Chapter – 28
“Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”
“You’re just… too beautiful.”
Heinrich moved his lips, then sharply turned his head away.
His ears were red, and he seemed somehow flustered. Solitaire narrowed her eyes. Just then, Heinrich exclaimed.
“No, why are you dressed so provocatively!”
“What’s provocative about it? I’m fully dressed.”
“You weren’t like this before……!”
She took a step closer, bringing her face close to his, and Heinrich’s face flushed even redder. Only the rustling sound of her dress and their mutual breathing filled the space.
Feeling her actions were too stimulating, Heinrich covered his eyes with his hand and just said what he had to say.
“It’s time to go. That’s what I came to tell you.”
“Ah, the escort?”
Solitaire’s brow furrowed at him still avoiding looking at her, but Heinrich didn’t seem to notice.
Noticing his unusual demeanor, Solitaire clapped her hands and asked.
“Ah, you’re nervous. Aren’t you?”
“Why would I be nervous? No, I’m not.”
“But you are nervous? You seem even more nervous than me.”
Heinrich lowered the hand covering his eyes and looked down at her. Then she saw him, flushed from his ears and neck all the way to the corners of his eyes.
At the sight, her breath caught in her throat, and Solitaire was the first to avert her gaze.
As she stayed still, Heinrich also calmed down and then held out his hand.
“Ahem, ahem. Shall we go?”
“Shall we hold hands?”
“Well, shouldn’t we?”
They had held hands countless times while practicing for the entrance, but for some reason, it felt awkward.
The atmosphere was so微妙 that she couldn’t even think about whether she might trip on her dress or how embarrassing it would be if she did.
They were walking the same path they walked every day, with the same person they were always with. But today was a little different.
“We’re really awkward, aren’t we?”
Solitaire, noticing that her hands and feet were moving in sync, burst into a bright laugh.
“My heart feels like it’s about to burst right now, want to feel it? I’m worried it might jump out of my mouth.”
Hearing her playful remark, Heinrich also let out a soft chuckle.
“Me too.”
“You too, Heinri? I’m glad.”
“Glad about what?”
“I thought it was just me feeling that way. It feels good to have someone who relates to how I feel.”
Just then, sunlight streamed into the hallway they were passing through, showering them in light.
The light shining between them, who were dressed in particularly dark clothes, seemed to be cheering on the future that lay ahead.
“Wow, it’s beautiful. Did you see that? It was dark, then just as we passed, it brightened.”
Letting go of his hand, Solitaire spun around in front of the light. She was shining even brighter than that light. She was so dazzlingly beautiful.
Even though there were clearly no flowers around, the scent of flowers filled their nostrils.
“Yeah, it’s beautiful.”
“Right?”
“So beautiful.”
“I knew you’d like it. Even though you pretend not to, you like flowers, dolls, cute things, and shiny things, don’t you?”
Heinrich did like all the things she listed one by one.
The girl who stood stiffly nervous in front of him yet hummed resembled a flower; the girl who sometimes made blank expressions resembled a doll; the quite small girl was cute; and she shone brighter than anyone else.
“That’s right. I like them.”
“See, I have a good memory. I think this memory of mine is the best……”
Heinrich, who had been staring blankly at her, blurted out.
“Yeah, I like you, who resembles those things.”
Silence fell over the spot in an instant.
Solitaire blinked and stared blankly at Heinrich.
“……What?”
But Heinrich, as if he had no intention of repeating what he just said, took Solitaire’s hand in his and started walking.
His pace was neither fast nor slow, and she, without asking further, matched his stride.
After walking for a while like that, they arrived at the hall where today’s party was being held. Just before the attendant announced their entrance, Heinrich whispered to Solitaire.
“After the coming-of-age ceremony is over, I’ll tell you everything.”
She didn’t know what he was going to tell her, or why he was smiling so prettily, but she just nodded.
Because right now, she wished the hand holding his would last forever.
“Now entering, the protagonist of today’s event, Lady Solitaire, and her companion, Lord Heinrich Deo Hirufs!”
