Chapter 19
I felt sorry that I was only now giving him his first gift, not even realizing how much he liked this sort of thing.
“Actually, I bought some candy I thought you’d like too, but yesterday… that man crushed it while eating it.”
“…Was it… mine?”
“Huh?”
“The candy.”
“Yeah. I told you I bought it for you.”
Why is he asking again when he just heard me?
As I tilted my head, Kainess’s earlobes slowly began to turn red.
As a water mage, his body temperature was much lower than other people’s. He’d get frostbite before he’d ever run a fever.
“Are you sick or something?”
When I reached out to place my hand on his forehead to check his temperature, Kainess suddenly jerked back as if he had touched a bug.
Startled, I froze in place. Realizing belatedly that he had retreated, Kainess flusteredly waved his hands.
“I was surprised….”
Am I that surprising?
“I won’t touch you carelessly anymore… I’m sorry.”
He seemed unusually flustered for someone like Kainess. His normally expressionless face kept growing redder, and then he abruptly sprang up and fled the room.
“Seriously….”
The thirteen-year-old male lead was incredibly difficult to deal with.
He defended a strange man, suddenly worried about me, got flustered over a gift, and now he ran away.
…He’s as unpredictable as a rugby ball.
“Ah! I didn’t even get to talk about marriage!”
What happened at the night market faded from memory as if it had never occurred—everywhere except in my own head.
My family was still searching for that man, and their overprotectiveness toward me continued.
“You’re not allowed to go out until we find that man.”
“Why are you saying that, Brother Jenuer…? Father didn’t say anything!”
“I heard it directly from Father.”
I pouted, but Brother Jenuer refused firmly, his eyes unwavering.
“No.”
It was a declaration that no amount of whining would work.
“Sigh.”
And so I ended up living confined to the mansion.
I went to the training grounds once every two days, and aside from occasionally having tea with my parents, my days were unbearably dull.
As time passed like that, I couldn’t help but feel my anger toward that man simmering.
‘Next time I see him, I’ll get revenge. And I’ll definitely see his face.’
It was unfair that only my face had been exposed.
I’ll find out who that candy pervert really is!
Just as I clenched my fists and made that vow, Ellie entered my room holding an envelope.
“A letter has arrived for you, my lady.”
“Who would send me a letter?”
I rarely went out into society and didn’t show my face much, so as far as I knew, I didn’t really have friends.
“It’s from the young viscount.”
“…Don’t tell me—Aaron?”
“Yes. You know him?”
Ellie’s eyes widened in surprise.
“We have a bit of a connection.”
We ran into each other at the night market.
Ellie placed the letter in my hand and left, saying to call her if I planned to write a reply.
Lying back on my bed, I stared at the stationery.
Aaron. Why did he suddenly send me a letter?
The paper bore the viscount family’s crest boldly stamped on it, practically shouting, “I am nobility.”
I carefully opened the sealed envelope.
The contents were simple: “It was nice to meet you. I would like to see you again.”
To think he filled an entire A4-sized sheet with just that short message… If he’d been born in the modern world, he would’ve been a master at writing apology letters.
“Should I invite him? Or not?”
Resting my chin on my hand, I considered it briefly but decided to invite him. I was far too bored, after all.
And maybe I could figure out what Aaron’s intentions were in wanting to meet.
I was debuting in society soon—perhaps I could hear some useful news.
“Ellie! I need to write a reply!”
I flung open the door and called out into the hallway.
The meeting with Aaron was arranged quickly.
On the condition that I wouldn’t leave the estate, Father permitted me to invite a friend.
On the day of the appointment, the maids began preparing to receive Aaron in the wide-open garden. Brother Jenuer adamantly opposed meeting him in my room.
It was the first time pretty strawberry shortcake had been prepared for someone other than Kainess.
Standing awkwardly, I waited for Aaron—who was perhaps my friend.
“Esta!”
With a bright smile, Aaron stepped down from his carriage. Though there was some distance between us, he immediately ran toward me.
I had felt it at the night market too—he was such a bright kid.
“Thank you for inviting me. You have no idea how long I’ve been looking forward to today!”
“Thanks for saying that, even if it’s just polite. I had tea prepared in the garden.”
I led Aaron to where tea had been set up. The spot was so open it could be seen from Father’s study, from the second-floor corridor windows, and even from the entrance gates of the Duke of Paysia’s estate.
Isn’t this a bit too exposed…?
“Sit. I prepared strawberry cake for dessert—do you like it?”
“I’m fine with anything.”
Seeing how polite and agreeable Aaron was made me realize just how prickly our male lead, Kainess, actually was.
So the male lead’s tone wasn’t kind— I had just gotten used to it….
“Esta?”
“Oh, sorry. I got distracted.”
“Haha, thanks for being honest.”
Aaron might not be a breathtakingly handsome man, but he was the kind that made others feel comfortable. Especially when he smiled brightly, he had a charm that lifted your mood.
Smiling back at him, I poured tea into his cup.
