I Have Time On My Side!

"No, I don't remember you," Nolan said sincerely, though without malice. 

He knew he had been in important meetings during the war, where he had met many nobles and influential people, but he had never paid much attention to individual persons, especially if they weren't directly related to his tasks. 

Princess Iris, with her elegant posture and fine golden garments, smiled, though a nervous laugh escaped her lips. 

The pain of not being remembered was evident in her eyes, but she concealed it behind a polite and graceful facade, as one would expect from someone of her status. 

"Well... that's normal," she said with a slight shrug, maintaining her composure. "I didn't usually speak much when you met with my father. I used to stay in the background, watching..." 

Her smile remained in place, though it was somewhat weaker. 

The memory of having been there, admiring Nolan from afar as he discussed strategies with the king, made her feel small and insignificant compared to his achievements. 

Nolan frowned, still trying to recall. 

The meetings with the king had always been formal and brief, focused on military operations, and his interactions with others present had been minimal. 

"I see," Nolan finally commented. However, something didn't quite fit about that casual meeting, so he asked in a more serious tone, "What are you doing here, Princess?" 

Iris tensed for a second, a hint of nervousness flickering in her eyes, but she quickly masked it with a smile. 

"Oh, well... I'm just attending to some personal matters," she replied, her tone becoming light and friendly again, though Nolan could sense there was more behind those words. "I didn't want to cause too much trouble." 

Before Nolan could ask more questions, Iris looked him up and down with curiosity and, with a gesture of kindness, asked: 

"Did you sleep well?" 

Nolan, puzzled by the question and not entirely understanding its motive, nodded slightly. 

"Yes, I slept well." 

There was a brief exchange of glances between them before the princess gave a quick bow. 

"I'm glad to hear that," she said politely. "I hope we have the chance to talk another time." 

And with that, Princess Iris walked gracefully toward the church, while Emily beside her seemed to want to disappear into the ground from embarrassment. 

When Iris's figure vanished through the temple doors, Nolan turned to Emily, who had begun to take steps backward, trying to slip away unnoticed. 

However, before she could get too far, Nolan grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks. 

Emily looked at him with wide, nervous eyes, her mind clearly searching for an excuse to avoid entering the imposing temple. 

Nolan let out a sigh as he shook his head slightly. 

"Well, then we'll have to go shopping," Nolan announced with a calmness that left no room for discussion. 

Emily's eyes widened, and she began to shake her head rapidly. 

"No! Please, that's not necessary," she insisted in a trembling voice. "Really, it's not needed." 

Nolan studied her for a moment, understanding that her discomfort came from something deeper. 

It wasn't just her appearance but the environment she wasn't used to. And while to him the solution seemed simple, for her it was a difficult barrier to overcome. 

"Relax," Nolan said in a softer tone, trying to calm her. "I'll pay for everything." 

Emily bit her lip, clearly still uncomfortable with the situation. 

"I don't think I deserve something like that," Emily murmured, her head downcast. 

Nolan smiled faintly at her reluctance, recalling the words of some of his comrades during the war. 

'When you go out with a girl, pay for everything.'

It was a common mantra among the soldiers, something they repeated whenever they had a break and could enjoy their free time. 

Some worked extra hours just to ensure they could treat the girls they dated. 

Though Nolan had never paid attention to those comments back then, he now saw it as a potential tactic to help Emily stop being so reserved. 

But Emily kept shaking her head, still too nervous about the situation. 

The discomfort was palpable on her face, and Nolan, fearing he might ruin things, tried a new strategy. 

"I'm sick," he said suddenly. 

Emily looked up immediately, concerned. 

"Sick? What do you have?" Emily asked with genuine worry in her voice. 

Nolan, scratching the back of his neck, knew that what he was about to say would be a bit absurd. 

"It's a... complicated illness," he said in a serious tone. "And I need someone like you to accompany me to get better." 

Emily looked at him, bewildered. 

His words didn't seem to make much sense, but something in Nolan's sincerity made it hard for her to simply refuse right away. 

However, she still didn't quite understand what he meant. 

"So... you want me to work for you?" 

Nolan nodded immediately, smiling. 

"Exactly. I need you to work for me." He said those words with such conviction that even he was surprised. "That's why we need to go right now to buy you some clothes so you'll be comfortable. Then we can enter the church without any problems." 

'That's absurd!' Emily screamed in her mind. 

Still... the idea of working for Nolan, for some reason, didn't sound as bad as she had initially thought. 

Her life until now had been filled with difficulties, and the possibility of a change, however strange, intrigued her. 

"I…"