Chapter 11
“You scared me—when did you get here? You startled me.”
Blair clutched her chest in an exaggerated gesture of relief at her missing husband’s sudden appearance. Despite the sharp look she shot him, her voice gave away a hint of unexplainable delight.
“Since you were singing that strange song and dancing? I haven’t been here long.”
Cassel leapt easily down from the tall tree overlooking the garden. His face, now so close after so long, was etched with exhaustion—just like the first day she’d met him.
“You watched all that? Secretly? You’re sneakier than you look.”
Blair stuck out her lower lip, embarrassed that he’d caught her completely unguarded, humming and dancing alone.
“Sneaky, huh… Of all people, I don’t think you should be saying that to me.”
Cassel let out a small laugh. There was no doubt he remembered every humiliating moment of her drunken mess. Blair wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out.
“Me? What did I do? I’m the purest person in the world! I don’t even know what you mean.”
“….”
Without a flicker of shame, Blair brazened it out. Cassel’s sleepy eyes narrowed slightly as he looked her over in silence.
“You don’t know what I mean, huh….”
“W-What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…Nothing. Was everything fine while I was away?”
Cassel shifted his gaze and smoothly changed the topic, ignoring her shameless deflection. He sat on the bench first and nodded at her to join him.
‘Wait—he’s letting it slide just like that? I thought he’d tease me more.’
Still suspicious, Blair hesitated but reluctantly sat down next to him.
“Yes, nothing special happened. I just went to my etiquette lessons every day and spent the rest of my time tending the herb garden. And you? You didn’t get hurt, did you?”
“As you can see, I’m fine. Though I might need a painkiller.”
“I brought one I made a while ago, just in case. I’ll give it to you once we’re inside.”
“Thank you. I’ll make sure to settle the ‘bill’ right away.”
“Ye—wait, what?!”
Blair, who’d answered without thinking, flinched so hard she nearly jumped out of her seat. Of course he wouldn’t let her off so easily—she’d just let her guard down enough to get blindsided.
“I meant the payment I promised you before.”
Unlike Blair, who was spiraling inside, Cassel remained perfectly calm. There wasn’t a trace of mischief on his face—he looked dead serious.
‘Don’t let it show. Just act natural—like always.’
Was he really teasing her, or was it just coincidence? Blair couldn’t tell, so she decided to double down.
“Oh, that. Take your time with it. No rush.”
“No. Let’s settle it now. My apothecary is quite sensitive about ‘payments,’ after all.”
‘This—he’s definitely mocking me! He is!’
She had thought he was all calm dignity, but apparently he could play innocent while teasing her mercilessly. Blair stared at him in disbelief, but Cassel’s face remained unreadable.
‘So that’s how it is, huh?’
“All merchants are like that. Thank you for understanding.”
Blair forced a polite smile, her lips tight as she spoke each word with exaggerated clarity. The fake grin scrunched tiny wrinkles around her eyes.
“Think nothing of it.”
Cassel’s reply came with a faint, amused chuckle.
“Whew, the wind’s chilly. Should we go inside now?”
The wind wasn’t chilly at all—summer was practically here already. But Blair hunched her shoulders anyway, deciding the best move was to escape this situation as fast as possible.
“Already? I wanted to hear more about this garden you’ve made.”
But the man in front of her had no intention of going anywhere. Instead, he leaned back against the bench, arms folded, calmly blocking her exit. For the first time since she’d met him, Cassel felt a tiny bit annoying.
“There’s not much to explain. I just planted herbs here and there so no one would notice, and filled in the rest with flowers I thought looked nice.”
Blair’s urgency showed in her awkward half-rising posture as she answered. But—
“For something you planted ‘here and there,’ it’s very well done. Do you need anything else?”
“Anything else?”
Cassel’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at her. In his deep blue gaze, a faint spark of mischief flickered.
“For example… a handsome statue.”
Blair’s jaw dropped open. He had clearly figured out she remembered everything from that drunken night.
‘If you’re that quick on the uptake, couldn’t you at least pretend you don’t know?!’
Blair’s face turned red in an instant. She clenched her fists and shot to her feet.
“Are you serious right now?! Fine! I admit it—I remember every bit of my drunken mess that night! Would it kill you to just pretend you didn’t?!”
Hands on her hips, eyes blazing, Blair glared at him fiercely. She looked more like a cornered rabbit than anything threatening, but her bravery was oddly valiant.
“Fine! I made a fool of myself! I was a total mess! I admit it! I’m sorry! But what was I supposed to do—pretend you’re not handsome? Is it my fault you’re so good-looking? What’s wrong with saying it when it’s true?!”
Cassel looked at her, stunned, as Blair—who’d been so flustered just moments ago—now fired back shamelessly.
“You think there are guys who look like you just walking around the Empire? You wouldn’t know—you look at your face in the mirror every day! But do you know how rare it is to have a face that perfectly proportioned, with features that tight, and a jawline like that?! People are allowed to admire it!”
“Enough, that’s enough—”
Blair stopped mid-rant. She’d let it all pour out without thinking, but now she noticed—Cassel, usually sharp-eyed like a predator, was avoiding her gaze and staring off into the distance. His ears were flushed bright red, like he’d been out in the winter wind.
He must not have been used to such direct praise—only subtle compliments from noble ladies who never spoke so bluntly.
‘Well, look at that.’
A mischievous smile crept across Blair’s lips as she caught on. There was no way she’d back down now—this was too good.
“If your face is that handsome, your body should at least have some flaw. But it’s better than a statue’s! How could any woman not lose her mind?!”
“I said that’s enough.”
“I love it!! Your handsome face, your body—everything is the best—”
The garden fell silent all at once. Cassel clapped a large hand over Blair’s mouth.
With one swift pull, he drew her down until her back hit the bench’s hard support. With nowhere else to retreat, Cassel’s face was so close that she could feel his breath.
‘I always knew he was big, but being this close… it’s like being pinned by a wolf.’
Yet the hand on her didn’t hold any force—it was careful, gentle, as if he was afraid to hurt her.
“…Are you calm now?”
Cassel’s low voice rumbled in her ear. Calm? Not at all. His deep, cavernous tone only made her chest tickle in the worst way.
She needed to look away—now. But for some reason, she couldn’t tear her eyes from his. Being trapped like this by Cassel wasn’t as unpleasant as she’d thought—it was almost funny.
“If you promise to drop this subject, I’ll let you go.”
“….”
Blair, ignoring the flutter in her chest, was about to nod when—
“My lady, did I keep you waiting?”
It was Feri, the maid who’d gone to fetch her water, calling from the garden entrance. Like magnets suddenly repelling, the two sprang apart and scrambled back to opposite ends of the bench. The air around them turned painfully awkward in an instant.
“Ah—no! Wait! I’ll come out. I was just about to head inside anyway.”
Blair gave Cassel a quick, clumsy nod, then bolted out of the garden, practically fleeing. Through her tousled hair, the tips of her ears glowed red as the sunset.
