I'm Done Being Your Best Friend

Father seemed to have some confidence in Logan’s words. In the end, he allowed me to get into the business.

After so much objection, permission was finally granted. I had such a hard time getting his approval…

After the long business talk had ended successfully, it was finally time for a comfortable dinner. The food on the table had turned cold despite the heated conversation.

“Joanne, please heat these up.”

I had the kitchen maid warm up some food, and offered Logan one of the left dishes on the table.

“Try some of this.”

“This is similar to the dishes I ate in the Empire.”

Logan made a comment while looking at the beef pastry. Seeing that, my mother, who had been quiet until now, looked slightly surprised.

“Oh my, so you know. That’s right. That beef pastry is an imperial dish.”

“I got to taste it when I was studying in the Empire.”

In the Empire? At those words, my eyes widened.

“You were studying abroad? Did you attend the Imperial Academy?”

Usually, the male nobles of the Beland Kingdom attended the Royal Academy. But this was the Imperial Academy. It was the first time I had heard that Logan used to study abroad.

“Yes. I inherited the title while attending the academy, but I managed to graduate safely by appointing a deputy.”

So that’s how it was. Now I finally understood why so few people knew Logan’s face.

It was then that my father alluded to another matter.

“By the way, it seems that duke Harrison is very special to our Sienna. I was surprised that you were friends, but I didn’t know that you would even decide to do business together. You didn’t perhaps bring personal emotion into the decision, did you…?”

“Father!”

This is a place to discuss business! I looked at my father with disapproval at the absurdity he just said. Even though the duke was young, he must at least put us to comparison (T/n: I think she meant status and position).

“Don’t ask such strange questions. The duke is here to discuss business today.”

“It is not common for a man and a woman to be so close.”

No, more…? I glared at my father, looking like someone who was overheated despite being in the middle of winter. Then I hurriedly made an excuse to Logan.

“Your Grace, don’t pay attention to my father’s words. It seems he loves his daughter so much that he had made a slip of tongue…”

However, Logan’s expression seemed quite fine. I thought he would be uncomfortable, but the corners of his mouth went up slightly? What was that..?

“No, Marquis Nelson seems like a very pleasant person.”

I couldn’t detect any displeasure in his calm tone either, though we were suspicious of being related to each other in that way.

Logan then explained to my family in a calm tone.

“I am not attracted to lady Nelson in that sense. Do not worry, we’re friends.”

Just now…I think he enjoyed it? Is this situation amusing to him? I narrowed my eyes as I saw the corner of Logan’s mouth go up even more.

***

I was the only one who went out to see Logan off. My whole family tried to do the same, but Logan refused.

“Having lady Nelson come out is enough for me.”

And so just me and Logan went out of the mansion. Without my family, we could finally get some peace and quiet. I spoke to Logan on the way to the carriage outside.

“Your Grace, thank you so much for today. If it wasn’t for the duke, I wouldn’t have been able to get their permission. There’s no reason for the duke to go this far, but for me…”

“No, it’s fine. It’s not only lady Nelson’s business, so it is only natural that I should be with the young lady.”

Logan said calmly. As expected of Logan. My faith in him grew even more.

“And please don’t mind what my father said. Since he is the old conservative type, I think he sees us as special friends.”

“Friendship between men and women is not common after all. I’m really glad that he sees me in a positive light.”

There was a hint of satisfaction on Logan’s face as he said that.

Our conversation quickly stopped because the duke’s carriage was parked a few steps away.

“Go on then. And again, thank you very much, Your Grace.”

I said goodbye to him. However, Logan did not intend to move and just stood still in front of the duchy’s carriage.

What does he have left to say? It was the moment when I looked at him with curious eyes that Logan leaned toward me. In an instant, his face filled my field of vision.

“…!”

My eyes bulged in astonishment. I almost made a sound, appalled. For a moment, I felt my heart skip a beat.

Logan’s face was right beside mine, within reach. I couldn’t turn my head toward it. Why? Why was Logan doing this?

T/n: you thought they kissed, didn’t you :)) yea I got fooled too

I must have been holding my breath without knowing. When I came to realise I wasn’t breathing, I exhaled slowly.

However, I still didn’t have the courage to look back at Logan. Why? I blinked quickly while looking straight ahead.

“Lady Nelson.”

As if oblivious to my confusion, Logan whispered into my right ear. His low voice tickled my ear. I got goosebumps for a moment. My body froze on the spot and only my mouth moved stiffly.

“….yes?”

“This is also quite fun. I really enjoyed meeting milady’s family, even as your friend.”

His low whispering, as if talking about something secretly, was mixed with a small chuckle.

My ears, no, my whole body itched. What did this feeling mean? Perplexed, I slightly frowned and nodded awkwardly.

And there was no word between us. I thought I was used to being quiet around him, but it was hard to endure this momentary silence.

I was only able to breathe after Logan had straightened up. But that wasn’t the end of it.

“Your hair…”

Logan reached out to my face. As he touched me again, all my nerves were focused on the spot on my forehead where came into contact with his hand.

“I think it was originally like this…”

His muttering voice was calm. My loosely tied hair must have fallen down without me realising.

Logan gently tucked my hair to the side. His ensued smile was tender, just like that friendly gesture.

I guess I was the only one who was conscious of this situation. I strived to keep a straight expression in front of him.

“I’m afraid it’s time for me to go now. It would be nice to visit you formally again next time.”

Only after Logan got in, did the ducal carriage start to depart.

Looking at it getting further as seconds went by, I put my hand on my chest. My heart was beating loudly. Even when I tried to calm the pounding, it wouldn’t listen to me. My ears, where his breath touched and my forehead, where his hand brushed across, felt hot.

“….what is going on?”

Even after Logan had left the front gate, I stood there for a long time.

***

He met Sienna’s family for the first time. Fabian’s chest felt tight as he rode the carriage back to the ducal residence.

Of course, he did not attend as her lover today. But wasn’t he already dating her in secret?

Fabian recalled the image of the Sienna he had just encountered. When he thought of the way she looked at him with a blushed face, he felt heated again. Fabian let out a sigh and clenched his fists.

He did something he would never have done in public. Fabian surprised even himself.

How could he have been so courageous? If Justin saw it, he must have been staggered as well.

But of course, that was just how he judged things. Fabian, new to being in a relationship, did not know how other lovers expressed affection. Sienna was embarrassed, so he guessed that this was enough.

He couldn’t adapt to it just yet. He still couldn’t get his head around it. His heart trembled madly at the mere expression of his affection to her.

But it would get better in a little more time. Wasn’t this just the beginning of their love?

His quivering heart gradually calmed down as he recalled the dinner he had with the marquis family. It was fun. Fabian enjoyed it more than expected.

Did she pretend we’re not in a relationship in front of her family?

Being in a secret relationship was more fun than he thought. Fabian chuckled at the reminiscence of the situation.

With that, Fabian’s misunderstanding deepened.