As I reached the Ashford estate and showed my identification, the guards nodded and allowed me entry. As I made my way toward the mansion, I spotted a figure approaching me. My heart skipped a beat as the dazzling Duke Ashford himself strode toward me. He was as radiant as ever, his presence almost blinding. I had to resist the urge to shield my eyes.
"Are you done with your trip, Miss Aria?" he asked, his voice smooth and warm, accompanied by the most charming smile.
"Yes, I am," I replied, trying to maintain my composure. "I'm very surprised to see you here. I always see you in your office."
"Well," he said casually, "I only came out to see you."
I blinked at him, utterly flustered, and quickly averted my gaze. My heart hammered in my chest as I whispered to myself, It's going to break. In that moment, I understood why Duke Ashford was known as the handsomest man in society. His charm was truly unparalleled.
"Are you alright, Miss Aria?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
"I'm fine," I replied hurriedly, shaking off my flustered state. "May I know why you wanted to meet me?"
For a brief moment, I let myself imagine a romantic or teasing response—something along the lines of him saying he missed me. But his actual words quickly shattered my daydreams.
"Oh, I just wanted to see if you're prepared for the expedition tomorrow," he said, his tone entirely professional.
I couldn't hide my disappointment but masked it quickly with a polite response. "Ah, yes. I'm very prepared," I replied.
He studied me for a moment before asking, "Would you like to ride a horse? Most of the knights will be riding."
I shook my head. "Thank you for the offer, Your Grace, but I'm used to walking or running after monsters. It's become second nature."
A spark of amusement danced in his eyes. "I see. You must be looking forward to this expedition—legendary monsters are no ordinary challenge."
A wave of excitement coursed through me as I nodded. "Very much so. But will it really be alright with the knights if I join?"
He chuckled softly, his charm in full effect. "Of course! Why wouldn't they be? After you showed off your skills, I'd say they'll be honoured to have you join. Honestly," he added with a small, genuine smile, "you were the best decision I've made in assembling this team."
His words caught me off guard, and I felt a warmth rise to my cheeks. "Umm, thank you… I guess?" I replied, unsure of how to handle the unexpected praise.
"It'll be my first time going with a group, though," I admitted. "I'm more accustomed to working alone."
He nodded, clearly impressed. "So, this whole time, you've been handling everything yourself?"
"Yep," I replied with a shrug, "everything all by myself."
"Well then," he said, his tone turning serious but still kind, "I'll see you tomorrow morning. I hope you're ready for the expedition."
"Always," I said with a smile, already looking forward to the adventure ahead.