Chapter 26

Esadien’s lips were warm.  

So were his arms that, unsure at first, pulled me in around the waist and back… and the breath that spilled through lips brushing mine again and again.  

Warm—and sweet.  

“M-Minuelle.”  

“Esadien… you fool.”  

I laughed softly, resting my forehead against his.  

Then I pressed my hand gently over his heart and spoke.  

“I think of you too. Always. Wherever I go, wherever I am.”  

Without a word, Esadien laid his hand over mine.  

“Because I love you.”  

“……!”  

The sea-blue eyes, already flushed with heat, widened and began to tremble.  

It hurt to see him so shaken.  

‘Is it really okay… to swing between emotions like this?’  

Even I was starting to feel unsteady.  

But I smiled slowly, trying not to let it show.  

“But… alright.”  

I didn’t know why he was this anxious, what it was he couldn’t trust.  

“If everything feels too fast for you… then I’ll stop.”  

“Minuelle!”  

It was the first time.  

Esadien had never raised his voice like this.  

His grip on my shoulders tightened, too.  

But I wasn’t finished speaking yet.  

“I’ll wait for you to come to me. Until you’re ready. Until you can be honest, without fear.”  

Gradually, the strength left his hands.  

Taking that chance, I gently pushed him away and started walking again.  

“I really do have to go now.”  

As soon as he disappeared from my sight, the heat rushed to my face.  

‘What on earth did I just do?! Aaaagh!!’  

“…No, I’ll go with you after all.”  

Of course, Esadien was still following me.  

Seriously, why does he follow so well?  

“Ack—no. You can’t.”  

“Why not?”  

It was the first time I had flatly refused him.  

Maybe that’s why he looked a little stunned.  

Unable to meet his eyes, I stared straight ahead and whispered in embarrassment, in case someone overheard—  

“Esadien… you’ve got lipstick on your lips…”  

I thought my face might explode.  

Judging by the redness climbing his cheeks, Esadien felt the same.  

“Ah… I-I see. Then… I’ll see you later.”  

“Yes… see you later.”  

Just a little while ago, my head had been filled with only one thing: ‘When should I tell my parents I’m breaking off the engagement?’ 

But now… everything has changed in an instant.  

I could hardly believe it—but I couldn’t stop smiling either.  

Even though Esadien said goodbye, he was still walking right beside me.  

Just as I was about to ask why, he beat me to it.  

“Minuelle.”  

“Yes?”  

“There’s something I wanted to give you.”  

He pulled something from inside his coat.  

I thought it was an envelope, but it turned out to be a very thin box.  

“What is it?”  

The box opened with a soft click.  

“Gloves?”  

“I saw them while passing through the market. And thought… they would suit you well.”  

They were beautiful gloves.  

Especially the delicate pink lace at the wrist, like a soft blush.  

“Thank you! They’re so pretty.”  

Esadien, giving them to me—looked even more beautiful.  

“You like them?”  

“Yes. So much.”  

“Then… may I put them on you?”  

Thud.  

My heart dropped.  

Even though a part of me found him sweet, the sight of Esadien awkwardly holding out his hands toward me… made me panic.  

“Ah, n-no! It’s fine!”  

Without thinking, I clutched the gloves and took a step back.  

“If they’re not to your liking, you can always exchange—”  

“Th-that’s not it!”  

“It really is alright.”

“I mean it too. The… um, they’ll look even better with the dress I’m wearing for the reception, that’s all. That’s why.”  

“I see.”  

I nodded enthusiastically, even as guilt prickled inside me.  

My palm felt like it was burning.  

“W-well, I really have to go now!”  

“Alright.”  

I turned on my heel and practically sprinted away.  

It wasn’t even an exaggeration—there really wasn’t much time left.  

‘At least he’s not following me this time…’ 

That thought had barely crossed my mind when—  

“Minuelle.”  

“Gah—yes?”  

There hadn’t even been footsteps.  

He touched my shoulder softly, turning me around as if in a dance. At the same moment—  

Smooch.

A quick kiss landed with a ticklish sound before he pulled back.  

“Take care.”  

With a faint smile, Esadien turned and walked down the hallway, each step echoing away.  

“…What just…”  

Left standing alone, I touched my lips in disbelief.  

‘Did that really just happen?’  

“He smiled…”  

The vow I’d just made—to wait patiently until Esadien was ready—was already beginning to waver.

 

* * *

 

“I’m bored.”

As soon as the wedding ended, I returned to a life of idle leisure, but even with all the free time, there was nothing in particular to do.  

Since I told Esadien I’d wait for him, I couldn’t exactly drop by the Prince’s palace every day like before.

“I miss Esadien.”  

“That’s the thirty-seventh time you’ve said that today alone.”  

Ramande clicked his tongue and looked down at me from where I was lying with my head in his lap, reading a book.

“Can’t help it. I’m bored.”

I had already sorted out all the gifts from Sister Juela’s wedding, finished all the books I’d saved to read when I had time, and completed everything from my coming-of-age prep to fitting dresses for the next season.

There was nothing left to do.

“I wonder what Esadien is doing right now…”  

Just looking at his face used to make half a day fly by.  

“Suddenly the days feel so long…”  

“Sigh. Want to go for a walk or something?”

Ramande offered like he was doing me a favor, but I hated the idea. I absolutely hated it.

“A walk? Again? Why do you always suggest a walk? You drag me out after every meal to exercise—are you trying to train me or something?”

