Chapter – 86
“…Is that so?”
Normally, Kyle would never believe Cyan’s words. But he was so frustrated that he unknowingly fell for it. Cyan kept a serious face and continued his lie.
“Yes. It means she never wants you to bring up that topic again.”
Philia nodded with a grave expression.
“Now that I think about it, maybe that’s true.”
The two of them truly believed Cyan. Jin’s face filled with shock.
Why are my brother and sister believing that nonsense? And why is that brother lying like that!?
“I—I’ll go get some fresh air!”
Unable to endure it, Jin rushed out of the dining hall before anyone could reply.
His subordinate, Shinta, who was waiting outside, asked,
“Why are you out already?”
“Shinta… our family is doomed.”
“Pardon?”
“They have no sense… and no conscience…”
No wonder I feel like running away from home…
Dee woke up late in the afternoon, rubbing her eyes and letting out a deep sigh.
Yesterday had been full of shocking events.
Helena was chaotic enough, and then Kyle too. As Dee opened the door, Jin, who had been wandering nearby, waved at her.
“Oh, scammer!”
“Oh, thief!”
As always, they greeted each other warmly.
Dee looked at his face.
“Why are your eyes so red?”
“Last night I drank with my subordinates… I mean, my comrades and with Amila. Then I had breakfast with my family this morning, so I couldn’t even cure my hangover.”
“You almost got shot by Amila several times, and you still hang out with her?”
“It’s thrilling. I’ve never felt my life threatened like that before.”
“So that’s your taste!”
“What? No! It’s not like I discovered some hidden preference or anything!”
After complaining, Jin grinned.
“By the way, you look really pretty today.”
“What are you saying, you thief? Even if you flatter me, you can’t steal my heart.”
Since he often gave compliments, Dee brushed it off as a joke.
But Jin, who had sharp eyes, noticed something different about her. Her cheeks were pink like peaches, and her eyes looked especially soft.
‘She’s deeply in love too.’
With a sly expression, he asked,
“I heard Kyle said he likes you?”
“You heard?”
“Yeah. At the dining table. Wow, I thought Kyle was the type to skip the confession and suddenly ask for marriage one day. But surprisingly…”
“…Now that you mention it, I think I heard something about marriage.”
“R-really? That sounds like him…”
They both sighed. Then they noticed Kyle approaching from afar.
“I’ll go. See you later.”
Jin quickly left, and Kyle walked up to Dee.
“What were you talking about?”
“Amila says threatening someone’s life is thrilling.”
Kyle clicked his tongue and pulled out a stack of papers from his pocket.
“I read what you gave me. It was so difficult I couldn’t finish all of it. But I think we should go to Quildsak Castle.”
“Really?”
Dee took the paper with his notes.
“At that time, news came that in a castle near the sea, the reincarnation of Saint Diana Estrella was born. On one wall of the room where the child was born, the image of red wings—symbol of Roxand’s saint—appeared. The parents later informed the High Priest of Roxand’s temple.”
“I don’t know if that mark still remains, but it would be good to at least ask the Enfer couple which room you were born in.”
“I’m nervous… What if they’re really my parents?”
“That would be good.”
Kyle answered calmly. Dee smiled and nodded.
“That’s true.”
“And this is a gift.”
Kyle handed her a box. She opened it and found a hairpin with an emerald flower.
Her eyes widened.
“A miser should act like a miser. If you’re like this, it’s very troubling.”
“I save money to use it when necessary. Where is more necessary than for the person I like?”
“Don’t you know how to play hard to get? You’re not supposed to just say you like someone like that.”
Embarrassed, Dee tried to change the topic. Kyle frowned.
“It’s already hard enough to pull. Why would I push and make it unstable?”
“……”
Once he stepped forward, he never looked back. That was just like Kyle.
Dee held the hairpin tightly. Even if she tried not to, her expression softened.
Last night, she was so embarrassed that she could only say “Okay.” Sadly, Kyle wasn’t quick enough to realize that it meant she accepted his confession.
“It’s pretty…”
She pinned the hairpin into her hair. The gem, the same color as her eyes, sparkled.
