“Let’s have dinner together.”
Rudbeckia’s words weren’t just a simple meal suggestion. It was an obvious date invitation and a clear way of saying, ‘I’m quite interested in you.’
As if the proposal wasn’t already laced with romantic undertones what time was it now? It was just past lunchtime. That meant… Stay with me until the sun sets.
“What is this?”
Yohan opened his mouth awkwardly, then closed it again. They had only exchanged simple conversations while quietly observing each other, yet now, all of a sudden, she was asking him out on a date? It was baffling.
Of course, women showing interest in him was nothing new. It might sound arrogant, but he was well aware of his exceptional looks so much so that he was often called the trophy of high society.
Usually, he would reject such advances without hesitation. But Rudbeckia was different. When he looked at her, he found himself softening, if only a little partly because she was his aide.
And also because, in her gaze, he could sense unwavering sincerity.
Even so, accepting the date was not an option.
Not only was a pregnant Rudella waiting for him back at the Lahart estate, but agreeing to a date when he had no feelings for her would be no different from stringing her along.
He just didn’t know how to turn her down.
“Is that… a no?”
When no answer came, Rudbeckia cautiously looked up at him. Her eyes trembled, her eyelids blinked nonstop, and her fingers fidgeted restlessly.
Her face and demeanor made it clear she was deeply anxious.
‘Was I too hasty? Too obvious?’
“…Sorry, but I don’t think I can today.”
As Yohan shook his head with an awkward smile, Rudbeckia looked as if her world had just collapsed.
“W-why not?”
“There’s someone waiting for me.”
“…”
Who could be waiting for him?
Before, she would have thought of Francia Pervache. But now, Rudbeckia knew the truth.
Rudella Bismarck.
The woman carrying Yohan’s child was waiting for him.
Because of that, she couldn’t refute his rejection. She understood better than anyone how important a husband’s presence was to a pregnant woman.
But if she always backed down, she would never get a chance.
“…Then, could we at least have lunch together?”
Her voice was barely above a whisper. She wasn’t asking for too much. The workday had ended early, and sharing a meal together wasn’t an unreasonable request… was it?
“Hmm…”
Yohan averted his gaze, looking troubled.
He did want to see Rudella as soon as possible. But at the same time, he couldn’t just push Rudbeckia away completely.
It wasn’t because he had special feelings for her. It was just… for some reason, he found himself unable to be cold toward her.
She was his aide, after all.
“Having lunch together shouldn’t be a big deal.”
Yohan let out a subtle smile and nodded.
“Is there anything you want to eat?”
“Ah…!”
The moment she heard his answer, Rudbeckia’s face, which had been clouded with gloom, brightened instantly.
She wanted to throw her fist into the air and cheer, but she held back that urge, instead settling for a smile.
“I have a place in mind!”
* * *
The Rogino Empire is the largest in the continent, and its imperial capital is just as vast.
The city is structured in a radial pattern with the imperial palace at its center, surrounded by noble residences, administrative districts, commercial zones, academic institutions, and military fortresses, all systematically arranged.
The place where Yohan and Rudbeckia arrived was the commercial district of the empire.
It was also a great spot for a date there were many restaurants run by highly skilled chefs whose cooking was so good it was said to make the stars race across the sky. And as expected of a commercial district, the variety of goods for sale made it a lively place with plenty to see.
“Here it is.”
With a smile, she led the way to one of the most renowned and delicious restaurants in the entire Rogino Empire.
She had wanted to visit with Francia, but the reservation list was always too long to get a table.
The restaurant’s name was Magnolia.
It was famous for its seafood cuisine.
“…How did you manage this?”
Yohan blinked in surprise.
The current empress of the Rogino Empire personally sponsored this place, making it difficult even for high-ranking nobles to secure a reservation. Yet somehow, Rudbeckia had managed it.
“Who do you think the head chef here is?”
“An acquaintance of yours?”
“That’s right. He told me to come by anytime I needed something.”
Rudbeckia, who had been gazing at the restaurant, subtly shifted her eyes toward Yohan.
“You’re curious how I got the reservation, aren’t you?”
