(SATVC) Chapter 23

Then, suddenly, he knelt down on one knee and sat down.

“Can I kiss you?”

He placed one hand on his chest and held out the other to me.

No, don’t say it like that.

In a world where there are knights, kissing the back of the hand is often performed as a greeting of respect. I can’t believe he made a sound greeting into an R-rated one at once.

It was difficult to refuse, so I placed my hand on Sirius’ hand. He lowered his head slowly, to the point of being reverent. As his lips, which had just been smiling, touched the back of my hand, the sensation of him licking the nape of my neck came to mind, and heat rose to my face in an instant. It’s ridiculous!

“I will write you a letter the next time I come to see you.”

The lips that had stayed on the back of my hand for a while fell, and Sirius looked up at me. My face, which was now enclosed within his eyes, had turned completely pink.

“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”

There was only one answer I could give. Sirius’ cool hands became lukewarm. Did I get cold, or did Sirius get warm? The hands, which shared a similar temperature, fell, and Sirius stood up. Suddenly, the clouds cleared away and the bright moonlight came in from the terrace.

“Then, I’ll see you at the Founding Festival.”

He opened the door to the terrace and greeted me goodbye. I nodded my head and tried to say ‘see you next time’. However, the moment the moonlight fell on Sirius’ black hair, it looked like Helios’ silver hair.

What? I wondered if I saw it wrong but by the time I rubbed my eyes, he had used teleportation magic and disappeared. Only the curtains on the terrace were fluttering in the cold winds.

“Oh, right. I forgot to give him his clothes.”

I grabbed the coat that was draped over my shoulders.

The guest appeared without notice and disappeared like the wind. It happened so quickly. If it wasn’t for Sirius’ coat, which blocked the cold air from entering the room, I would have thought it was a dream.

***

Last night, I was thinking about what to do with Sirius’ coat. I needed to do something with the evidence of the unrealistic secret meeting. But, the maid who usually helps me to prepare in the morning was missing. Instead, it was Ariel who came to my room earlier than expected.

She was wearing a neat, yet elegant navy dress like she was ready to go out. I didn’t even have breakfast yet. I greeted the diligent Ariel, unlike myself, and hid Sirius’ coat under the blanket.

“After all, I will follow my sister.”

To prevent my behavior from looking suspicious, I stood up and praised Ariel for being pretty, but she suddenly grabbed my shoulder and said something out of the ordinary.

‘She really is the duke’s daughter because the way they talk is getting more and more similar.’

However, based on the rough situation, I could infer what Ariel wanted to say.

“No. It’s an official event.”

“But!”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry, Erial is going with you.”

“He’s not trustworthy at all.”

Diplomatic ministers from other kingdoms visited to celebrate the upcoming founding festival. Although the National Founding Festival is two days later, a reception will be held to welcome their visit, with Ariel attending the party along with the Duke on behalf of the Duchess’ vacancy.

‘Ariel told me she wanted to attend first.’

While Marquis Kailen had invited all of us to attend his tea party, Ariel could not attend because the reception was scheduled first.

“Ariel, I respect your choice, but I don’t want you to give up what you wanted to do because of me.”

From an early age, she has been interested in the languages and cultures of other kingdoms. For Ariel, the reception is a great opportunity to broaden her scope of thinking by talking with the diplomatic ministers. Knowing that I didn’t want Ariel to go to the tea party with me.

“I’m…”

Unable to say anything else, Ariel only pursed her lips and murmured the end of her words. She was very well aware of how I felt.

“Lady Ariel, the duke is waiting for you.”

Chelsea was here to pick up Ariel. She hesitated and couldn’t easily take a step back, because although she understood how I felt in her mind, her heart felt heavy.

“Have a nice reception! Tell me how it goes in the evening. I’m looking forward to it.”

“You too, Sister.”

Ariel barely stepped out of the room when I replied that I was looking forward to a review. After Ariel left, I slowly got ready to go to the tea party.

‘I think she depends on me more than I thought.’

I was lost in thought while the maids helped me get ready. As a child, I took it for granted that I relied on my mother to some extent. However, it was not right for them to want to be with me so much that they would give up on what they liked. I wanted the twins to grow up and expand their world, not stop in place because of me.

I used to think that it was the psychology of a child not wanting to lose their parents to others, but their dependence or obsession with me was greater than I thought.

‘For now, let’s wait until they enter the academy.’

If they enter the academy, they will be forced to separate from me and their dependence may decrease.

