Chapter 76
Yulia stopped walking and followed the gaze of the people, turning her head toward the sky.
“Wow…”
The fireworks soared into the sky and, with a pop, spread brilliant blue and red lights that stitched the dark sky with brightness. It was beautiful to see the light bloom in the sky, but even more spectacular was its reflection on the river. With the colorful lights sparkling simultaneously in the sky and on the ground, it was impossible not to be mesmerized.
“I’ve never seen fireworks that explode with a time delay like this!”
“I’ve heard that technology has improved recently, so it’s possible now.”
“They’re so beautiful. Thank you, Merwin. If you hadn’t told me, I might have missed seeing them.”
“I’m glad my lady is pleased.”
For a moment, Yulia forgot her worries about her family and even the fact that she hadn’t yet met Cayente. She was smiling, enchanted by the lights, when suddenly a hand grabbed her arm firmly.
“Brother? Why are you here…? Ah, did you come looking for me?”
Startled, she turned her head and saw that it was indeed Cayente who had grabbed her arm. She had thought he might have come down to look for her since she hadn’t appeared at the restaurant, but his state seemed unusual even for that.
“Brother?”
“Why are you here?”
Cayente looked so out of breath that he seemed too exhausted even to be angry. The principality, not yet in summer, was still cool at night, yet Cayente was sweating so heavily that his shirt collar was soaked.
“Did you just arrive?”
“I asked why you’re here. Wasn’t the place we agreed to meet the restaurant?”
“Sorry… I just wanted to take a quick look at the night market…”
Seeing the trembling in Cayente’s eyes, Yulia couldn’t smile casually. He looked like a child in a crowded place who had lost their mother’s hand—frantically searching, terrified, yet still unable to calm down even after finding her.
“Why do you make people… so anxious?”
Cayente pulled Yulia into his arms with all his strength, trembling slightly. Yulia wondered if it was really necessary to be this worried just because he had come to the riverside first. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his waist and whispered in his embrace:
“I’m sorry. I got anxious about missing the night market and the fireworks… I won’t leave you alone again. I’m sorry.”
Behind them, fireworks continued to explode, but Yulia stayed in his arms until his trembling eased.
Sitting side by side in the back of the carriage on the way back to the mansion, Cayente remained silent. His elbow rested on the right windowsill, hand against his cheek, staring blankly out the window. He no longer seemed afraid, but the side of his face visible in the dim light looked fragile. Yulia took out the items she had bought earlier from the pouch she had been holding in her lap.
“Brother, look at this. A deer, a cat, a dog… oh, there’s even a bear.”
As Yulia rustled and held up the glass ornaments wrapped in paper, Cayente turned to look at them. Meeting his gaze, Yulia was a little surprised—his gray eyes were emptier than any lack of emotion.
“I bought this bear because it reminded me of you. What do you think? Does it look like you?”
Yet despite his blank eyes, Cayente reacted. He took the transparent glass bear mixed with blue, tracing it with his fingers and staring at it for a while.
“Did something happen before we came here?”
Cayente, who usually wore a neutral expression, sometimes angered, or even coldly detached, now looked like he could collapse at a touch. Yulia couldn’t ignore it—he was present, yet his presence seemed faint. What had happened that left him so frightened before and now looking like this?
“Did that reporter come after you again?”
When she asked, Cayente’s eyes instantly became alert. Yulia exhaled quietly, thinking, so it was that.
“What did he say this time? Did he… mention Lord Bain again?”
Previously, she thought the reporter’s claims were complete nonsense, but upon checking, she realized some of it might be true, though exaggerated for attention.
She worried: was it true that the late Count Clu was murdered, and that the perpetrator was someone Yulia knew—and that the reporter knew who Cayente was?
At her words, a chill appeared in Cayente’s eyes as if scolding her for showing weakness. Yulia, sensing she may have said too much, put a hand to her mouth, but Cayente laughed silently, like the air had gone out of a balloon.
“I don’t know what to do…”
Yulia, on her way from the restaurant to the river, had been enjoying herself, laughing. Seeing her golden eyes catching the firework light, Cayente found it harder to approach, thinking her glow was more beautiful than any fireworks.
Looking at Yulia’s eyes, which held a more beautiful light than any fleeting color, Cayente felt like crying. He felt as if she might vanish like the fireworks themselves.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Huh?”
Hearing him speak vaguely, Yulia asked, but Cayente returned his gaze to the window.
Though the fragile feeling from earlier had gone, the tense atmosphere remained. If he had been angry about her mentioning his father, it would have been easier to talk—but she couldn’t offer comfort without knowing the full situation.
“Brother, aren’t you hungry?”
Yulia couldn’t leave him like that and smiled while speaking, holding his ornament in hand.
“Did you have dinner? I did, but now I’m hungry. How about you?”
Cayente turned to look at her and smiled, though it was a smile so devoid of emotion that it left Yulia feeling hollow.
“Brother, wait… let’s wash first, okay?”
“No time to wait.”
“But you must be sweaty after mingling with people.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
Perhaps feeling the mood of the last night of their honeymoon, as soon as they entered the mansion, Cayente grabbed Yulia from behind, pressing a kiss to her neck. Merwin, sensing the moment, returned to his room, and Cayente began kissing her passionately.
“Brother, wait… just a moment!”
Fearing he might undress her in the lobby, Yulia struggled free and stepped back.
“What’s so urgent? The night is long… Brother!”
She had wanted to suggest going upstairs to the bedroom, but before she could finish, Cayente scooped her up as if she were a parcel, placing her on his shoulder and climbed the stairs.
“Brother, put me down! I can walk myself!”
Yulia wasn’t angry about being carried; she just wished he would walk with her instead of rushing. Yet part of her was embarrassed that she enjoyed his desire to carry her.
The next day, Yulia woke early, washed, and prepared to catch the train. She tried to act composed, as if nothing had happened the previous night, though her movements were stiff.
“Madam, are you unwell? Are you in pain?”
“I’m fine.”
Her back ached from the night’s exertion. Cayente had carried her even when she struggled, which angered her, but the sensation had changed with his posture, leaving her unable to scold him.
Cayente said, “Come find me anytime, Madam.”
“Thank you, Merwin.”
“Madam, it was an honor to serve you.”
“Thank you, Becky. I was comfortable thanks to you.”
After loading her luggage and exchanging polite farewells, Yulia glanced at Cayente, who was speaking with Daniel. Her back hurt, and her face was haggard, but Cayente looked perfectly fine—refreshed, even.
She wondered if he truly enjoyed their intimacy, but seeing him unaffected from the previous night reassured her. She hadn’t realized he desired her so much.
“Please board the train, Madam. It’s almost departure time.”
“Take care. I’ll rely on you again next time.”
“It was invigorating to have your presence. Please visit often.”
“Truly, please come again, Madam.”
“Thank you, Merwin. Thank you, Becky.”
After multiple polite exchanges, Yulia took Cayente’s hand.
“Brother, shall we go? The train is about to leave.”
Cayente didn’t mind that Yulia interrupted her conversation with Daniel. Glancing at her face and hand, he smiled faintly and took her hand.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Yulia no longer felt awkward spending time alone with Cayente. Whether or not she had conceived during their night together, simply being able to hold his hand so easily was a precious moment for her.
