Chapter 111
Chapter 111
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: A Confession's Aftermath
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A commotion had passed. I sat by the window, dazed the entire time.
The cocoa, served a long while ago, had already gone cold.
My mind was still in the hallway where the incident had occurred after breakfast.
"Sage... likes me."
The moment the words left my mouth, I startled and covered it with my hands. It felt awkward even to say it aloud.
No one heard that, right? I glanced around nervously.
Even though no one was in the room, I felt as if someone was listening, and the tips of my ears burned. I ducked my head low.
Sage's words kept replaying in my ears.
'What if I told you I'm not satisfied with just being friends?'
Saying something like that so suddenly was unfair. I placed a hand over my still-pounding heart.
"I don't know anything about this kind of thing."
It's the first time I've ever received a confession like this. I tapped my head against the table.
Just when did Sage start liking me?
Now I finally understood why everyone reacted so sensitively whenever I mentioned Sage.
They all knew this would happen. I was the only one who didn't.
"How am I supposed to face Sage now?"
I thought I now understood why he'd come to meet me at the border himself. And why he noticed my pheromone stone faster than anyone else...
"Haaah."
It was because he was interested in me.
To think I was the only one who didn't know until now.
If I could, I wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. It would be great if I could just disappear for a few days where no one could see me.
The thought that the other escorts had seen everything made my hands and feet curl in embarrassment.
"Right, let's just go out."
Staying in my room was making me feel even more stuffy.
In the South, I would always go out to the garden to bask in the sun once in a while. But in the North, I was stuck inside.
But if I bundle up, it should be fine, right?
I threw open the closet. Inside hung winter clothes of various sizes.
They had been prepared in advance, since no one knew how much I would grow.
I stood on my tiptoes and took out a familiar cloak. It was a white cloak with soft, fluffy white fur. And I should wear gloves and earmuffs, too.
They were all made as a set.
"Okay."
This should be enough. I glanced out the window once before flinging the door open. I'll just go out, and if it's too cold, I can always come back in.
I looked down once at the white boots I was wearing for the first time, then headed downstairs.
My heart pounded anxiously at the thought of running into Sage.
*Tap. Tap.* The sound of small footsteps captured their attention.
And that wasn't all. Aileen, bundled up in white to brave the cold, looked just like a human snow rabbit.
Aileen herself didn't seem to have noticed, but recently, the eyes and ears of everyone residing in Kiraas Castle were fixed on her.
It was only natural.
The fact that she was the one their young master was so agitated over was enough to pique their curiosity, but she was also so adorable they could practically drool.
"Hey, three o'clock."
"...Wow, my heart aches."
"Where do you even get clothes like that? I don't think I've ever seen them in the North."
Born accustomed to the cold, they found Aileen's attire unfamiliar.
After all, thick clothing was for those unaccustomed to winter.
The eyes of the Kiraas followed the direction Aileen was heading.
All while diligently hiding their bodies behind the castle pillars.
"Why are we hiding and watching?"
"...I don't know either."
But I feel like she'd get scared if we ran into her. Because I'm pretty sure my eyes are gleaming right now.
They were truly coming to understand the meaning of wanting to bite something because it's so cute.
So this was why the Head of the Astrofel family, rumored to be cold-blooded, kept her wrapped up so tightly in his arms, as if she might blow away.
It was then. A sharply honed sword was pointed at their chins.
It was the result of being so captivated by the sight of Aileen's back that they'd let their guard down.
The eyes of the Kiraas widened in bewilderment at the sword blade suddenly thrust at them.
"Would you stop paying attention to our young lady?"
The culprit was a damn Black Mamba with a friendly face and soft brown hair.
Paymon smiled a pleasant, good-natured smile. But the words that came from his mouth were not so pleasant.
"The Gaju ordered me to take care of anything that looks suspicious. So be careful, unless you want your heads to fly."
"How unpleasant. What about us is suspicious?"
"All of you are."
Paymon tilted his head.
If hiding behind a pillar and secretly peeking isn't suspicious, what is?
Left with nothing to say, the Kiraas averted their gazes, a wave of embarrassment washing over them.
It was, without a doubt, a breach of etiquette toward a member of another noble family.
Paymon's lips curled up.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't even come near the young lady from now on."
"I'd appreciate it if you showed some manners yourself. Thrusting a sword at someone without warning isn't exactly normal, is it?"
"Exactly."
Paymon's brow furrowed. It was a rare, irritated expression.
Sheathing his sword fluidly, he tilted his head.
