26화 026
The carriage had come to a stop around the time the sun began to dip.
The wheels had gradually slowed, and the sound of the horses' hooves had grown softer.
Through the window, I could see low buildings.
A wooden rest stop.
Thin smoke rose from the chimney, and a few carriages were parked out front along the road.
It was the first proper rest stop I'd seen since leaving the imperial capital.
It was nothing like the neat gardens of the palace.
Mud.
The scent of dried wood.
The smell of horses.
Hot tea.
The sounds of people coming and going.
It was a bit rough and somewhat messy.
Yet strangely, my breathing didn't feel constricted at all.
“Let’s take a short break,” Adelle said.
“Since Your Highness was feeling queasy, it might be good to get some fresh air outside.”
“I’m fine now.”
I rose from my seat as I said that.
I really was fine.
The earlier rocking had lessened, and my head felt a little clearer.
I headed toward the carriage door.
There was still a bit of dizziness left.
A hand wearing a black glove extended in front of me.
“I’ll help you.”
It was Adelle.
She stood in front of the carriage door and watched me.
I stared at her hand for a moment before finally lifting mine.
Adelle’s hand through the glove felt colder than I’d expected.
“Adelle’s hands are so cold!”
“Northern people’s hands are usually like that.”
“Like ice.”
“Is it really that cold?”
Adelle lowered her gaze just a little.
She seemed worried.
Why does she have such a face?
It’s making me worry too.
I immediately shook my head.
“It’s not that I don’t like it.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah.”
Her hand was cold.
But oddly, I didn’t want to let go.
The cold hand held mine firmly.
It felt like the sensation ran from the tips of my fingers all the way to my heart.
It’s because it’s cold.
My body is reacting to the cold.
My heart beating strangely is probably just from the change in temperature.
It’s definitely not anything else.
Adelle slowly lowered me out of the carriage while holding my hand.
My feet touched the ground.
It was dirt road.
Nothing like the marble floors of the palace.
Uneven, cold, and unfamiliar earth.
I just poked the dirt with the tip of my foot for no reason.
“It’s outside.”
Now it really feels real.
My breath came out white and vanished into the air.
Adelle kept holding my hand quietly.
She was smiling brightly.
She was treating me like a small child.
The feeling was unpleasant.
Why? Even while making such an act.
“We’re down now, right?”
“Yes.”
“My hand.”
“I’m holding it.”
“Why?”
“You might fall.”
“I’m not going to fall.”
Adelle looked at me.
Then she added softly. “That’s just an excuse, though….”
“Huh?”
“I just wanted to hold your hand.”
Again.
Again, like that.
I looked away for no reason.
The corners of my mouth curled up.
Why is this? It’s making me feel strangely good.
It feels like something’s wrong with me.
The horses outside the rest stop came into view.
A stack of firewood was visible too.
A coachman dusting himself off appeared.
The sky was visible.
There was a lot to see.
Yet my hand kept worrying me.
Adelle’s hand was holding mine.
That fact stayed in my mind.
“Your Highness.”
“Hm?”
“Your face is a little red.”
“It’s the wind.”
“The wind isn’t blowing that hard yet.”
“It seems it’ll pick up soon, so it’s already flushed.”
Even after saying it, I didn’t know what I was talking about.
Adelle stayed silent for a moment.
She seemed to be holding back a smile.
I tried to pull my hand away but stopped.
If I let go, it might look like I was overthinking it.
It’s not because I’m regretful.
Anyway, it’s not that.
Inside the rest stop was warmer than I thought.
The stove was burning, and wooden tables were scattered about.
A few merchants and guards who had been traveling were sitting and drinking tea.
When we entered, some eyes turned toward us.
Her silver-gray hair and stunning looks drew stares everywhere. I was noticeable too, but it was probably for different reasons.
The youngest imperial prince.
The prince entering with the hand of the Grand Duchess of the North.
I pretended not to notice those stares.
It was something I was good at.
A face that looked like I knew nothing.
A slightly excited child’s expression.
I was already used to those, almost as familiar as breathing.
Adelle chose a quiet spot in the corner.
She sat me down first, then ordered something from the owner herself.
Soon small plates appeared on the table.
Dried apples soaked in honey.
Butter biscuits.
Warm milk tea.
Herb candies without bitterness.
Thinly coated nuts.
I looked at the plates.
I picked up one dried apple.
The honey was thin, so my fingertips were slightly sticky.
When I put it in my mouth, a soft sweetness spread.
It wasn’t too strong.
The crunchy texture unique to dried fruit was also good.
“It’s delicious.”
I said without meaning to.
Adelle’s eyes softened just a little.
“That’s good to hear.”
“Can I eat this too?”
“I bought them all to give to Your Highness.”
“What about you, Adelle?”
“I’m fine.”
