Chapter 90 ….
“Why would I ever suspect you? That’s not it at all. I’m just curious… I wondered if you might know something…”
Despite my hurried explanation, Richard’s face remained pale.
I had no intention of truly doubting him, yet suspicion toward the Empress still lingered.
His watery gaze pierced me obsessively, as if it were rummaging through my insides.
Startled, I looked away, and Richard’s trembling voice murmured softly.
“I don’t think that’s it. You’ve got too many thoughts in your eyes.”
“I am thinking about a lot right now, that’s true. But it’s absolutely not about doubting you.”
Even with my protest, his tremor didn’t stop. Richard poured out explanations I hadn’t even asked for, in a desperate voice.
“Sister… not only me, but Mother also has nothing to do with the Abelrungen. If I knew anything, I would’ve said it long ago. Please, just believe me.”
“I naturally believe you. Don’t worry unnecessarily.”
Richard’s ghostly white hand gripped my wrist tightly. If he had squeezed a bit harder, it would have left a clear mark.
“Really? Nothing would be worse than you not trusting me. Ask me anything—I’ll answer it all. Snakes, anything, it doesn’t matter. So please… don’t push me away while doubting me.”
“……”
Something’s off. Why is he suddenly so anxious?
I stared at the boy’s face, trying to gauge his state.
His pitiful expression was deeply touching, yet at the same time, it was strangely beautiful.
His milky skin looked as if powdered pearls had been applied, with a blush like dyed petals on his cheeks. Red-rimmed eyes glistened with tears.
So this is what a face on the verge of tears looks like.
I thought I should calm Richard quickly, but a mischievous part of me wanted to see him cry once.
Still, I couldn’t deliberately make a frightened child cry. I gently stroked his hair and spoke kindly.
“Richard, I believe everything you say. So please… calm down.”
“Really? You won’t throw me away just because you can’t trust me, right?”
“Throw you away? Why would I think that? If I take you in, I must take responsibility. What do you take me for?”
“Really? I can trust you?”
“Oh, you fool.”
I smirked and tugged gently at his already reddened cheek. At the same time, a warm droplet fell onto my fingertip.
“You… cried?”
“I didn’t mean to… I just felt relieved and it slipped out without me realizing…”
Transparent tears streaked down the boy’s cheek.
I hastily wiped them away with both hands.
“Were you that upset? That it seemed like I doubted you?”
Instead of answering, Richard rubbed his cheek eagerly against my hand.
The sight was so endearing that I stroked his cheek softly with the hand that had wiped his tears.
The boy looked cuter crying than I had imagined.
Guilt stirred in me, but I felt it was worth enduring for this one face.
“I can’t handle it… so pretty, really.”
“Pretty?”
“Of course. Among all I’ve seen in my life, you’re one of the prettiest.”
A hint of joy mingled in his still-anxious eyes, only to be swallowed by another emotion shortly after.
“So I’m not the prettiest?”
A new emotion flickered at the end of his words.
Too clumsy to be jealousy, too primal to be mere possessiveness.
An emotion even he might not fully understand.
Finding that clumsy desire utterly adorable, I willingly spoke what I knew he wanted to hear.
“Maybe… you’re the prettiest.”
“Maybe?”
“Alright, I’ll drop the ‘maybe.’”
“Yeah… good.”
Richard’s breathing finally calmed. He lowered his damp eyes shyly and spoke softly.
“You know… I heard somewhere…”
“Go on.”
“They said beautiful people can get away with almost anything. So… I’m not trying to do anything bad, but…”
“What are you trying to do that requires such a preface?”
“No, I won’t. It’s better not to do anything that might make you uncomfortable, even a little.”
“Oh, so good. Then what do you want to do?”
Shaking his head gently, Richard looked at me with his large, beautiful eyes.
In that moment, the moonlight cast a soft aurora over his face like a veil.
The sheen on his milky skin made him look like a marble statue.
I parted my lips slightly, whispering a helpless sigh of admiration.
