Chapter 10

"Stop joking, who is that guy? He broke off the engagement due to his own fault and still has the nerve to say such shameless things. Is he an idiot?"

"He's definitely an idiot, no doubt about it."

"Emma, can I have a refill?"

"Sure, sure."

Seeing Noah's angry face, I couldn't help but smile.

I feel very grateful to have a friend who gets so angry on my behalf.

"Thanks for getting angry for me."

"You're being made a fool of, you should be angrier too."

"I am angry. But I was surprised that you would get this angry for me."

"Of course I'm angry. So? Was there anything else written in the letter?"

"Sharp."

I finished the cooled gratin, which was delicious as always. After finishing the white wine and refreshing my mouth, I raised my hand to Emma.

"Thank you for the meal. Can I have some red wine next? And some snacks, please?"

"Sure. How about you, Noah?"

"Me too, please."

"Sure, sure."

Emma smiled and cleared the empty plates from in front of us. Her smile was so gentle that it made me feel at ease just looking at it. Her personality is what makes the atmosphere of this place so nice.

I gazed absentmindedly at Emma and the master. The master, who is usually quiet but cares deeply for Emma, and Emma, who openly loves the master. They are the ideal couple, something that Felix Tostmann and I could never have been.

"... He said he would keep me as a second wife and not forget to aid the viscount's family. He said I could get along well with the first wife and that his love wouldn't change, whether I was first or second."

"Really, what a bastard."

The more I told Noah about the contents of the letter, the worse his mood became. I thought about stopping, as it wasn't a pleasant story to listen to, and shrugged. But Noah, who seemed to see through me, urged me to continue while sipping his white wine.

"Don't hold back. Spit it all out."

"Thanks. But the letter is mostly just a long repetition of that. So, why did my ex-fiancé send me such a letter..."

I sighed softly and paused, and as if waiting for this, a glass of red wine was placed in front of me.

Then, a small skillet was set in front of Noah and me. It was just the right amount to nibble on, and the dish inside was cassoulet. I had heard that this dish, made with white beans and meat, was the master's hometown cuisine.

"Be careful, it's hot."

"Thank you."

Emma smiled and returned to the master.

I immediately brought the glass to my mouth. It was slightly sweet and not too strong.

"Um, what was it again?"

"The reason the bastard sent the letter."

"Right. It seems my ex-fiancé's family desperately needs aid from the merchant guild. Some business plans have also fallen through, so I guess that makes sense. In such a situation, it's difficult to find a new match. But he doesn't want to let me go."

"So he wants to make you his mistress. What an idiot."

"What's strange is why he thought I would accept it."

I scooped up some cassoulet with a spoon and blew on it to cool it down. The breadcrumbs on top, having been baked in the oven, added a light accent. The soft beans and the firm meat were delicious. A faint maple aroma wafted up my nose.

"He must think I like him."

"I really think he's delusional."

"You're not wrong."

Noah was also enjoying the cassoulet and the white wine. His anger seemed to have subsided a bit, and his words and voice had regained their calm.

"I've already sent a refusal letter, and my father has also written to their family, so I hope this will be the end of it."

"I hope he's smart enough to give up."

"Don't say such scary things. But if he gets too persistent, I might have to leave the country for a while."

"You like your job as a librarian, right?"

"I do, but if the hassle outweighs the enjoyment, there's nothing I can do."

I took a sip of the red wine and sighed.

I like this life. I enjoy my job, and I have good friends and a good boss. I have favorite places to eat and drinking buddies I can be myself with. My family gets along well.

It would be painful to have to give all that up, but the other person is just too much trouble.

"I hope it doesn't come to that."

"It would be a problem if you left the country. If I were to stay single for life, I was planning to have you take care of me."

"I'll come back to take care of you, so don't worry."

We laughed at this playful exchange.

After finishing the red wine, I felt a strange sensation in my throat. I covered my mouth with both hands and coughed lightly, but the discomfort didn't go away.

"Are you okay?"

"Hmm... Maybe I have a cold. My throat and the back of my nose feel strange. Drinking alcohol should help, right?"

"No, that won't work."

Both Noah and Emma, who had heard my cough, were smiling wryly.

She placed a steaming glass in front of me. Drawn by the scent of honey and lemon, I took the glass in both hands.

"Honey lemon water. It's gentle on the throat."

"Thank you, Emma."

I took a sip from the warm glass. It was hot but not scalding, and I felt grateful for Emma's thoughtfulness.

"You must be tired, which is why you're more susceptible to colds. You should get some rest."

"Noah, you're so kind."

"I'm always kind."

He dramatically shrugged, and I couldn't help but laugh, inwardly agreeing that he is always kind.

"My ride should be here soon, so I'll go home after I finish this."

"Alright. If anything else happens, I'll listen to your complaints."

"I hope the next time we meet, we have a happier story."

The delicious food and drinks, and having a friend to listen to my complaints, have made my worries a bit lighter. I sipped the honey lemon water while glancing at Noah, who was drinking white wine.

The tightness in my chest... it must be my imagination. I must be feeling this way because someone was kind to me when I was weak. It's just my imagination.