Episode 18. I Like You, Lady Ford

That such a large man could say something so childish. And with a face that showed no sincerity at all.

“After you went so far as to undress me yourself… to think you’d just leave. How cold-hearted.”

“That’s not why I undressed you…!”

Really, ever since before…

Brienne narrowed her eyes into sharp slits, glaring at Hereis. Her face was so hot she felt like her ears might burst, but that handsome face of his only held a smile.

“The result is the same, isn’t it?”

“You’re laughing? You can laugh right now?”

“Yes, I can.”

“What on earth is so funny?”

“Well, I didn’t say it was funny.”

At his calm demeanor, the strength drained from Brienne’s body. No matter how much she argued, he would just keep smiling and responding like this. In the end, she’d only tire herself out. As she let the tension leave her eyes in defeat, Hereis spoke again.

“Ah, that reminds me. Didn’t you ask me if I was crazy? Twice, in fact.”

“……”

“Perhaps I am. From now on, I plan to do even crazier things.”

Brienne held her breath and looked up at him. His low, husky voice, and the sound of his pounding heart, reverberated deep within her.

“Since you said you didn’t even consider it a confession, I’ll say it again.”

“……”

“…I like you, Lady Ford.”

At the warmth in his eyes, Brienne’s light green eyes wavered. He gently held her chin, smiling languidly. Brienne swallowed hard. What would happen next was obvious.

Just as she squeezed her eyes tightly shut—

“……”

A low chuckle rumbled above her head. What… what was this? Brienne peeked her eyes open to find Hereis grinning brightly.

“W-What? Why are you laughing again?!”

Trying to grasp the situation, Brienne, her face bright red, struggled to get up. But it seemed Hereis had no intention of letting her go.

A quick kiss landed on her forehead.

“If you close your eyes with such a displeased look, I can’t do anything, can I?”

“…Y-You fraud! Saying you couldn’t lift your arm because it hurt was a lie, wasn’t it?”

Clutching her tingling forehead, Brienne raised her voice for no reason. But Hereis lowered his gaze and shook his head immediately.

“That part was true. Still, staying like this makes it feel a little better. Your body is warm, so I’m getting sleepy.”

As if he meant it, he slowly closed his eyes. The pounding of her heart grew quicker. Realizing it was her own heartbeat, Brienne hastily tapped at the forearm wrapped around her waist.

“Let go. I’m… I’m leaving now.”

“It’s just too cold. Couldn’t you stay like this a little longer?”

“If that’s really the case, then the fireplace…”

“No firewood is needed. This way is more efficient for you too, Lady Ford.”

Wondering what he meant, Brienne watched as he wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead. Come to think of it, his hands, and his whole body, were cool. Pressed close together, she could now feel the chill radiating from him.

Her own body was so overheated she hadn’t noticed the ice-cold touch before. As she looked at him in silent question, Hereis answered quickly, “You could call it a mage’s fate.”

Of course, it wasn’t a proper answer. Pouting slightly, Brienne murmured, “You always give such vague answers. You must have a lot of secrets.”

“Not at all. I can answer anything honestly.”

“Like what?”

“If it’s you asking, whatever it may be.”

At that, Brienne looked at him quietly. More than anything else, his voice had been growing lower for some time now.

Now that she thought about it, his eyes did seem to be losing focus. The physician had prescribed strong painkillers; perhaps their effects were making him drowsy.

“…Are you sleepy?”

If he just said yes, she would have left. But Brienne closed her mouth instead. The face of the man who had fallen into a quiet sleep looked far too peaceful.

She wondered if he might be an angel who had mistakenly fallen into the human world.

So she didn’t want to disturb that peace. She didn’t pull away from the arms wrapped around her back.

Since he said he was cold… should she stay a little while?

Yes, she decided. Once he fell into a deep sleep, then…

Making up her mind, Brienne rested her cheek lightly against his chest. Of course, this decision wasn’t made out of pure consideration.

