Chapter 38

The opera had ended, and the audience's applause continued to ring out.

Nonna turned to Clark.

"That was interesting. I've never seen someone sing like that before."

"Ah, yeah. It was."

The opera was about a man who chased after a woman who had gone abroad, outshining his love rival and rescuing his lover in a crisis, ultimately reuniting with his former lover.

Clark and Nonna were waiting for the crowd to thin out before descending the stairs side by side.

"What about the content? Was it interesting?"

"Hmm, yeah."

"Really?"

"The etiquette teacher said that a lady shouldn't give her honest opinion about plays or operas she's been invited to."

"It's okay, tell me the truth."

"Okay, but you won't get angry?"

"Of course not."

"That woman, she was useless when she was in trouble. She couldn't move when a bad guy grabbed her wrist, but she said whatever she wanted to the man who liked her. I can't tell if she's strong or weak."

Clark smiled wryly, thinking, "That's true."

"If you were the protagonist, it would have been different, right?"

"I would have..."

"How would you have been?"

"I wouldn't have used such harsh words to someone who said they liked me. I kept thinking that if I were in her place, I wouldn't act superior to someone who said they liked me. I would think, 'Thank you for liking me.' But that woman acted as if she was suddenly better the moment the man said he liked her."

"You're right. The one who falls in love first is in a weaker position."

This was the truth. Clark was very lenient with Nonna because of his feelings for her.

"I've been watching my parents for a long time, and I think my father fell in love first. But my mother has never acted superior to my father. She always says 'thank you' to him. And she often says, 'I'm the happiest now, all thanks to you.'"

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. I want to be like my mother. She is always beautiful. Her way of thinking is beautiful. It's hard to find the right words, but that's the best I can say."

"I understand what you mean. Mr. Clark, you're cool. If you were like that, Nonna, you could definitely become someone like that."

Nonna looked up at Clark with a smile that wasn't quite ladylike.

After they finished descending the stairs, a cheerful voice called out from the right.

"Nonna, what a coincidence. Do you like operas?"

"Hello, Mr. Maynard. I was invited today."

The person who spoke was a young man known to Clark, the heir of the Grove Marquessate.

He was intelligent and fond of horseback riding, having won consecutive championships in equestrian events. It was well-known that he was popular among the young ladies. He had approached Nonna several times at tea parties, and Clark, unable to give the heir of the Marquessate an icy glare, felt frustrated.

He remembered, "He was two years younger than me, I think."

"Hey, Clark. You're Nonna's childhood friend, right? I'm envious. I wish I had such a charming childhood friend."

Clark, unable to come up with a good response, saw Nonna putting on a polite smile out of the corner of his eye. When she faced someone she didn't trust, she always had the same expression. Realizing this, Clark felt relieved.

"Mr. Maynard, I wouldn't want to keep your companion waiting."

"Oh, that's right. Well, Nonna, I'd like you to come to the opera with me sometime. I'll take my leave now."

Nonna bowed gracefully to the girl who seemed to be Maynard's companion, but the girl only glared at them. When Maynard returned to her, she smiled sweetly, and they left.

"Come on, Nonna."

"Sure. Mr. Clark, do you want to go to that shop before we go home? The one where we had apple pie a long time ago. Do you remember?"

"Of course. Let's go. I'd like to have apple pie again too."

Nonna naturally took Clark's arm, and his heart, which had been restless, warmed up.

At the pastry shop, they both ordered apple pie and tea, and there was a moment of silence.

"Mr. Maynard mentioned that his father is the Minister of Finance twice."

"Was it at the tea party the other day?"

"Yeah. I almost said, 'So what?' I clenched my teeth and held back. That's his father's achievement, but it has nothing to do with him, right? At that time, I thought, 'Mr. Clark has never said he's the son of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.'"

"Right."

He didn't boast because he wasn't as excellent in studies or languages as his father.

"Mr. Clark is cooler. My mother often says, 'It's foolish to show your cards to others.'"

"I see."

The apple pie was sweet and delicious, and Clark, while eating, thought about where to take Nonna next.

"Mr. Clark, can we go out together again?"

"Of course. Let's think of a place to go together."

"Sure!"

※...※...※

"Welcome back, Clark. How was the opera?"

"It was enjoyable, Mother."

"Would you like to have tea with me?"

"No, I want to research the recent laws implemented in the Kingdom of Randall. I'll do it another time."

Clark was busy.

There were countless obstacles to overcome to become the Prime Minister in the future. Status, ability, connections.

He was willing to work hard to protect Nonna.