Chapter 33
When Prim couldn’t say anything to Raine’s sorrowful face, he pressed his forehead lightly against her shoulder again — a gesture asking for her touch.
‘He’s asking for it himself, so it should be fine… right?’
Prim hesitated, then raised her hand again to gently stroke his head.
His soft, silvery hair slid silkily between her fingers, and Raine let out a contented sigh.
“This feels really nice.”
He muttered like a sigh and smiled faintly.
Prim wondered if this change was truly a good thing.
But if it helped soothe Raine’s heart, then it was enough.
After all, Raine was her one and only beast.
Prim’s hand softly caressed his hair.
The sunlight pouring through the window bathed them in warmth — the gentle light of autumn.
* * *
“What? Really?”
Prim’s mouth dropped open in disbelief.
The news the maids brought her was nothing short of shocking.
Lize, who had gone out to get roses to confess to Rasian, had met another man and left the palace!
Apparently, the man was a young attendant who had entered the palace only a few months ago.
And — he was two years younger than her, barely an adult!
So this was what they called fiery love. Prim clicked her tongue.
“Lize really is such a woman…”
When Prim muttered that, the maids all nodded in agreement.
“Love is really something fierce, isn’t it?”
“Still, I’m kind of jealous. I thought love at first sight only happened in romance novels.”
“Right?”
Lina, a freckled maid, kept agreeing enthusiastically.
Prim tilted her head. “Lina, don’t you have anyone you like?”
“Me?”
Lina looked startled under Prim’s gaze. The other maids nudged her with their elbows, grinning.
“What? Lina, do you have someone you like?”
“N-no! Of course not!”
But her reddened cheeks made that denial unconvincing.
“Prim, seriously…!”
Lina glared at her, but then paused — Prim’s violet eyes shimmered faintly in the light.
Lina blinked, stunned, forgetting even to be angry.
“Lina?”
“Uh…”
The other maids and Prim tilted their heads as Lina stared in a daze.
“Just now… were Prim’s eyes…?”
Elina began to speak, but a low voice suddenly cut through the air.
“Prim.”
The voice was deeper than before — it was Raine.
The maids immediately bowed their heads.
Only Prim looked up to meet his gaze.
“Your Highness?”
“What are you doing here? You haven’t even come to my room.”
He grumbled, pouting slightly.
Prim smiled, like she was soothing a child. “I still had some time left. I was just chatting a little.”
Some time left.
That answer displeased him.
He wanted to spend all his time with her, and she said that so casually.
‘You say things like that so easily.’
Ever since he’d begun seeing colors, Raine’s moods rose to the sky and crashed down to the ground with frightening speed — often because of one careless word from Prim.
His expression darkened further. When his sharp eyes accidentally brushed over the maids, they flinched and lowered their gazes in fear.
But even then, their instincts screamed to look at him again.
It was the imperial instinct — to worship beauty.
Raine knew this, and bitter words hovered on his tongue.
He was just about to let them slip when—
“Your Highness?”
Prim’s voice stopped him cold. He didn’t want to say cruel things in front of her.
“…You’re all working hard.”
“…Pardon?”
The maids looked up in shock, as if they couldn’t believe their ears.
“I said, you’re working hard.”
He spoke the words firmly, one by one — though his face was still frighteningly grim. The maids quickly shut their mouths.
Unlike them, Prim looked deeply satisfied.
It seemed her lessons on gentle manners were paying off.
Her face bloomed like a flower.
Raine thought she looked like one — a flower just before it bloomed.
A flower that makes your heart ache as you wait for it to open, and when it finally does, it fills you with warmth.
A red flower — her color.
“……”
Raine’s chest filled with a feeling he couldn’t name — a desire to possess, completely.
‘If I show her this side, will she smile at me more?’
Yes. He’d done something she liked, so maybe she’d stroke his hair longer today.
As he imagined her gentle touch, his expression softened.
Then, a cold wind swept around them.
Autumn had come without warning.
