Chapter : 24
Nox looked down at her pale green, wide-open eyes.
It was cute how she would be startled by even the slightest remark, showing her thoughts plainly on her face.
To think she said something so ridiculous just to get a look at that face.
He hadn’t realized he could be this sincere when teasing someone.
“My face.”
When he heard her answer, her eyes, already wide, seemed to grow even larger.
At the same time, her cheeks were turning redder and redder—a sight worth seeing.
“My… face…”
Dayna murmured as she quickly scanned Nox’s face.
First of all, his face was tiny!
So even the area she could kiss was barely enough.
‘Calm down, Dayna. This is just an intimate custom of the Renosium Empire. If you get flustered here, it’ll only cause more misunderstandings.’
She nervously examined every feature of Nox’s face.
Forehead? That seems too sacred.
Bridge of the nose? Not a dog…
Th-then… where…!
“Milady, I was just jok—”
He tried to stop her before she teased him too much, afraid she might cry, but Dayna’s hands were faster. She grabbed both his cheeks and brought him up to her eye level.
Nox hadn’t even finished speaking before she pulled him closer.
Up close, their eyes met.
“……”
Dayna’s gaze scanned his face thoroughly.
From his straight forehead down the high bridge of his nose… and further below.
Feeling her gaze, his whole body tensed naturally.
Dayna furrowed her brows, as if assessing something, and bit her full lower lip. As her eyes naturally followed, he could no longer control his expression. He realized his own face might be quite the sight too.
In the silence, Nox felt his throat dry as if it were burning.
“Milady.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Nox spoke.
The soft gaze that had been wandering his face now met his eyes.
“…It’s a joke.”
His voice came out hoarse. It had taken more effort than usual just to say those words.
Dayna blinked briefly, as if trying to understand him, then immediately broke into a bright smile.
“Ah, what! You startled me!”
“……”
After laughing a few times, she grabbed his hand, which had been hovering in the air, and pulled it toward her.
Before he could even realize, a warm, soft kiss met the palm of his hand.
Smooch!
“I swear. Do you believe me now?”
Nox couldn’t take his eyes off her. She smiled brightly, shaking her small hand, more radiant and lovely than anything he had ever seen.
He forced his lips, which refused to leave her gaze, to part and managed to push out his voice.
“…I believe you.”
Something he had been holding back inside could no longer be contained.
Exhaling a careful, hot breath, he muttered again to himself.
“I believe you, Milady.”
The next morning, Dayna prepared a simple snack and went out to the mansion garden.
Clien, who had two healthy-looking horses carrying a small load, greeted her.
“Milady!”
“Did you sleep well, Lord Hertas?”
“Thanks to you, I rested well until the very end. The day is cold, but the air is fresh—perfect weather for a departure.”
Dayna, like him, lifted her gaze to look at the sky.
The blue sky was dotted with patches of white clouds, shining beautifully.
“I made some sandwiches for you to take along.”
“Oh, thank you. You really didn’t have to go to all this trouble… I’ll enjoy them!”
Clien smiled broadly and held out both hands.
“Mail’s here!”
At that moment, from outside, came the voice of the postman Dayna had been eagerly waiting for. She quickly tossed the sandwiches to Clien, who waited obediently with his palms out, and ran toward the gate.
The postman, who seemed like someone she hadn’t seen in a long time, was making his way through the snow.
“Here, over here!”
Dayna waved her hand and called out.
The postman came closer, scanning the surroundings as he spoke.
“All the snow around here has been cleared? I couldn’t get through for the past few days.”
“I see. Is there mail for our mansion?”
“Ah, yes! Let’s see…”
Dayna felt a sudden tension rising as she watched the postman rummage through his thick bag.
Could this be a letter from Stella this time?
Even as she tried to calm herself, her heart raced uncontrollably.
“Here it is!”
The postman handed over three envelopes.
Without waiting, Dayna tore open the first one, revealing a very fancy letterhead. It was a regular advertisement from a dress shop Stella had often visited while in the capital.
‘Not this one.’
She quickly tore open the second envelope.
The second letter was an unknown debt collector’s threat letter. Reading through the unpleasant content made her sigh, but she was also glad Stella wouldn’t see this.
“……”
And at that moment, she felt something stir within her.
‘Right… this is Stella’s life now.’
Yearning for the extravagant life in the capital she couldn’t return to, while occasionally being threatened by unknown debt collectors—a stifling existence.
Perhaps she hadn’t left to find herself, but because this suffocating reality frustrated her so much that she had fled.
‘Then is it right for me to wait for her?’
With her mood sinking instantly, Dayna tore open the last envelope.
She had no more expectations left.
Perhaps Stella might never return…
[To Dayna.]
“Huh?”
Seeing the familiar handwriting, Dayna jumped in place and widened her eyes.
[Have you been well?]
The third and final letter was from Stella herself.
Dayna instinctively glanced around and then lowered her head back to the letter.
[It’s already been over a month since I left the Bibiwood mansion.
You’d be surprised if you knew where I am now.
I took a ship from the nearest port to Wizbury and came to Madorka Island.]
“An… island?”
Dayna muttered quietly.
She had assumed Stella would only go somewhere not far from Wizbury, but Madorka Island?
The island was located south of Wizbury, which lies in the north of the Renosium Empire.
What nerve did she have to go all the way there?
[It’s not cold here at all, even in winter.
All the thick clothes I packed were completely useless.]
She had left without even choosing a proper destination…
Her previously clear mind began to throb again. Still, now that she knew where Stella was, should she go find her immediately?
[But, Dayna. I’ve learned so much here.]
However, the next sentence, written firmly with the tip of the pen, captured Dayna’s heart.
[I think until now I’ve been trapped in a little teapot, only hurting myself.
Why was I so angry and frustrated in the past?
Why did I feel so wronged that I hurt and insulted others?]
Dayna drew a quiet breath.
Stella, whom she had thought had just recklessly run off from the mansion, seemed truly to be learning and feeling something there.
[Of course, there are still plenty of XX and X-like XX people here, but anyway.]
“…Haha.”
Even so, Dayna smiled softly at Stella’s familiar personality shining through.
[I’m going to go to another place now. This one might take longer.
I’m glad I listened to you and set out to find myself.
Dayna, you are truly my one and only precious friend and ally.
I’ll always think of you. I miss you a lot.
—Stella.]
The heartfelt words from Stella deeply touched Dayna.
It felt like a small warmth that had started was spreading steadily.
Dayna couldn’t put the letter down, reading it again and again.
[P.S. I’ve grown a lot and someday hope to become a proper Bibiwood.]
At the last line, Dayna almost burst into tears.
Her precious Stella was truly growing in an impressive way.
“Milady.”
Still absorbed in the letter, Dayna heard Nox’s voice from behind.
Quickly folding the letter and placing it in the envelope, she turned around.
