WBESFL 43

Chapter 43

Eleanore’s eyes went blank. As her vision slowly came back into focus, her eyelids flew wide open.

By this point, she wasn’t clueless enough to ask what he meant.

“…Kain.”

Instead, she called him with a flustered voice.

Seeing her bewildered face, Kain gave a bitter smile and shifted his gaze toward the lanterns drifting along the river.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time—whether I should confess to you or not. I knew you didn’t see me as a man, so I was afraid my confession would only end up as a burden to you.”

“……”

“Eleanore. It might not sound very convincing, but I didn’t confess to you expecting you to accept my feelings.”

Kain ruffled the back of his head and lowered it. Even to his own ears, his words sounded unreliable. But it wasn’t a plea for her to accept him.

He just wanted to tell her how he felt.

Even knowing that she only saw him as Stella’s older brother.

Even if it was selfish, he couldn’t hold back the urge to tell her now—because if not now, there might never be another chance.

“Then why confess at all?”

“…Because I couldn’t trust myself to keep hiding it forever. And the thought that I might not get to see you anymore… that anxiety pushed me too.”

Kain fiddled with the back of his neck as he spoke. Eleanore didn’t know what to say.

Just minutes ago, Kain had only been her friend’s brother.

And now, a confession from someone she had never once thought of in a romantic way left her in complete confusion.

He likes me? Out of nowhere? Why? Since when?

The question slipped out of her mouth before she even consciously decided to ask.

“Since when did you like me?”

“…From the first time I saw you.”

Though embarrassed, Kain didn’t dodge the question. Their “first meeting” was four years ago.

Eleanore was surprised. That meant he had liked her much longer than she imagined.

“Four years…?” she muttered in disbelief.

“No, six.”

“…? But you said since we first met.”

“I mean the first time I saw you.”

The “first meeting” Eleanore remembered was four years ago. But Kain had seen her more than two years before that.

Even after six years, that memory was still vivid.

He recalled her standing alone on a terrace at a party, letting the wind brush against her lavender-rose dress. Her slender hands gripped the railing, her silver lashes glittering under the moonlight.

And he even remembered what she had murmured to herself that night:

‘They’re talking without knowing anything. As if I’d let myself be beaten down by something like this.’

Her blue eyes had been firm and spirited, yet tinged with sadness.

From that moment, Kain had liked her.

Not even Stella knew the truth. She believed her brother had fallen for Eleanore at first sight only four years ago.

“I was always interested in you. You just never noticed.”

He gave a sheepish cough. He had tried a few times to start a conversation with her, but the timing never worked, and Eleanore never picked up on it.

Those many failed attempts only half-succeeded when Stella became her friend.

“I really had no idea… Where and how did you even see me six years ago?”

Six years—longer than even her friendship with Stella. Eleanore felt oddly guilty for not remembering.

But no matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t recall ever meeting Kain back then.

Seeing her curious expression, Kain only gave a playful smile.

“That’s a secret. My own memory, so I’ll keep it to myself.”

Maybe one day he’d tell her. But not now—because back then, she had been grieving her first broken engagement. He didn’t want to stir up an old wound.

Instead, he looked back at the river, at the tiny lights dancing upon it.

“Eleanore.”

“Yes?”

“You said you wished for my happiness.”

He lifted his head to look at her. The moon hanging above the thick forest softly illuminated his face.

“Become a Baroness. You’ll do well.”

“……”

“And if someday, even in the far future, you ever need someone by your side… think of me first.”

To inherit a barony and govern a province, she would have to remain there for a long time. Meanwhile, Kain, as a knight of the imperial order, was tied to the capital.

So all he could promise was what he had always done—wait silently behind her.

He could wait as long as needed. He had already waited years without her even knowing.

So I hope my confession didn’t make you anxious, too.

He smiled—a slightly tilted, refreshing smile.

It was the brightest smile Eleanore had ever seen, and she couldn’t even blink.

“Let’s go back.”

He stood first and reached out his hand. Hesitating a little, Eleanore took it and rose.

As she followed his broad back, walking at her pace, countless thoughts crowded her head—her friendship with Stella, and how she should treat Kain from now on.

Unlike when they came, the walk back was completely silent.

By the time they returned to Oklama Castle, it was already night.

Eleanore awkwardly stood before Kain after stepping down from the carriage, his hand still holding hers.

“Um… Kain.”

“Yeah?”

“Sorry I didn’t answer you earlier. I just…”

In the carriage, she had remembered that she never gave him a reply.