Kyle couldn’t take his eyes off her. Dee narrowed her eyes slightly.
“By the way, I don’t think you understood yesterday, so I’ll say it again.”
“Ah, about that…”
“I meant that I like you too.”
“…What?”
Kyle’s eyes widened. Dee smiled brightly at his frozen face.
“And I know your personality, but can you talk about marriage after we become adults? You still have four months left.”
She held up four fingers teasingly, then quickly ran inside and shut the door, too embarrassed.
Kyle stood there, stunned, his neck turning red in an instant.
Stephanie entered Dee’s room and looked at the hairpin.
“Oh my, how pretty.”
“Me?”
“The hairpin.”
“Tsk.”
“But there’s no way there’s something among your belongings that I don’t know about…”
Stephanie studied Dee’s face. Seeing her happiness, she suddenly screamed.
“His Highness Kyle gave that to you, right?!”
“H-how did you know?”
“It’s easy to guess from how he acts around you. So? What did you decide?”
Dee smiled shyly.
“I told him I like him too.”
“You did well!”
“Let’s hurry and tell Amila.”
“Yes, let’s go!”
The two ran off excitedly. Philia, who happened to pass by, followed them in confusion.
“Dee, where are you going in such a hurry?”
“Girls’ night! Philia, come too!”
“M-me too?”
Thankfully, because of that, Philia also found out that Cyan had tricked both her and Kyle.
The next day was the New Year celebration of the Vitensia Empire.
Stephanie carefully styled Dee’s hair with several pins and placed the emerald hairpin as the highlight.
After the event, the people of Feten prepared to return home.
Since confirming their feelings the day before, Kyle had been too shy to even look at Dee. Throughout the entire event, he kept avoiding her.
Finally, Dee walked up and blocked his path.
“Kyle, look at this. Stephanie styled it nicely.”
She turned around and pointed to her hair.
“Why aren’t you saying anything? Hurry up and say it’s pretty.”
“Pretty.”
He answered awkwardly. Dee touched the large green ribbon tied loosely around her waist.
“Stephanie matched this ribbon with the hairpin.”
“I see.”
“It’s silk. It’s really soft.”
“Silk, huh.”
Kyle struggled to respond properly. Jin happened to pass by and waved.
“Oh, your dress is pretty. White suits you. Did Stephanie tie that ribbon?”
“Yeah. To match the hairpin.”
“Really? Turn around.”
As Dee turned quickly to show off, Jin admired her.
“Pretty. That hairstyle suits you.”
As Jin reached out to turn her around again, Kyle grabbed Dee’s arm before Jin could touch her.
Jin froze. Dee casually scolded Kyle.
“The younger brother is much better than the older one.”
“What’s better about that weak guy?”
“He’s not weak. He’s pretty.”
The two bickered as they walked toward the carriage.
Jin stared at their backs.
…Did my brother just stop me from touching Dee?
After Jin left, Kyle quietly intertwined his fingers with Dee’s.
“Suspicious. Look at you holding hands! Why? Afraid I’ll run away?”
“Don’t run away.”
Kyle was startled by his own words and covered his mouth, but it was too late.
“Are you scared I’ll run away? Are you anxious?”
“…Be quiet.”
“Do you like me that much? Will you get jealous and obsessed even if I just look at another man?”
“……”
He was already like that.
Kyle made an awkward expression. If she noticed, she would tease him for days.
After helping her into the carriage, he left to say goodbye. Dee unfolded her blanket over her knees. Suddenly, Roxand appeared and sat on it.
“Ah! Don’t just appear like that!”
“I was avoiding people. They say foxes are dangerous in winter when food is scarce…”
“Oh… I’ve never lived as a fox, so I didn’t know.”
“It’s fine if you know now… So. Are you and Kyle lovers now?”
“Hmm? Probably.”
Dee answered shyly.
Roxand let out a deep sigh.
He had separated them for twenty years. What if the result turned out the same again?
Before, he had seen two men go mad and ruin a nation.
It was chilling—and pathetic.
