chapter 3

Lilic Aster had been avoiding her father.

Not intentionally.

Okay, maybe a little intentionally.

In her past life, she had a perfectly average father who spent most of his time watching the news or grumbling about traffic. He had never been particularly affectionate, but he had also never been… this.

Lord Hadrian Aster, on the other hand, was an imposing figure. He was the type of man who could silence a room just by stepping into it. A man who held actual power, whose words could make or break noble families. A man who, in the novel, had been cold and unfeeling toward his illegitimate daughter.

Or so she had assumed.

Which was why she was very confused when he kept inviting her to breakfast.

Again.

And again.

And again.

She couldn't refuse, of course. That would have been suspicious.

Which was how she found herself seated across from him once more, trying very hard not to look like a rabbit cornered by a particularly well-dressed wolf.

The dining hall was large, intimidating, and awkwardly silent.

Lilic stared at her plate, poking at a piece of fruit with her fork.

Hadrian cleared his throat. "Did you sleep well?"

Lilic nearly dropped her fork. She stared at him, wide-eyed, before realizing that normal people respond to normal questions.

"Oh! Um. Yes?" she said, though it sounded more like a question.

Hadrian gave a slow nod. "Good."

Silence.

Lilic felt itchy from how tense the atmosphere was.

Hadrian tried again. "And your studies?"

Lilic blinked. "My… studies?"

Hadrian took a sip of his coffee. "I've heard you've been reading more."

Lilic hesitated. Technically, she had been reading—very carefully reviewing the plot of the novel she had been reincarnated into. But she couldn't exactly admit that.

"I suppose," she said carefully.

Another pause.

Hadrian's expression didn't change, but his fingers tapped lightly against the table. He looked like he wanted to say something.

Lilic shifted uncomfortably. Why did it feel like she was being studied?

Hadrian finally spoke. "You don't have to be so stiff around me."

Lilic froze.

She didn't even realize how tense she had been until he pointed it out.

She forced a smile. "I-I'm not stiff."

Hadrian didn't say anything, just looked at her in that unreadable way of his.

She tried to play it off, taking a sip of her tea. "I mean, why would I be? Haha. That would be ridiculous. Absolutely absurd."

Hadrian continued looking at her.

Lilic's smile twitched.

The silence stretched.

She was losing this battle.

"I…" Hadrian started, then stopped himself. He sighed, glancing at the window. "Never mind."

Lilic blinked. What was that?

Before she could ask, he pushed back his chair and stood.

"I'll be busy at the estate today," he said, his tone even. "Let Elise know if you need anything."

And just like that, he left.

Lilic stared after him, confused.

She felt like she had missed something important.

…But what?

She sighed, slumping into her chair. "Nobles are so emotionally complicated."

Elise, standing quietly nearby, chose that moment to clear her throat. "My lady," she said gently. "I believe… the Lord was trying to have a conversation with you."

Lilic blinked. "He was?"

Elise gave her a look. "Yes."

"Oh."

A pause.

Lilic frowned. "Why?"

Elise sighed.

Lilic stared at the empty seat across from her, unease settling in her chest.

Hadrian Aster was terrifying. Powerful. Intimidating.

But just now, for a moment…

He had looked almost disappointed.

And that unsettled her more than anything.

Lilic buried herself in books to forget about the morning's strange encounter.

She spent most of the afternoon in the grand Aster library, flipping through old tomes, analyzing maps, and even skimming through records of past noble scandals—purely for educational purposes, of course.

She was so focused that she didn't notice when someone entered the room.

Didn't notice when they watched her with a slight furrow in their brow.

Only when she reached for another book did she finally glance up—

—and nearly fell off her chair.

Hadrian was standing there.

Staring at her.

Lilic froze.

Since when had he been there?!

Hadrian glanced at the books spread out before her, his gaze sweeping over the open pages. His expression was unreadable as always, but he seemed… thoughtful?

Lilic, on the other hand, was panicking.

Did this look suspicious? What if he thought she was scheming? Was she not supposed to be reading this much?

Hadrian said nothing.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, he simply nodded at her and left.

Lilic blinked.

"…What just happened?"

She turned to Elise, who had been standing near the bookshelves. "Did I imagine that?"

"No, my lady."

"…Did he want something?"

Elise hesitated. "I do not know."

Lilic frowned, but eventually shook it off, returning to her reading.

If Hadrian wasn't going to say anything, then she wasn't going to ask.

But the next day—

Something strange happened.

When she arrived for breakfast, there was a small, neatly wrapped package beside her plate.

Lilic stared at it. Then at Hadrian. Then back at the package.

"…What's this?"

Hadrian took a sip of his coffee. "A gift."

Lilic cautiously unwrapped it.

Inside were three books.

Books on the exact same topics she had been reading about in the library.

Lilic stared.

"…Did you buy these?" she asked, dumbfounded.

Hadrian didn't look at her. "I thought you might find them useful."

Lilic blinked. Slowly.

What.

She turned to Elise. Elise looked away.

She turned back to Hadrian.

Hadrian continued drinking his coffee like nothing was strange at all.

Lilic squinted at him.

Hadrian ignored her.

And that was how Lilic Aster ended up more confused than ever.