The Quiet Pulse of Everyday Life

After that conversation in the still of night, the relationship between Yua and me had changed completely. Once the feelings we'd kept hidden rose just a little to the surface, a strange current flowed between us. Paradoxically, that very current seemed to guide us far more naturally than before. The rigid walls had crumbled, and even the subtle tension had faded. It felt as if a connection that had been severed for so long had finally found its rightful place.

'It's comforting to see Yua opening up a bit more about herself these days.'

A few days passed like that. It was morning. I sat up in bed, planning to linger a little longer than usual. The sunlight filtering gently through the window felt pleasant. As I opened the wardrobe to change, Yua entered the room earlier than she normally did. As always, she carried a set of my freshly ironed clothes. The luxurious, soft fabric carried a faint, refreshing scent of fabric softener. It was the kind of morning where just breathing in that fragrance lifted my mood.

"Yua, come on in. You're diligent from the crack of dawn. Have you been coming earlier in the mornings lately?"

When I greeted her, Yua offered a faint smile. That fleeting smile. It was a soft, delicate one I'd never seen on her usually expressionless face. My eyes didn't miss it. I caught the slight upward curve at the corner of her small mouth.

Yua handed me the clothes. In the process, her fingertips brushed lightly against mine. It was a completely natural touch, without the flinch or awkwardness of before. The warmth of Yua's skin against my fingertips felt pleasant. It tickled my heart in a strange way. A good kind of tickle.

Yua answered through her wooden board. The handwriting was still stiff and businesslike, but the heart behind it was crystal clear. Her eyes no longer trembled with anxiety. They were calm and steady. Her gaze seemed to check my clothes and expression, like a mother bird tending to her chick.

I headed to the washroom. Yua followed and handed me warm water she'd already prepared at the perfect temperature, along with a clean towel. Through the mirror, I watched her. Yua didn't avoid my eyes; she stood neatly, observing my back.

'That presence I feel behind me. At this point, it would feel strange if Yua's gaze wasn't there.'

In the morning, Yua and I handled the estate work together in the study. She sat comfortably in the assistant chair beside me. Instead of perching stiffly as before, she now leaned back against it. We were close enough for our shoulders to brush, but there was no awkwardness anymore.

When something I didn't understand came up, I asked her without hesitation.

"Yua, about ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this financial report. What exactly do these numbers here mean? It's pretty complicated."

Yua nodded and took the report. Her fingers traced the numbers as she explained through her board. Every time her fingertips moved across the page, they brushed against my arm. It had become an everyday occurrence. Neither of us was startled or flustered by it anymore. If anything, the subtle contact felt natural now.

I could feel a strange warmth from the tips of Yua's fingers grazing my arm. My heart reacted to that warmth. A small jolt, like a faint electric current. My heart beat cheerfully. Was this arrhythmia? I might need to visit a doctor soon.

"Ah, I see. You're so smart, Yua. Thanks to you, I'll be able to handle the estate work much more smoothly. The Duke will be impressed too. You might be better at this than I am."

I lightly ruffled Yua's hair. Her locks were soft and fragrant. A strange sensation traveled through my fingertips as I stroked her head. Yua nodded. Her cheeks no longer flushed. She didn't pull away from my touch. There was a subtle satisfaction in it.

'Yua really seems to have come back to me as a friend now. Seeing her comfortable with my touch puts me at ease. Her honest reactions like this are just... so cute I could die.'

I could feel Yua's body heat at my fingertips. I really didn't want to let go. It was lunchtime. I sat at the table as usual. Yua was attending to my meal. With Duke Ricardo absent, it was just the two of us. Bright, clear weather poured sunlight through the windows onto the table. A peaceful scene.

Suddenly, I saw my reflection in the water in my cup. I muttered quietly.

"My face looks a bit tired lately. Maybe I'm not sleeping enough."

