“Vanessa!”
It was at that moment, lost deep in my memories.
Unlike the youthful, delicate voice that had filled my mind, a mature, low voice resonated in my ear.
A voice similar yet distinct from the one in my memory.
Tristan. It was unmistakably him.
“Oh.”
“Are you okay? You didn’t respond when I called you.”
I must have seemed fine, but it looked like I was lost in thought, deeply distracted. I was so absorbed in my memories that I had completely let my guard down.
I barely managed to regain my composure…
‘Isn’t he… standing too close?’
Tristan’s face was incredibly near.
Only now did I realize.
He had caught me when I nearly stumbled earlier and hadn’t let go since.
I could feel his large hand firmly supporting my tilted back.
“I’m fine now, so you can let go.”
I regained my balance and stood properly on my own.
As I gently pushed him away, Tristan smiled as if reassured.
“That’s a relief.”
For a moment, I wondered if he might hold onto me longer on purpose, but unexpectedly, he released me without hesitation.
Freed from his embrace, I cleared my throat awkwardly.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. I was just avoiding the people following me… It was a bit sudden, wasn’t it?”
I had wondered if he had wandered here by chance, as he did that day long ago. But it seemed he came here on purpose this time.
“…How did you know I was here?”
Today, I had hoped he would be surrounded by people and celebrated. So I quietly hid on this balcony, thinking he wouldn’t notice, yet he found me, almost like magic.
I glared at him slightly, but Tristan merely gave a small smile, showing no intention of answering my question.
“No need to be so guarded. I just wanted to talk today, that’s all.”
With those words, Tristan walked forward slowly.
Was he coming closer?
The closing distance made me tense up slightly, and I froze in place.
But contrary to my expectation, he walked right past me and stopped at the edge of the balcony.
‘…I was jumping to conclusions by myself.’
Realizing my mistaken assumption, I bit my lip, feeling embarrassed.
Meanwhile, Tristan, the cause of this situation, gazed calmly at the view of the imperial city.
What could he be looking at so intently?
Curious, I slowly walked to stand beside him.
As if waiting for me to join him, he spoke as soon as I was by his side.
“Did you enjoy the banquet?”
A simple question. I nodded and gave a casual answer.
“Yes, well. But it looked like Your Grace enjoyed it more than I did.”
“You know I don’t particularly like crowded places. It’s all an act. I actually snuck away this time too.”
Suddenly, I saw the image of him from fifteen years ago overlapping with him now.
The situation was similar back then too.
People were swarming around Tristan, trying to forge a connection with the young foreign noble. Desperate for a quiet spot, he’d hidden away here on the balcony, the same one I was on.
That day was the first time we met.
“…I thought you might have grown a little, but it seems you haven’t changed at all.”
Feeling uncomfortable with the subtle tension in the air, I spoke with a hint of sarcasm.
But, for some reason, Tristan chuckled softly, amused.
“Same goes for you, Vanessa. I was a bit surprised to see you on the balcony again today. You haven’t changed much either.”
Tristan, who had been gazing at the scenery, turned slightly toward me with a faint smile.
Moonlight gently cast its glow on his pale face.
His hair, reminiscent of a wheat field in autumn, fluttered lightly in the breeze.
His unwavering blue eyes sparkled as they caught the light.
I swallowed dryly without realizing.
‘…This is so awkward.’
In truth, the conversation we were having now couldn’t have been more ordinary.
Usually, when it was just the two of us, he’d always come charging in. But today, he was acting remarkably composed.
‘Tristan is acting perfectly normal…’
Still, I was finding it hard not to be overly conscious of him. Was it because I was recalling old memories?
Unable to bear his gaze, I quickly turned my head to the side.
Unlike the bustling banquet hall, the balcony was eerily quiet.
Thump, thump. My heart was beating unusually loudly today. It must have been the effect of the alcohol.
“Vanessa.”
At that moment, he called my name again.
I gathered the courage to look at him, but…
“Where could they have gone? Who knows when we’ll get another chance to greet them if not tonight.”
“Right? Weren’t they headed this way? Oh, maybe they’re out on the balcony?”
I heard voices coming from inside the banquet hall, as if people were looking for someone.
No way!
A feeling of unease crept over me.
‘If they happen to see us here together…!’
Just Tristan and me, alone on the balcony.
It wouldn’t be unreasonable for others to misunderstand and think we were secretly meeting.
Hurriedly, I grabbed Tristan’s arm and pulled him. At the same time, I dragged him behind the curtain with me.
Bang!
Hardly had we hidden when the glass door swung open.
‘Please, please! Just walk by without noticing us!’
Sweat trickled down my clenched fist.
To avoid being discovered, I held Tristan tightly, pressing myself as close as possible to him.
Our bodies were in complete contact, no space between us.
We were so close I could practically feel his breath.
‘…This is too close.’
Without thinking, I almost pulled away, but the marble wall blocked my escape.
Tristan just gazed at me quietly, without saying a word.
Thump. Thump.
My heart, which had been pounding since before, was now beating so hard it hurt.
Was it the fear of being caught? Or was it the way his eyes lingered on me?
The beating of my heart was loud enough to betray my presence.
“No one’s here? I thought you said they’d be here.”
“Oh, really? Guess they’re not in this area?”
Fortunately, they didn’t find us.
Click.
The glass door to the balcony closed once more.
‘Ah… what a relief.’
Relieved only momentarily as the door shut, I tensed up again.
‘Why… why isn’t he stepping back?’
Everyone had already left. There was no longer a need for us to stay so close together. Yet, for some reason, Tristan didn’t step back.
Without realizing it, I fidgeted with my fingers. Our fingertips brushed against each other briefly.
In the awkwardness, I ended up staring only into his eyes.
His heated gaze slowly traced my face before stopping at my lips.
It was the kind of look that made me feel he might actually kiss me.
I instinctively curled my toes. My face flushed. My mind was a chaotic mess.
“T-Tristan.”
In my flustered state, I reverted to calling him by name, just like in the past.
It was then.
Despite showing no sign of moving earlier, he unexpectedly took a step back with little fuss.
“Your face is red, Vanessa. You seem a bit tipsy. You should go inside and rest.”
With that, he gave a gentle smile.
Just then, the sound of music signaling the end of the banquet began to play.
Tristan strolled back into the banquet hall with unhurried steps.
Even long after he’d completely vanished from sight, I was frozen in place, unable to move.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
My heart was pounding wildly, as if broken.
There were no more excuses to cling to.
The effects of the alcohol had long worn off, and there was no longer any fear of being caught by anyone.
There was now only one reason for the way I felt.
With a sinking feeling, I slid down to the floor, realizing the truth I had refused to admit.
“What should I do?”
It seems… I’m truly drawn to him.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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