Chapter 69

“If it were you, I figured you’d want someone to just show up with ready-made outfits.”

At those words, Rodella immediately nodded.

“Exactly!”

Then, unable to contain her joy, she threw her arms around him.

Dizzily so.

“But how did you know my taste?”

She asked, as if it were the most obvious thing.

Aivert didn’t even hesitate to answer.

“From what you usually wear.”

“Then how did you know I like pearl embellishments?”

“Oh, that.”

Aivert looked down at her.

“You told me.”

“I did?”

Rodella blinked. Aivert nodded.

“Thirteen years ago.”

That pearl necklace I gave you for your birthday—you especially loved it.

Rodella blinked again at his words, then exclaimed in delight.

“Oh, the one from when we were at the academy! I still have it!”

She began chattering about the memory.

“You gave it to me on my birthday, right? I still remember how nervous you were when you tried to fasten it for me. Aren’t you nervous today?”

For her, it was clearly a fond memory.

“I like you, Rodella.”

“Thanks!”

She said it again, hugging him just like she had back then.

That memory used to haunt him. It hurt how sweet you were. How you hugged me just like that.

But you—were too radiant to hate.

“I’m not nervous.”

Aivert swallowed down the thoughts that came flooding in and replied.

“I remember. A few days before I gave you the necklace, you were making a flower crown. I thought that was going to be my birthday present.”

She laughed and said the flower crown would’ve been fine too, but Aivert couldn’t bring himself to tell her that he hadn’t given it because the flowers had all wilted and crumbled in his hands.

If he had said that, everything he’d swallowed down would’ve come pouring out.

That, even now, just like back then, he was trembling.

Back then, he trembled because he was afraid he might hurt her.

But now—

Because the way she looked at him had changed, even just a little, and he was afraid she might not look at him at all.

“I practiced putting on the necklace that time.”

“That explains why it felt so natural.”

Then she asked, “Did you practice again today?”

“Today, yesterday, every day.”

The strength control, the stamina training—it was all so he could be close to her.

There wasn’t a single day he skipped.

The thought of ever hurting her was unbearable.

Aivert pointed at the pearl necklaces hanging on the mannequins.

“So, which one should I put on you today?”

‘If I tell you I like you again as I put it on, will you smile at me like you did back then?’

“Hmm… the middle one?”

Rodella said after some thought.

“I’ll have the other two sent to the house.”

Aivert unfastened the necklace from the mannequin’s neck.

Naturally, neither the mannequin nor the necklace was damaged.

His touch was controlled, delicate, as he fastened the necklace around Rodella’s neck.

There was no tension in her posture.

Maybe it was because she had full faith that he would never hurt her.

The moment he thought that, their eyes met.

Probably close enough that it tickled for her—and left his fingertips tingling.

“Thanks, Aivert.”

“Thanks!”

Ah. The same words as back then.

Just as he consciously tried to lift the corners of his mouth into a smile—

Rodella’s eyelids fluttered, hiding her vivid green eyes.

Tension crept onto her face and neck.

“……”

The moment her glimmering gaze rose again to meet his—

Time seemed to freeze for Aivert.

The breath she exhaled, the quiet rise and fall of her chest—

The slight part of her lips. That lovely face.

Then a smile blooming, along with the unmistakable flush on her ears and cheeks—

The colors spread across her like watercolors suddenly brought to life, and Aivert forgot how to breathe.

In that moment, he wanted to ask—  

‘Were you nervous?’

‘And if so, what were you nervous about?’

‘Was it because I might hurt you?’

Or because…

Then it happened.

“Lady Rodella, it’s time to get dressed.”

The maid’s voice brought time crashing back into motion.

Aivert quickly fastened the necklace.

As he stepped back, Rodella, who had been looking up at him, lowered her gaze and turned to him.

Her silky black hair shimmered as it moved ever so slightly.

Before it could even settle, her blue eyes locked with his.

“What? Do I look weird? Is something on my face?”

She asked, covering her face with her hands.

Did she know?

That her face was red too?

That he wanted to ask if it was because of him?

“I like you, Rodella.”

‘Was I this nervous as a kid too?’

‘Were those confessions I blurted out so carelessly really careless?’

Aivert’s face flushed hot.

He could feel his breath growing shallow, his heart pounding.

His reason barely suppressing the dark, rising desire.

It was all at its limit.

‘I want to kiss you.’

‘I want to ask if you’d tremble too if I kissed you.’

‘If the warmth racing from my fingertips through my whole body when I’m with you reaches you too.’

‘I want to ask—do you love me?’

All the past confessions he’d said without thinking flashed through his mind.

His gaze, trailing through countless fleeting memories, finally landed on her—blushing, standing right in front of him.

So many overwhelming emotions poured in that he couldn’t even think straight.

‘You shouldn’t be this beautiful.’

‘A person shouldn’t be so beautiful that it leaves someone speechless.’

‘I want to tear off this mask of pretense and hold you tight, just like that.’

‘You’re so unfair—being that beautiful, I could blame it on a mistake just to touch you.’

“…No, I’ll come back later.”

Aivert turned away at last.

If he didn’t, he was afraid he’d kiss her without any excuse.

***

After Aivert left, the maids came bustling in.

Rodella, fingers still touching the necklace, was thinking about the look on his face just before he left.

“I’ll come back later.”

His face, as if fleeing, had feigned calm—but was visibly more flushed than usual.

And his breathing… a little too fast.

Would someone like him really be out of breath just from walking upstairs?

Didn’t seem likely.

Her cheeks flamed red as she fanned herself.

“Which dress would you like, my lady? Feel free to mix and match pieces.”

The maids asked as they worked around her.

Rodella unconsciously chose the second one.

The one Aivert had stood next to.

The one she had thought would look best beside him.

She reached again for the necklace that had hung on that mannequin.

“……”

The moment he put that necklace on her…

She had just stared at his face, not even realizing what she wanted to ask.

He hadn’t done much—just worn his formal uniform with a bit of makeup and decoration.

Yet, she hadn’t been able to take her eyes off him.

It was still the same Aivert.

Then why…

Did she just like uniforms?

No. That wasn’t it.

She had only remembered he was even wearing a formal outfit after he left.

It was because he was Aivert, that’s why.

“Because you want to be something more.”

Rodella suddenly recalled what Cecilia had said.

Maybe because she ran a merchant company, her sharp-witted friend always seemed to see through subtle emotional cues.

Just like last time, maybe Cecilia could offer another clear answer that stuck with her.

What was Aivert thinking?

Or rather—what was she thinking, seeing him like that?

In the end, only the people involved could know the answer.

And yet, Rodella couldn’t understand herself.

No—she wasn’t sure.

So she wanted to ask.

If a friend kept making your heart race in ways that friends shouldn’t—what exactly do you call that?

And what are you supposed to do… when that happens?

She wanted to ask.