“I’ll do it.”
“No, you’re the guest. Sit.”
“Sorry….”
He scratched the back of his neck apologetically.
Suddenly, I remembered how Kainess would just sit still.
…Why do I keep thinking about him?
Looking at Aaron kept bringing Kainess to mind, even though they didn’t resemble each other in the slightest.
“This is really strange.”
“What is?”
“Ah… nothing. I just thought the tea didn’t smell very good.”
I ended up blurting out a lie.
Sorry, Aaron. I really need to focus.
When I smiled awkwardly, Aaron smiled back, his eyes curving warmly.
“I’ll have them brew fresh tea.”
“I’m fine, though.”
Huh?
Aaron naturally took my hand. When I stared at our joined hands, he quickly let go, flustered.
“S-sorry.”
“It’s fine. It’s nothing.”
I answered lightly, but Aaron’s cheeks flushed, and the atmosphere instantly turned awkward.
It became so uncomfortable I didn’t even know what to say.
Ugh, this is suffocating!
“So, how have you been lately?”
“…Me? Nothing special. I’m preparing to become the heir and following my father around to learn about business.”
“That’s impressive.”
He was only the same age as Esta.
I stared at him in genuine surprise. Embarrassed by my gaze, Aaron rubbed his neck repeatedly.
“What about you?”
“Oh, me? I eat, run a little, read books… um, I guess I’m living well?”
Compared to Aaron, my life was incredibly simple.
“You’re sickly. Your health comes first.”
“You’re really kind. You only say nice things.”
Oops, did I just treat him like a child?
Aaron seemed quite flustered by my words, but to me, he just looked like a cute little kid.
It felt like watching a fifteen-year-old show off in front of me.
‘You like Esta, don’t you?’
He couldn’t hide his feelings at all. It was exactly what first love looked like.
How cute.
A small laugh slipped out. Aaron’s face turned red, and he kept glancing at me shyly.
“Want some candy?”
Then I remembered the candy in my pocket.
My crushed candy, along with the enormous amount the man had given me, was piled up in my room.
It felt wasteful to throw them away, so I had them tested for poison—there was nothing wrong with them. Had that man really given them out of kindness?
Since they weren’t poisoned, I’d been eating one a day. If I ate them all myself, I’d probably lose all my teeth, so I’d been handing one out to anyone I met.
“Hold out your hand.”
As I rummaged in my pocket and pulled out a wrapped candy, Aaron reflexively extended his hand.
“Here.”
“For me…?”
His voice trembled far too much for someone receiving just a piece of candy. He looked like he’d just been confessed to.
I hurriedly waved my hand.
“It’s not a gift. I’m just giving it to you. I have tons in my room. Don’t overthink it.”
“Mm….”
But Aaron didn’t seem to be listening.
He looked like he was floating around in his own little world.
Cute.
Just as Aaron carefully held the candy, a chilling presence swept through the air.
It wasn’t the cold tension that comes when people are about to fight—it was literally cold. Like the temperature had dropped three whole degrees.
I wasn’t the only one who felt it. Aaron startled and snapped his head up.
“Esta…?”
When I turned at the sound of my name, I saw Kainess standing there, staring at us with shocked eyes.
A month ago, while crossing swords with Jenuer, he suddenly asked,
“Is it hard for most young ladies to run fifty laps around the training grounds?”
“…Did you make Esta do that?”
“Make her? It wasn’t that bad.”
You idiot.
Reading the chill in Kainess’s gaze, Jenuer laughed awkwardly. At that moment, their wooden swords clashed with a dull thud.
“If someone with weak stamina suddenly does high-intensity exercise, they could collapse.”
“…Collapse?”
For a moment, Jenuer’s grip loosened. Kainess seized the opening.
With a sharp crack, Jenuer’s sword flew far away. It was Kainess’s victory for the first time in a while.
“That’s how dangerous it can be.”
“I didn’t know. I just saw her running around so well.”
It wasn’t unreasonable. Even Kainess had been surprised more than once watching Esta chase after him.
“But she should build her foundation gradually. You shouldn’t assume everyone is as talented as you.”
Jenuer Bailey—one of the most gifted swordsmen of the Bailey family. Rumor had it that even the imperial family had their eye on him.
Techniques Kainess had to practice relentlessly to master were things Jenuer could perform half-asleep with his feet.
Talent really was infuriating.
“You mustn’t push Esta like that.”
Jenuer looked completely clueless. At this rate, he’d probably have her running fifty laps again.
“On the first day, she should just walk around the grounds lightly and learn how to hold a sword. For the first month, she should build basic stamina. Training can begin in the second month.”
Recalling when he had first held a sword, Kainess gave Jenuer advice.
Nodding seriously, Jenuer even had a maid bring paper so he could write it down.
‘So excessive.’
Seeing a faint resemblance to Esta in Jenuer’s behavior, Kainess let out a small chuckle.
Jenuer didn’t notice.
Kainess quickly composed his expression and returned to his usual blank face.
