CHAPTER 51…………………………………….
“Why?”
“You don’t really think you can win people over with such a careless attitude, do you? And as for me…”
She was someone who shouldn’t even exist in this world. Whether to call it a time slip, who knows.
As Adamas thought of the reason she couldn’t bring herself to speak aloud and was about to refuse Pantheon’s proposal, a loud shout came from behind her.
“Don’t you dare let go of that hand!”
Turning her head, she saw Sapheiros, Privetina, and the Heliodor Guild Master standing there.
“Pantheon. What on earth do you think you’re doing?”
Sapheiros quickly approached, wrapped his arms around Adamas’ waist in an instant, and said:
“Calm down, Ros. It’s not what you think. I like me…”
“Don’t say a word. Mas, I understand perfectly.”
Sapheiros carefully straightened Adamas’ posture and gently embraced her shoulders. Then, glaring at Pantheon, he said:
“I have eyes and ears. Are you saying everything I saw and heard was a misunderstanding?”
“It really is a misunderstanding. I would never make a move on Adamas…”
“I said it’s not a misunderstanding. I don’t want to hear your excuses. Let’s go home, Mas.”
Pantheon, flustered, waved his hands trying to explain, but Sapheiros firmly blocked him, even using formal language he had never used before.
Where should she even start explaining?
As Adamas seriously pondered, a soft voice spoke.
“Are you still talking, Sir Sapheiros?”
“Ah, my apologies, Guild Master. I was out of line.”
Sapheiros quickly bowed and addressed Helione.
“No, it’s alright. Youthful enthusiasm, I suppose. May I return to my room now?”
“I will escort you.”
“No, it’s fine. You’ve come into the Marquis’ residence already. It seems there’s much to discuss between the couple, so the Captain’s escort can end here. Sir Privetina, thank you for helping me around the Marquisate today. Let’s head back now.”
Helione waved her hand gracefully.
“No, please allow me to escort you to the end. It is my duty.”
“Oh, um… then I’ll accept the escort from Sir Privetina. No, Sir Privetina, would you take me to my room?”
Helione smiled and said:
“Yes, I, Sir Privetina, will see you there.”
Privetina responded with a full smile. The recently promoted squire seemed pleased that Helione, even formally, called her “Sir.”
“If that is the Guild Master’s wish… Privetina, make sure to escort the Guild Master to his room properly.”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Then I wish you a pleasant evening, Guild Master.”
“Yes, and to Sir Sapheiros and fiancée Adamas as well. I shall take my leave first. May the charming gentleman enjoy his day too.”
Helione gave a refined farewell that could have come straight from an etiquette manual and turned to leave.
Watching her walk away, Pantheon said:
“Adamas. You are right.”
“Pardon? About what?”
“Talents must be earned through effort. I was hasty, it seems.”
“What are you saying all of a sudden!”
“Adamas, you’re someone worth the effort. We’ll have a deeper conversation later.”
“Ha, hey, Pantheon!”
“Lady. If you have anything to say, come find me anytime. My room is on the second floor, leftmost, last room.”
Pantheon added that and swiftly turned, leaving the courtyard.
Adamas’ face flushed red as she watched him go.
That Pantheon. He knew Sapheiros misunderstood the situation between us and tried to dump all the blame on me!
Who ended up in this mess while he just escaped clean!
“Hey, Ros. I can explain everything.”
Sapheiros, staring at Pantheon’s retreating back, looked serious and quietly extended his hand.
“Let’s talk on the way home.”
Adamas sighed and gently placed her hand over his.
On the way from the Marquis’ residence to the log cabin, Adamas suddenly felt a pang of frustration and started grumbling.
“This is so unfair!”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m telling you, it really was a misunderstanding! I have a conscience. There are rumors all over the Marquisate that we’re engaged—do you really think I would cheat?!”
“…What are you saying? Cheat? I told you, I didn’t misunderstand.”
“Don’t lie! Your expression was so dark, that’s proof!”
“Mas, I told you. I have eyes and ears too.”
“Huh?”
“My vision and hearing are excellent. I heard everything—Pantheon asking you to go to the capital.”
“Really? You heard everything?”
“Yes. He probably wants your talent for himself.”
“Haah.”
Adamas buried her face and slumped to the ground.
“Why are you like this? Mas. Are your legs hurting?”
“I’m embarrassed. Can we just go? I want to be alone.”
