“Do you truly want a token of proof?”
“I said I do!”
Angela answered Kalian’s question vehemently, perhaps embarrassed by how her nervous gulp had given her away. Then, without hesitation, she yanked off the ribbon she had tightly tied around the front of her dress.
“…!”
At that moment, Kalian stopped Angela’s movement. He grabbed her pale hand so she couldn’t move an inch. Of course, he had no intention of embracing Angela in a place like this, but the reason went beyond that.
Kalian’s pitch-black eyes stared as if they would devour Angela’s chest. The area his gaze landed on was entirely black. Her skin looked as though it had rotted.
“What is this? How did this happen?”
Confronted with the incomprehensible state, Kalian asked fiercely, gritting his teeth as he waited for an answer.
Angela looked down at her chest, following Kalian’s gaze, as if she didn’t understand what was going on. Then, as if something had come to mind, she hurriedly pulled her hand free from his grip and began fixing the disheveled front of her dress.
The lifeless-looking skin disappeared behind the fabric. But just because it vanished from view didn’t mean the image burned into Kalian’s mind went away. In fact, recalling it made the vision even more vivid.
“How did it end up like that?”
Kalian trapped Angela between his arms as she tried to rise and asked persistently.
“Talk. You’re not going anywhere until you explain.”
Angela had no choice but to open her mouth.
“It’s just… I was feeling a bit suffocated and hit myself a few times. I didn’t know it had gotten this bad. It’s not a big deal, so… just, move aside.”
She tried to sit up and escape his intense gaze. But Kalian pulled Angela into his arms and collapsed with her onto the sleeping bag.
“!”
Angela let out a startled breath. She ended up completely embraced, as if using Kalian’s arm as a pillow. As if that wasn’t enough, Kalian pulled her even closer.
“Not yet.”
Soon, Kalian’s voice seeped softly into Angela’s ear, like a lullaby calming a stormy heart.
“There hasn’t been an official announcement yet, but there’s a diamond mine in Bildium.”
Bildium was Kalian’s domain. It wasn’t known for its fertile lands, but ever since Kalian became lord, good news had been flowing steadily. First a gold mine, and now diamonds. It was as if he could hear the laughter of the domain’s people from here.
But this wasn’t about bragging about his territory.
“A pink diamond was discovered recently. I’ll have an accessory made that suits you. The most renowned jeweler in Bildium is also a skilled diamond artisan. I’m sure you’ll like it.”
“…”
“Bildium’s soil might not be rich, but it produces plenty of grains, and there’s abundant game. It’s a land of prosperity all year round. The people are kind, too. They all like me very much, so they have high expectations for my future wife. It’ll be a good place to live.”
Angela wore an expression as if she couldn’t understand why Kalian was bringing this up all of a sudden, but she quietly listened. Kalian was grateful for that and looked at her gently before speaking again.
“Angela… forget a place like the Bilton estate and come with me to Bildium. Let’s leave right after the wedding.”
“A man who walks in and out of the imperial palace like it’s his dining room wants to leave Rone and go to the provinces? You really think His Majesty the Emperor will allow that?”
Angela sneered, just like her usual self. But Kalian didn’t back down in the slightest. Instead, he held Angela even tighter.
“Even if someone tries to stop me, I’m going. I made up my mind long ago and I’m already prepared. I’m only telling you now. I can communicate with the capital just like other provincial lords.”
Of course, none of them held the same trust from Truga as Kalian did.
“Let’s go together. It’ll be good.”
Despite knowing that, his voice, persuading Angela, was firm and unwavering.
“You won’t have to be in pain anymore… I’ll make sure of that. So please come with me.”
“…”
“…Please.”
In the end, Angela gave in to Kalian’s persistence and nodded slightly. And as she stayed like that, sleep began to creep in. Her eyes closed.
That night, Angela’s dreams were filled with strangely pleasant things.
She was heading to Bildium with Kalian. The rough road made her a bit carsick, but it didn’t matter. As soon as they arrived, Mary ran out yelling, “Milady! Milady!” and welcomed her.
It felt like a gift from Kalian, and Angela beamed brightly at him.
—
The morning was announced by noisy birdsong. Startled awake by the clamor, Angela’s eyes flew open—only to find Kalian’s chest right in front of her.
If something had actually happened, she might have understood. But since nothing did, Angela felt like she had made a fool of herself the previous night.
However, perhaps that was only how Angela saw it. Kalian, on the other hand, pulled her tightly into his arms just as she tried to slip away.
“Where are you going?”
“It’s time to get up.”
His tone sounded like someone coaxing a child who didn’t want to wake up. Kalian gave a faint smile. That made Angela feel like he was teasing her, and she swallowed her irritation.
“It’s fine until Viego comes to wake us. Rest a little more. We have a long journey back, don’t we?”
Ah…
Only then did Angela realize that Kalian had to move west for his mission, while she had to return alone to the Bilton estate the way she had come.
She wasn’t entirely free from the thought of stubbornly asking him to take her along. Just coming all the way here had been burdensome enough. Angela was well aware that this wasn’t something she would have done in her right mind.
It seemed she had been pushed to the edge, to the point of doing something so absurd. After losing Mary in the place Kalian left behind, the word “broken engagement” held a devastating meaning for Angela. It was as if fate was commanding her to be completely alone.
“I’ve ordered the carriage to be prepared. Take it and go back.”
Angela nodded at the words coming from above her head, quietly surrendering the stubbornness that had become a part of her daily self.
But then—
“Stay at the Florence estate.”