“I am.”
“Hehe, I’ll tell you.”
With a soft laugh, she puffed out her chest proudly.
“The reason the head chef was even able to start his career is thanks to my father, Count Friché.”
Rudbeckia’s eyes gleamed with quiet pride.
“When the chef was young, he ambitiously opened a restaurant, but it failed, leaving him buried in debt. My father tasted his food and decided to pay off his debt for him. He even helped him set up this restaurant.”
Back when she had been searching for a date spot for Yohan and herself, she had immediately contacted Magnolia.
The grateful chef had assured her that a place for her would always be ready, no matter the time.
“And so, he became the most famous chef in the imperial capital?”
Yohan found the story intriguing and nodded in agreement, while Rudbeckia shrugged her shoulders playfully.
“Hehe, exactly.”
“Oh…”
Yohan’s gaze toward the restaurant changed.
A man who had fallen to rock bottom, only to meet a benefactor and rise to the top it was the kind of story often found in fictional tales.
‘Well, this is a fictional world, after all.’
Though, since he had reincarnated here, it was no longer just a simple story but his reality.
“Shall we go in?”
“Let’s.”
His excitement soared.
He particularly loved seafood, so what kind of dishes would the most famous seafood restaurant in the empire serve?
“Welcome.”
As they stepped inside, a waiter dressed in a sleek black suit greeted them with a polite smile.
“I’m Rudbeckia Friché.”
“Hah, of course. Young Lady, do you not remember me?”
“Hm?”
Rudbeckia carefully observed the waiter’s face, then widened her eyes in surprise.
“Ah, no way… Sedin?”
“That’s right.”
“Wow! It’s been so long!”
Sedin was a boy who had been with Magnolia’s head chef since the very first restaurant he opened.
She had known he had changed over the years, but in her past life, the world had already fallen into ruin, and she had completely forgotten about him.
“Haha…”
Seeing Rudbeckia’s bright, delighted smile, Sedin awkwardly scratched the back of his head, his face flushing slightly.
“And the gentleman beside you is your companion?”
“Yep. He’s the Minister of the Purification Office.”
“Ah…!”
Sedin quickly straightened up and bowed deeply.
“My apologies! I didn’t recognize you, Minister!”
“No need for that. It’s a bit much.”
Yohan chuckled awkwardly and waved off the formality.
Ever since the Purification Office was established and Duke Lahart became known for closing Demonic Dungeons, he had encountered people like this fairly often.
“Then, allow me to guide you…!”
Following Sedin, the two stepped into a magical lift, which smoothly carried them to the upper floors—a space reserved exclusively for high-ranking nobles and royalty.
Before taking his seat, Yohan instinctively pulled out Rudbeckia’s chair for her.
It was a habit ingrained in him since their academy days, something he had done so often that it had become second nature.
Rudbeckia’s ears turned red.
“T-Thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
Yohan shrugged casually with a light laugh before taking his own seat across from her.
Sedin, still smiling politely, handed them the menu.
“Here is the menu. Please take your time with your order.”
“Hmm…”
Yohan gave a small nod and scanned the list.
There were fish, crustaceans, and all sorts of seafood dishes—as expected from a restaurant famous for its seafood.
‘It must not have been easy to bring all this into the imperial capital.’
With the empress’s sponsorship, they likely had access to magical freezing artifacts from the Magic Tower, ensuring the freshest ingredients.
Yohan looked up.
“Is there anything in particular you’d like to eat, Rudbeckia?”
“Anything the Minister chooses is fine with me.”
Rudbeckia tilted her head slightly, smiling radiantly.
Her gentle, affectionate gaze was so sweet that Yohan felt slightly overwhelmed.
A bit flustered, he quickly shifted his attention to Sedin.
“…What would you recommend?”
“The menu is divided into crustacean-based and fish-based courses.”
“I see.”
“If you enjoy crustaceans, I recommend Course C. If you prefer fish dishes, Course A would be best.”
“Ah, so both courses have a bit of everything, but the focus is different?”
“Yes, precisely.”
Yohan nodded and turned back to Rudbeckia.
