HIFH | Chapter 47

Episode 47

Clatter—

The closer we got to the city, the more the carriage shook.

Worried that Lu might stumble, I reached out my hand, but he also reached out at the same time, making the situation a bit awkward.

“Pfft.”

Lu burst into laughter.

“We’re both worried about each other.”

Feeling embarrassed, I quickly withdrew my hand.

“You’re the patient, so of course I’m worried.”

“And you’re fragile, so of course I’m worried about you.”

He really never backs down.

Clicking my tongue, I turned my gaze out the window. As we entered the city, the streets were bustling with people.

Couples holding hands, parents carrying their children… they all looked so warm and at ease.

“We really do look like a married couple.”

Suddenly, Lu’s words from earlier came back to me.

The moment I recalled them, my face grew hot. Ugh.

“How can he say something so embarrassing so casually?!”

I trembled slightly and swallowed dryly.

“Charles?”

Did I look strange?

Lu called out to me.

“What’s wrong?”

I hesitated slightly before turning to look at him.

“Ah, no. It’s just that there are a lot of people.”

“Ahh.”

Lu nodded as if he understood.

“It’s because the spring festival is coming up soon.”

“Oh. It’s that time already.”

I took in the scent of spring carried by the wind.

“It would be nice to have our wedding before spring passes.”

Lu playfully tapped my shoulder and grinned.

“…Let’s talk about that after your arm heals first.”

“This is nothing. It’ll heal quickly.”

For someone saying that, he still couldn’t even dress himself, and I had to help him.

Well… still, seeing Lu up and about after being bedridden put me at ease.

Not being able to use one arm for now was far better than lying on the brink of death.

“Should we go out during the festival too?”

As I quietly celebrated Lu’s recovery in my mind, he spoke again.

“Neither of us have ever experienced the empire’s festival, right? Since we’re here for work anyway, wouldn’t it be good to experience it?”

Then, as if realizing something, he added,

“Oh, right. You’re from the empire too, aren’t you?”

The identity I had forged when joining the Guardians claimed that Sharlan was from the empire.

I nodded.

“Yeah. But I never participated in the festival.”

I had witnessed the festival before, but only while blending into the crowd as a Catacle agent, observing or tracking targets.

I had never personally enjoyed a festival before.

‘Would it be different this time if I go with Lu?’

I could watch the fireworks, see the street parades, and maybe even attend a masquerade ball.

That would be nice.

And… it would be even nicer to do all that with Lu.

‘…Why am I thinking like this?’

Startled by my own thoughts, I shuddered.

Oh, dear. How could I be thinking that I enjoyed being with Lu of all people?!

‘I must be losing it.’

I shook my head a couple of times and hunched my shoulders.

Lu tilted his head in curiosity.

“Charles? What’s wrong? You look like a startled puppy that just saw a wolf.”

“What kind of comparison is that? It’s nothing.”

“Hmm.”

Lu let out a small hum and narrowed his eyes slightly.

As the carriage gradually came to a stop, he grabbed the window frame and looked at me.

“Are you, by any chance, really looking forward to seeing the festival with me?”

As he opened the carriage door, he naturally extended his hand to me.

Without thinking, I took his hand and stepped down from the carriage.

The moment I did, Lu moved closer.

His face sparkled with amusement and joy.

“Me too.”

He pressed his forehead lightly against mine and grinned.

“I’ll make sure my arm heals by then.”

Then, he tugged at my arm.

Seriously…

‘He even makes teasing feel exciting.’

What if Lu was actually being serious with all these little gestures?

Ignoring the way my heart pounded, I matched his stride as we walked together.

“Enjoy your meal.”

The waiter politely greeted us after setting down the dishes.

After all, the reason for today’s outing was to have a meal.

So, we had come to a restaurant and ordered a variety of dishes.

Mushroom soup, perfectly cooked caponata, creamy gnocchi, and a thick steak.

Just looking at them was enough to make my mouth water.

“……”

But Lu simply stared at the food without moving his hands.

“What’s wrong?”

“Uh, well…”

Lu hesitated slightly before answering.

“I can’t cut the steak with this arm.”

He lightly shook his bandaged right arm.

Though the motion was as elegant as ever, his fingertips couldn’t even grip the knife properly, slicing through empty air instead.

“You really are something else.”

Clicking my tongue, I reached for the knife.

“Stay still.”

Then, I began cutting the steak.

Slice, slice.

In no time, the neatly cut pieces were arranged on his plate.

Lu quietly observed me before lifting his gaze to meet mine.

“With the way you take care of me, you really do feel like my wife.”

“Shut up.”

I shot back sharply, then picked up a piece of steak with my fork—intending to eat it myself.

But then.

“Ah.”

Lu tilted his head slightly and parted his lips halfway.

Wait, what? Ah?

“What are you doing?”

“I can’t use my arm, so you have to feed me.”

“…You can’t do delicate tasks like cutting, but you can still hold a fork, can’t you?”

“I can’t put any strength into it.”

If he said so, then I had no choice.

Fine. Lu got hurt because of me, after all.

I obediently lifted the fork to his mouth.

“It’s delicious. Probably because you fed me.”

Chewing happily, he then glanced at the caponata.

Yeah… he wanted me to feed him that too.

Sighing, I picked up the knife and fork again to cut the cooked vegetables.

“Pfft.”

Suddenly, Lu let out a small laugh.

What now?

“What’s so funny?”

Smiling softly, he replied,

“It’s just… I like this.”

My hands froze.

Still holding the knife, I stiffly lifted my gaze to look at him.

“You said you didn’t like me.”

“I don’t like you, but I like you.”

“You really won’t deny it, huh?”

Lu simply smiled and casually added,

“Though, the more time passes, the more I like you.”

I blinked slowly.

“As a comrade?”

Lu chuckled.

“Do you only see me as a comrade?”

I frowned slightly.

“What else would we be?”

“We could be friends.”

Friends.

A small, dry laugh escaped me.

“I don’t have friends.”

“Why would you say something so sad?”

Lu furrowed his brows slightly.

“Then, make me your first friend.”

“Do I have to?”

“Friends at least have coffee together after a meal.”

“Why are you ignoring what I said?”

“Let’s just have a good time together, like friends do. I can hold a coffee cup myself, after all.”

He waved his left hand, looking like he was enjoying this situation.

Sigh. Maybe I should just stop talking.

“Eat.”

Chewing the vegetables I fed him, Lu smiled.

“Food really does taste better when you feed me.”

Oh, for crying out loud.

I should’ve just kept quiet.

Shaking my head, I focused on my food.