The man looked up at me, and for a moment, our eyes met. I felt a slight flutter of nerves. His gaze was sharp, and I could tell immediately that he belonged to a higher social class. He seemed to match the description given by the matchmaker: successful, with the air of a man who had achieved something in life.
It must be him.
He nodded, stood up, and pulled out a chair for me. Introducing himself, he said, "Hello, I'm Daniel. Daniel Anderson."
His voice was deep and smooth, with a clear pronunciation that reminded me of the dubbed voices of male leads from the stories I'd read before.
"Hi, I'm Rose. Rose Blackwood." I smiled as I took the seat he offered, pleasantly surprised by his courteous gesture. I also noted that he was definitely over six feet tall.
He looked so young and handsome. Why doesn't he have a girlfriend? Why is he here on a blind date? Could it be what I'm thinking—that he's secretly ill? If so, what a pity!
Daniel called over a waiter for us to place our orders.
Being a bit of a sucker for good looks, I had a great first impression of him. I decided to order lightly, worried that my usual appetite might scare him off.
After placing our orders, we started chatting to get to know each other.
I took the initiative and asked, "The matchmaker mentioned that you're an accomplished Alpha, Daniel. What do you do for work?"
"I'm in the military," he replied.
Ah, that explains his straight posture and the commanding presence he carries. So he's a soldier!
It made sense why he'd come for a blind date. Most military men spend the majority of their time at the barracks and don't have much opportunity to meet women. That's why they often need blind dates to find a partner.
I nodded and said, "I work at the local post office, writing letters for people."
My voice is naturally pleasant, and I made sure to speak softly. It's a trick I use that usually leaves a good impression on others.
Daniel wasn't an exception. The matchmaker had already told him that his date today would be a gentle, beautiful woman with a respected job and a simple family background. Given that his family had been pressuring him about marriage, he thought that if the meeting went well, he might proceed quickly with the wedding.
After a few minutes of conversation, the food was served.
The dishes at this restaurant were pretty good, decent enough to enjoy.
I asked him, "You must be busy with your work. What do you like to do in your free time?"
"Training at the military base, or reading books. What about you?"
"I enjoy good food. My mother is a great cook. If we get the chance, I'd love to have you over to try her cooking."
We continued chatting lightly while eating, keeping the conversation simple. The meal ended fairly quickly.
I found myself liking Daniel. At least, so far, he met all my standards.
But I didn't want to show too much interest yet. Better to play it cool, act a bit demure, or I might scare him off.
I ate only until I felt about half full before setting my chopsticks down. I took out a light yellow handkerchief and dabbed my lips. The soft fabric felt nice against my smooth lips.
Daniel glanced at me briefly before asking, "Miss Blackwood, did the matchmaker tell you? I'm in a bit of a rush to get married."
In a rush to get married?
No one mentioned this to me—not the matchmaker, not my mother. Why the hurry?
"When you say 'in a rush,' how soon do you mean?" I asked.
"As soon as possible," he said, his voice dropping a little. "My grandfather was recently diagnosed with cancer. He doesn't have much time left. His greatest wish is to see me marry my Luna. To put his mind at ease, I told him that I already have a girlfriend and would be getting married soon."
So that's why.
He was rushing into marriage to comfort his ailing grandfather. It showed that he was a devoted and filial man.
But this revelation made me hesitate.
I did like Daniel. He seemed like a good man. But should I set aside my own principles just because he needed to fulfill his grandfather's wish?
I was only twenty-two years old.
In the era I came from, this was the age when people were just graduating from college. Marriage wasn't something you rushed into.
And if we were to marry quickly for his grandfather's sake, wouldn't that be a marriage of convenience? A hasty wedding?
Even though he seemed like someone I could genuinely like...
Daniel must have noticed my hesitation. My thoughts must have been written all over my face.
"I'm sorry, Miss Blackwood," he said sincerely. "I feel embarrassed bringing this up, but I'm really out of options right now."
He continued, "I actually have a very good impression of you. We've been talking for a while now, and I'm curious—do you have any specific requirements for a potential partner? Maybe we're more compatible than you think."
Wait, does Daniel also have a good impression of me?
I felt a rush of warmth to my cheeks. Trying to stay calm, I looked at him and replied, "To be honest, you meet most of my requirements already—tall, over six feet, good-looking, with a stable income and a steady personality."
"Also, I should mention that I graduated from high school and am quite literate, but I'm terrible at household chores. I can't cook at all. Stepping into a kitchen feels like a disaster waiting to happen."
I snuck a glance at his face to gauge his reaction.
In this era, most Lunas are expected to know how to cook and manage household tasks. But I don't fit that mold, though I do have a nice figure and can earn my own living. If it were the original Rose, she'd still tell her dates that she wasn't skilled in cooking or housework.
Most men in the past, except for a few who insisted I learn, were willing to overlook it. Once they saw my face, they tended to let these small issues slide.
Regardless of the era, my appearance was a strong asset.
With an oval face, delicate features, smooth cheeks, fair skin, almond-shaped eyes, a balanced nose, and slightly pink lips, I looked youthful and appealing.
I was the kind of woman that even someone with poor taste would find attractive.
And Daniel didn't seem to mind at all.
In fact, he looked even more interested.