She never expected to hear such words.
Angela’s eyes widened in surprise, and she looked up at Kalian. At some point, he had been watching her. Their gazes lightly collided.
“This time, don’t disappear on your own. Wait for me until I come.”
Angela stood still, like someone who had forgotten how to breathe. Kalian was the same.
Of the two who seemed they would stay like that forever, Kalian moved first. Angela thought he would turn his back and walk away like before…
“……!”
But Kalian closed the remaining distance without leaving any space and kissed Angela’s cheek. Surprised, Angela flinched and instinctively lowered her head, only for Kalian to hold her chin as if not to let her pull away.
His lips approached again—this time, they seemed like they would touch her lips. Angela clenched her fists and tightly shut her eyes.
“Lord Kalian!”
Just then, Viego’s voice echoed over the tent, saying it was time to make preparations.
Like two people caught doing something bad, the two instantly pulled away from each other without anyone taking the lead. Angela looked into the air, and Kalian cleared his throat.
—
Though she couldn’t be as neatly dressed as she was at the estate, Angela tidied her appearance as best as she could and stepped outside, parting the tent flaps.
The Florence family carriage, which she had ridden before, was waiting for her.
Kalian, who had left the tent first, seemed to be giving instructions to Jamie, who would accompany Angela as an escort.
Though she couldn’t hear what he was saying due to the distance, Jamie’s weary expression clearly suggested Kalian was saying the same thing over and over.
It was probably something like asking him to take good care of her. Even at the Florence estate, he had repeatedly told the maids the same instructions, even though they already knew what to do.
Soon, Kalian finished talking to Jamie and approached Angela.
Jamie, in the back, looked visibly relieved, as if saying, “Finally, it’s over.”
Angela let out a soft chuckle at the sight, and just then, Kalian walked up and bent down.
She wondered if he was suddenly bowing in farewell, so her gaze followed him downward. But he was merely picking something up from the ground.
When he straightened up again, a long-stemmed wildflower was in his hand.
Kalian wrapped it around Angela’s wrist.
Without realizing it, she had held her wrist out. Snapping back to herself, she opened her mouth.
“So you tempted me with a pink diamond accessory and now want to make up for it with just this?”
Kalian smiled faintly and kissed the back of her hand. The movement was careful, as if she were something fragile.
“I’ll return before this flower completely withers.”
Kalian made that vow like an oath.
Angela bit her lip and nodded. She couldn’t bring herself to speak the words, “Alright.”
To hide her blushing face, she turned away.
Just as she was about to climb into the carriage, she turned back like someone enchanted and grabbed Kalian’s collar.
And in the next moment, their lips met.
Kalian’s eyes opened wide in surprise, but soon gently closed.
His warm hand softly cupped the back of Angela’s neck. Their lips parted slightly, then touched again in a repeating rhythm.
Angela felt as though her feet had lifted off the ground in a rush of pleasure. The time they spent intertwined felt precious.
If it hadn’t been for Viego’s deliberate cough, Angela might have clung to Kalian forever, forgetting even the passage of time.
Barely regaining her senses, she gently pushed on Kalian’s chest. But he, not wanting to part, pulled her back and kissed her again.
Only then did Kalian finally let her go.
In his uncharacteristically slow movements, there lingered a trace of unspoken regret.
The knights around them, their faces flushed, pretended to look up at the sky. Angela couldn’t even look at them properly as she awkwardly climbed into the carriage.
Only Kalian, shameless as ever, leaned on the carriage door and bid her farewell with a promise to see her again soon—ending with another kiss.
—
Angela, staring intently at the flower bracelet wrapped around her wrist, suddenly opened the carriage window.
“Do you need something, my lady?”
Jamie, who was following on horseback, asked through the open window.
“Sir Jamie, do you know what kind of flower this is?”
Angela answered with a question, holding her wrist adorned with the flower bracelet out the window.
Jamie, who had seen the entire romantic scene between Kalian and Angela, smiled broadly.
“Of course I do. Are you wondering how many days it will stay in bloom?”
Angela didn’t answer, but her flushed face seemed to say it all.
The tips of her fingers sticking out the window were faintly tinged red.
Jamie, still skeptical that this was truly the woman rumored to be the most wicked in the Paelon Empire, gave her the answer.
“It’s a wildflower with a pretty strong will to live. It can last at least two weeks, no problem.
Though that might be unfortunate for you, my lady.”
Was that the answer she didn’t want to hear? It wasn’t impolite, yet somehow his teasing tone got on her nerves.
Angela slammed the carriage window shut.
“Still, if you don’t water it, it might wither in ten days or so. Don’t be too disappointed!”
Jamie’s playful voice came through the window again.
Angela glanced back, then looked down at the flower bracelet once more.
“Two whole weeks?”
It looked so delicate…
That such a tiny, white flower could be so resilient was, as Jamie had said, a bit disappointing.
If only it withered a little faster. There were so many flowers that would droop in just a day or two without roots—why did it have to be this one?
Angela pouted her lips in annoyance.
If she crushed it flat, would Kalian return sooner?
It felt like cheating.
Even though she knew in her head that doing so wouldn’t bring him back faster, her heart didn’t agree.
The thought of time passing while they couldn’t see each other made her anxious, as if she might lose the lifeline she had just barely grabbed onto.
Angela tapped the flower petals with her fingertip.
“Sorry, but could you please wilt quickly?”
Angela whispered something terrible to the innocent flower.
Just then, the carriage gave a loud jolt.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───
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