Episode 90
“Hilde?”
Before he realized it, Hildebrandt had wiped away the droplet trailing down Yvonne’s cheek with his fingers—the droplet that had almost reached her lips.
“That’s dirty.”
“Huh?”
“You’re planning to drink the water you washed with?”
“Oh.”
Yvonne laughed, feeling oddly pleased that he had touched her lips, even if it was just to wipe away the water. Though she felt a pang of disappointment when he finally pulled his hand away, the tingling sensation on her lips lingered.
“Wearing those clothes makes you really look like a guy.”
“Where else would you find such a pretty guy?”
“Right here, obviously—me.”
“Oh. I’ll give you that.”
She couldn’t deny it. Even in simple clothing, Hildebrandt looked like a stunning, icy star, radiating his own cold beauty.
“Forget it. I don’t even know why I bother talking to you.”
“Then don’t talk—just hold my hand instead.”
“Hah.”
Hildebrandt couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d never win an argument with her. No matter how harsh his words, she never seemed to mind. If anything, it only made her cling to him more.
He had no idea how to get rid of her.
“I can’t sit on the floor.”
“We have a table, don’t we?”
Yvonne untied the string on the damp sack and glanced at him.
“What?”
“You’re just… too pretty.”
“Hah…”
He tried to act annoyed, but he was starting to worry that he wouldn’t be able to keep up the act if she stayed much longer.
Crash! Boom!
“Ah…”
Yvonne froze, startled by the sound of thunder.
“What, are you scared of thunder?”
“No… not really?”
He could tell she was lying. If she wasn’t scared, she wouldn’t be avoiding his gaze or busying herself by fidgeting with her hands.
“Hilde, you’re not afraid of stuff like that?”
“No.”
“Right… I thought you were just pretty, but you’re brave, too.”
Recalling the thunderstorm from earlier, Hildebrandt felt a wave of irritation, wondering how she’d managed to come here in this weather.
“Hey, you.”
“Hmm?”
“Tell me the truth. You’re scared of thunder, and yet, here you are? Are you out of your mind?”
He snapped at her, his irritation spilling out unchecked. He tried to ignore the fact that it stemmed from concern. The thought of her running through the storm, looking the way she had when she arrived, only darkened his mood.
Seeing her with bruised cheeks and cracked lips, raw from how much she must’ve bitten them…
“But if I didn’t come, Hilde wouldn’t eat.”
“I don’t eat because I don’t want to.”
“No, that’s not it. You weren’t eating because you wanted to die. Because of me.”
Her words hit him hard, his eyes widening briefly in surprise before he looked away, his voice cold and distant.
He didn’t want her to see the confusion and vulnerability she’d uncovered. After all, he was someone who would soon die.
“That’s not true.”
“….”
“I’ve never wanted to die because of someone like you.”
His cheeks burned, feeling as though she’d caught him in his most shameful truth. He hadn’t expected her to understand him so completely.
“I’m terrified you’ll die when I’m not here.”
“Do you think I’d be crazy enough to die because of you?”
“You’re not crazy. That’s how I know you want to die for my sake.”
She stepped closer, and Hildebrandt instinctively stepped back.
“It would’ve been better if there weren’t any windows in this room.”
“What, so you could stifle me to death?”
“No… It’s because I’m scared of the look on your face whenever you stare out the window.”
Yvonne’s voice trembled as if she were on the verge of tears. Hildebrandt felt that if he said anything crueler, she might actually leave. He resolved to push her away, to tell her to go and never come back.
“If you die, I’ll die too.”
But he couldn’t. She’d said the one thing he feared most.
“Don’t say things like that so carelessly.”
“I mean it, Hilde.”
“You really are an idiot. Is that all you can think about?”
“Yes, I’m an idiot. So don’t think about leaving me behind, Hilde.”
Yvonne wasn’t an idiot. She knew precisely what to say to cut through to his deepest fear.
Whenever she looked into his eyes, she felt certain of her own feelings—and his. She couldn’t be unaware of the fear they shared.
“Promise me you won’t die when I’m not around.”
“….”