Without a word, Yua set the cup down. Then she drew close to my face. Staring into my eyes, her small hand cupped my cheek. Her hand was warm and gentle. I was slightly startled by her sudden action, but I didn't pull away. If anything, the warm touch felt comforting.

'My heart's tickling for no reason.' It really must be arrhythmia. I should get to a doctor quickly.

Yua held my cheek as she lifted the wooden board. Instead of her voice, her written words met my eyes. Her gaze seemed to see through everything about me, as if confirming just how healthy and at ease I was. Her touch lingered on my cheek for a moment. It felt reassuring.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I placed my hand over hers.

"Really? Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. Maybe it's because you're by my side. For some reason, I've been feeling strangely peaceful lately. It must be thanks to you."

Yua didn't withdraw the hand I'd covered with mine. Instead, her fingers ever so slightly brushed against my own, as if comforting me. I saw a very faint smile rise on her lips.

'I wish this peace could last forever.' I made a small wish in my heart. Every time her fingers grazed mine in my palm, I felt my heart beat along with it. It tickled for some reason.

After lunch, I stopped by my room for a bit. I needed to tidy up... and there was a lot of paperwork to handle. It would have been the usual routine. But then—

Flap, flap. A pigeon flew in through the window.

"Huh?"

It naturally landed on my shoulder and began preening its feathers.

"...What is this, a wild pigeon...?" Looking closer, its wings were neatly groomed and it was a clean white dove, so it seemed like someone's pet.

"Hmm... If it's a pet pigeon, there should be an ID tag..."

I lifted the pigeon onto my hand to examine it closely and noticed a small rolled-up piece of paper tied to its leg.

"! You're a messenger pigeon?"

A pigeon used to deliver news or letters. But with advanced information methods these days, it wasn't used much anymore... There was only one person who would use such an outdated method.

I could already guess who this letter was from.

"Caron!"

I quickly untied the letter from the pigeon's leg and read it.

...It looked like my friends from the battlefield wanted to see me.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I grinned and muttered to myself.

"Of course I'm going."

After that, I took my usual walk in the garden. The late afternoon sun was bright and refreshing. As I sat on a bench, Yua approached with a small basket. Inside were several fresh roses that looked freshly picked.

Yua came over and quietly sat on the bench. Before I could even invite her.

'She's really comfortable now. No need to read the room anymore, huh.' I liked this naturalness. Simply feeling Yua beside me had become comforting.

"Yua, these flowers are really pretty. Did you pick them yourself?"

I picked up one rose from the basket. It was a deep, luscious red. A subtle fragrance lingered at the tip of my nose.

Yua replied through her board. She knew my preferences exactly.

'She remembers my tastes perfectly.'

"No, the study is fine. Just leave them here beside me? I want to rest while enjoying the flower scent today. I'll watch you tidy them up from next to me."

I pointed at the basket. Yua looked slightly flustered but soon quietly placed it beside me on the bench. A gentle rose fragrance enveloped us.

I leaned back against the bench and closed my eyes. The warm sunlight tickled my face. Beside me, Yua took the roses from the basket one by one and arranged them neatly. The soft snip of small scissors sounded relaxing. Even that noise was comforting. It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠felt like I could sense Yua's body heat at my fingertips.

"Yua."

I called her with my eyes still closed. My voice resonated softly.

"I think I gave you something a long time ago... A silver hairpin. Do you remember? I was a bit upset when you returned it back then. I wondered if you'd thrown it away."

I asked playfully. In truth, it was the very hairpin I'd hidden under my pillow. Even though my eyes were closed, I could feel Yua's hands freeze.

The corner of my mouth slowly curved upward.

Leo mentioned the silver hairpin. My hands stopped. My breath caught in my throat.

'He remembered that? No, he already knew I had it. Did he notice me sneaking into his room at night?'

My heart began to race wildly. Thump! Thump! Thump! My chest hurt so much. My face burned. It felt like all my secrets were about to be exposed. Goosebumps rose across my entire body. Cold sweat trickled down my spine.

