Chapter 45………………………………..

His face turned red in an instant. He was no longer drunk, so the flush came purely from embarrassment.

Seeing his startled expression, Kyle burst out laughing.

“What’s this? You still haven’t realized your feelings? I could tell because I’m perceptive, but to others, you two must’ve looked like a couple.”

“Sure, I enjoy the time I spend with her, but that doesn’t mean I’ve fallen for her. Besides, I mustn’t fall for her.”

He couldn’t understand why he was confessing his worries to a young man he had just met, yet somehow it felt incredibly relieving.

‘So that’s why people come here…’

Kyle, hearing his inner thoughts, looked taken aback as if he had just overheard something forbidden.

“You mustn’t fall for her? Are your families enemies or something?”

Normally, he would have shrugged it off, but today he felt no urge to stop the conversation.

“Actually, I already have a fiancée.”

“What? A fiancée? Not even a nobleman, and you already have a fiancée? Ugh.”

Kyle dramatically pretended to gag. Though the blunt reaction stung a little, he decided not to mind it.

“First,” Kyle said, raising one finger with a serious expression,
“If a man can defy the world and live as he pleases, he should also defy the reality of having a fiancée.”

Kyle raised another finger toward the silent Peregrine.

“And second, if you’re unsure of your feelings, think about this: wasn’t there even a single moment when you secretly wished that her kiss had been on your lips instead of your fingers?”

The moment he heard the word “lips,” he twitched his own.

Understanding the implication, his face flushed again.

Kyle chuckled at the sight, thoroughly enjoying the way Peregrine’s emotions played out on his expression. This was the most fun he had had with Peregrine so far.

“I play music at a tavern called ‘Blue.’ If you get the chance, look for Rose and ‘Alex’ at Blue.”

“Alex?”

“Yes, Alex is my real name.”

After introducing himself properly, he heard a call from someone in the audience.

“Lucy—no, it’s Gina calling me. I better go. Today was fun, my friend.”

“Peregrine.”

“Hm?”

“I’m Peregrine.”

His new friend raised his thumb with a grin.

“Alright. See you again, Peregrine.”

“Duke, did you enjoy today?”

Once he got into the carriage and finally removed his wig, I asked, seeing the relief on his face.

He looked completely satisfied, but he’d probably grumble and act like it wasn’t that great, right?

“I enjoyed it very much. If you’re okay with it, I’d like you to accompany me more often.”

His unexpected words surprised me, and he looked embarrassed at my reaction.

“Why such a surprised look? If it weren’t fun, I’d have left long ago.”

Peregrine expressed himself so bluntly—it was almost like he was still Henry.

While pondering the identity of the man sitting in front of me, he carefully spoke again.

“I have something I need to tell you.”

“Something to tell me?”

I had no idea what he was going to say, and his dark expression made me nervous, fearing it might be bad news.

It felt as though the air in the carriage pressed down on me.

“I want… you to wait for me.”

“Wait for you? Are you going somewhere?”

He smiled as if my naive question was cute. Seeing him smile reassured me—it wasn’t a serious matter.

“Could you explain a bit more?”

“As I’ve said before, I’m slow to realize things.”

He already knew before saying it directly.

“But after hearing the word ‘happiness,’ I couldn’t delay any longer when I remembered the time I spent with you. I need to decide whether it was the time itself I enjoyed, or the fact that I spent it with you. And also…”

“And also?”

“Whether it was your fingers… or your lips.”

Fingers? Lips? Earlier, it seemed like he had briefly talked to Kyle—did something spark then?

I wasn’t sure what strange thoughts had possessed him, but it seemed he was finally figuring out his feelings for me.

Still, I worried it might end in a friendship ending again. How many times had I gone through this…?

Yet the fact that Peregrine wanted to advance our relationship was a relief.

“I don’t know how much time you need, but I have plenty of it.”

His gentle eyes softened, and a small smile lifted his lips.

“Right. You’re not leaving anywhere.”

I should have nodded and agreed, but I couldn’t speak. Like a thief caught in the act, I felt a sting of panic. The thought that I might need to leave right after falling for him came to mind.

“Of course. That won’t happen.”

His bright smile, completely unaware of my inner turmoil, tightened my chest even more.

Fortunately, it was dark outside—he didn’t notice my forced smile. I forced down the guilt building inside me.

I decided not to think about the day I’d have to return to Briar. That day was still far off.

At least… not yet.

Today, Peregrine had a royal council, so classes were impossible.

I took the opportunity to head into the forest for our postponed meeting. The cloudy sky mirrored my mood.

A fair amount of time had passed since we last shouted at each other, so I worried about how Theo would react when he saw me at the cabin.

“I almost forgot your face.”

“Yeah…”

For the first time, an awkward silence fell between us. Theo avoided my gaze, and I stared at the ground.

Reconciliation with someone you’ve never fought with is naturally difficult.

But I couldn’t leave without saying anything, so I lifted my head.

“Sorry…!”

We spoke simultaneously, locked in a silent duel of who would apologize first.

“Huh? You go first.”

“Ah, okay. Actually, I wanted to apologize. I realized that pushing you wasn’t the right way. Forcing one-sided feelings isn’t the kind of love you wanted to portray.”

“I’m sorry too. Seeing our relationship stall—or even regress—frustrated me. You must have been trying to give me advice out of care, but I only got angry. You would never say something harmful intentionally, yet I shouted anyway.”

We had reconciled, but the awkward atmosphere remained.

Was it embarrassment this time?

“Um… I have a favor…”

I was about to ask him to return to my role in our playful act.

Suddenly, the cabin door swung open with a loud bang.

“Brother!”

“Brother?”

I turned toward the voice and saw a familiar face.

“Prince Noah?”

“And you must be Joyce Woodville?”

Then he immediately turned to interrogate Theo. Theo’s flustered expression painted a vivid picture in my mind.

Come to think of it, the two did look a bit alike.

“Why did Prince Noah call you ‘brother’?”

“Well… Noah is like a younger brother to me.”

“What? A younger brother?”

“A friend who’s like a little brother.”

“Not a friend-like younger brother, but a younger-brother-like friend?”

“Someone I want to take care of… you understand what I mean, right?”

I had no idea. Seeing me confused, Theo started explaining in a flurry.

“I didn’t want to come to the capital because I was treated poorly by nobles. When I was young, Noah often played outside the palace with me, and sometimes we got beaten up. That made me dread the capital. But this guy recognized me as an adult, and we reconnected. Right, Noah?”

“Y-Yeah.”

He probably didn’t make up the story—it was just that I didn’t remember the original details. The first prince’s name was long, four syllables if I recall.

After all, who would run away and wander the capital willingly?

Gradually, the theory that Theo was the first prince faded in my mind. According to the original story, the first prince only returned to the capital after Noah became emperor. It was just fascinating that Theo had a past I didn’t know about.

“You two must have had a special bond. If you had prior plans, I’ll excuse myself.”

“No. It wasn’t a scheduled meeting, nor did I have a particular reason. I just came to see my… brother-like friend.”

“Childhood memories must be truly precious to you.”

“Ha, yes, they are.”

Suddenly, a good idea popped into my head. Perhaps I could bring a surprise gift for Luna?

“In that case, I’d like to invite you to the Woodville mansion.”