"I want to be polite, too, so stop staring at the young lady. She's *our* young lady."
This childish bastard.
So, he had rushed over in a single bound, worried that the young lady he served might wear out from their gazes.
Were the Black Mambas always this childish?
Paymon's strangely grating words made the corners of the Kiraas's mouths twitch.
"Fine, she's your young lady. But no one knows what the future holds."
"...What?"
Paymon scowled and glared at them. His green eyes filled with a murderous aura.
The Kiraas lifted their chins hatefully.
It was the moment that signaled the beginning of a full-blown war of nerves between the Black Mambas and the Kiraas.
* * *
The world outside the castle wasn't as cold as I'd worried. Do you get used to the cold? I thought this much was bearable.
"Haaah."
My breath plumed in the air. *Poof. Poof.* With every step, my feet sank deep into the snow. My toes felt a little numb.
Still, it really wakes you up.
I looked behind me. My footprints were the only ones etched into the pure white snow.
Doesn't anyone walk around the gardens here?
It was a little strange and curious.
In the Astrofel family, all the elders used the gardens to get around.
Does the Kiraas clan have a separate entrance they use?
As I kept walking, I soon found myself far from the castle. And...
"Where am I?"
Seeing the Kiraas Castle flag planted here, I could tell it was part of the castle grounds. It was an empty lot.
As I stepped further in, I realized it was a training ground.
So they have a separate training ground here. I was looking around, fascinated, when I felt a faint presence.
"Hm?"
I naturally lifted my head toward where I felt the presence.
And I spotted Sage in a tree. Ah, this situation feels very familiar.
"S-Sage?"
"You found me right away this time."
"...Th-that. Uh."
I stumbled backward in surprise.
"W-why are you here?"
"You say that as if I've come somewhere I'm not supposed to be."
"Th-that's not what I meant."
Of course, this was all Kiraas territory, so it wasn't strange. But why was he here, of all times?
I came out for a walk to clear my jumbled thoughts, but now they were even more tangled.
I backed away slowly, laughing awkwardly.
"I interrupted your training, didn't I? Go on, finish. ...I-I'll be going now!"
I tried to turn quickly, but a fierce wind blew.
I flinched and stiffened. I still wasn't used to the northern winds.
In that moment, a transparent barrier began to form around my body. Again. I looked at Sage, my eyes wide.
Sage, still in the tree, was looking at me as if he couldn't understand.
"No matter how much I think about it, I don't get it."
"...Huh?"
"You're scared of a mere gust of wind like this."
Sage came down. He approached me and took my necklace in his hand.
"The chill from the necklace must make you even colder. The energy of the North draws in the wind."
That was something I didn't know. It draws in the wind? Is that why a strong chill lurked in the North all year round?
"And you seem to have grown since yesterday. I'm sure you were only about this high."
Sage, who had been gauging my height at around his chest, raised the corners of his mouth in interest.
When I didn't answer and kept my lips sealed, he muttered.
"Is this another thing I have to figure out on my own?"
My expression hardened. My heart pounded nervously, feeling that he wasn't just saying that—he would actually figure it out.
I was well aware by now that all of Sage's attention was focused on me.
I slapped Sage's hand away.
"This is none of your business."
"So I should pretend not to know this time, too?"
"Yes. Keep doing that for as long as you can."
At my firm reply, a hint of dissatisfaction crossed Sage's eyes. He seemed frustrated that I wasn't telling him anything outright.
"Until when do I have to pretend?"
"Until I tell you first."
"Fine, I understand."
"Huh?"
I looked at Sage, bewildered. ...Is that it? He was being so compliant it was strange, almost anticlimactic.
Sage found my reaction amusing and crinkled his eyes.
"I'm going to be obedient and listen well from now on."
"Why?"
"Because I want to look good for you?"
I was speechless. His unabashedly direct way of speaking left me completely flustered.
How could he say such embarrassing things without a single change in his expression?
I wanted to peer inside his head to see what on earth he was thinking. A subtle atmosphere flowed between us. I cleared my throat for no reason.
"I'm going back."
"I'll walk you."
"I know the way back to the castle."
"Then let's just go together."
Why do I feel like I'm constantly getting swept along? I nodded reluctantly.
On the way back to the castle from the training grounds, Sage, who was walking beside me, broke the silence.
"I have some news you'll like, Aileen."
"News I'll like?"
"We received word that the Astrofel heirs have entered the northern territory. They'll be arriving at the castle soon."