typical of someone who’s never been loved? I felt ashamed of myself.

“So, are you going to accept it?”

“…I don’t know.”

“The moment you accept it, you’re choosing to stay there.”

The manager said it almost coldly.

After all, that was true. Marrying would mean settling in that world, and there would be no need to reincarnate.

“Then would that cut off all ties with the Celestial Realm?”

“Pretty much.”

“…….”

I didn’t like that either. I had grown quite fond of the angels, and more than anything, I wanted to continue my broadcasting work.

Seeing me bite my lip in silence, the manager chuckled and spoke.

“Take some more time to think about what you should do. Honestly, I think it wouldn’t be bad if you decided to stay there if it makes you happy.”

If I felt upset about that remark, was it strange of me?

If I chose to stay here, I wouldn’t be able to meet the manager anymore, yet he wasn’t trying to dissuade me.

“What do you think I should do, Manager?”

I asked him that.

The manager just smiled at me, not saying anything.

“My opinion doesn’t matter at all when it comes to your choice, Jiha.”

“…….”

“Don’t rely too much on me. There’s a limit to how much I can help you.”

It was true.

But I couldn’t help feeling a bit let down.

‘I wish he wouldn’t draw the line like that.’

The manager always did that. He was kind, but as soon as we got close, he would draw a line.

Strangely, I really disliked that about the manager.

* * *

In the end, the vacation ended without me coming to a decision.

Kabir and I safely returned to the grand duke’s mansion.

If anything had changed…

“…….”

I peeked out from behind a pillar and watched Kabir.

Kabir was standing in the corridor, talking with his attendants. He seemed to have just come out of a meeting.

Then, Kabir’s gaze turned toward me.

“Anais.”

Kabir looked at me and smiled brightly.

The attendants around him seemed quite shocked by Kabir’s expression.

‘The love-realized man… it’s a scary thing.’

Was this really the gruff Kabir I knew? It felt unfamiliar.

As expected, the chat was in an uproar, asking what had happened.

But I couldn’t honestly explain what had happened during the vacation. It was a secret to everyone else.

From the viewers’ perspective, Kabir had suddenly changed too much.

Kabir handed the documents he was holding to someone next to him and approached me.

“What’s the matter? It’s not dinner time yet.”

“…Just bored.”

“Is that so?”

Kabir wrapped an arm around my shoulder and said in a tender voice,

“Then let’s go have tea together. You should have said so earlier.”

“…….”

It was unbearable. Had any man ever treated me this kindly? My heart raced in this situation I had never experienced before.

Even though I knew this wasn’t reality, and that Kabir was just a character in a novel, the fact that a man like Kabir was showing interest in me made my heart waver.

‘I just thought of him as a friend.’

I realized how much it could shake a person when the other party shows their feelings first and actively approaches.

“You must be busy, it’s okay. I just came to see your face.”

“Your boredom is more important.”

“You’re weird, Kabir.”

“What can I do, it’s half your fault.”

Kabir said with a playful smile.

I knew he had a playful side, but I didn’t realize he could be this teasing.

I asked with a puzzled expression,

“Why do you like me?”

“I told you, because you’re strange.”

“Your taste is even stranger.”

“I can’t argue with that.”

Kabir continued with a smile on his lips,

“That’s probably why we get along so well.”

“…….”

How does his mind connect those dots? My face involuntarily heated up.

“…Sister?”

Just then, my rescuer appeared.

“Finley!”

Had I ever greeted Finley with such enthusiasm? Finley, who I encountered on the opposite side, looked bewildered.

It made sense. Kabir and I were close, and his usually expressionless face was now smiling warmly at her. He must have sensed the unusual atmosphere.

“I’ll play with Finley, so you can go back to work!”

“Huh?”

“Let’s go, Finley!”

I quickly grabbed Finley’s hand and dashed off.

We hurried into a nearby empty room and closed the door.

I thought I was going to suffocate. I was confused by the emotions I was feeling for the first time.

It seemed Finley felt the same, as he suddenly exclaimed,

“What did you do to make the Grand Duke’s attitude change like that?!”

“Uh… something happened during the trip…”

“What kind of trip did you go on?!”

“Just… stuff happened.”

Of course, I couldn’t elaborate. I’d definitely be treated like a lunatic.

“Anyway, thanks for saving me. Should I buy you a snack or something?”

“Do I look like a child to you?”

In my eyes, he looked exactly like a child. Both Finley and Selena seemed like children.

“Well, I was looking for you anyway.”

“Huh?”

It was rare for Finley to be looking for me. He was usually attached to Selena. The only times he might be looking for me were when I caused trouble.

‘Did he notice something?’

I remembered the incident when Irmin found out I had died and come back to life. As I was sweating cold sweat, Finley pulled something out.

Between his two fingers, he showed me a letter.

“Dad wants you.”

“……?”

Why would the Duke Erpeso, who usually just observed from a distance, suddenly call me to the mansion? If he summoned me, it must be something serious.

“What’s it about?”

“Who knows. It just says to come.”

Regardless of what it was, if Duke Erpeso called, I had to go.

At a time when I was already confused because of Kabir, an opportunity to leave was a welcome relief.

“Let’s leave tomorrow.”

“You don’t need to rush it like that…”

“There’s nothing else to do anyway.”

“…That’s true.”

Finley too acknowledged that we were both practically jobless. Especially Finley, who seemed reluctant to leave after enjoying his vacation here after being busy in the dukedom.

We decided to leave the next day and disbanded for now. Fortunately, there was no sign of Kabir.

As I was walking, someone blocked my path.

It was a person in a knight’s uniform.

“Ta-da.”

The person spread his hands and showed a bright smile. There was only one person who would make such an entrance.

“…You’re here again.”

“I promised!”

A promise he made on his own, but he kept it well.

We might get caught if we stayed in the corridor. I pulled Irmin to a corner.

“What are you here for today?”

“Nothing in particular, just wanted to see your face.”

Really carefree.

He disappears after a few minutes, so I can’t tell if he’s busy or just idle.

“Anything special happening these days?”

“Do I have to tell you?”

“Of course. We’re allies, aren’t we?”

Allies, huh…

I knew Irmin was trying to be on my side to minimize the harm I was receiving.

But it was still hard to trust him completely, so I remained on guard.

It was a suffocating moment. I sighed and spoke frankly.

“I received a confession from Kabir.”

“Wow.”

Irmin’s reaction was very bland.

Irritated by his nonchalant response, I looked at him with displeasure.

“Why aren’t you surprised?”

“Well, I kind of had a hunch.”

“…Since when?”

“Since the first time I met you?”

Was he saying that Kabir had feelings for me since then? Being long-time friends with Kabir, Irmin might have noticed.

“But I can’t accept that confession. I have a place to return to.”

“That’s true but…”

I hesitated mid-sentence.

I was still undecided. Whether to accept Kabir’s feelings or not.

Irmin immediately noticed and asked,

“Looks like you have feelings too.”

“…Not feelings, just a bit shaken.”

The feeling of being loved by someone was unfamiliar and tingling. I brushed my face with one hand.

“I might end up staying here. I just don’t know what to do…”

“If you’re going to stay anyway—”

Irmin looked at me with a sunny smile and continued,

“How about becoming the Crown Princess as you are?”