Chapter : 158
“Oh, my.”
I chuckled lightly, then cleared my throat and replied.
“I’ve heard countless boasts from gentlemen who claim they’ll fetch stars and the moon for you.”
“And did they ever keep their promises?”
“Why would a boast not be a boast? Honestly, it’s infuriating.”
At that, Vivi crossed her arms and spun around once, looking utterly adorable, like a little spoiled princess.
Then the male lead’s line continued.
“But you already have the two brightest stars bestowed upon you.”
“Where?”
“If you open the door, I’ll show you.”
I hesitated for a moment before slightly opening the door.
Peeking through, Levi, standing under the corridor’s lantern, brushed my eyelashes with the tips of his fingers as if gently inspecting them.
“One here.”
“…”
“And another here.”
Blinking at his touch, I pressed my lips together, but couldn’t hold it in and burst into giggles.
“Ah! Goosebumps…!”
Still, it felt nice. Ticklish in a pleasant way.
Blushing, I held out the back of my hand to Levi.
“So, shall we finish this properly?”
Levi bowed politely and kissed the back of my hand—just like a scene from a play.
“Every night, grant me the honor of counting your stars.”
“Ahaha, gladly!”
Then I pulled his hand toward me.
We spun together into the room, almost like a clumsy dance, and Levi helped me sit on the desk chair when I got dizzy.
Naturally, he noticed the envelope on the desk and asked,
“Who’s this for?”
“Oh, Lady Ranniette, the Marquess’ daughter. She’s my student council senior’s aunt, and I was introduced… Do you know her?”
Without expecting much, I asked, and Levi nodded casually.
“Yes.”
“Oh, you know her?”
“I’ve heard of her.”
Wow. Levi, who usually isn’t interested in anyone, even knows her. She must be a fairly famous noble.
“So she’s that well-known?”
“In the social circles…”
In social circles? What? Famous for what?
I stared at Levi, but his lips didn’t move anymore.
No… “There are two ways to drive a person crazy. The first is to stop talking halfway…” What is that about?
“Ah, what is it? Is she a bad person?”
From the letter, she didn’t seem rude or uncultured. She just felt like the perfect noble lady.
Levi, who seemed lost in thought, asked me,
“What defines a bad person?”
“Uh… good question.”
It’s hard to define. A bad person, huh.
I lowered my eyes and muttered in a puzzled tone,
“Maybe… we can define it as a criminal?”
“Then Lady Ranniette isn’t a bad person.”
So, not a criminal. Fine. We’ll gradually get to know her through letters.
While nodding, Levi pointed to a fresh sheet of stationery he had on the desk.
“This?”
“I plan to invite Sophie soon. Is that okay?”
“…Do as you wish.”
His words sounded fine, but he seemed secretly displeased.
I smirked and gripped my pen tightly.
“I’ll write the invitation quickly, so don’t disturb me.”
“Can I brush your hair while you do it?”
“Hmm. You may have special permission.”
“Thanks.”
Levi bowed his thanks, then naturally took the brush from my vanity.
Standing behind me, he carefully brushed my long, white, curly hair.
Softly.
Because it was still slightly damp from the bath and coated with scented oil, his touch made it even smoother.
Nice.
My heart fluttered just like when we imitated the play earlier.
For a moment, I wished time could just stop, remembering another line from that play.
“…Done!”
The invitation was finished!
I let the ink dry like I did with Cecilia’s reply, folded it neatly into an envelope, and stamped it with Bastion’s seal.
I’d ask Hugo to send it first thing tomorrow morning.
Pleased with the two finished letters, I jumped to my feet.
Now that my work was done, it was time to play with my husband.
“Let’s go to the terrace!”
I tossed the brush Levi was holding onto the desk and grabbed his hand, dashing out to the terrace.
Feeling the humid summer wind, I peeked below. In the pitch-dark night, it looked even more vast.
Wow, the ceiling is always so high. Like a cliff.
I instinctively flinched and stepped back.
Hmm, this could give me an imaginary fear of heights.