“If you have to die, do it in front of me. Then I’ll follow you.”
Yvonne’s words were filled with determination, and they made his heart pound erratically—stifling, yet tingling, a strange thrill mingling with the weight on his chest.
“You’re insane.”
“Yup. Now that I’ve said what I needed to, let’s eat. You haven’t eaten anything all day.”
“Hah.”
Her sudden change in tone, back to worrying about his meal, made him sigh despite himself. The tension from their intense conversation began to dissipate.
“You’re crazy.”
“Then let’s go crazy together. Maybe if we both go mad, we’ll seem normal to each other?”
Her bright smile softened his expression.
* * *
When they unpacked the damp sack onto the table, the spread actually looked rather inviting.
“What’s with the candlestick?”
“Isn’t it pretty? I thought it’d make it feel like a date if I brought it.”
“But you didn’t bring a candle.”
“I thought there might be some in this room.”
In a palace where they could control lights with magic, the idea of using candles was quaint.
Hildebrandt couldn’t bring himself to criticize her for these quirky, sweet gestures, knowing she was simply trying to make him smile.
“So, how are you planning to light it?”
“I brought a flint.”
“Not a magic stone?”
“Nope.”
He held back laughter, amused by her choice of such a primitive tool in a place where magic was everywhere. In the palace, most tools were powered by magic, accessible even to those without the ability to cast spells. But here she was, with a flint and a candlestick.
“Holding it like that, you look like you’re about to stab someone.”
“Do I look like a knight?”
“Hah.”
Yvonne swung the pointed end of the candlestick around like a sword, making him laugh despite himself.
“You’re laughing.”
“I’m laughing at how ridiculous you are.”
“Either way, it’s nice to see you smile.”
She placed the candlestick on the table. Despite its elegant design, without a candle, it looked almost eerie.
“Tonight’s meal is full of treats—scones, pudding, and muffins.”
Seeing that she’d only brought his favorite snacks, Hildebrandt watched her quietly.
“Um… I tripped on the way here, and the rest of the food got ruined…”
“Because of the thunder?”
“Yeah.”
“So you braved thunder and rain to get here?”
“Yes, I’m pathetic, so give me a pat.”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“If I keep talking nonsense, will you pat me?”
“No.”
“Then can I pat you?”
He recalled how surprisingly pleasant her gentle touches had felt. He tried to reject her, but his words got caught in his throat.
“Great.”
Before he could change his mind, she hopped up and began running her fingers through his hair.
“…What happened to your lip?”
He found the sensation of her touch so comforting that he couldn’t even scold her, so he switched topics.
“I think I bit it unconsciously because of the thunder.”
“And your cheek?”
“Scratched it when I fell.”
Everything she mentioned was because of him. Without realizing it, Hildebrandt’s expression tightened.
“The Marquisate of Le Meredin must be in chaos right now.”
“Not really. My father and mother know where I am.”
“….”
“This.”
She lifted the pendant hanging around her neck to show him.
“You know what this is, right?”
It was a necklace with a tracking spell.
“Hah…”
“Hehe.”
“You’d go that far just to come here?”
“Of course.”
Yvonne sat back down, placed a scone on a plate, and cut it in half with a fork. After slicing it into bite-sized pieces, she picked one up and offered it to him.
“Do you think I don’t have hands?”
“Oh.”
“I’ll eat it myself.”
“Ah—”
“….”
“Ahh—”
Yvonne opened her mouth, gesturing for him to do the same. Hildebrandt thought her behavior was absurd yet endearing, and since he planned to send her away tomorrow anyway, he decided to indulge her a little.
He opened his mouth.
“There we go. Good boy.”
“I’m not a dog.”
“Where would you find such a pretty dog?”
He decided to ignore her words and swallowed the bite she’d given him. Then Yvonne took a bite herself, using the same fork, before picking up another piece to offer him.
For some reason, though he felt he should say something, he found himself accepting it.
“Hilde, you’re beautiful even when you eat.”
“You’ve seen it enough times. Stop saying that.”
“Every time, it’s stunning.”
Knowing her compliments were sincere made his ears burn with embarrassment.
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