IHIMML Chapter 68

 

“I’m fine. You go and enjoy yourself.”

As that nobleman disappeared, Winston let out a faint sigh. Far away, he made eye contact with the young ladies and nodded in greeting.

The young ladies blushed and returned the gesture, but that was all.

As he turned his head, he soon made eye contact with the heads of noble families.

While the young ladies could be excused, the heads of families could not simply leave Winston alone after acknowledging him. No matter how firmly the crown prince’s position was at the moment, the future was uncertain.

The heads of families approached, and Winston engaged in conversation with them.

After some time passed, he realized once again that he was left with only lower-ranking nobles by his side, and he bit his lip in frustration.

So, swallowing a sigh internally, he eventually smiled and politely excused himself from the group.

‘They’re people who can’t help at all.’

They were unnecessary for both the Empress and him.

However, the only thing he could confidently present was his gentle and non-discriminatory nature, so he had no choice but to endure it.

Winston went out to the terrace, drew the curtains, and let out a sigh.

After chatting and drinking a few glasses of wine, he felt a throbbing in his head.

At that moment.

“……Philome!”

At the sound, Winston looked down to see Philome in a standoff with someone in the garden below.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

As Kaien returned from dancing and came back to his seat, people approached as if they had been waiting.

While engaged in conversation, Kaien interrupted the other person.

“Sorry, but I need to step away for a moment.”

With a tone that was anything but apologetic, Kaien escorted me out from among the people.

Knowing the reason for his actions, I tilted my head toward him.

“Did it show too much?”

“Were you planning to keep it to yourself until the end?”

Faced with his sharp question, I answered immediately.

“I was going to say something.”

“When?”

“In about… 10 minutes?”

Kaien narrowed his eyes.

“Yeah, right.”

The truth was that I was just a little tired, so I hadn’t really planned to say anything to him. I rolled my eyes awkwardly.

Kaien continued to engage with the nobles and, of course, was looking straight ahead.

I could occasionally feel him glancing at me, but I didn’t expect him to notice my condition so quickly.

Remembering that made my heart flutter a bit.

Kaien led me to the lounge located on the upper floor of the banquet hall.

“Sit down and rest a bit. Do you want some water?”

“Yes, please.”

As soon as we entered, I sank onto the sofa and gulped down the water Kaien handed me. Sophia had told me to be careful with drinking since my makeup would come off, but I didn’t have the energy for that.

Kaien refilled my empty glass and sat down next to me.

“Put your legs up.”

“Excuse me?”

“It hurts to keep standing.”

“Oh, no, I’m fine…!”

Before I could say anything, Kaien bent down and pulled my legs up onto his knees in one motion.

My body naturally tilted, and I leaned back against the armrest.

Kaien then took off my shoes and clicked his tongue at my swollen feet.

“They’re this swollen, and you say you’re fine?”

Saying that, he began to massage my calves and the soles of my feet without mercy.

At first, I gasped and tried to pull my feet away, but Kaien… had quite a talent for massage.

With a touch that was much more refreshing than what Sophia had given me, I couldn’t help but melt into it. Moreover, perhaps because Kaien’s hands were warm, it felt like there was a heating effect as well.

“Ow, that hurts a bit there.”

“Here? This spot? It’s a little red. Are these new shoes? You’re not getting blisters, are you?”

“I intentionally wore them a few times at the mansion to break them in. I shouldn’t get blisters, but they do sting a little.”

“I’ll buy you shoes that fit your feet perfectly, so you won’t need to break them in. Just throw these away when you get home. Or better yet, I’ll just get you custom-made ones.”

Kaien carefully rubbed my reddened little toe and muttered.

“A mere pair of shoes can’t cause injuries…”

At that, I burst out laughing.

“Oh, but did you know? It’s a superstition, but if you give someone shoes as a gift, they say that person will run away.”

“Is there such a superstition?”

Kaien narrowed his eyes, as if it were a superstition that didn’t exist in this world.

His expression grew serious, but even so, his hands didn’t stop massaging my calves.

“…Should I throw the shoes away right now?”

“It’s just a superstition. And if it were true, wouldn’t I have run away a long time ago?”

Kaien had already bought me shoes a few months ago.

Remembering that, Kaien nodded with a somewhat relaxed expression.

“That’s true.”

“But that’s not all.”

“Is there something worse?”

“On the contrary. They say that the person giving the gift hopes for the recipient to go to good places.”

At those words, Kaien’s expression brightened.

“I gave it with that meaning, you know? So don’t even think about running away or anything like that.”

“Well, I thought of it because you mentioned running away.”

Suddenly curious, my eyes sparkled.

“If I were to run away, how long would it take you to find me?”

“…I don’t even want to imagine that.”

“Still, I’m curious. I know the assets of the Wintbell dukedom and the number of knights, but it’s just a rough estimate. And those who move secretly, like Lord Ken, probably aren’t affiliated with the knights.”

I had learned about the Wintbell dukedom’s asset documents and vassal families, but it was hard to gauge.

‘In the original story, it took him a month to find Nadia. I wonder how long it would take him to find me?’

But since I’m smarter than Nadia, it should take about three months…

“One day?”

“Excuse me?”

I was lost in thought and responded in surprise.

“One day? Not even a month?”

“A month?”

At my question, this time Kaien looked flustered. He muttered as if he couldn’t believe it.

“How do you see me? There’s no way I’d let you run away for a month.”

“How is it possible in just one day? Did you secretly have someone follow me?”

“Impossible. If I had, I would have said so.”

“That’s true… But still, aren’t you underestimating me too much? I feel like I could last more than a month.”

Since Nadia lasted over a month, I thought I could at least last that long too.

However, Kaien’s firm statement that it would only take a day was surprising.

“I’m not saying this to underestimate you. I know my feelings for you well.”

He spoke calmly with a tone full of confidence.

“If I can’t find you even after a day has passed, it means I’m dead and can’t search for you. As long as I’m alive, there’s no way I wouldn’t find you within a day.”

“…Is Wintbell really that impressive?”

I asked seriously, as I had thought about running away if things went wrong when I first signed the contract.

‘Did Nadia escape really well?’

While I was seriously contemplating whether I was more inadequate than the foolish Nadia, Kaien responded.

“Oh, I can see how you might take it that way.”

Kaien slowly rubbed my protruding ankle bone with his thumb. It felt completely different from before, and I couldn’t help but flinch.

Kaien, holding onto my foot, must have felt it too, but he casually drew large circles with his thumb around my ankle.

His gaze was directed at my legs, wrapped in translucent stockings.

“The reason I’m sure I can find you within a day is…”

Kaien lifted his head to look at me.

“Because I like you that much. Even if I don’t sleep or eat, I will chase after you barefoot.”

His hand, which had been slowly gliding over my ankle bone, slid up and firmly grasped my ankle. His large hand perfectly encircled my ankle without any gaps.

Kaien didn’t apply pressure with his grip.

But perhaps because his hand was so large and warm, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of being tightly held. It sent a chill down my spine, as if I were offering my nape to a beast.

“Philome.”

I couldn’t respond to his call.

“So don’t run away. Just imagining it…”

Kaien, with his eyes narrowed, looked up leisurely while gazing at my ankle, which was held in his grip.

I was swallowed by his calm, violet eyes.

“It’s scary.”

“…”

“I’m sure I would really go crazy without you.”