I Wish You Well In Your Next Love, My Love

“Ah.”

When he pulled me closer, our faces ended up only a handspan apart. In that narrow space, Gerard held up two fingers.

“This is our second time meeting.”

“……”

At the innocent answer that followed, all the strength drained out of me at once. My mind went blank, as if my soul had slipped out.

I, who usually chattered so easily, couldn’t even continue speaking and just stood there stunned. Gerard let go of the hand he had been gripping tightly.

“I didn’t mean to startle you. My apologies.”

“…From now on, please don’t grab me like that.”

“I keep making mistakes. I guess I’ll have to treat you to an exceptional meal.”

“……”

Just then, Turner, who had finished settling another customer’s bill, walked over to me.

“Louize, what’s going on… Wait, why are you sweating so much?”

I lifted my apron and pressed it against my face.

“C-Can I go inside and rest for a moment?”

“Why, is that customer a real nightmare?”

Turner glanced behind me, then gasped in shock. Gerard gave a gentle-eyed smile and waved.

Turner stiffened like a wooden doll, then quickly bowed his head before pressing close beside me again.

“L-Lord Castion, why is he here…”

“He came to meet me because of Arvina.”

“Then you should handle him to the end.”

Turner shook his head, apparently reluctant to take over. No matter how long he had worked at the pub, he didn’t seem confident about dealing with Castion.

One wrong word could get the shop destroyed, or his head taken off, so it was only natural to be cautious.

Although Gerard was often called ill-tempered, he wasn’t the kind of brute who would wreck someone’s business just because he was in a bad mood.

But Turner didn’t know his personality, so he couldn’t help being wary. I couldn’t put Turner in a difficult position just to make things easier for myself.

“Alright then. Can I at least pour myself a staff drink? There’s no way I can handle this sober…”

Jingle. The sound of the bell made me turn my head without thinking. Gerard, who had been sitting behind me just moments ago, was gone.

Instead, on the empty seat, there was only a check for an amount far exceeding the price of the drink and a single tissue with the word ‘KEEP’ written on it.

Even though he hadn’t taken a single sip.

* * *

I couldn’t sleep well again.

It was as if Gerard’s face had been stitched onto the inside of my eyelids. Every time I closed my eyes, he appeared, and I spent the whole night tossing and turning.

Even when sleep finally came, it didn’t become an escape.

The memories I had tried to forget had taken root stubbornly and appeared in my dreams.

“Why do you like me?”

“Because your tongue is soft.”

“You said before that you like how I hold you when I sleep.”

“I guess I like that too.”

“What kind of answer is that. What are you going to say you like next?”

“Hmm. The way you ask things like this.”

Wait.

Now that I think about it, every time I asked why he liked me, didn’t this guy just dodge with strange answers? Maybe his real type was someone like Arvina after all.

“About Lord Castion.”

“Huh?!”

I was so startled that my back muscles twitched. Turner, who had spoken, was startled as well and looked me up and down.

“Do you owe Lord Castion something? Why are you reacting like that.”

Just thinking about him wasn’t a crime, but I had reacted too strongly for no reason.

“You spoke so suddenly, I just got startled.”

“It’s not like I shouted.”

Turner came right up beside me and began wiping a wet glass with a clean towel. Maybe because of his large build, an overwhelming heat rose along my arm.

Even when I subtly stepped half a step back, Turner didn’t seem bothered or embarrassed and remained lost in his thoughts.

“Did Miss Arvina tell you anything?”

“Tell me what.”

“Whether Miss Arvina is the woman from Lord Castion’s lost memories.”

Even though the shop wasn’t open yet and there was no one else besides the two of us, Turner lowered his voice.

But he couldn’t hide the excitement in it, like someone eager for gossip.

My hand slipped. I nearly dropped the glass Turner had handed me.

“I don’t think Arvina is very interested in dating.”

“Lord Castion is quite unfortunate, isn’t he. Out of all his countless memories, why were only the moments of his deepest love completely erased? It must’ve been a terrible one-sided love. Since he couldn’t let go of his feelings, maybe he unconsciously erased those memories.”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“They say his personality, which used to be a mess, suddenly became calmer at one point. But seeing how he went back to his old self after the rampage… I think the reason he softened back then was probably because of that unrequited love.”

Personality. Yes, his personality had been a bit of a problem. But I didn’t think he had been reckless enough for rumors like this to spread.