Chapter 57
“Ah, Aches…”
My chest thudded so hard that even breathing was difficult, and only a strangled sound escaped my lips.
Whether he understood the turmoil in my heart or not, he let out a quiet laugh.
“Where in the world do you find a son just four years younger?”
The hand that had been caressing my cheek slid down, brushing lightly against my neck.
“I’m much taller than Einra, even more than Aenra’s older brother. And my hands, like this…”
The hand that grazed my throat gently wrapped around one of mine.
“Einra’s little hand fits so neatly into mine.”
Lifting my hand, Aches pressed a soft kiss against it.
The tender, ticklish sensation against my skin sent a shiver down my body.
“A–Aches, w–wait…”
“Harnen is just a friend to you, isn’t he?”
Suppressing my struggles with gentle firmness, his voice flowed with calm ease.
“Why did you lie earlier? You’re not married yet.”
“T-that wasn’t on purpose…”
“Yet every night, you sleep by my side.”
“W-what kind of thing is that to say…!”
My already heated face burned even hotter, my head spinning.
Watching me silently, Aches slowly lowered his head, pressing his ear to my chest.
“Wow… Einra’s heart is beating so fast.”
“D-don’t listen to that…”
“This heartbeat—it’s only because of me, right?”
He chuckled softly as he said it.
“I wish it would stay like this forever.”
“….”
At those words, I suddenly couldn’t breathe.
My chest grew hot, my stomach twisted, and for some reason, I wanted to cry.
‘Why… why do you keep saying things like that?’
‘For the past five years, not a single day has gone by without me thinking of you.’
‘I’ll do better—so well you’ll never regret it.’
‘If you stay here with me from now on, my waiting won’t feel so long.’
Why do you keep speaking as if you love me, making me hope—?
So much so that I end up…
“Do you… like me?”
…asking you something like this?
It was an impulsive question.
Had I been in my right mind, I never would have said it.
And then—
“Hm?”
Aches tilted his head, puzzled.
‘…Ah.’
The very instant I saw those crimson eyes staring at me, as though he’d never even considered the question before, my heart sank.
The wild pounding in my chest froze, chilling into stillness.
‘I shouldn’t have asked.’
Why did I?
Did I really think Aches still liked me?
Even after I had thrown a careless apology at him and run away?
‘I’ve lost it, Einra.’
Just because he treated me kindly, I let myself be moved… I’d misunderstood everything.
Like that time five years ago when I threw out a question in jest.
I had no idea what ruin my rash words might bring this time.
‘I hate this…’
That same dreadful regret welled up again, unbearable.
I felt like crying for an entirely different reason now.
Don’t hate me. Don’t distance yourself. Don’t avoid me—
“Aches—”
I had to say something, anything to take it back.
I clutched at his arm.
“…I never once hid it, so I thought you already knew.”
His low murmur froze me stiff.
Staring at me as I blinked dumbly, Aches smiled as if I had said something strange.
“I confessed to you before, remember?”
Of course I remembered.
There was no way I could forget the shy, halting words he’d once spoken.
“Since then, there hasn’t been a single moment when I didn’t like you, Einra.”
The bashful confession of five years ago had returned now, calm and steady.
“I like you, Einra.”
“….”
“There was no way I couldn’t.”
The instant those words reached me, the tight grip around my chest released, and I finally breathed.
Tears slipped down my face.
He hesitated, then reached up slowly to wipe them away.
“…Einra?”
His face blurred through the veil of my tears.
I didn’t bother to stop them. Instead, I reached out and touched his pale cheek.
Warmth seeped through my palm.
“…Me too.”
My own confession came out trembling.
“Me too… I like you.”
His hand froze mid-motion.
Like a child setting foot in the dazzling palace for the first time, his eyes widened in stunned disbelief.
Seeing that dazed expression, I couldn’t help but laugh through my tears.
Cupping his face in both hands, I drew him closer.
“I like you, Aches.”
“….”
“I’m sorry it took me so long to realize it.”
Aches blinked, dumbfounded.
“…You… like me?”
“Yes.”
“You… like me?”
Muttering the words again and again, his face suddenly turned bright red.
He covered his mouth with his hand and stumbled backward, as if to escape.
“Aches…?”
I pushed myself up slowly, calling to him with a puzzled look. He flinched, spun away, and cried out—
“D-don’t look at me.”
“…Huh?”
“I… I must look so pathetic right now.”
The man who had just moments ago stroked my cheek and smiled at me now refused to meet my eyes, his face flushed scarlet.
I stared blankly at his back, biting my lip to stifle a laugh.
The way he fidgeted like a startled small animal reminded me of when we first met.
‘What are you doing here alone?’
‘…The roses… they were pretty.’
‘He was just as cute back then.’
The memory left me oddly light-hearted.
Without thinking, I reached out and tugged at his sleeve.
“Aches, I—”
“Impropriety—”
He shot to his feet before I could finish.
“I mustn’t be improper.”
It sounded more like a vow to himself as he strode quickly toward the door.
“…Improper?”
I tilted my head, baffled.
Just then—knock, knock—the door opened.
I turned and saw a large partition, wrapped in mana, being carried into the room.
“A–Aches? What is this?”
He set the partition in the middle of the bed, then came toward me.
Sliding his arms under my back and knees, he lifted me gently and smiled brightly.
“Because I don’t want to be improper toward you, Einra.”
‘…And that has what to do with a partition?’
I blinked, bewildered, as he carried me in his arms.
Without explaining, Aches laid me down carefully on the bed, pulled the blanket up neatly to my chin, and tucked it in.
“Sleep well, Einra.”
He gave my hair a tender pat, then turned toward the opposite side of the partition.
“…?”
Soft rustling, and then silence filled the room.
“…??”
I lay there, staring blankly at the silvery patterns on the darkened ceiling.
Um… aren’t we supposed to be lovers now, after confessing to each other?
Actually—are we even officially lovers?
We haven’t even decided if our “Day 1” starts today or tomorrow…
The soul of the deposed Emperor Bellarician, now within a common-born sorcerer of Elberk.
It was a card that could bring Belzesti to their side, but also a double-edged sword that might give Belzesti an excuse to act.
‘I must never let them discover that I returned from the future.’
With the Grand Duke Baharman, a flimsy explanation was enough—he was never one for deep thought. But the Duke of Cervante was different.
‘If I say the same thing I told the Grand Duke, he’ll surely grow suspicious.’
So Dante made his choice.
If it was hard to approach them directly, then he would make them come to him.
‘In the future, they do approach us anyway.’
All he had to do was stir unease among the Belzesti nobles, pushing them to reach out to Baharman sooner.
And today, at last, a message had arrived from the Duke of Cervante.
It was that very day that an unexpected visitor appeared.
“…Young Lord?”
The Grand Duke’s heir, who normally spent all his time outside and never showed his face, had come to him on his own.
Dante struggled to hide his surprise as Lloyd approached.
“Dante, I have an order for you.”
Lloyd’s half-lidded golden eyes were heavy with shadow.
