Their eyes met

"For a tale, the story is too dramatic, huh?"

"No. Precisely because it's a tale, that's why it's dramatic. Wait, I have to take a photo from this angle."

Take it from the corner where the pillars rise and–

"Ouch!"

Her phone fell, making her heart almost fall too. It's the right choice not to bring a camera to a tourist attraction. If her camera fell, she could die being scolded by his parents.

"S-sorry! I didn't see you when I stepped back."

The man she bumped into looked at her with cold eyes and cold expression. His tall stature and neat clothes told him that this man was not ordinary.

But those deep, cold olive eyes… They seemed familiar.

"Mira!"

Mira turned quickly to her friend who looked worried. Savior!

"Forgive this friend of mine, Sir!" said her friend seriously. "We… we're here for our course sketch assignment."

"Take care," the man said, then walked away.

Mira and her friend watched the man leave. Then as soon as he disappeared at one turn, they both breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, you can't enter that bend just now!" chirps Mira.

"Heh, are you idiot? He is Sir Elrod, the owner of this Tierney Castle!"

Ah, no wonder Mira felt like she had seen it. There was an information board in front of the castle just now. Mira and her entourage from her department also entered the castle gallery.

"Have you finished taking photos yet? The others have already started sketching them out on the front page."

"Y-yes. We're following the others now."

Mira turned in the direction where Elrod had disappeared.

Turns out that guy is the owner of this castle, after all? she thought.

But somehow, Elrod is more than that.

"Ha ha. I must have gone mad from my college assignments."

***

From the balcony where Elrod was standing, he could see a conspicuous entourage in uniform jackets. From this third floor, he couldn't read the writing carved on its back. But surely, they are students forced to make assignments while on vacation.

"Mr. Elrod, I have found the information you asked for," said his secretary. "It is true that there is a ticket reservation from a campus for today. Judging from the date, it looks like the group is indeed them."

But even from this third floor and amidst the crowds of visitors, Elrod could find her figure. The student who was called "Mira" looked striking in his eyes. That blonde hair and that smile… like the morning sun in summer.

"From the data you have, look for a female student named Mira. Chances are she was majoring in architecture or photography. I want general information only."

"Yes? Erm, I mean, well. Will look for it soon."

His secretary returned to find the requested information. Elrod himself remained where he was, never taking his eyes off Mira.

Then suddenly, the girl turned to look at him – maybe because she felt she was being watched. Their eyes met.

And in that second, Elrod felt his heartbeat.