53

The very next morning, Dante emptied the boarding school.

I stood in front of the boarding school gate, bidding Dante farewell with a smiling face.

“After you’re done with your busy work, be sure to come find me again.”

“Hmm.”

Dante, who was looking down at me with a teasing expression, lightly tapped my cheek with his index finger.

“No farewell kiss?”

…It’s really strange.

He wasn’t usually this smooth.

While grumbling to myself, I obediently lifted my heels and planted a kiss on Dante’s cheek.

Smack.

Then, as I tried to step back…

“Ah!”

Dante suddenly grabbed my waist.

His crimson eyes lit up mischievously.

“I told you to kiss my cheek, yet you really only kissed my cheek.”

He immediately swallowed my lips.

His playful tongue roughly explored my mouth.

Even after kissing numerous times, the sensation of his tongue persistently sweeping through the delicate mucous membrane inside my mouth never became familiar.

After being at Dante’s mercy for quite some time.

I barely escaped from his embrace, exhaling a long breath with a flushed face.

“Ah…”

“Next time we kiss goodbye.”

Dante gently stroked my wet lips with his thumb, smiling slightly.

“Think of lips as a default. Got it?”

“You’re being mean.”

As I averted my eyes without malice, Dante burst into a youthful laugh.

“Why? It’s not like we started dating unknowingly, right?”

“…”

Rarely, I felt my words getting stuck.

‘Well… that’s true.’

Even back when I faced various criticisms at the Lepherian literary club, the infamous reputation of Marquis Offenheir had reached me countless times.

“Well then, until we meet again.”

“Take care.”

I bid farewell to Dante.

Dante had a strangely satisfied look as he climbed onto the carriage.

Waiting for the carriage to depart,

I absentmindedly touched my lips.

‘Lately, there’s been subtle physical contact.’

The sensation of the intimate kisses shared with Dante still lingered on my lips.

Feeling a tingling sensation on my cheek for no reason, I deliberately shifted my thoughts to another topic.

‘Come to think of it, today is Tuesday.’

While I wanted to go see Benedict right away, I had planned to spend some time with Lucian today.

Since Dante mentioned he would be away for a few days…

‘Benedict should be visited on Friday, I suppose.’

Even though it was early summer, the dawn was still chilly.

I took a deep breath of the crisp morning air.

It felt like my lungs were being washed clean.

Through this fresh air, I hoped the scent of tobacco smoke that Dante had filled my lungs with would be thoroughly erased.

Along with the cigarette smoke, I wished the irrational affection that the original Elze had for Dante would disappear completely.

…I earnestly hoped for that.

* * *

Clang, click!

The sound of keys and locks interlocking had become familiar.

I greeted Lucian as I opened the door to the solitary cell.

“Did you sleep well last night, Your Grace?”

“Oh, Lady Lepherian.”

Lucian pretended not to know me.

As I set the breakfast tray on the table, I closely observed Lucian’s complexion.

‘He seems to be doing better now.’

In the past few days, Lucian’s complexion had improved considerably.

Especially since the day I visited him, there seemed to be some change in his state of mind.

It was fortunate that he no longer complained about nightmares.

Nevertheless, I planned to consult a doctor soon and consider getting a proper prescription.

“You should have breakfast.”

“…I don’t have much of an appetite.”

Lucian’s response was somewhat indifferent.

Normally, I wouldn’t insist on someone with no appetite…

Raising my eyebrows, I urged Lucian.

“Still, could you please try to eat a little, even if it’s just for my sake?”

“…”

Lucian stiffened his shoulders, then in a somewhat petulant tone, he gave me a sarcastic remark.

“Why? Afraid the Marquis will scold Lady if I collapse?”

“Of course, I don’t want that to happen.”

I sat down beside Lucian.

I lifted my hand to tidy up Lucian’s disheveled hair.

“Still, I sincerely hope Your Grace recovers soon.”

“…”

In Lucian’s eyes, as clear and blue as a lake beneath the autumn sky, a momentary ripple occurred.

It was like dropping a small pebble into a calm lake.

