Chapter 32
After that, Suleiman and I stopped by a few more wholesale shops around the bazaar to check the market trends before returning to the palace.
I can’t even describe how awkward it was, riding back in the carriage with just the two of us.
But unlike me—who couldn’t help but be conscious of him—Suleiman behaved as though nothing at all had happened.
It was the same the next day.
Suleiman went to the government office looking as composed and impeccable as ever, not the slightest trace of disturbance in him.
Meanwhile, I had to wrestle alone with my restless feelings.
Even when Arin came into my room and chattered away, that unsettled heart of mine refused to calm down.
“Oh my, this bracelet is so pretty! Its blue glow is almost the same color as Lady Ishtar’s eyes…! Lady Ishtar?”
“Ah… huh? Oh, yes. I’m glad you like it.”
I had been spacing out mid-sip of tea, lost in thought, when Arin’s voice snapped me back to reality.
“Goodness, you must have had something happen yesterday, didn’t you? You never gave me a proper answer when I asked about your little excursion.”
“Really, nothing happened. Everyone was too busy working to notice us at all. Besides, we had our faces covered.”
“Tch. In books, something always happens at times like that.”
Looking disgruntled that there hadn’t been any incident, Arin puffed out her cheeks.
I chuckled and murmured into my teacup.
“…Arin, don’t you think you’re reading too many novels?”
“How could I possibly stay calm when the lady I serve went on an outing alone with a prince?!”
Pffft!
I sprayed the tea in my mouth into the air.
“A—A date?! It wasn’t like that! Yesterday was just an outing in disguise, that’s all.”
My face blazing red, I waved my arms as I tried to explain myself.
Arin only crossed her arms and watched me fluster, her expression relaxed and knowing.
“Oh please. If it were just an ordinary outing, why would he insist on going with Lady Ishtar of all people? You can be surprisingly naïve about these things.”
She even sighed, shaking her head at me.
Being treated like a fool by such a young girl gave me a strange feeling.
I wiped the tea from my lips and chin with my sleeve and muttered under my breath.
“It really wasn’t like that. We just walked through the bazaar and the shops. That’s it.”
“Nothing unusual at all? You know, I’m an expert when it comes to romance novels. Even the other palace ladies borrow books from me.”
I was about to tell her that learning about romance from books alone wasn’t a good idea—when the memory suddenly surfaced.
Winding through the crowded market with Suleiman’s arm around my waist.
The unique scent of him within the cloak he had wrapped around me, the warmth of his body radiating even through the fabric.
All those sensations felt as vivid now as if I could still feel his touch.
“Lady Ishtar…? Are you unwell? Your face is red.”
Startled, I quickly fanned myself with my hand.
“O-oh, the room must be a little warm. Maybe it’s because summer is close?”
“Well, it’ll be true summer soon. Once the desert winds start blowing in, it’ll get much hotter.”
With a little “there we go,” Arin stood and threw open the windows.
Cool, refreshing air swept into the room, filling it.
As I pressed the back of my hand to my cheek to cool it, I casually asked her,
“By the way… a desert? There’s one near the capital?”
“Yes. There’s a vast coastal desert near Istin.”
“Coastal desert?”
I tilted my head, and Arin smiled as she explained.
“They call it that because it developed right along the sea. You can see the sand dunes, sky, and ocean all at once—it’s said to be a spectacular sight.”
The only deserts I had ever seen were in documentaries, so my eyes widened.
The sea and desert together? How strange.
I had thought deserts only existed in unbearably hot regions, but apparently not.
Shifting the subject away to weather and deserts, I finished breakfast and left my room.
Walking down the corridor with my veil lowered, Arin explained today’s schedule.
“This morning you have swordsmanship training, and in the afternoon, lessons with Lord Aziz. I’ll take you to the training yard first.”
“Oh… that’s today?”
Thanks to Hurrem’s strong recommendation, I was made to learn a few things besides what I was already studying.
One of those was sword training, which included basic self-defense techniques.
Hurrem’s firm belief was that ‘a woman must know how to protect herself.’
Honestly, if I could wield the power of water freely, I wouldn’t need such things at all.
But I had no intention of announcing my hidden powers to everyone just yet.
