Chapter 57
“Did Lorei come by here?”
“Yes, briefly… I thought she came back because she’d forgotten something.”
She remembered Lorei suddenly showing up, telling her Rune was in the greenhouse and urging her to go there quickly.
Sophia naturally walked over and crouched beside Rune.
“What were you doing?”
“I was just checking how the flowers were doing—and taking a bit of a break.”
Rune tilted his head and gave her a smile—one of those sweet ones that seemed to be reserved just for her.
“You look lovely.”
“Thanks.”
It was the kind of compliment that made her feel oddly bashful.
“Is the banquet over?”
“No. I left halfway.”
“Did you not enjoy it?”
“It’s not that…”
Lorei had led her this way. Come to think of it, she hadn’t even danced—the highlight of any banquet. Though even if she’d stayed, she likely wouldn’t have danced anyway.
Back then, Lorei had told her there was no need to dance just yet and that if she ever wanted to learn, she’d teach her herself.
But Sophia already knew how to dance.
“…Shall we dance?”
“…What?”
The shift in conversation caught Rune so off guard that he blurted something dumb.
“But, uh… there’s no music, and… I’m not exactly dressed to match you, my lady.”
“That’s okay.”
As if there could ever be a look that didn’t suit you.
“Dancing without music can still be fun.”
Back when I learned, the sound of wind and insects was all the music I had.
“I don’t even know how to dance…”
“I told you—it’s fine. I know everything.”
Whether the lead or follow, Sophia knew both parts. Her instructor had once mistakenly taught her the male steps first, only realizing the mistake later and switching to the female role.
Eren.
He had attended a banquet held at the central castle for official reasons, but had slipped out to meet Sophia in secret. While they were going over plans, he noticed her staring longingly at his ceremonial outfit and realized she was envious.
Since she could never even dream of attending a real banquet, he had tried to give her a taste of it by teaching her how to dance. But midway through, Sophia had voiced a concern.
‘Eren, doesn’t this feel… a little off?’
‘…Ah, I taught you the steps I’m used to without realizing. I’ll have to start over.’
‘Really? But… do you know the female steps too?’
‘Yes. I made sure to learn them.’
He had said that while gently taking her hand again. The moonlight spilled across the night sky, turning the green of his eyes a shade of blue.
‘Why?’
‘Just in case… I ever had the chance to teach my younger sister someday.’
‘She’d have a fine instructor of her own. You learned it for that day anyway?’
‘You can laugh if you think it’s foolish. It is, really. I’ll probably never even meet her, let alone teach her how to dance.’
Isn’t that a bit too sentimental? Sophia had let out a small laugh at his earnestness. Then, after a quiet moment, she felt his hand tighten around hers.
‘Still…’
Eren had gently pulled her into his arms and smiled softly.
‘Maybe it wasn’t a pointless lesson after all.’
He rarely smiled, which was why it had surprised her so much.
And maybe it hadn’t been a waste for her either—because now, she had the chance to teach Rune.
Sophia took Rune’s hands and helped him to his feet, adjusting his posture.
“Left… then one more to the left… Good, just like that.”
Like teaching a toddler to walk, she slowly, patiently guided him through each step. As Rune cautiously followed, he spoke up, sounding worried.
“What if I step on your foot?”
“So what? It’s not like we’re doing this to impress anyone.”
Sophia shrugged.
“I’m just moving how I feel—wherever my feet take me, wherever my hands reach.”
She said it to ease his nerves, and it worked. His movements gradually became more relaxed and fluid.
Eventually, their steps began to resemble a real dance. Sophia smiled in satisfaction.
“Now just keep going like that.”
“…Okay.”
One step, then another. The warmth of each other’s hands. Halfway through, it stopped being a formal dance and became more like play—just twirling around, round and round.
And that was perfectly fine.
They didn’t need music. Surrounded by flowers far more beautiful than any ballroom, watching Rune laugh like he was having the time of his life—Sophia couldn’t help but laugh too.
If happiness in life was limited, she was probably using all of hers right now.
The Day After the Olabi Festival
The next day, the air still buzzed with remnants of the Olabi Festival’s energy.
Then why was she standing in front of Bled’s office?
“You may come in.”
Led by Dain, Sophia stepped into the office. Bled looked up from the stack of papers he was working on as she entered.
He quickly set down his pen and gestured toward the tea table where drinks had been set.
She assumed he meant for her to sit there. As she took her seat near the milk tea, a loud thump came from Bled’s desk.
Startled, Sophia looked up to see him awkwardly bent over—caught between sitting and standing.
What… what even was that?
She blinked in confusion until Dain leaned in, trying to suppress a laugh, and whispered an explanation.
“He banged his knee on the desk trying to get up too quickly.”
That must’ve hurt. What was he so flustered about?
Sophia stood back up and looked at Bled.
“Are you okay?”
“…I’m fine. You can sit—it’s all right.”
He straightened up as if nothing had happened and cleared his throat before taking the seat across from her.
Maybe he jumped into the real reason for their meeting so quickly just to erase the embarrassing moment from her mind.
“Count Aros wants to give you Mesios Island, which was the prize for winning the hunting tournament. That’s why I called you.”
“I see.”
“It’s a very popular vacation destination right now, so you’ll be receiving a decent amount of income from it every month.”
…Huh?
“You’re still young, so you won’t be managing the island yourself, but there’s no issue with receiving the revenue.”
“….”
“We’ll open a personal vault in your name… and the bookkeeping… At first, Lorei will handle it, but once you learn, you’ll manage it yourself.”
He’s really giving it to me?
When Count Aros first mentioned gifting the island, she assumed it would just go back to the lord’s estate in the end. But this… this was being placed directly in her hands?
Bled continued explaining her rights while flipping through papers and handing them to her.
He had already given her the Roberti estate—and now this? He didn’t act like someone who had been absent from her life for years.
“…Is this attention from me burdensome to you?”
Startled by the sudden question, Sophia looked up from the documents. His golden eyes, once always stern, now looked softened—like honey had been stirred into them.
To say it wasn’t burdensome would be a lie. He had never shown her the slightest care before, and now he was pouring out his affection.
“You probably want to laugh. After neglecting you for seven years, now I’m suddenly doing all this.”
“….”
“Think of it as receiving what you never got. Accept everything. Nothing I give you will be a burden.”
Nothing he gives will harm me?
“If it ever becomes a burden, send it back to me. I’ll take it on your behalf.”
Words she never could’ve imagined hearing in her past life. So this is the kind of person he really is.
“The dreams… they made me do it,” he’d once said.
If, like Joshua and Benjamin, his coldness had been due to those dreams… and now that they were gone, this was who he truly was—could this be his genuine self?
“You don’t need to think of it as something I’m giving you. Think of it as a gift dropped from the heavens just for you.”
So I shouldn’t feel guilty for receiving it?
“So don’t overthink it. Just accept it.”
He was saying all this hoping she wouldn’t stress herself out trying to interpret his intentions.
So it wouldn’t feel burdensome or complicated.
And just as she nodded to his carefully chosen words—
The door burst open, and rainbow-colored hair flew in with a loud voice trailing after it.
“Bled!”
Payton?
Why on earth was he here?
Sophia blinked in confusion while Bled pinched the bridge of his nose and said flatly,
“Who said that thing could come in here?”
“The island! Vacation! Time off!”
“…Hah.”
“Let me go!”
…He’s lost his mind.