Lowering her eyes, she swallowed nervously.

“…I’ve never once thought of you that way before.”

“I know, Eleanore.”

More than anyone, Kain knew he had only ever been “a friend’s brother” to her.

Her words of refusal were no surprise. He had expected rejection—that was why he said he would wait.

“Don’t lower your head like that. It’s not your fault.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“And don’t apologize either. It’s nothing to be sorry about, not liking me.”

He rested a hand on his waist and smiled faintly, almost like a sigh.

Eleanore glanced at him, then nodded lightly.

“Thank you, Kain. You should go rest in your room.”

“You too—you must be tired. I’ll walk you to your room.”

But she shook her head. She planned to visit the Yahin siblings first to see how they were and give them the gifts she bought.

“I’m going to see Yahin and Yasmin. You go ahead.”

Kain thought about insisting, but stopped himself. He had already imposed enough tonight. It was time to step back.

“Alright. Be careful, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He waved as far as the stairs, and Eleanore returned his smile before heading up.

Even as she walked to the siblings’ room, her mind kept circling back to Kain. Memories of his past actions surfaced on their own, now falling into place with new meaning.

So that’s why he did that. And that, too…

She laughed softly at herself for never noticing before.

At last, she reached their door and knocked gently, worried Yasmin might be asleep.

Footsteps sounded, and the door opened. Yahin appeared.

“You’re still awake.”

His obsidian eyes went first to the flower crown resting on her hair. From its soft pink petals, his gaze dropped to her faintly smiling face.

“Is Yasmin asleep?”

He nodded slowly, looking more drained than usual. Concerned, Eleanore tilted her head.

“Why? Are you sick?”

Instead of answering, he took out his notebook and wrote. She waited silently.

— Did you enjoy the festival?

“Yes, it was fun.”

But as soon as she replied, she saw his eyes sink darker, and she realized her mistake.

Living as a Haitar in Oklama, Yahin had never once been allowed to join the festival. She should have been more considerate.

“…Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

He shook his head, showing it wasn’t resentment. Then he wrote again:

— Nothing happened?

Eleanore flinched slightly. The instant she read the words, Kain’s confession resurfaced.

Yahin’s sharp eyes caught her tiny change of expression. He quickly wrote again:

— Please tell me what happened.

“…Ah.”

For him, it was a desperate plea. For her, it was only embarrassing. How could she possibly admit she had been confessed to at the festival?

So she handed the notebook back.

“That’s nothing for you to worry about.”

It was personal, so it felt natural to draw a firm line.

But after Stella, now Eleanore too had dismissed him with the same words. His expression stiffened without her noticing.

He wrote forcefully this time, pressing hard into the page:

— I want to know too.

“It’s between me and him. Not something for you to know.”

Her words naturally grouped herself and Kain together—“we.” She quickly pulled out the gifts she had brought, eager to change the subject.

“I bought you something.”

“……”

“It’s a necklace shaped like an apricot seed. Give it to Yasmin if she likes it.”

He silently took the necklace and stared down at the almond-shaped pendant. Then he wrote:

— Did you get one too?

“What, this? No. Kain and I just bought food together. I only bought gifts to bring back.”

— Did Kain buy you something?

“What? Oh… just this.”

Eleanore pointed at the flower crown on her head.

“I think he bought it to match today’s dress.”

Everything she wore today—from dress to crown—was pink, like cherry blossoms in spring. She gave a small laugh.

It was an unconscious smile, one she didn’t even notice herself.

Yahin, however, clenched his notebook tightly as he saw the joy on her face.

“It’s late, so I should go now.”

“……”

“You can return home tomorrow. Thank you for staying here so long, Yahin.”

She reached out, meaning to pat his shoulder in comfort. But his hand suddenly caught hers, stopping her. Her eyes widened. His grip wasn’t painful, but firm.

“Yahin…?”

His face looked as if he were holding something back. She stared up at him in confusion.

He couldn’t bring himself to squeeze harder. Instead, he bit his lip, slowly released her hand, and bowed deeply. Clutching his notebook so tightly the leather cover bent, he stepped inside and closed the door firmly.

Eleanore blinked at the shut door, dazed. Was he upset because of the festival? She scolded herself again for speaking carelessly.

She didn’t realize—this was the first time Yahin had ever turned his back on her first.

Until now, even if she never looked, he had always watched her until the very end.

Deciding to send the rest of the gifts through Lisa, Eleanore returned to her room.

Only after a while did Yahin reopen the door—but by then, she was already gone.