“Episode 40”
Surface Lovers
Celestian, just as Maril had done last time, brushed his bangs to one side. His black suit and white gloves hugged his body perfectly, and the navy silk tie was a color he favored. As he skillfully tightened the tie around his neck, Daphne’s voice came to mind.
“Hmm.”
The woman who had taught him how to tie it properly, even though she claimed not to know how. Her rough scolding filled almost half the advice she gave, but it wasn’t unpleasant to listen to.
“I suppose I should ask for a favor.”
He chuckled after meeting his reflection in the mirror once, then loosened the knot and grabbed it before leaving the room.
The corridor, which had been empty until a moment ago, now had several people coming out. They were dressed in black, perhaps preparing for a party, each adorned like peacocks in their own right.
“Oh my.”
A lady who met Celestian’s gaze while holding a fan in front of her mouth.
“Traitor.”
Though she must have spoken quietly, it sounded loud enough to him as it referred to him. Celestian smiled slightly and greeted her as if nothing had happened.
They soon began mingling with their respective groups.
“I wonder if she ever gets tired of it.”
Celestian absentmindedly brushed his earlobe with his hand. Sunlight poured through the gap in the door held open by the servers. It felt like he was about to sneeze.
As promised, Daphne was there. She sat arrogantly on the terrace, looking out at the horizon. Instead of her usual impassiveness, she had a slight furrow between her eyebrows.
“Daphne.”
Celestian reached out to create a shadow over her forehead. In fact, she was already trapped beneath his shadow.
Perhaps because of the shade, or perhaps because she saw Celestian, Daphne’s expression softened.
Through slightly narrowed eyes, her golden eyes disappeared for a moment. Celestian waited for her next words.
“Don’t look down on me.”
“Huh?”
Unexpected words momentarily halted Celestian’s thought process. Daphne gestured to the seat opposite her.
“Sit. My neck hurts.”
“Ha-ha.”
Celestian lowered his head and sat next to her. It was a narrow space on the two-person bench. Daphne wrinkled her nose slightly.
“My assigned seat isn’t here. It’s on the other side.”
“We’re just surface lovers.”
Though the subject was omitted, Daphne would understand. Daphne scratched her cheek with her index fingernail.
“We’re not in any contractual relationship.”
“More than that, Daphne.”
Celestian reached for the whiskey brought by the server. Daphne tapped his thigh with her knee.
“Don’t drink. If you mess up again, I’ll pour it down the drain.”
“What mistake?”
Celestian momentarily recalled the words he had said to Daphne in the anonymous hotel, “Shall we get married?”
“Oh.”
He only raised the corner of his mouth without saying anything. But he didn’t reach for the alcohol again.
Daphne wrinkled her nose again. Celestian remembered the expression on her face when he had said those words.
“You’ll pour it down the drain? You don’t seem to have the power to do that.”
“Oh? You dare to ignore me, Prince.”
When Daphne cocked her head, Celestian did the same. Daphne visibly twitched, then moved her hips to make room for him.
When Daphne brushed her hair back, the ribbon loosened slightly. Celestian hesitated to reach out to her shoulder. Just as he did, Daphne looked back.
“Are you trying to assassinate me?”
“What?”
Her tone was teasing, her words playful. As Celestian’s golden eyes met her playful ones, he slightly retracted his hand.
“If you want to touch, just say so.”
“…”
“It’s a joke, but you’re so serious.”
Daphne’s face, which had become even smoother without makeup, was slightly flushed, perhaps from being out in the wind and sea air for so long.
“Just when I needed it. Tie it back up.”
After saying that, Daphne sat facing forward. Celestian, having gained permission, took off his gloves and, once again, placed his hand on her hair.
“How many more variables are there…?”
A faint scent of rose lavender emanated from her hair. Celestian pressed down the urge to kiss the cherry-colored lock of hair in his hand.
❖ ❖ ❖
Celestian once again focused on gently stroking Daphne’s hair. Daphne stood with her back straight, scanning the crowd gathered on the white deck like a surveillance camera. She also glanced at the nobles and royals scattered throughout the deck. Among them, there were many who wouldn’t even care about the reality of Celestian’s alleged treason.