“It’s late. Being alone is dangerous.”
“Use your sense! Lucky you, with your eyes and ears! If only you had some tact too!”
“Why are you suddenly angry?”
“Hmph. Let’s go home. I think the fireplace was left burning again.”
As Adamas walked past him with a strange excuse, Sapheiros could only blink.
What exactly did he do wrong to make her this angry?
“…Mas. Adamas. Stop for a moment.”
“Why do you keep calling me? We should go home quickly.”
“Why are you so upset?”
“I’m not. It’s just cold because it’s night. Ah, another day gone working. When will I ever see the flowers?”
Hearing her complaint, Sapheiros grabbed her hand firmly and led her down a different path than usual.
“Uh, where are we going?”
“To see the flowers.”
“Flowers? At this hour?”
“Look closely along the river.”
Following Sapheiros’ finger, fireflies flickered above a cluster of brilliant blue flowers in full bloom.
They were Peiros flowers.
But unlike the Peiros she knew, these were wild and looked different.
“…Huh? Were Peiros petals always this big?”
“The ones you buy in flower shops are cultivated varieties. These are wild.”
“But the flowers around the house are small.”
“They only look small. Peiros is a shy flower; it blooms fully only at night when no one is watching.”
“Really?”
With a gentle smile, Sapheiros approached the riverside, extended his tall, large hand, and plucked a stem of Peiros.
“My hand…”
Then he slowly reached out with her left hand.
Enchanted, Adamas extended her left arm.
Sapheiros gently pressed her ring finger. She felt it burn as if touched by fire.
As she instinctively tried to pull away, their eyes met in midair.
“You look the prettiest now.”
“Huh…?”
Before she could ask what he meant, Sapheiros’ hand placed a ring made of blue Peiros flowers on her finger.
“Peiros flowers are hard to find in October. Just before they wither, they’re at their most beautiful.”
“…Just like you?”
“Yes. Just as beautiful as me.”
Hearing Adamas’ words, Sapheiros smiled slowly. He probably thought she was joking.
Yet that small smile sent a shiver through Adamas’ heart.
“I’m really in trouble.”
“Huh? Why? You have to tell me what’s troubling you.”
“That’s how you fix it,” he murmured. Following his slightly bowed head to meet her gaze, her fine black hair swayed.
“The mountain wind is blowing.”
Sapheiros’ large hand slowly brushed Adamas’ ear, tucking her hair behind it.
Their eyes met.
Adamas felt her body heat up.
This was troublesome.
Everywhere he touched left warmth.
He wasn’t someone from a textbook written in black ink on white paper.
Not a hero from a legend. He was a real person, here in her life, heating it up.
“Why are you so beautiful and handsome today, Mano Sapheiros?”
“You’re beautiful too, Mano Adamas.”
“Thank you. I feel like bowing down in gratitude.”
Adamas smiled, trembling, extending her hand. Sapheiros carefully kissed the back of her hand.
“Let’s go. To our home.”
“Mm.”
In my left hand, a flower resembling your name entwines, and in my right hand, your fingers are entwined.
“Right now, you must arrest His Highness, the Second Prince.”
Damn it, I fell asleep again.
The helplessness of doing nothing gripped Pantheon’s whole body.
A dream he couldn’t wake from at will. A nightmare that had continued for a month—a memory from the past.
It was a celebration for the pregnancy of the Duchess of Dandion.
The Emperor had previously treated his half-brother’s wife with disdain, calling her presence a disgrace to the royal family, yet he personally hosted the celebration.
It was a bizarre display, but no one dared stop the Emperor.
Everyone, including the Emperor, assumed the child was his…
As the celebration reached its peak, the Emperor collapsed, coughing up blood.
Pantheon shouted for the imperial physician, only for blood to spew from his own mouth as well.
“Cough.”
Poison? Who would dare do such a brazen thing?
“Your Highness! Brother, Sister-in-law!”
In the distance, Stephan came running toward him.
Stephan, be careful too.
He wanted to warn him but couldn’t open his mouth. All his strength drained.
Once he opened his eyes, he vowed not to spare that person.
Pantheon’s eyes opened to meet the Second Commander of the Imperial Knights, Schnurgel Franz.
Gripping his throbbing head, Pantheon struggled to speak:
“Say it again, Sir Schnurgel.”
“You must arrest His Highness, the Second Prince, immediately.”