I couldn't say anything. I just stayed still. The Young Master still had his eyes closed. I was terrified the sound of my heartbeat might be audible. My breathing quickened ever so slightly. I remained silent, frozen in place.

I opened my eyes just a little. Yua was slightly lowering her head, avoiding my gaze. I saw her cheeks faintly flush red.

'She knows she's been caught. It must still be awkward for her. How cute. I thought she'd gotten comfortable with me, but she's trying to hide this clumsily. I'm going crazy from how adorable she is.'

The corner of my mouth lifted even more.

"I'm not seeing things, right? I think I just saw Yua's face turning red."

I said with a laugh. Yua's reaction was quite entertaining. The way she wavered at my teasing stirred something in me.

'To react this much even to a little prank like this. There are going to be even more fun things in the future. I'm looking forward to it.'

The Young Master opened his eyes. My cheeks felt like they were on fire. How could I make an excuse? Sweat ran down my back.

I left an almost stuttering message on the board. I lowered my head even further at Leo's words.

'Please, stop looking at me...'

It felt like everything about me was being exposed to the Young Master. I wouldn't be able to hide these feelings any longer. Even breathing felt difficult. My heart was pounding like crazy.

'Please stop. Stop!'

I smiled quietly and closed my eyes again. The basket of roses placed near my head. From within it came the sound of Yua carefully trimming the stems.

'It's certain. Yua has kept that hairpin. She remembers everything about me and treasures it. It seems there's no longer any need to hide our relationship. For some reason, my heart feels warm. This is the peace Yua brings me.'

How much time had passed? The clock tower in one corner of the garden rang five times. It was 5 p.m. The sun was beginning to set. I quietly opened my eyes. Yua was still trimming the roses beside me. Her hands were now bare, without gloves. The way she carefully removed the thorns with her bare hands was incredibly delicate. There were small scratches on her hands, but Yua didn't seem to mind. Those tiny wounds somehow looked pitiful.

'She's tending to such a large garden with these small hands. How hard must it have been while I was gone?'

"Yua."

I called her. My voice rang out gently.

"Doesn't it hurt touching the thorns without gloves? Are you okay? Your hands are going to get all torn up."

I lifted her small hand. In my palm, Yua's hand felt cold, but the small cuts were clear. I could see the marks where thorns had pricked her.

'Yua's hand is cold.'

The Young Master took my hand. My fingers gently brushed against his thumb. My heart ached.

'Why won't you say it hurts?'

Those words pierced my heart. Leo's voice, worried about me.

'Because it's you.'

At those words, everything inside me seemed to crumble.

'Like when we were young... like when I fed the fish.'

My hand trembled faintly, trapped in his. I desperately held onto my reason. But my heart had already revealed everything to him. My heart felt like it would burst. It wouldn't stop.

Thump. Thump.

I didn't let go of Yua's hand. I simply held her small hand gently in mine. Though her head remained bowed, the trembling gradually subsided. Instead, a strange serenity emanated from her hand.

I quietly looked up at the sky. The sunset was descending. The sky was dyed red. That crimson light wrapped around Yua's small shoulders. Her figure cast a shadow beside me like a painting. I smiled. It was a perfectly peaceful garden scene. Within it, my heart was utterly at ease. For some reason, my heart tickled. A happy flutter, like the wings of a tiny bird, enveloped my entire body. Time with Yua was bringing new vitality to my weary life.

Oh, right. Speaking of which—

"Yua."

"Ah... it's nothing big, but I think I'll have to go out soon."

"Ah... no, it's really important..."

"...The place is a bit private to take you..."

"I don't know what you're imagining, but it's not that..."

"No, really..."

"...Alright, alright."

"Then I won't go. That works, right?"

Yua smiled brightly. As if that would stop me... I could just sneak out.