“First time seeing something pretty, huh?”
So, the fleeting glances in this direction were likely filled with pure malice.
“Not because he’s a traitor, just because he’s handsome. I wonder what I can do about it.”
Daphne truly felt like covering Celestian’s face with a veil or something similar.
As Celestian gently brushed through Daphne’s hair, like a sturdy thread, he then swept it back to the front as before.
“Thank you.”
“A short thank you.”
Celestian raised an eyebrow. Daphne smiled a little and repeated, “Thank you.”
This face, especially under such weather conducive to falling in love, was even more dangerous.
Without meeting anyone’s gaze, Daphne almost wanted to run over and hug him as he walked towards her.
Glancing briefly at the opposite side where Romeo had sat earlier, Daphne entertained a strange premise.
“Then who would win if you and Romeo fought?”
Celestian looked puzzled, as if not quite understanding the intention behind the question.
“Just literally?”
“It could vary depending on the situation.”
“If I may put it bluntly, it’s a game where one of us has to die for the other to win.”
Celestian pondered Daphne’s words for a moment, then lifted his eyebrows slightly and smirked.
“What do you think?”
“I think you’d lose.”
Blondes never beat brunettes. Green eyes never beat golden ones.
Despite bluntly ridiculing his opponent, Celestian didn’t seem to be in a bad mood. On the contrary, he wore an even more relaxed expression. He leaned his elbow on the table and placed his hand beside his cheek.
“I hope so?”
“… What kind of answer is that?”
“Depending on your answer, I’ll consider whether to lose or not.”
The prince’s confidence was sky-high.
Daphne, in her imagination, had imprisoned the man and his cousin within a dust-stirring ring. When she didn’t respond, Celestian continued playfully.
“Even if Romeo attacks me with all his might, I won’t tire.”
“What confidence.”
A scene from the martial arts arena, where he had always rushed in during times of stress, passed through Daphne’s mind. Rare indeed was the athlete who never tired.
“If the duel continues, Romeo will tire too, and then his chances of losing will be higher.”
Daphne blinked. Did the protagonist lose? She felt a slight itch to tease him.
“You’ve never fought, how can you be so sure?”
Yet in her mind, she also saw Celestian spitting blood, raising his hand to wipe it away. And his cousin, who lay sprawled on the ground, whom she wanted to squeeze and crush every time. That fantasy appealed to Daphne.
“I’m his brother. I know all his weaknesses.”
“Even though you’ve never fought side by side. I think you’ll lose.”
“For that, I just imagined myself winning a moment ago.”
Celestian said, tapping his cheek a couple of times. Daphne suddenly realized she was smiling and quickly sobered up.
“I laughed because it’s funny to me that Romeo would lose.”
Celestian grinned, his eyes reminiscent of the color of the sea. As he leaned his arm back and placed it behind Daphne’s back, his posture became incredibly inappropriate.
“Smiling makes us seem friendlier, right? Should I move my hand?”
“Ah, we’re just surface lovers. Besides, we’re not that close.”
Daphne couldn’t help but tease, hiding her laughter.
‘Should I pretend to lean on him for a moment?’
After hesitating for a moment, Daphne gathered her courage and leaned her back against his side. Perhaps due to tension, there was a loud noise, and Celestian made a momentary groan.
“It hurts.”
“Ah, sorry.”
Just then, an announcement came from the crew that they would soon be anchoring at the Arkas Strait for a brief stop.
“Long time no see.”
Daphne murmured a thought, and Celestian echoed it. When she turned her head in surprise, she saw Celestian’s lips first. She was almost about to hit her forehead, so she was even more surprised.
Why did he know? She wanted to ask but stopped herself. Maybe he’s been to Arkas before! But she still couldn’t understand why she was surprised at the word ‘long time.’
And suddenly…
“I remembered.”
Daphne took a deep breath to calm her fluttering heart.
“What?”
“We did meet as you said.”
It was a moment she had almost forgotten, feeling like she was about to hit her forehead. Daphne straightened her waist and turned to look at Celestian. The sunlight from the sky was making his hair shine white.
“Is that so?”