Then…
“Yup!”
I quickly banished my weak heart!
As I suddenly tried to climb onto the railing, Levi caught me, startled.
“It’s dangerous.”
“It’s fine. I’ll sit with you.”
I smiled boldly and perched on the railing, tapping the adjacent spot with my hand.
“Shall we count the stars? Let’s enjoy the night sky with my wife, romantically.”
The moon was bright and full. A perfect night to stare blankly at the sky.
After a while of sitting side by side in peaceful silence, Levi spoke.
“About your great-aunt you mentioned last time…”
He glanced at me, seemingly asking for permission to speak.
Since there was no reason to hide anything, I nodded casually.
“Yes. Why?”
“Was she a bad person to you?”
Thinking the stars are all the same but not knowing how to read them, I lowered my gaze to meet Levi’s.
“Well… what do you think?”
“…She was a bad person to me.”
“Why?”
“She hurt you.”
I chuckled and rested my head on his shoulder.
“Right. She was a bad person to me too.”
“….”
“But also a pitiful and grateful person.”
Levi nodded, seeming to understand, and held my hand tightly.
While gently stroking the back of his hand with my thumb, I suddenly remembered something and asked.
“By the way, how did you know that I’m weak to grandmothers?”
“What do you mean?”
“That I’m susceptible to their hands.”
He’d known for a long time, yet I didn’t think I’d shown it.
Levi poked my left cheek with the finger not holding my hand and replied,
“Whenever Taylor Duma took off her gloves, your left cheek flinched.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Flinching your left cheek means you don’t like it.”
“…Me?”
So even my hidden reactions were being noticed.
I puffed out my cheek in mild annoyance. Levi poked it again with the same finger.
Ah, fine. Play with me as you please. It’s just my cheek between spouses.
Leaving Levi staring at my face, I muttered in a crushed voice while gazing at the sky full of stars.
“Do you think no shooting stars will fall tonight?”
Finally, Levi remembered my wish about shooting stars and asked,
“Want to make a wish again?”
“Huh? Not really at the moment.”
“What did you wish for back then?”
“I told you, it’s a secret.”
My smiling face was quietly observed by his dark red eyes.
“If you tell me, I’ll make it come true.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
Seeing Levi’s utterly serious expression, I laughed softly and shook my head.
“No, I’ll keep it a secret after all.”
To prevent him from sulking, I quickly kissed his cheek.
Smooch.
A brief, fleeting contact.
“Still, thanks for telling me.”
Truly, I meant it.
Smiling gently, I rested my head back on Levi’s shoulder and closed my eyes.
It was hot, and our skin was damp with sweat where it touched.
Still, we didn’t let go of each other’s hands.
“Hot.”
“…Yes.”
“Our estate must be cooler, right?”
It’s probably on the colder side there. Anyway, thinking about it made me want to go.
“Roxanne.”
A bird.
It wasn’t literally a bird, but it was.
Like an intangible mass of light, sometimes sprouting wings and flying freely through the sky—a huge, mysterious bird.
With a mouth unseen, the bird spoke:
“My flame. My wind. My Roxanne.”
And in front of this sweet-voiced bird, she stood.
Roxanne Bastion.
Her chestnut hair flowing as in her portrait, her expression still calm and emotionless.
“Shall I make a fifth season for you? Or perhaps switch the positions of land and sea?”
For a moment, the bird seemed to shimmer, then transformed into the form of someone kneeling.
He clung to Roxanne’s hand.
“You know. I am a god, and I love you.”
“….”
“Say it, Roxanne. Whatever you wish. Anything.”
Who in the world would make such a passionate proposal? One could feel their heart ache just listening.
Finally, Roxanne, who had remained silent, spoke.
“Stop your nonsense.”
“Pfft!”
Ah, she laughed. I shouldn’t interrupt; it’s serious.
Trying to suppress my own laughter, I raised my head—and the bird and Roxanne were staring straight at me.
Ah.
‘So this really isn’t just a dream.’
And just as I realized it, I woke up.