“What kind of dress should the lady wear?”

I heard a voice that awakened me from my thoughts.

Chelsea brought the best dress options. They were all in line with designs that are popular, great for the weather today, and perfectly suited my taste. I chose the dress that looked the warmest. It’s a winter tea party, so it’s held indoors, but I get cold a lot.

“Are you ready, Sister?”

“Yes. Shall we go?”

Erial and I got into the waiting carriage.

An unexpected tea party that was also Marquis Kailen’s tea party. I didn’t expect to meet Bella and Grandwin again.

“I’m nervous because it’s the first time I’m meeting Marquis Kailen.”

Marquis Kailen’s estate, where we arrived by carriage, was surprisingly close. It was so close that I couldn’t believe we had never seen each other. I was such a homebody.

“No need to be nervous. It’s just a normal tea party.”

Erial escorted me with a smile.

This is Erial’s first tea party too, right? You were with me every day.

I burst into laughter because Erial, who pretended to be relaxed and led me, was cute.

“Lady Sernia, I was waiting for you!”

When we arrived at the hall, Bella found us and ran to greet us warmly.

We arrived just in time, but the other nobles arrived a little earlier, so we ‘technically’ arrived last. I glanced around at the guests invited today and greeted Bella.

“Lady Bella. Thank you for inviting me to the tea party today.”

“No, it’s an honor for you to attend like this.”

She lowered her long eyelashes and said shyly, clutching the hem of her dress tightly. Bella’s pink cheeks added vitality, and she looked like an angel from a famous painting, with her sparkling blonde hair and white dress.

“Today, Lady Bella…”

“Everyone must be busy preparing for the founding festival, but thank you for your time.”

I tried to say the word angel without any filtering, but the Marquis stood up and announced the start of the tea party. Bella guided us to the table, and we sat down and listened to the Marquis’ greeting.

This tea party was like a rehearsal before the founding festival so that the nobles who came from the fief could adapt to the party in the capital. It is usually a tea party held by nobles who have exchanges or are of the same faction, but Bella invited us to say thank you for the last time. The tables were divided into tables for noble wives and young nobles.

At our table, we were seated with the Kailen siblings, some noble girls we saw at the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet last time, and one noble girl who we saw for the first time.

As the tea party began in earnest, delicious desserts were set one by one on the table, and warm black tea was served. My eyes shined while looking at the dessert, but I couldn’t hold my fork because of the person who approached me.

“Thank you for helping Bell.”

The person who approached me with a blunt face was Grandwin.

It was a simple thank you, but the blue eyes I saw contained sincerity.

“No, of course, it was something anyone would do. It was fortunate that Lady Bella was safe.”

I gave a formal answer. I’m happy to be able to talk to my second favorite, but I wanted to focus on the dessert in front of me now.

“I will never forget this grace. If you need any help, please feel free to let me know. Originally, I intended to prepare gifts, but I didn’t prepare them because most of the materials are easily available in Ardentine.”

“The grace that helped Bella cannot be handled with such trivial things.” He muttered to himself while revealing the thoughts which came from his heart.

‘Somehow, it reminds me of the debt Sirius asked for. Well, Bella wouldn’t have died without me.’

I didn’t want to be a loan shark-like Sirius, so I refused because I didn’t want something in return.

“No. Please feel free to tell me.”

He spoke in a determined voice. Come to think of it, this guy also had a sister complex. When I recalled the setting of loving his younger sister terribly, I understood his current reaction.

“Yes. If I ever need help one day, I will let you know. By the way, Lady Bella looks like an angel today.”

I told Grandwin what I was going to say earlier. It was intended to change the subject to end the burdensome conversation. I praised Bella, who Grandwin likes, for the most seemingly easy topic. Isn’t that usually the case? If a topic you like comes up during a conversation, even if you’re talking to someone you’re not very close to, you can’t stop talking.

“Of course, Bell has always been like an angel. Her white and transparent skin, her fluttering blonde hair, and her eyes that are bluer than the sky.”

Huh? It feels like I pressed a switch.

Grandwin suddenly started praising Bella. A light compliment soon turned into a multitude of compliments. His eyes which are normally like wood were shining! I thought he was a rapper for a moment because he continued without stopping, and started to rhyme.

“Bell has a beautiful heart, too. I feel like an angel from a famous painting has descended on the earth.”

“Ah, I think so too.”

I was listening with one ear and out the other, but I unconsciously reacted to Grandwin, who had the same thoughts as me.