Aachen carefully removed the glass shard with tweezers dipped in medical alcohol.
The woman tightly closed her eyes.
‘I must be gentle.’
It was clear she was trying hard to endure it.
Aachen gently wiped the blood with cotton even more carefully than before.
“Fortunately, the bleeding has stopped.”
He applied ointment and took out a bandage from the nightstand below.
Then he slowly wrapped and secured the bandage.
“You are skilled.”
The woman exclaimed softly, looking at her knee.
“I guess it’s because I treat myself every time I get hurt.”
He avoided contact with others as much as possible, so treating himself was easy.
“I’m sorry.”
At his reply, the woman fidgeted.
“There’s no need for you to be sorry.”
“But…”
“It’s nothing. It’s just more convenient to do it myself.”
Aachen was about to stand up when he noticed the hem of the woman’s dress had turned red.
“It’s stained with wine.”
“Ah, yes. It must have splashed when it dropped earlier.”
“I’ll bring you a change of clothes…”
As Aachen was about to ask Lorelei to bring a dress, he made eye contact with the woman.
“I’ve been thinking.”
Her gaze became persistently focused.
“You are…”
In a languid voice, as if caressing the skin, the woman flinched.
Aachen’s footsteps grew closer, stopping less than a hand’s breadth away.
Her eyelashes trembled as if sensing unease.
It seemed too close.
Not only the footsteps drawing near as if they would touch her, but the intense gaze made her feel suffocated.
Aachen smiled as he looked at her eyes, tangled with inexplicable anxiety.
“Your eyes are very clear.”
That’s not all.
Following the long eyelashes down, there was a straight nose…
And beneath the mask, pale pink lips.
She was a beautiful woman with a bright impression, as if bathed in radiant sunlight.
Aachen gently cupped her neck with his gloved hand.
In an awkward position, half-standing, he leaned toward her.
As her body slumped back, Aachen’s lips met hers.
“Ah, surprised… mmph.”
As the woman, seemingly startled, pulled back and muttered something, Aachen’s lips swallowed her words.
“Mm…”
Though she initially squirmed in surprise, the movement soon ceased.
“……”
Aachen ran his fingers through her luscious golden hair.
Feeling something snag at his fingertips, Aachen smirked.
‘Originally silver, wearing a wig, huh?’
As he briefly mused, the woman’s now still lips slowly enveloped his.
Their lips entwined deeply.
It was hard to believe that the one who had shuddered from the hot touch just moments ago was the same person.
Was this what they called rapture?
Contrary to the fear that she might be startled by the impulsive kiss, the woman was quite enthusiastic.
Whoever this lovely woman was, one thing was certain: he was becoming captivated by her.
“Haah.”
Breathing out, Aachen looked straight at the woman.
“……”
Half-dazed, her eyes, not quite in her right mind, slowly focused on him.
Would she break into tears, marred by guilt and confusion?
As he fidgeted with his tie, worried he might end up looking like a wrongdoer, something warm and unmistakable brushed against his cheek.
The woman had lightly pulled on his tie and kissed him.
“…I’ve never kissed before.”
She smiled brightly, with no hint of malice, her cheeks flushed red.
“It wasn’t as bad as I thought.”
At her short evaluation, the man, who was fidgeting with his tie, removed his gloves with his mouth.
Had his heart ever felt like it was burning before?
She could have simply said she liked it, but she had provocatively said it wasn’t bad.
Still, even that wasn’t so bad.
As the woman burrowed into his arms, the scent of bergamot wafted over.
In the flurry of events, Aachen’s heart pounded.
“Phew…”
As she wrapped her hands around his neck, the woman let out a breath.
Unknowingly, Aachen clenched his fists.
If there had been a glass here, it would have long since shattered on the floor.
“……You’re quite drunk.”
He spoke with as much restraint as he could muster. Something unidentifiable coiled within him.
“I’ll pour you some cold water…”
It was at that moment.
“My name…”
With a slightly slurred pronunciation, unlike her earlier assertiveness.
With a dreamy look, the woman continued slowly.
“…My name is Esh.”
“Esh?”
“Mm.”
She answered slowly.
‘Damn.’
The woman in front of him likely had no idea what she had done to him.
Would she remember this when she sobered up?
Even if she did, she might soon forget it.
That thought rapidly soured Aachen’s mood.
It might not be much for her little head to erase his name.
But he couldn’t understand why the mere thought of it upset him so much.
“Esh…”
“It means God’s gift.”
Just like the meaning of her name, she had indeed appeared as a sudden gift.
He carefully caressed her, afraid she might wear out.
Her dreamy eyes still had the power to enchant. Did she show such eyes to other men without hesitation?
Hiding his feelings, he obsessively repeated her name.