The breeze stung his eyes, and he rubbed them with a faint frown.
“Your eyes hurt?”
Prim approached quickly, startled.
Raine almost shook his head — but stopped, and instead nodded.
“Yeah. They hurt.”
Prim fussed as if she’d expected that.
“Oh, goodness. Let’s go inside right now! Look at you — wearing something so thin! You’ll catch a cold!”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t do this next time, okay?”
“Mm. I won’t.”
Her scolding and his obedient reply.
Talking like that, they went back into the palace together.
The maids left behind watched their retreating backs, dazed.
“…He’s four years younger, huh.”
* * *
“What were you talking about?”
Raine blinked slowly, watching her.
Prim was too busy checking his eyes to notice.
“Hmm?”
“Earlier. With those people — what were you talking about?”
“Nothing special. But could you blink again for me?”
He pouted, but she didn’t notice, focused on his eyes.
“I’m curious, though.”
He muttered softly, but still followed her instruction, opening and closing his eyes. Her face filled his view completely.
“Can you see clearly?”
“Yeah.”
“It doesn’t hurt anymore?”
“Yeah. Doesn’t hurt.”
Prim sighed in relief.
It was good that he could see color now, but his eyes had been hurting more and more often lately.
‘Does it only happen when I’m not around?’
Why did the pain ease when he was near her?
Was it because she’d twisted the story’s course somehow?
‘If that’s the case, I can’t leave his side carelessly.’
She looked up at him, troubled.
His eye level was higher again — he was growing taller day by day.
As if he were making up for all the years he hadn’t grown.
“I’m glad it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
She lowered her hand from his face.
The moment her warm touch left, Raine hurried to speak.
“How was it?”
Her face showed confusion.
His voice, lower and more masculine now, continued.
“What was?”
“Just now.”
“Just now?”
Prim tilted her head — and then remembered his unusually gentle tone earlier with the maids.
She nodded brightly. “You did very well.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I was honestly surprised.”
His face lit up instantly.
It might not have been the most enthusiastic praise, but to him, it was pure joy.
“Then do it.”
“…Do what?”
She blinked stupidly — then realized.
He wanted her to pat his head again.
“I thought your eyes didn’t hurt anymore?”
“I thought so too, but… they started hurting again.”
“Hmm…”
“…You’re not going to?”
He blinked, his voice soft and pitiful.
Ugh. That look was too powerful a weapon.
Who could say no to that face?
‘I really shouldn’t be this weak.’
It wasn’t very teacher-like of her — but she still raised her hand and stroked his hair again.
Raine closed his eyes peacefully, enjoying her touch.
“Next time you come out, dress warmer, okay?”
He opened his eyes again.
“I was in a hurry.”
“What was so urgent?”
“It’s a secret.”
Our beast sure keeps a lot of secrets.
Prim pouted.
“You’re one to talk — you’re the one dressed so thin.”
“I’m fine. I’m healthy, you know.”
“So healthy you lost track of time chatting with maids in the cold? What were you even talking about?”
“Nothing important. One of the maids I’m close to met someone nice, so she quit her job. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“What?”
Raine’s head shot up, his face surprised.
“…Who’s the man?”
“I heard he’s one of the palace attendants. Two years younger than her, apparently.”
Prim blinked. “Why are you asking that? You’re not going to punish them for falling in love, are you?”
“……”
Raine didn’t answer.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.’
Prim blamed her loose tongue.
“It’s a good thing — they found love, so please don’t think badly of them—”
“Prim.”
He suddenly cut her off.
She tilted her head, puzzled.
“Do you… maybe have… in this place…”
“…?”
He frowned, struggling to find words.
He couldn’t.
So instead, he leaned in close — too close.
Startled, Prim stepped back.
“Wh-what’s wrong?”
“How’s my face?”
“…Huh?”
His face? Out of nowhere?
Prim blinked in confusion but couldn’t ignore his serious expression.
“Well, of course, it’s perfect.”
“You like it too?”
The next part of his question made her freeze.
