For Romantic Superpowers - Chapter 61 - The Third Person

#61. The Third Person

Already the date has come to this. Lia counted the days, hastening on her way to work. Perth hurriedly followed beside her. Unsure of when to speak, his gaze never left Lia’s lips.

“You came all this way to ask that?” 

Perth’s anxious heart didn’t make Lia’s response any easier. Her pace quickened, his hurried steps revealing his anxiety.

“Yes, because it’s an important matter.”

“Is it really that important?”

“I’m someone who sticks to promises like glue.”

And someone who found waiting through the night difficult. Shadows lined beneath his eyes. But Lia, avoiding his gaze, remained oblivious. Come morning, he loitered outside the dining hall, armed with excuses prepared overnight.

“Even a day’s lapse wouldn’t sit well with the Count.”

Continuing to speak, Perth gauged her reaction. It didn’t seem particularly positive. Reflecting on yesterday’s scene, it was clear his esteem had suffered. If only he had known, he would have filled the air with disparagement for Abigail instead of praise. Yet, he didn’t know how to broach yesterday’s conversation. Carelessly bringing it up could worsen Lia’s mood. Perth had always been indifferent to others’ feelings, his sudden concern unusual. Whether she acknowledged it or not.

Her silence felt painfully long. It didn’t seem deliberate ignoring. Perhaps she was considering accepting Kevin. The thought was dreadful.

“Are you perhaps considering accepting Kevin?”

It was the last thing he wanted to say. Yet it escaped his lips without hesitation, stinging himself. Lia, walking swiftly, halted. Then she turned to face Perth. While usually easy to read, her expression was inscrutable now. Surprise? Bewilderment? Anger? It felt like a rash move.

“Mr. Perth…”

Lia swallowed dryly. The moment her Adam’s apple rose and fell seemed eternal. Perth clenched his fist so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh.

“Are you considering accepting Lady Ferdinand?”

To the unexpected question, Perth blinked. Yet Lia’s face, interpreting his momentary silence as affirmation, contorted mercilessly.

“Really? She’s got a fiancé already!”

Suddenly, Perth realized he’d made a mistake. He should have answered right away. By delaying, he’d misled Lia. 

“You… You misunderstood.”

“What’s there to misunderstand? I saw it with my own eyes, heard it with my own ears. You showered her with praise for quite a while!”

“No, I really…”

That was to buy Lia time to escape. Otherwise, the inevitable exposure would benefit neither Abigail nor Lia. Yet Lia didn’t afford him time to dispel the misunderstanding.

“How can you say that? No matter what Prince Alfonse is like, you shouldn’t act like that!”

“Listen to me!”

He grabbed Lia’s shoulder. Thankfully or not, his hand touched her clothes, hiding her true feelings. Though not a forceful grip, Lia’s lips were sealed tight at the sudden contact.

“I don’t like Lady Ferdinand, to begin with.”

“But…”

“The talk about Lady Ferdinand’s looks yesterday was just to buy time for Lady Lia to escape.”

“But Lady Ferdinand likes you…”

“Just because she likes me, does that mean I have to like her?” 

The moment she realized her night-long deliberation was pointless, Lia’s face flushed red with the realization of her unjust anger. Ashamed, she couldn’t meet Perth’s eyes and lowered her head. Perth didn’t know how to interpret her attitude, but he chose to see it as a positive sign. His hand on her shoulder relaxed slightly. Even that small gesture was endearing.

“Now, will you answer my question?”

“Question?”

Too preoccupied with one thought, she couldn’t remember what he had asked. When she absentmindedly inquired again, he sighed.

“Will you continue seeing Mr. Kevin?”

“Oh, that.”

The matter was already settled. So it should have been easy to say, yet it was difficult to voice. She’d decided to tell him first, and she couldn’t bring herself to say it. As she hesitated, Perth pressed her again. 

“…Then, do you not need a third introduction?”

Of course, it wasn’t necessary. Since it wasn’t a deal she had initiated, the question was misplaced. But she was now trying to reject Kevin.

“…Please.”

Her gaze was fixed firmly downward. Accepting an introduction she didn’t want, working as an apprentice in the palace; this would be the last time. Who would the third person be?  Would the Miracle of the Desert be able to grow to its full potential? Everything was uncertain. 

“Understood. Then, I will introduce you to the third person starting from today.”

So suddenly? Lia raised her head and glanced around. Unbeknownst to them, they had reached the greenhouse. If he was introducing someone right away, just like with Kevin, it could be anyone among their colleagues. 