“You need exercise. You’re way too frail.”

“Tch…”

‘Too frail.’ Sister Elga always said the same thing.  

‘But seriously, to someone like her, who could slice a bear into cubes with one swing, who wouldn’t look frail? Our mother maybe?’ 

Ramande had been dragging me out for walks three times a day ever since I got some free time.

“You at least used to move around at the temple. Now all you do at home is lie down or sit. Hm? Hm?”

“Aaagh! Nagging again!”  

No amount of walking is going to change my body!

But my whole family seemed to love cheering him on. Apparently, they all secretly wanted to force me into exercise.

“Ugh, what’s that saying? There’s no one in this world you can trust!”

“What are you going on about now?”

“Whatever. I’m going to go see Esadien.”

“What?”

I tried to sit up, but Ramande firmly pressed my forehead back down, and I flopped back into his lap.

“Hey, Ramande. What the heck, are you not moving your hand?”

“Nope. Didn’t you say you’d wait for the prince?”

“But it’s been days since I saw him. If you let me up right now, there won’t be a bloodbath.”

I glared fiercely to sell the threat, but the only thing I got for my trouble was a stinging flick to the forehead.

“Ow!!”

“Where are you picking up all these weird lines from?”

“It hurts! My poor pretty forehead’s going to bruise and swell! You better take responsibility!”

“Ugh, fine, fine. You really do exaggerate though.”

Ramande clicked his tongue again and helped me sit up.

“I’m not exaggerating, okay? It really, really hurts.”

Well, it was kind of an exaggeration. But the throbbing on my forehead wasn’t entirely a lie.  

When I made a pouty face, Ramande’s voice turned cautious at last.

“…Let me see.”

He lowered his head and gently moved my hand away from my forehead.

“Fuu…”

His warm, soft breath landed heavily on my skin, and the faint divine energy in it soothed the sting in my forehead.

“Better now?”

He asked softly, his face still close.  

Even in the shade, his violet eyes shimmered. I grinned.

“Mm-hm. Our little Ra is amazing. You can mix divine power into your breath now?”

“Stop flattering me, it’s ticklish.”

“Aww, you’re blushing. At this rate, your breath alone could probably cure half the kingdom.”

Finally, Ramande let out a little laugh.

“Is that so.”

Nice. The mood’s lightened. Everything’s going according to plan.

“Anyway, I’m heading to the Prince’s palace now!”

“You were serious about that? I was wondering how you’d been holding out so long.”

“Just for a bit—really, just to see Esadien’s face. I won’t pressure him or anything.”

“Right, sure. If you say so.”

“Yup! Of course you would!”  

Leaving behind Ramande, who gave a perfunctory reply, I hurried off to change my clothes.

But when I came back out, the drawing room was completely empty.  

“Huh? Where’d he go so fast? Did someone call him away for something urgent?”

It hadn’t even taken that long—just fifteen minutes.  

Yet, when I headed to the carriage, there he was, sitting inside like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Ah! You scared me! Ramande, what are you doing here?”  

“I’m just coming with you.”  

“You? Why?”  

“I thought about it, and figured it might be a little less awkward for you if I tagged along.”

“Awkward?”  

Was it?

‘I was just planning to give him a hug and head right back.’

Honestly, if I suddenly stopped visiting altogether, Esadien might feel a little hurt.  

I’d already talked myself into going while I was getting dressed.  

‘But what’s up with him?’

Just as I tilted my head, one thought crossed my mind.

‘Wait… could it be Ramande just wants to see the palace?’

Ramande was from the Sermender region—he probably hadn’t seen the capital palace before.  

It hit me then, how many times I’d gone back and forth without ever thinking to invite him. A wave of guilt followed.

“What’s with that look?”  

“No, nothing. Let’s go.”

“What do you mean nothing?”

“It’s nothing. Here. Take my hand.”

I held my hand out to him, palm up. But Ramande glanced between my face and my hand, raising one eyebrow.

“Are you seriously treating me like a lost child?”

“Wow, you catch on fast. Hey now, my arm’s gonna fall off~”

“You’ve got some nerve, honestly.”

Grumbling the whole way, Ramande still gripped my hand tightly. Ra-Cheomji was still Ra-Cheomji, even today.

‘Seriously, he’s adorable.’

But if he caught me smiling, he’d definitely have something to say about it. So I tried my best to keep a straight face.  

That’s when Ramande asked, “You’re wearing those gloves again today. Lately it feels like it’s the only pair you ever wear.”

“Hehe. You noticed?”

I couldn’t help but smile.

Except for when they needed washing, Esadien’s gift had never left my hands.

‘I love them so much.’

Wearing them made me feel like the emptiness of not seeing him was just a little less heavy.

“You used to match your gloves to your dress.”

That’s right. I never took off my gloves, so they were both a fashion statement and a necessity.  

Naturally, I had multiple pairs in different materials and colors. I even had a drawer just for them.  

Normally, with a blue outfit like today, I would’ve worn sky blue or navy gloves.

“It’s fine. White goes with everything.”

“It’s not just because the Prince gave them to you, huh?”

“Of course it is.”

Duh.

I nodded proudly, beaming from ear to ear, and Ramande shivered in exaggerated horror.

“Ugh, goosebumps. Who are you and what have you done with Minuelle Karnian?”

“Ra-Cheomji, you’re so dead!”