A delicate but long-lasting ripple.

“I was really worried this time.”

Although Lucian squinted his eyes, I met his gaze calmly.

And rightly so, because this was an entirely sincere sentiment without a trace of falsehood.

“…Alright. I’ll eat.”

In the end, Lucian, unable to resist my persistent gaze, picked up the utensils with a chubby face.

As he

immersed himself in the meal for a while,

“Well, still.”

After swallowing a spoonful of the gentle soup, Lucian lightly scratched his cheek with his finger.

“It’s nice to see Lady’s face.”

Upon hearing those words, I felt something welling up deep within my chest.

I was only planning to use you.

While you were tormented by terrible malice, I only thought about gaining your favor.

But still…

I forced a smile, trying to conceal my emotions.

“So, you’ve finished the celery this time?”

“…”

“Good job.”

When I praised him like that, Lucian made a sullen face.

“Yeah, I’ve felt this for a while now.”

Lucian glanced at me sharply.

“Aren’t you treating me like a child?”

Perplexed, I looked at Lucian.

At the age of just passing adulthood, with his temperamental behavior, sensitivity to food, and delicacy as if he were a high-end plant cultivated in a greenhouse—aren’t all these characteristics of a child?

Simultaneously, Lucian tilted his head slightly in my direction.

“Wait a moment…”

In an instant, I tensed up.

It was because the distance between Lucian and me had suddenly closed.

Butterfly-like eyelashes, golden eyebrows, and the vividly shining eyes beneath them.

Even the slightly parted lips, as tender as flower petals.

…Everything was excessively close.

Rustle.

Between his long and elegant fingers, my red hair flowed down.

After a while, Lucian shrugged and extended his hand towards me.

“There’s a leaf in your hair.”

Between his thumb and forefinger, a thin leaf was pinched.

“Ah.”

Slightly parting my lips, I nodded immediately.

I probably got it in my hair when I went to see Dante off.

“But, did you go out at this early hour?”

Lucian, who had tossed the leaf away, subtly asked me.

“You’re diligent, really.”

“…”

For a moment, I felt a strange sensation.

Lucian now seemed somewhat subdued…

“I’m the dormitory supervisor at the school, so it’s my job to look after the school and its surroundings.”

“Diligent indeed.”

Lucian nodded, lowering his eyes and looking at me.

“But why don’t you act diligently toward me?”

“What do you mean?”

“I am Lady Lepherian’s dedicated student.”

His lake-like blue eyes drew a round arc.

“So, shouldn’t you prioritize me?”

“…”

…Rarely, I found myself speechless.

“I feel a bit hurt.”

Looking at me, who was stunned, Lucian gave me a sly smile.

* * *

After Elze scrutinized Lucian to make sure he hadn’t left any food behind:

“Well then, take care of yourself. Got it?”

She left with a kind farewell and exited.

Click!

Lucian silently stared at the closed door.

Elze knew that he only harbored simple emotions toward her— a cooperative relationship for escape. Only that and nothing more.

[“Aren’t you treating me like a child?”]

That’s why he probably took that teasing remark as a joke.

Elze’s bewildered face from that time still lingered in his mind.

However,

“I wasn’t joking.”

Would she know?

The moment when he removed the grass leaf stuck in her shiny hair, the erratic beating of his heart, the dizzying scent unique to her that wafted from her, even the intense jealousy that flared up when he realized the reason for her early outing…

He understood these irrational emotions.

Still,

“I wish you would recognize me a bit more… rationally.”

* * *

As time passed, it was Friday.

I left the dormitory school early in the morning.

It was to meet Benedict.

“I feel good.”

I slightly opened the carriage window, enjoying the breeze that flowed in through the window.

The Rose Cross dormitory school gradually disappeared from the back of the carriage.

Even though it was just a brief outing.

Just being away from the dormitory school made breathing much more comfortable.

Thus, I arrived at the pie shop on Antique Street.

Clang—

A clear chime announced the arrival of a customer.

The waiter, with tousled brown hair, who was wiping the table, greeted me with a cheerful voice.

It was Benedict.