If I’m going to live on my own someday, it’s better to learn whatever I can.
And above all, this was all free of charge.
If I had to hire a teacher outside the palace, it would cost a fortune.
Unfortunately, the one assigned as my sword instructor was none other than Iblan—the man I practically considered an enemy.
Ugh, I can’t stand the sight of him.
Even if he was Arin’s brother, his terrible first impression had been enough to make it impossible for me to get along with him.
As I heaved deep sighs at the thought of the days ahead, Arin patted me comfortingly.
“Don’t worry too much, Lady Ishtar. My brother may not seem like it, but he’s actually gentle with women. He’ll teach you well.”
…Somehow I doubted that.
I opened my mouth to say as much, then closed it again.
Even if he treated me poorly, he was still Arin’s brother. Complaining to her would only make things awkward.
Muttering my discontent inwardly, I arrived at the training yard—and was surprised by what I saw.
“Ahem. G-good morning, Lady Ishtar. A fine morning, isn’t it?”
Iblan, whom I hadn’t seen in some time, couldn’t even meet my eyes properly as he stammered through his greeting.
He fidgeted nervously, like a man meeting a woman for the first time.
“Brother, really! Why are you so nervous? It’s not like this is your first time meeting Lady Ishtar.”
“…I’m not nervous.”
“Don’t lie—it’s written all over your face! Just admit it: you’re nervous because Lady Ishtar is so pretty. Anyone can see it.”
Oh?
When I glanced at him, Iblan quickly looked away, clearly flustered.
Well, well. Looks like he’s completely fallen for my looks, hasn’t he?
To be fair, I only had bad blood with him when I was in cat form.
When I appeared as a human, he had only ever glimpsed me briefly, usually with a veil on.
A mischievous impulse rose within me, and I reached out my hand to him.
“I’ll be in your care today, Iblan.”
Startled, he only stared at my outstretched hand.
Grinning, I stepped closer and clasped his hand firmly myself.
“P-please let go of my hand.”
As his face and neck flushed scarlet, I chuckled inwardly.
It seemed this training would be far more torturous for him than for me.
I gave him a triumphant smile.
“Shall we begin, teacher? We mustn’t waste time.”
In the end, it took me less than an hour to drive Iblan fleeing from the yard.
With a foolish look, he blurted, ‘I’ll just get some water, please continue practicing!’ before hurrying off.
From the start, his attitude toward me as a cat and me as a human was worlds apart.
He couldn’t meet my gaze, couldn’t even hand me a practice sword properly—there was no way he could act like a proper teacher.
This feels kind of strange.
It was satisfying to get the upper hand, yet also oddly disconcerting.
Once again, I was reminded that my human beauty wasn’t average in the least.
Enough to make even a stiff, stone-faced man like him lose his composure.
…Though what good does it do me?
Because the one I truly wanted to unsettle wasn’t Iblan, but Suleiman.
Somewhere along the way, I had begun to resent Suleiman’s constant calm.
And when he showed even the slightest hint of surprise, I found it… amusing.
But why? When did I start changing like this?
At first, all I wanted was to avoid him.
My head growing more and more muddled, I let out a deep sigh.
“Alright then, may as well practice.”
Not wanting to waste the time, I picked up a small wooden training sword.
After more than half an hour, all I had learned was how to hold the sword correctly and swing it downward.
I’d been told that mastering even that much was impressive, but repeating the same move over and over quickly became dull.
I was wondering when Iblan would come back when I had swung the sword past thirty times.
That was when a man’s cheerful voice rang out, very close by.
“Well now, a lady practicing swordsmanship alone in a place like this? That’s quite unusual.”
“Wha—! You startled me!”
Whirl.
The wooden sword slipped from my hands, spun in the air, and flew upward.
It all happened so fast I didn’t even think to catch it—just stamped my feet in panic.
But the uninvited guest snatched the sword effortlessly, as if it were nothing.
What, does he have magnets in his hands or something…?
Judging by how smoothly he caught it, he was clearly skilled with the blade.
When I lifted my gaze in surprise, I saw a blond man approaching me, the sword in his hand.
His face was strangely familiar.
Without thinking, a name slipped from my lips.
“…Teron?”