“Why?”
“Just watching you eat is enough for me.”
I picked up a butter biscuit.
It was small and round.
I took a bite, and the buttery flavor filled my mouth.
I held the bitten biscuit up to Adelle.
“Want some, Adelle?”
Adelle hesitated.
Her gaze dropped to the biscuit I offered.
Ah, giving something she already ate… not really.
I should’ve offered something else.
Just as I was about to pull back my hand, Adelle lowered her head first.
And she took the end of the biscuit I was holding into her mouth.
Crunch.
A small sound.
Adelle chewed slowly.
Her usual calm face.
But the tips of her ears were slightly red.
After swallowing, she said. “It’s delicious.”
“……”
I stayed still, holding the biscuit.
Adelle tilted her head slightly.
“Your Highness?”
“Hm?”
“Aren’t you eating?”
“Oh, I should.”
I looked at the remaining biscuit.
I took one bite.
Adelle took one bite.
Then I took another.
“This is an indirect kiss, isn’t it?”
Adelle said.
I froze right there.
“……”
Adelle remained calm.
But there was a very shallow mischief inside her eyes.
I looked at the biscuit.
In the end, I put the remaining biscuit in my mouth.
Crunch.
The taste was exactly the same.
It really was the same, yet oddly, it worried me more than before.
The word ‘indirect kiss’ kept floating through my mind.
I picked up the milk tea.
It was warm.
I tried to wash away the remaining sweetness and buttery flavor from my mouth.
But strangely, it became even clearer.
Adelle watched me quietly as she sipped her tea.
Her relaxed attitude was infuriating.
After finishing the snacks, we went outside.
The wind blew.
It was cold. Sharp and thin.
I shrank my neck.
“Adelle.”
“Yes?”
“The wind is biting.”
Adelle looked around.
“Northern winds are even stronger than this.”
“Do you hate the North, Adelle?”
“I don’t know Your Highness yet, so that’s why.”
“If I knew, would you like it?”
“Yes.”
Adelle smiled as she added. “Once you know Your Highness, you’ll like it.”
I looked at Adelle for no reason.
“Why are you so sure?”
“Because I like you more the more I know you. And that’s true even right now. It’s getting better and better.”
The wind blew again.
I shrank my hand.
Even with the gloves on, the fingertips had gone cold.
Adelle noticed and took my hand.
She held my hand as if wrapping it with both hands.
Her hands overlapped over the black gloves.
“In the North, hands that are cold like this melt.”
Adelle said.
Adelle wrapped my hand and suddenly stopped.
Her gaze moved between my hand and her own.
“Maybe…”
She asked carefully.
“Are my hands really that cold?”
“Hm?”
Adelle tried to pull her hand away slightly.
I reflexively grabbed her hand.
“It’s warm.”
My voice was smaller than I thought.
“……Is it?”
Adelle’s voice lowered a little.
“Yes.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Adelle wrapped my hand again.
This time more carefully.
The wind was still cold.
But inside my hand it was warm.
I just left my hand alone.
Then something fell from the sky.
Small and white.
At first I thought it was dust.
But another one fell soon.
And another.
I looked up.
“Adelle.”
“Yes.”
“White things are falling.”
Adelle looked at the sky too.
Her eyes softened.
“Snow.”
“Snow?”
“Yes. It’s still light, though.”
I extended my hand.
Adelle released the hand she was holding.
One white piece landed on my palm.
It was very small, light, and cold.
I stopped breathing and stared at it.
Then it disappeared soon.
Like a water droplet.
“Adelle. It melted.”
“Because your hand is warm.”
“Does warm make it disappear?”
“Snow does.”
I looked at my palm for a moment.
Only a few water spots remained.
Warmth makes it disappear.
If you try to hold it, it melts.
When you’re close, it vanishes.
I suddenly looked at Adelle.
“Then what about you, Adelle?”
Adelle blinked.
“I’m not snow.”
Her words made me think for a moment.
The aftereffect was almost gone, but my head was still a little fuzzy.
“Then let’s check.”
I stood on tiptoe.
Adelle, who was slightly bowing her head.
I reached out and placed my hand on her cheek.
Not through the glove, but with bare skin.
My fingertips were still cold.
The skin on her cheek was cold too.
But it didn’t disappear like snow.
There was a very tiny warmth under her cold skin.
Adelle’s face flushed red in an instant.
Really fast.
The color spread from the tips of her ears to her cheeks.
I said blankly. “It does. It didn’t melt.”
“……”
The corners of Adelle’s lips parted just a little.
She couldn’t speak for a moment.
Then she said in a low, small voice. “It looks like it’ll melt.”
I pulled my hand back in surprise.
“Why?! Adelle, you can’t melt!”
“If it disappears now, there’s no problem.”
“No! Don’t disappear!”