Her body was already burning up. Now that she was aware of it, the cooling sensation felt rather pleasant.

Not bad.

Yes, that was all it was.

Brienne stayed still, asking nothing.

***

The sun that had decorated one side of the blue sky rose to the center. By the time dark clouds from somewhere had come to cover it, a thin rain began to fall over the capital of the Rontiano Empire.

To escape the sudden downpour, Kaiden had stepped into a nearby bookstore. Shaking off his slightly damp hair and taking out a handkerchief to wipe his cheeks, he was greeted warmly by the shop owner, who had been organizing books and recognized him.

“Oh my, Young Duke Bannon! It’s been a long time. Have you been well?”

At the question, Kaiden gave a small nod. The shop owner peeked behind him and, with an innocent expression, added a harmless remark.

“What brings you alone today? Lady Ford is—ah, ah…!”

Then, as if arriving at his own conclusion, he tapped his mouth with the palm of his hand. Kaiden graciously pretended not to notice the flicker of embarrassment in the man’s eyes.

“Do you have any new arrivals?”

“Yes, what kind are you looking for?”

Knowing Kaiden was trying to move past the subject, the shop owner smiled easily instead of apologizing. Kaiden slowly looked around the old bookstore until his gaze rested on one spot.

It was a wide windowsill set up with large cushions to make it like a sofa. A place where Brienne used to flop down and read.

A chilly breeze from outside rattled the thin window. The faint lamplight wavered with it, and her figure filled his vision like an illusion.

Brienne Ford smiling at him with a thick book in her hands. The gesture of patting the cushion next to her to invite him to sit. As if bewitched, he was about to step forward.

“Excuse me, Young Duke?”

“…Ah.”

Kaiden came to his senses with a start. He hadn’t been sleeping well lately, so perhaps his mind had gone a bit astray. Blinking a couple of times, he stared at the empty cushion, then gave the shop owner a polished smile.

“Romance novels.”

“Pardon? By romance, you mean…”

The shop owner muttered with a bewildered face. After thinking for a moment, he seemed to come to another conclusion and widened his eyes.

“Ah, I see! Understood.”

As the man’s figure quickly disappeared, Kaiden found himself glancing at the window again.

Feet swinging at an amusing scene. A pale face quietly crying at a sad line. Because she had pestered him to read a book together, he had read several romance novels that weren’t to his taste.

So this sudden request for romance novels must be just a fragment of that memory. Even such childish stories had become a habit over time.

If that was truly all it was, then there was no need to refuse this odd taste. With that thought, he added another reason to fill the emptiness.

His steps toward the window carried no weight. Sitting on one side out of habit, he recalled the calm voice that used to call his name.

“Kaiden.”

Ding.

Over Brienne’s voice came a cheerful one.

A woman came in through the bookstore door, folding her umbrella and shaking the water from it with a light gesture. Round spots of water formed on the carpet at her feet. Watching this, a strange sense of disappointment crossed Kaiden’s face.

‘…Why do I feel like this again?’

What had he been expecting? Who was he…?

“Young Duke! Here are the romance novels you asked for. Ten in total, so take your time and choose the ones you like. Ah, and this lady is…”

Pulling a wheeled cart, the shop owner stopped when he saw Melosi.

Bowing politely, he greeted her. “You must be the young duke’s fiancée. It’s an honor to meet the young lady of House Bailey.”

“…My, you are truly a gentleman.”

Smiling softly, Melosi shifted her gaze to the books on the cart.

The shop owner, looking pleased, grinned broadly. “Ah, these are the latest romance novels. I assume they’re to your taste? I was surprised when the young duke asked to see romance novels, but if his lovely fiancée enjoys them, that’s another story.”

Unlike the shop owner’s affable manner, a look of puzzlement crossed Melosi’s face. She took a few steps toward Kaiden, who was rising from the windowsill.

“Romance novels? I’ve never heard of Young Duke Bannon having such a taste.”