“…Esh, Esh.”
He couldn’t understand why repeating her name made him angrier.
Despite having seduced him in every possible way, she remained innocent.
Nothing had so recently aggravated his nerves this much.
But it wasn’t all just unpleasant.
“Yes.”
Esh. He liked the short syllable.
Aachen made a resolve in his mind.
‘I won’t let this end with just this once.’
This encounter wouldn’t be the last. He wouldn’t let this woman go.
“Your name is beautiful.”
“My mother gave it to me. It’s the only thing I have.”
She lightly unfastened Aachen’s mask.
The woman gently tapped the dimples on his cheeks.
“You have dimples.”
“…Esh.”
“Hm?”
Aachen finally let go of the reason he had been barely holding on to.
“Close your eyes.”
“…You want me to close my eyes? No.”
“Suit yourself.”
And so, the night drew to a close. The full moon shone brightly, and the stars twinkled.
…After an unusually long night, morning arrived.
“…Mmm.”
Aachen squinted against the sunlight streaming through the window.
His whole body felt stiff. He was tired from staying up late into the early hours.
As he tried to close his eyes for a little longer, he felt an inexplicable emptiness.
Turning over, he found no one beside him.
“Esh…?”
Aachen called the woman’s name as he opened his eyes.
No matter how much he looked around, she was nowhere to be seen. There wasn’t even a hint of her presence.
The only clothes nearby were his own shirt.
“Esh?”
As he put on his shirt and got out of bed, he saw an emerald necklace on the floor.
The gem was the same color as her eyes. For a moment, he had the illusion that he could see her through the gem.
“…Damn. Did she drop her necklace and run away?”
Aachen picked up the necklace and went outside to look for her.
She was nowhere to be found.
“Did I push her too hard?”
As Aachen entered the bathroom to wash up, he suddenly realized something strange.
‘Wait.’
Throughout his contact with the woman, he hadn’t been able to hear her thoughts.
“…Why?”
This was a first. She was refreshing in many ways.
Someone who would never be forgotten.
Even as he dried his hair, Aachen continued to think about her.
If anyone knew who she was, it would be Lorelei.
“…Brother?”
As he entered Lorelei’s office, she sprang up from her slumped position.
“Brother!”
“Lorelei.”
“You said you’d come yesterday, but you ran away in the middle! Do you know how hard it was to handle everything on my own?”
Lorelei snapped angrily.
“I came to help with the work.”
“You’re not leaving until we finish sorting all these documents.”
In her current state, she didn’t seem likely to answer any questions.
Aachen quietly helped Lorelei.
“Do you have something to say?”
As he silently sorted documents, watching for an opportunity, Aachen asked,
“Did you see a young woman with green eyes among the guests?”
“A young woman with green eyes?”
Lorelei folded her arms and thought.
“Hmm… It wouldn’t be Lady Draven…”
After a moment of contemplation, Lorelei spoke.
“Could it be the fourth princess of the Peztain Empire?”
“The princess of Peztain?”
This was unexpected. Aachen lightly brushed his lips, remembering her.
“Hillaine Peztain. She attended the masquerade in place of Crown Princess Glazé yesterday.”
“Do you know when she left?”
“Before dawn, she left in a hurry due to an urgent matter.”
“…I see.”
For the first time, Lorelei had been helpful. Thanks to her, his curiosity was easily satisfied.
‘Hillaine. Hillaine Peztain…’
“Why do you ask about the princess of Feztaine? Did something happen?”
“No. I was just curious.”
Aachen shook his head, denying it.
He didn’t want to tell anyone about the events of the previous night.
“Curious? That’s unusual. You’re not usually interested in other people.”
Lorelei shrugged, seemingly intrigued.
“Among the royal family of Peztain, the fourth princess is the most beautiful. She’s just my type. I wish she were a prince.”
“……”
“She had her coming-of-age ceremony two months ago, so she’s just my age, which is perfect. What a pity.”
Lorelei, familiar with Aachen’s indifference, continued talking to herself, unfazed by his silence.
Back in the Requier Empire, contrary to his resolve, Aachen didn’t seek out Hiliane.
He assumed that facing her in her true identity might be unpleasant for her, considering their one-night encounter.
‘That’s probably why she ran away before I woke up.’
Instead of giving her real name, she had lied and said Esh.
He was troubled by the impulsive kiss.
Several seasons came and went.
One day, when he saw the emerald necklace in his drawer, his calm heart raced.
It was as if it had just happened the previous night.
Aachen acknowledged it.
He had fallen in love with Hiliane at first sight, and those feelings had never faded.
He couldn’t forget her.
He wanted to see her again, but by then, she was already married.
♡♡♡
If you want to support the translation and the translator, please buy a coffee ♥︎