“Look ahead.”

Perth still held her shoulder. It wasn’t from behind, and Lia’s head naturally turned towards him.

“It’s just you, Mr. Perth?” 

Her eyes widened in surprise, and her expression was adorable. Perth’s lips curved gently upward. Her eyes reflected only him, and he couldn’t have been happier.

“Yes, it’s me.”

Lia, too startled to control herself, involuntarily pointed at Perth with her finger. Without a word, just gaping, Perth nodded once more to reassure her.

“Why, why? I’ve been thinking of you from the start, but I was afraid it might be rude, so I couldn’t say until now… Is there really no one in the palace you know?”

Desperately racking her brain, that was the only conclusion she could reach. After all, he was usually blunt, even regarding someone who was supposed to be a friend for the first time. So, it was clear he didn’t know many unmarried men who could be introduced in the palace. And now that she had three candidates, it wasn’t entirely inaccurate.

“That’s not wrong. But that’s not the only reason.”

“Why?”

“I like you.”

Finally, he could say the words he had been agonizing over all night. He had calculated when to bring it up, and now was the perfect time. Regardless of the outcome, he didn’t want to introduce another man as the third candidate. He had felt foolish enough the second time. 

Lia, hearing the shocking confession, lost her senses somewhere. Perth held her up, preventing her from collapsing, so she managed to stay upright. Perth, looking at her expression, couldn’t help but awkwardly smile.

“If you keep gaping like that, dust will get in.”

Perth used his arm to close her mouth. He wanted to peek into her mind, but that would be cheating. He wanted to hear the answer straight from her mouth. He escorted her all the way to work, taking her to the Desert Climate Plant Management Department. 

Everyone murmured as they saw him escorting her. But Lia was too distracted to notice, and Perth, knowing but pretending not to, smiled even more affectionately. 

Based on past experiences, by tomorrow afternoon, everyone in the palace would have heard this rumor. ‘They insisted they were just friends, but now they’re meeting again?’ Not every rumor of meeting and parting was true, but this time they would actively make it true. 

“What’s that supposed to mean!”

Finally coming to her senses, Lia shouted. But as she looked around, she found herself in the middle of her workplace. Perth was nowhere to be found.

Thud.

“Ouch!”

“What kind of attitude is that? Get to work.”

Kevin, the cold-hearted superior, hit Lia on the back of her head.

“Why did you hit me?”

“You’ve been zoning out all day. What’s on your mind? Yet you still blabber nonsense. Think later and move your hands now.”

Currently, they are on assignment to the agricultural department. It was always short-staffed, so they were sent there regularly. The work required simple manual labor rather than complex technical skills. Moving their bodies tirelessly cleared their minds that were already dull. However, every time she straightened her back, she felt a pain that made her think, ‘It’s true that people die from working.’

“A brief rest!”

As soon as the order was given, people shuffled over and gathered in one place. Food prepared by the agricultural department was laid out.

“Eat and rest? They mean work like animals.”

“No matter what, I don’t think I can make it to the cafeteria.”

Grumbles echoed around. Lia was no different. Muscles she didn’t usually use were trembling all over her body. As usual, Kevin was the most composed one.

“You’re all getting weak.”

He was wearing thin clothes, unlike his usual work attire, for the sake of ease in labor. Thanks to that, his angry muscles were fully exposed after a long day’s work. Although it had been quite some time since he left the knights, his muscular physique remained unchanged. If anything, the menial labor had developed his lean muscles further. However, Lia didn’t notice such details. She was simply staring at the simple bread in front of her, not sure whether to eat or to engage in some kind of research.

“What’s the matter?”

Kevin quickly noticed that Lia was acting strangely, as usual. It was appreciated, but this time it was difficult to speak up. If she were to tell Kevin that Perth confessed to her, she would also have to mention that he was the third candidate. Ultimately, it would reveal that she rejected him, the second candidate. Although she had decided to tell Kevin herself, it was still hard to get the words out. At least she didn’t think this was the time to talk while having a brief meal. Lia silently stuffed bread into her mouth.

“Hey, slow down. Eat slowly.”

Kevin took care of Lia like a mother bird. It made her feel even guiltier. Why was Kevin such a good person? Lia felt like a villain for wanting to reject him. The thought of him getting hurt pained her. While she didn’t have romantic feelings for him in a rational sense, he had treated her very well. She had to chew more bread to avoid the tears threatening to spill.