After I, a Penniless Noble, Entered a Fake Engagement with the Most Elegant Duke’s Daughter at the Academy, For Some Reason She Started Showering Me with Love - Chapter 08.1: Waiting at the School Gate for Our Date

Chapter 08.1: Waiting at the School Gate for Our Date

It was supposed to be a nice day off—

But the sky was completely covered in gray clouds.

A chilly wind blew through the air, as if it was mirroring my gloomy mood.

“—Are you feeling gloomy because it’s a date with me?”

“Wah!?”

A sudden voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I’d been leaning against one of the school gate pillars, and I nearly slipped off it.

Panicking, I quickly braced myself with a hand behind me to keep from falling.

T-That was close.

As I let out a relieved sigh, I heard a quiet giggle from the side—teasing, amused.

“Was it really that surprising?”

“…You totally did that on purpose.”

“Fufu. Did you say something?”

I mumbled under my breath, but Yuri pretended not to hear.

Her playful voice rang out, and I couldn’t help but pout a little.

Still…

A small part of me felt relieved.

That was the usual Yuri.

No awkward distance.

No tension like before.

It felt silly to be comforted by her teasing,

But today’s goal was to lift her mood—

So if she was already acting like this, maybe things were off to a good start.

…Maybe.

That said, it’s not like I enjoyed being toyed with.

“I mean, this is still a date, you know? You don’t have to mess with me so—uh…”

“What’s wrong?”

I looked at Yuri, ready to tell her to tone it down a little—

But the words got stuck in my throat.

She was smiling like always, probably fully aware of why I was so stunned…

But pretending not to notice.

And honestly, I didn’t have the presence of mind to call her out on it.

Yuri usually wore her long, silver hair loose,

But today, she had it neatly tied up.

There weren’t any flashy accessories—

It was a simple, modest outfit, almost like everyday wear.

But the frills on the blouse and the ribbon near her collar kept that delicate, elegant charm intact.

She still looked every bit the refined young lady.

Maybe that’s exactly why—

Even though she carried herself with her usual grace,

She no longer looked like a duke’s daughter.

Instead, she looked more like a sweet girl from town.

I liked the glamorous, noble Yuri too—

But today, she felt somehow closer, more real.

And for the first time… I couldn’t help but see her as a girl.

My heart was pounding so loudly it was almost annoying.

“Fufu, how do I look? I figured we’d be walking around town today, So I tried not to stand out too much. Do you think it suits me?”

She smiled playfully and leaned in a little too close.

A soft, sweet scent drifted toward me.

Perfume?

It wasn’t anything I recognized.

Her long lashes fluttered, and her blue eyes peeked up at me with a slight tilt of her head.

“…You’re way too close.”

“Your thoughts?”

“…Y-Yeah. You look great.”

My heart was racing so much, I couldn’t calm it down.

Even though it was our long-awaited date, I’d ended up snapping a bit—

But Yuri just smiled with a soft “fufu,” looking completely satisfied.

I stepped back slightly, almost like I was retreating, and glanced at her again.

Her cheeks were lightly flushed, and she gently touched her lips with the back of her index finger—

Almost like a kiss.

“It is a date, after all. I told myself I’d try to hold back today, but… this is going to be tougher than I thought.”

“Hold back? From what?”

“Just talking to myself.”

Yuri let out a quiet chuckle, but this time—

There was a trace of something else in her smile.

A kind of shy, girlish sweetness I didn’t usually see.

I tilted my head, confused by her meaning—

And then, just like that, she reached out and took my hand.

“—!”

It had been a while since I felt her touch.

Her hand was cool, delicate… and it made my shoulder twitch in surprise.

I turned to look at her—

And she was already looking up at me with a gentle smile.

“You’re going to escort me today, aren’t you?”

“…Don’t get your hopes up too much.”

The heat rising in my throat made it hard to talk,

But I managed to squeeze the words out.

There was no way a broke viscount like me could plan a perfect date

Fit for a duke’s daughter.

And Yuri had to know that.

But still—

“I’m counting on you.”

She gave my hand a little squeeze.

Seriously…

Was she trusting me, or just messing with me?

I tried to figure it out—

But either way, the outcome was the same.

I was doomed.

“It’s a date with my dear husband, after all. Telling me not to get my hopes up is a pretty unreasonable request, don’t you think?”

“Haven’t heard that in a while—‘my dear husband.’”

I said it almost like a passing comment,

But Yuri blinked, her blue eyes wide with surprise.

Then she smiled softly, her expression easing.

“…You really do pay close attention to me, don’t you?”

“Why do you sound so happy about that? It’s nothing special.”

“Fufu. You’re right. It’s not.”

Still holding my hand, she happily took the lead and started walking.

“So, where will my dear husband be taking me? A fancy restaurant, perhaps? Or maybe a tailor’s shop to pick out a new dress? Oh, my heart’s racing!”

“Stop hyping it up. Lower your expectations—like, drag them across the ground.”

“Then where are you taking me?”

Yuri’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked up at me.

Where, huh…

“For now, I thought we’d check out the market stalls.”

“Market stalls?”

She looked genuinely confused—

Well, guess it was time to show this sheltered lady what a normal town outing looked like.

“There’s a Sunday market in the town square. They’ve got food, handmade trinkets, all kinds of stuff. Sometimes merchants from far-off places bring in rare goods too. Even just browsing is fun. It’s more of a commoner’s kind of thing, though.”

“…You’re a noble too, aren’t you?”

“In name only.”

I lived modestly enough that I was basically a commoner in everything but name.

“Well then, since I’m being escorted by my dear husband, I’ll be sure to enjoy myself.”

“You say stuff like that and it just makes me want to turn around. How about we just eat at the academy cafeteria instead?”

“I wouldn’t mind— But this is a date, isn’t it? That means you’re paying, dear husband.”

“…That’s cold.”

Just imagining a date in that fancy, noble-exclusive cafeteria was enough to make both my spirit and my wallet cry.

It felt like I had choices—

But really, I didn’t.

Sighing in quiet surrender,

I turned my back to the academy and started walking toward the town square.