For most of the day, thanks to pressure from Leone, no one spoke up. However, all eyes were on her. Curious gaze, jealousy, hatred… It varied, but most of it was negative. The reason given for the favorable approach was quite snobbish, but whatever. It’s better than being negative.
She grinned.
“It’s a party… I’ll think about it.”
“Oh, really? Then where can I send the invitation?”
The lady with an excited face asked, but her mouth fell silent for a moment. Where should she send it? A mansion attached to the Emperor’s palace? Or a country estate? Even if the letter goes there, there was no way to see it. She couldn’t come up with an answer so she just stared at Leone.
“The lady is staying in the royal villa as my guest of honor. So, send me to the imperial castle.”
“Huh. To the imperial castle…! All right!”
Leone answered smoothly. The answer seemed to include a bit of pressure, saying, ‘The prince is treating you like a VIP, to the point of giving you an entire villa, and you’re in love, so take care of it yourself.’ The women’s faces brightened. They seemed to think they had a good chance of getting in line on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s similar to the expression on the face of the Verbena guild leader.
“Woah, my lady! My daughter’s birthday is coming up soon-”
“I found a really nice horse. Would you like to go on a picnic to the hunting ground together?!”
“The merchant that signed an agreement with us is coming soon. There are a lot of rare items. Come take a look!”
And there was a rapid influx of people trying to get in line late. The thought of dealing with them all made her feel a little dizzy.
“I’m sorry. Today is not a banquet for us. Lady Hermann seems to be having a hard time, so let’s go rest for a while.”
At that time, with perfect timing, Leone wrapped his arms around her shoulders and said,
“Yes, yes…?”
“Then have fun.”
How could they fall so easily like water? He escorted her, leaving behind the nobles with sorrowful faces. Even if she had decided to run away, she would have waited a long time before she did. Now Leone’s social skills seemed to be better than hers. It seems like just yesterday he was taking walks and practicing social skills.
“Leone, where are we going?”
Even after Leone left the banquet hall, he did not stop walking. As she walked half-carried in his arms, she became curious and asked.
“It seems like you are slowly becoming a target, and they seem to be more aggressive than me… I think it would be a good idea to run away to a place where no one will find you.”
“Who would dare chase after His Highness the Prince?”
“You are the target, not me. You never know. I raised my hand against the nobles. I thought there would be only hostile humans all day… I never thought they would think of clinging to you. They are exceptionally good at finding a way to make a living. Anyway.”
It was a little funny to see Leone complaining. She thought he looked like an office worker who was fed up with nobles and was caught up in social life, so she nodded her head moderately.
“Okay, okay. Even so. Where are we really going?”
“The sun has set, Trixie.”
“Why did the sun set- ugh!”
Leone suddenly hugged her.
“What is it, Leone! I was surprised. Are you going to keep scaring people like this? I only passed it on when I couldn’t say anything, but now-“
“Trixie, I found a good spot with a good view of the fireworks.”
“What? Where is it?”
“The top of the tower on both sides of the Ivory Palace.”
“Uh… Isn’t that quite high?”
“Huh. That’s why I hugged Trixie. It’s hard to go up there wearing a dress.”
Leone answered calmly and took a step forward. Sure enough, she didn’t notice it because she was walking and talking, but now she saw a long spiral staircase.
“Put it down! Anyway, how can you climb these long stairs while holding one person?”
“That is… Is it difficult?”
Leone asked back as if he genuinely didn’t know. She closed her mouth. Indeed, he carried her safely to the top without even a change in his complexion. There wasn’t even a change in breathing.
“When I look at you, I sometimes think that there may be no limits to the human body.”
“In the body… Is there a limit?”
Leone didn’t seem to understand what she said at all. She laughed out loud.
“Yes, yes. Where can I sit first?”
“Here. If you climb up the ladder, open the door, and go out, you’re outside.”
Leone held the door and held out her hand to her. She held his hand. She opened the door and stood at the top of the tower, which was open on all sides.
“Wow… It’s dark.”
Because the sun had set, there was nothing to see around. It wasn’t a modern society, so there were no night views. The sun had just set, so it was impossible to see any stars in the sky. All that was visible was the nobles standing in the night air and the splendid lights coming from the ivory palace. She wasn’t expecting any special scenery, but the surroundings were pitch black except for the lights of the Ivory Palace, so she felt somewhat empty.
“When were there fireworks?”
There was something else important, so she grabbed Leone and asked.
“They will b there soon.”
He answered in an indifferent voice, and then, as if he had untied it, he folded the cloak she was wearing several times to make it thicker and laid it on the floor. The cloak was huge, thick, and fluffy.