Solitaire tightly gripped his interlocked hand and made eye contact with Heinrich. Once the doors opened, an unfamiliar scene was expected to unfold, but thanks to the warm feeling in her hand, she wasn’t afraid of anything.
And finally, the doors opened.
The brilliantly shining chandelier illuminated their path, and numerous attendees greeted them with applause. Even among the glamorous people and decorations, only Heinrich was in Solitaire’s eyes.
“What, suddenly thinking I’m handsome?”
“Yes, enough to be a little jealous.”
At her words, Heinrich let out a low chuckle. Solitaire looked at him and laughed along. It felt as if they were the only two in the space.
The attendees in the hall stared at them blankly.
They were familiar with Heinrich’s looks and had mentally prepared themselves, but his companion, whom they were seeing for the first time, was so beautiful that they couldn’t take their eyes off her for a second.
“I think I should be the one feeling jealous.”
Noticing their gazes, Heinrich whispered into Solitaire’s ear. The sound of girls who had held feelings for him gritting their teeth could be heard here and there.
Of course, with every step Solitaire took, those jealous gazes disappeared one by one.
Even though she wore a black dress that could easily look dull, under the chandelier’s light, she was as brilliant as a star. The blush on her cheeks was full of vitality, and her silver hair shone subtly, captivating everyone’s attention.
“Why is it so quiet? Is it normally this quiet?”
Unaware that the surroundings had quieted down due to her beauty, Solitaire turned her head to look at the attendees. Stifled gasps erupted from various places from those who faced her directly.
As Solitaire walked again, escorted by Heinrich, those who escaped her line of sight began to buzz.
Although her nervous ears couldn’t hear it, it was enough for Heinrich’s ears.
“She has beauty on par with Lady Zizia of the Tigris family.”
“That one has intense colors, but this young lady certainly possesses a beauty that seems to embrace everything.”
“If they stand together later, wouldn’t it decide who is the greatest beauty on the continent?”
Heinrich didn’t like them discussing Solitaire and glared at them. Then, those who noticed him started talking about other things, being mindful.
“More importantly, I heard the Lepus family wasn’t invited to this party.”
“It seems they’ve truly fallen out of favor with Hirufs.”
“But they are proceeding with an engagement with the Tigris family, and their youngest daughter is here, isn’t she?”
“An engagement with a mere 11-year-old child……”
Hearing the name of a familiar family, Solitaire flinched. Heinrich patted her gently with his other hand.
It was an action to reassure her that nothing would happen.
Where Solitaire happened to turn her head, a familiar girl was standing. It was the child she had seen long ago but had never forgotten.
Una Lepus, still with her charming white hair and brown eyes.
“Una……”
It seemed she had visited this place alone, without her parents, but she didn’t look discouraged or awkward.
Rather, she was smiling brightly with a lovely face. Even with the commotion around her, she paid no mind, a true mark of a child raised with abundant love.
“Still, they are the most powerful among the herbivore beastmen, so they must have joined hands with Tigris, right?”
“True, it’s mutually beneficial……”
“You can tell she was raised like a princess. Look how the Lepus family adorned her with only precious jewels for this party.”
It was a look that could easily seem ridiculous, but it suited the beamingly smiling Una so well that it didn’t feel strange.
Solitaire’s gaze was also fixed on Una, unable to take a step. Heinrich followed her gaze and looked at Una.
“What a cheap trick……”
It was as clear as day that the Lepus family, after having all their paths into Hirufs blocked, had pushed their daughter forward to get in here.
Heinrich struggled to swallow the curses rising within him.
Seeing Una’s happy face made Solitaire’s stomach churn. But seeing Heinrich, who solidly stood by her side, getting angry on her behalf before she could, filled her mind with a sense of being protected.
So, Solitaire was able to say this to Heinrich.
“I’m really okay.”
“What?”
As Solitaire gave a bright smile, Heinrich, thinking she was too soft, brushed the corner of her mouth.
He wanted to immediately order the knights to expel Una Lepus. He had a vague idea of what Solitaire’s life in the Lepus household had been like, but when he faced the investigation Raon brought back, his rage had boiled over.
It was upsetting. It was plain to see what she was thinking.
