Karl wasn't the type to gawk, but exhaustion made it harder to maintain his usual filter. His brain, still fried from work, was running on fumes, and for some reason, Chilie Jean's voice echoed in his head like some omniscient narrator.
"Ah, My Lord, have you encountered a noblewoman in the wild? A rare sight indeed."
Karl internally groaned.
Shut up, Chilie.
Still, he found himself glancing her way again. She looks like she came straight out of an expensive office… or a divorce settlement.
The thought made him chuckle under his breath.
Unfortunately, she must have caught the sound because, to his horror, she looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a split second, Karl considered just jumping out the window.
But instead of the "Why is this random guy looking at me?" reaction he expected, she smiled.
Not just a polite, dismissive smile—a real one.
"Long day?" she asked, her voice smooth and warm.