“Sit down, Trixie.”
Leone sit down on the floor. She was embarrassed. He laid out his cloak for her, and then she sat down on the floor.
“Why are you sitting there? Leone, sit here too.”
“I feel comfortable on the floor.”
“Where is that? Come on.”
She patted the seat next to her and called to him. Since Leone is big, it might be a bit narrow for the two of them to sit together, but they could sit together. Leone looked at her quietly and opened his mouth in a voice like gentle waves.
“…I’m going to get too close, are you okay?”
“Huh? I’m okay, why?”
“There is no one to care about here. I don’t have the courage to endure it, Trixie.”
“Huh?”
“And even if you wanted to run, there would be nowhere to run.”
“What is that- ah.”
She thought he was saying something incomprehensible, but a sudden realization came to her like a thunderbolt. He hastily pulled the cloak around her so that there was no space left.
“So, I want Trixie to sit alone in that soft place.”
“You really are… As time goes on.”
It was an infinitely gentlemanly voice, but she could see how enormous the insidiousness was within it. She crouched down as if to defend herself. In the past, it seemed like she always won… She felt Leone’s gaze. Her hair, her arm with her face buried in it, her cheek sticking out of it. He was looking at each one very intently.
“Hmm, hmm! It’s the prince’s privilege to be able to come up to a place like this, right?”
When she received that gaze, she felt awkward and decided to talk.
“…yes. I will lose it soon.”
“After we lose it, we just need to create a place where only we can go.”
“That’s okay.”
“How about building a house on the land in the countryside that Leone gave me this time? Leone doesn’t like crowded places.”
Piyuung. Pow!
As the conversation continued, a strong sound of firecrackers was heard. Her head turned of its own accord. The surrounding scenery, which was a little disappointing because it was too black, was colored with colorful fireworks. Now that she looked at it, she was glad that the sky was black. Because the flames were more visible.
“Wow…”
She was incredibly surprised. Fireworks of various colors shined like stars, and when the fire died down, it was as beautiful as star dust falling. The sky embroidered with fiery flowers felt more dazzling than any other flower field.
“This… It’s a firework.”
When she looked to the side, she saw Leone looking at the sky with a blank face. Flame lights streamed into his face. Leone’s eyes and his skin also shone in five brilliant colors. She didn’t want to turn her head toward the flame. This time, his desire to watch the fireworks with her was much prettier.
‘Ah, beautiful.’
“It’s pretty, Leone.”
“Huh. Really… amazing. Humans create strange things.”
Leone couldn’t take his eyes off the sky while answering. His startled eyes were filled with fire. It looked even more amazing than he expected. His eyes were always as beautiful as if they were studded with jewels, but today they were even more beautiful. She felt like she wanted to kiss him and swallow him.
“Leone.”
As soon as she called him, his eyes turned to her without hesitation. Such a fascinating and beautiful sight. He has always been that person to her.
“Yes, Trixie.”
Leone smiled, his eyes widening.
“I love you, Leone.”
Slowly, the laughter drains from his smile.
“Thank you, I love you.”
The eyes looking at her twinkle widely. He opened his mouth, then closes it again. And then soon.
“I love you, Trixie.”
He responded to the confession and eventually laughed.
His big hand turned towards her. She held Leone’s hand. Leone’s hands were shaking a little. The situation with her hands was no different. They slowly got closer, holding hands. As they got closer, they could feel each other’s hot breath little by little. Gradually the density of breathing becomes thicker, and then thicker… The moment they got close enough to blend in, their foreheads touched.
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
Confessions of the same sentiment were exchanged, without knowing who was speaking. Leone wrapped one arm around my waist and hugged me. In an instant, their hearts collided and their bodies became closer.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
At that time, a tremendous sound was heard. It was so loud that of course her head turned. A huge firework on a different level than ever before filled the sky. It was such a huge firework that it seemed like there was no empty space in the sky. For a moment, she had the illusion that the ground became brighter.
“Count Petrine would have liked to brag. It’s really gorgeous and pretty.”
She felt regretful, but she laughed when she thought about the Count who immediately brought her fireworks at Leone’s suggestion.
“Good?”
“Huh!”
“Thank god. If Trixie likes it, I like it too.”
“Lol.”
She turned her gaze back to him. When they faced each other, they instinctively knew what to do. Leone held her head in one hand and slowly approached her.
“I love you.”
His lips pressed gently against hers. Her heart seemed to be numb from the sweetness of the kiss, the happiness given by her lover, and the beauty of the moment.
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
If you like my work please support me with Ko-fi or Patreon. Next post will be released tomorrow.
Want to read more?