She was still gazing at him with the same overwhelmingly fond expression.
“…I’d like to try Course C. Would that be okay?”
“Yes, of course!”
Rudbeckia’s smile deepened.
“You can order anything you want, you know.”
“Then, course C…”
As Yohan placed his order, she gazed at his face quietly.
Sitting there like this, she suddenly recalled the past.
At a social party filled with central nobles, she had been teased as a country bumpkin from the outskirts, nearly on the verge of tears. To lift her spirits, Yohan had wandered around the capital with her.
He had taken her into a jewelry store to craft an ornament resembling the color of her eyes, tasted street food with her, and explored unfamiliar sights in local taverns.
At the capital’s art museum, she had listened to his calm voice as he explained the paintings. And when Rudbeckia had been left out of a tea party, Yohan had taken her to a dessert shop instead, so she wouldn’t feel alone.
Yohan had nurtured the once-clumsy and naive Rudbeckia, helping her grow as a person. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Rudbeckia of today existed because of him.
This restaurant was another piece of their shared memories.
Knowing Yohan loved seafood, Rudbeckia often visited this place whenever she came to the capital. He always ordered course C, which included shellfish. Even now, despite everything that had changed due to her return to the past, his preferences remained the same.
That fact was both comforting and heartbreaking.
So much was the same as before, yet the one thing Yohan had forgotten—was her.
A time that only she held onto.
Moments that only she remembered now.
So precious, yet because of that, unbearably cruel…
‘No, don’t think about it.’
Rudbeckia shook her head. Tears threatened to spill, but she held them back.
Wasn’t this a rare chance to start over?
Even if she couldn’t be his first, this time, she could truly be loved.
“…By the way, Advisor Rudbeckia.”
Lost in thought, she was pulled back to the present by Yohan’s low voice. He had taken a sip of water, as if his throat had gone dry.
The waiter, Sedin, had already left after taking their order.
“Yes, go ahead.”
Rudbeckia smiled gently, meeting his gaze. Her green eyes trembled faintly.
“Can I ask why you wanted to have this meal with me?”
Yohan’s voice was careful. Deep down, he already had an idea of her intentions, but he needed to hear her answer directly.
Rudbeckia traced the rim of her water glass with her fingertips before responding.
“That’s a secret.”
“Why?”
“Because I already know what answer I’d get right now.”
“…..”
So she knew he would refuse.
“Then—”
“No.”
Before he could finish, Rudbeckia cut him off. Her voice was firm, as if she wouldn’t accept any response.
She met his gaze directly. In her green eyes, complex emotions swirled, impossible to decipher.
“Give me time.”
Her voice trembled ever so slightly.
Perhaps that was why it carried traces of uncertainty and hesitation.
“So that I won’t have any regrets, and so that you, Minister, can give me a clearer answer than you can now… Please share just a little bit of your time with me.”
Even so, Rudbeckia continued speaking.
“…Then, I’ll accept it.”
Under the table, her fingertips trembled. Anxiety made her chest ache.
But she didn’t let it show. In front of Yohan, she only wanted to appear positive.
“…We haven’t known each other for long, so why would you go this far?”
Yohan asked, looking genuinely baffled.
He honestly couldn’t understand her. Rudbeckia’s sincerity was too overwhelming.
He could be certain she wasn’t like the noble ladies who clung to him just for his looks and status.
There was real emotion in her eyes and actions.
“Because I like you.”
Beneath the table, Rudbeckia clenched at the empty air. Her small, delicate fist trembled slightly.
“Even if you don’t remember… I do.”
What did she mean by that?
Not remembering?
Yohan slightly parted his lips but couldn’t bring himself to say anything.
“Oh, and just so you know, this isn’t a confession.”
As silence fell between them, Rudbeckia suddenly tilted her head with a bright smile. Her golden hair cascaded softly over her shoulders.
“I wasn’t planning on confessing just yet. That means I still have a chance, right? You understand, don’t you?”
Her eyes curved gently, her smile tinged with quiet desperation.
Faced with that delicate, unreadable expression Yohan found himself unable to push her away.