Chapter 60…
Cynthia looked at him in a daze.
It was true that she had decided to act like the real, ill-tempered Elizabeth, but she hadn’t exactly wanted to show that side of herself in front of Tesion.
And since she had forced herself to throw a tantrum, she must not have looked good doing it either…
“Are you all right?”
While she was lost in thought, Tesion had quietly approached and asked her.
“Yes, I’m fine… but I didn’t make a mistake, did I?”
Feeling awkward for no reason, Cynthia took a small step back as she spoke.
She hadn’t thought of Tesion at all before acting, so now she didn’t know how she was supposed to behave in front of him.
“A mistake?”
“Well… since I don’t really participate much in social gatherings, I was worried that what happened today might have left a bad impression on the other nobles. Especially considering the Illies family…”
She spoke while recalling what little she had learned through her spartan training with Dale.
“They’re one of the wealthiest families in the capital, but I got so angry in the moment that I forgot about our family’s relationship with them. For all I know, our houses might even be doing business together…”
“Lady, the lace on the back of your dress is slightly torn.”
Tesion ignored her worries and instead examined her closely. His expression turned serious as his gaze fell to her back.
Following his eyes, Cynthia turned to look behind her—sure enough, the delicate embroidery on the back of her dress was slightly ripped.
“Ah… I must’ve scraped it on the stairs when I fell earlier.”
She shrugged as if it couldn’t be helped.
“Is the inside of your dress all right? When that man pushed you and you fell on the steps, you might’ve hurt yourself. Any cuts or soreness?”
“Oh, I’m perfectly fine! But… about the second son of the Illies family, what kind of person is he—”
“He’s a bastard.”
“…Pardon?”
What?
Cynthia blinked in disbelief. Had she just heard that vulgar word come out of Tesion’s mouth?
When she looked up, he was still gazing down at her with that calm, steady face.
“…E-excuse me, what did you just say?”
“I said he’s a bastard. The second son of the Illies family.”
A bastard…?
When she said that word, it was nothing special—but hearing Tesion say it somehow felt sacrilegious!
Cynthia stared at him in shock. The gentle, refined Tesion—who seemed the type to never utter a single rude word—had just… cursed?
She quickly shook her head.
“Your Grace! P-please don’t say things like that!”
“Why not?”
“Wait, is this some kind of mirror therapy or something? Like you’re telling me not to curse in front of you? That’s too shocking!”
Tesion’s expression softened slightly at her flustered reaction.
“Shocking?”
“Yes! I mean, hearing you say something like that… it just doesn’t suit you. It’s strange! Is this why people say you shouldn’t swear in front of children?”
“…Are you calling me a child now?”
Tesion finally let out a small laugh, like air escaping from a balloon.
Well, he is pure enough to count as one, she thought silently.
“Your Grace… I’m sorry for showing you such an unpleasant side of me.”
“Unpleasant? What part?”
“Um… the, the part where I got a little too aggressive. I could’ve handled it more politely, but I just lost my temper for a moment…”
“No. You were impressive.”
He said it with a small smile.
“Impressive?”
“Yes. The way you sharply put that rude man in his place—it was admirable. And since he was the one who acted out of line first, it was quite satisfying to watch.”
Well, she had yelled an insult right to his face, so she wasn’t exactly well-mannered herself…
But still, she was relieved that Tesion saw it positively.
“T-then I’m glad… I just worry that because of me, Your Grace—my fiancé—might become the subject of gossip.”
“No matter what, it won’t be as bad as the Illies family’s second son.”
“…What do you mean?”
When Cynthia asked, Tesion leaned closer as if to share a secret that couldn’t be told aloud. He lowered his voice by her ear.
“…Because he’s a bastard.”
“Oh, please stop…”
“Hahaha.”
Cynthia’s playful protest made Tesion laugh brightly.
Then, with graceful movement, he offered her his hand.
“I found a staircase leading upstairs. It’s not well known, so there’ll be fewer people there. Would you like to go before the main event starts?”
Cynthia smiled back and nodded.
“Sure!”
“This way, please.”
Cynthia followed Tesion’s gesture toward the balcony.
“Wow! How did you even know about a place like this? Is it really okay for us to wander around the Imperial Palace like this?”
“When I visited the palace long ago, I once used these stairs. I got a bit lost at first, but luckily it was right where I remembered.”
He stood close behind her as they reached the railing. Cynthia glanced down—groups of nobles were gathered in the garden below, all staring in the same direction.
“I’ve been meaning to ask… what exactly are they watching? What was it you said you wanted to show me?”
“It’ll start any moment now.”
Tesion’s lips curved faintly upward.
“I’m curious! Can’t you just tell me already—”
BOOM!
Suddenly, a loud explosion filled the air, and the night sky flashed bright.
Startled, Cynthia whipped her head up toward the source of the sound.
“Huh?”
BOOM!
Another burst—and this time, a brilliant spray of colorful fireworks lit up the darkness.
At once, the nobles below let out a collective gasp of admiration.
“Fireworks…?”
Cynthia stood there, mouth open, gazing blankly at the dazzling display.
A third explosion followed, scattering bright lights across the sky. The faint warmth from the sparks mixed with a cool night breeze that brushed against her cheeks.
Ah… this is what Tesion wanted to show me…!
Smiling softly, lost in the beauty before her, she turned toward him.
“Your Grace! Isn’t it beautiful? It’s your first time seeing—”
But as she turned, she found Tesion’s violet eyes fixed not on the fireworks—but on her.
Huh…?
Caught off guard by his gaze, she met his eyes. Another explosion rang out, and a gust of wind tousled his dark hair.
“…It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she forced herself to finish.
“It is.”
He answered calmly—even though his eyes had not once left her during all four bursts of light.
Cynthia, suddenly flustered, awkwardly raised her hand.
“Y-your Grace, not me! You should be looking at the sky! The Imperial Palace must’ve spent a fortune on this—I’ve never seen fireworks this big before…”
“I am watching.”
He smiled gently.
The fireworks continued to flare and fade, bathing them in alternating light and shadow. His dark hair gleamed gold for a moment before returning to black.
“…You’re not watching. You’re just looking at me.”
“I can see the fireworks reflected in your eyes.”
“No! You should turn your head and look directly! You said you wanted to see them yourself!”
Cynthia reached out and cupped his cheeks, trying to physically make him look away—but Tesion only leaned in, pressing his forehead softly against hers.
“Well, I only said I wanted to see them with you.”
“…”
“And seeing the fireworks reflected in your eyes… is far more beautiful.”
BOOM!
She couldn’t tell whether it was another firework—or the sound of her own heart exploding.
Cynthia stared into his violet eyes, now so close she could see her reflection in them.
He leaned even closer, his voice lowering.
“Cynthia. Right now…”
His words came slow and hesitant, as if testing the air.
She realized what he was about to say—and finished it for him.
“You’re asking if you can kiss me?”
“Yes.”