…My god.
Is this what a living statue looks like?
Or a marvel crafted by a deity to enchant humans, or perhaps a gift bestowed to benefit humanity?
As I took in this dazzling creation, an inexplicable feeling bloomed inside me.
An urge to leave a mark on this beautiful work, something I barely understood myself.
Tilting my head, I gazed at his clear face, then pressed my lips carefully to his tear-streaked cheek.
Smack.
In less than a second, time seemed to freeze.
Up close, I could see his subtle changes in slow motion.
The soft peach fuzz on Richard’s cheek rose, his long lashes quivered.
I held my breath, watching the tremble, and bit my lower lip, finally realizing what I had done.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
His rapid heartbeat seemed to echo in my ears. He stared blankly into the air, as if lost.
“…Are you okay?”
“No… I think my heart’s overworked.”
“Was it too much?”
“…Yeah.”
“Then you won’t forgive me?”
“I will… but…”
He deliberately trailed off, mumbling. My playful side couldn’t resist and prodded.
“I didn’t hear that. You’ll forgive me… what?”
“…I’ll take revenge.”
“Huh?”
“Not now, later. I’ll repay you double, so be prepared.”
“What kind of Vallienor logic is that?”
I teased, and Richard let out a deflated laugh. With a slightly weary voice, he added:
“That’s right. Somehow Vallienor suits me better than Eldrian.”
“Oh, weren’t you already Vallienor? Aren’t you Liri Vallienor?”
“Sister, you really…”
Richard squinted prettily, resting his head on my shoulder, letting out a soft laugh.
“What? Were you going to say I’m too much again?”
“You know me too well. That’s enough.”
Gradually, the magical effect of the moonlight faded, leaving comfort in place of tension.
Seizing the moment, I asked Richard a sudden question.
“So… Michael is a snake?”
“……”
Richard’s breath halted for a moment. His startled silence was confirmation.
I pressed further without hesitation.
“Then Michael and Father know your true identity?”
Instead of answering, he remained silent, nuzzling my neck playfully.
“Can I tell Michael about your identity? It would make future operations much easier.”
At last, Richard opened his mouth.
“No, you can’t.”
“Why not? Michael doesn’t know you were discovered by me?”
“Yes. Entrusting your identity to Vallienor comes with the condition of not being discovered by sisters or brothers.”
“Did Father agree to that too?”
“Yes. Since Mederio is protecting me, the First Empress can’t act rashly.”
“Ah… about that, I have something to tell you…”
I relayed everything the Empress had said, including the sudden appearance of Ricardo.
Throughout the conversation, Richard’s expression spun. He asked me, even more incredulous than I was:
“Ridiculous… Does Nepherion really think it can stand between Eldrian and Vallienor?”
“So I wasn’t the only one who thought that was absurd?”
“Of course not. The Nepherion founder was a servant of Eldrian. Was the name Greedy? No, a different one. But as soon as he received the dukedom, he gave himself that pretentious name. He said he was envied by the gods.”
“A pretentious name?”
“Nepherion means ‘blessed by the god Neferte’ in the ancient language. The ones actually blessed were Eldrian and Vallienor. It’s ridiculous.”
Richard chuckled derisively and added:
“The Royal Family doesn’t even know about the envy. It’s hidden very strictly.”
“Then maybe the claim that it can heal me is a lie?”
“Probably, but I don’t think the Empress would lie blatantly… even risking her life.”
“Then Ricardo… why did you seem to prevent us from approaching the Nepherion?”
“….”
Richard remained frozen, mouth open.
He lacked certainty to voice the answer lingering inside him.
“You want to trust Ricardo, huh?”
“Hah. Sister… don’t take me for naive. Understanding Ricardo’s intentions is really difficult.”
“True enough.”
For several more minutes, Richard couldn’t speak. He seemed unable to organize his thoughts.
I handed him the item I had been debating whether to give him—it might help him decide.
“In fact, I received a note from Ricardo at the Hunting Festival.”
