CHAPTER 173……………………………………
While drinking tea, everyone gave us space.
Listening to the rain, drinking warm tea without worrying about anyone else’s gaze—it truly felt like a real date.
“I wonder if there could ever be a moment as happy as this.”
My sudden, sincere confession slipped out because the warm tea had made my heart so soft and tender.
I closed my eyes, wanting to engrave everything around me into my heart.
If I remembered all of this, I thought that someday, when life got difficult, I could recall today and endure it.
“You look happy.”
“…Was it that obvious?”
When I peeked at Kyle, his softly curved lips came into view.
Then, with his long fingers, he gracefully held his teacup. Even as he drank, his movements remained elegant and composed.
He didn’t slurp or smack his lips—if he had some bad habit like that, maybe he would look more human…
“When I look at him carefully, it’s almost unbelievable that he’s human. Maybe Kyle is an angel pretending to be human.”
By now, it seemed as though God had decided to grant him every blessing.
Watching Kyle drink tea right in front of me was as beautiful and elegant as a carefully filmed scene in a movie.
“You shouldn’t stare like that.”
Kyle, who had been looking down at his teacup, calmly called out my behavior as if he had known I was watching from the start.
After setting down the cup, he looked at me with a captivating smile.
“I—I just thought drinking tea suited you. Now that I see it, you look like a real Grand Duke and somehow fit perfectly with this place, so…”
Flustered, I babbled without realizing what I was saying.
Kyle’s eyes softened as if he found my clumsiness cute.
“You suit this place too.”
“Huh?”
“Literally. Here, you look unusually comfortable and happy.”
I never expected Kyle to think the same thing. I thought it was only me who felt this way, but he seemed to notice how much I liked this place.
“How did you know? That I like this place…?”
“Your eyes are sparkling. I like things that sparkle.”
His sudden remark made my cheeks heat up again. Why did he always say my eyes sparkled whenever he looked at me…?
“You seem a bit different today, Kyle.”
“For example?”
“At first, since you were talking about being a companion to the royal family, I thought we were in similar situations.”
“Similar? In what way were we similar?”
“You know… like a child being manipulated by the circumstances of adults.”
Even though mentally I was already an adult back then, it wasn’t a lie.
Possessing the young body of Elupe Inferna, I couldn’t act freely and had to follow the path the Count of Inferna wanted.
“If only I hadn’t had to watch the Count’s and Emperor’s moods, I would have left the capital long ago.”
Looking back, I had really worked hard.
“Then you completely misunderstood. As you can see, I am the Grand Duke. There’s no reason for me to be manipulated by adults’ circumstances.”
“At times like this, you feel distant. I’ve felt a kind of camaraderie toward the Kyle who was similar to me.”
When I admitted that openly, Kyle looked at me with slightly surprised eyes. I wondered if it was really that surprising—but perhaps Kyle had his reasons.
“Of course, I do feel sorry for Kyle, who had to grow up so responsibly so early. Becoming an adult earlier than necessary must have been tougher than being manipulated by adults. But just because you’re a little different from me doesn’t mean I suddenly dislike you, so don’t worry.”
Seeing Kyle’s childhood made me realize he must have had a difficult life, just like Xeros.
The next morning, the weather was bright as if it had never rained.
After a pleasant breakfast, when I thought it was time to return to the carriage, Kyle smiled at me.
“Did you have a good time?”
“Yes. I especially liked the bell with the ribbon. Would it be too childish if I asked to keep it as a souvenir?”
At my playful question, Kyle tilted his head and flicked his fingers.
Then, the small bell with the ribbon gently fell into my hand.
Shaking the little bell, its clear, pure sound tickled my ears.
“Next time, make sure to return it to the butler.”
“Huh? It wasn’t a gift?”
“I want to give it to you as a gift, but as you saw yesterday, the butler is very possessive. He doesn’t like things from the mansion being taken outside.”
I looked at the little bell in my hand and then handed it back to Kyle.
“Then I’d like to put it back where it belongs.”
“……”
“Kyle?”
“Next time, slowly. When you visit the Grand Duke’s house again, place it back where it was.”
I couldn’t figure out Kyle’s intention. Was he worried about the butler, or was he hinting that I should come back with the bell…?
“Kyle, does this mean you’re inviting me to the mansion again next time?”
Perhaps surprised by the sudden question, Kyle looked at me with a slightly serious expression.
“Did I misunderstand?”
Embarrassed, I scratched my head awkwardly.
“If it was an invitation, could you at least tell me the address? I don’t know where the Oberne Grand Duke’s mansion is, so I’m not sure how to return this bell…”
“…I’ll send it by letter next time.”
Returning to the palace, everything felt as if it had returned to normal.
Cute Roelin opened her arms to me, and beside her, Xeros smiled like a blooming flower.
The only difference was that Lekanon, who used to hang around like a carefree youth, was nowhere to be seen.
“Oh, Brother Lekanon went to the training ground.”
“They said His Highness has been in intense training since yesterday. Everyone’s exhausted from sparring with him. Looks like you’ve regained the energy you lost dealing with your sister.”
Xeros’ words carried a subtle sting.
Considering how his eyes had flared whenever Lekanon was harsh to me, it wasn’t surprising.
Roelin nodded at Xeros, showing no intention of siding with her brother Lekanon.
“Our sister is the strongest, so even the Swordmaster has to exert himself.”
“By the way, wasn’t it tiring for you to travel so far by carriage?”
“Not really.”
Little Roelin dragged a map with her tiny arm and pointed with her short index finger to the sea closest to the capital.
Then Xeros took her finger and pointed it much farther away.
“Eh? We could go this far in a day by carriage?”
“…I didn’t know it was possible either.”
Roelin, shocked, picked up the map and left. Xeros glanced at me.
“Were you alright in the carriage?”
“Huh?”
“I actually assigned a few guards to accompany you…”
Following me with such a gentle expression was a little shocking. I quietly looked at the adorable Xeros.
As expected, he seemed nervous, unsure if he had done something wrong, checking my reaction.
“And?”
“They said it’s a carriage faster than warhorses. Most couldn’t keep up, and only one even made it to the temple.”
“You reached the temple?”
“They were all dressed in black, so they didn’t realize it was a temple at first. Investigating, we found out an ancient temple existed nearby… Anyway, my point is, are you unharmed?”
I nodded at Xeros’ worried question and felt relieved that his subordinates hadn’t followed me to the Oberne Grand Duke’s mansion.
Yesterday at the Oberne mansion was pure healing for me.
I didn’t know why Kyle never publicly showed his mansion, but I hoped that the warm people there would stay safe.
“As you can see, I’m fine.”
“The royal carriage drivers who saw your carriage today said its wheels were in a terrible state. Were you defending the Grand Duke’s pride?”
‘I haven’t even checked how bad the carriage looked…’
I gently stroked Xeros’ head to calm him.
Having lost his family suddenly, Xeros had a habit of worrying excessively about my safety.
Understanding him, I didn’t want to scold or push him.
“Xeros, I’m much stronger than you think. So you don’t need to try so hard to protect me.”
“…I want to do whatever you ask, but I can’t accept not trying to protect you. Then you shouldn’t have protected me either.”
Seeing Xeros with tears in his eyes, I opened my arms and held him tightly.
“Yes, I’m sorry. You seemed uneasy because of me. Thank you for worrying about me, Xeros.”
