Side Story ~ 14
After finishing a sumptuous meal, Lexion returned to the bedroom with Sereniel. He quietly changed into the clothes Sereniel had laid out for him and sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Duke, please wait there for a moment. I’ll quickly get ready and join you,” Sereniel said, smiling lightly as she looked at Lexion.
Lexion nodded instead of replying. He sat there quietly, waiting for Sereniel.
…
His gaze drifted toward the window where the dazzling sunlight poured in. The curtains were a crisp white tone, fluttering in the cool autumn breeze. The bed and bedding gave a warm and plush feeling, much like Sereniel’s hair, resembling the yellow carpet beneath it. Several small potted plants sat on the windowsill, with delicate tendrils reaching out.
As the day brightened, it all became apparent to him. This bedroom had a warmth and coziness that was worlds away from the austere atmosphere of the Rosenvester ducal estate of old. It was something he had never dreamed of…
Basking in the brilliant sunlight, Lexion remained still for a moment.
“The weather is lovely, isn’t it?”
Sereniel, who had changed into her clothes unnoticed, looked at Lexion with a faint smile.
As Sereniel approached Lexion, who had been waiting for her, she hesitated for a moment and stood by the vanity.
Her eyes fell on the jewelry box.
In any case, it had been a long time since Lexion had gone out alone like this. Normally, Elsie would always tag along.
After a brief moment of consideration, Sereniel slowly reached out to the jewelry box.
Soon, she pulled out a pair of earrings.
To be precise, they were the earrings she had worn at her debutante ball.
Since it had been a long time since their last outing and because Lexion might remember them, she thought they might help, albeit subtly.
“And the other one…”
While the earrings had been reunited, Lexion still kept Sereniel’s earring separate in a small jewelry box that he had always kept.
“Where did I put it?”
Looking around the vanity, Sereniel let out a small, “Ah,” not long after, and then held the small jewelry box that Lexion had carefully left behind.
And that was the moment.
Lexion, who had been quietly sitting on the bed, suddenly moved swiftly and was in front of Sereniel with the other half of the earrings in his hand.
“D-Duke?”
Confused, Sereniel widened her eyes and looked at Lexion.
But Lexion’s face was flushed.
“I… I…”
Seeing Lexion fumbling unexpectedly, Sereniel realized the reason.
– What expression would you have if you found out all this? Would you look at me with disgust? Would you be afraid? You wouldn’t smile at me so warmly and affectionately like that day. But it’s okay. I’m used to such things…
Suddenly, it felt like the contents Sereniel had seen in his diary a long time ago were passing before her eyes.
“…”
Lexion held the small jewelry box in his hand and avoided Sereniel’s gaze.
He couldn’t figure out anything at all. What did Sereniel in front of him really know? Did I happen to mention that too? That I’ve kept this earring and never returned it, despite knowing that I shouldn’t. Despite pulling it off like that…
Leaving Sereniel alone, Lexion, who returned to the past, was completely unprepared to tell her about what had happened at the debutante ball.
“How does it look, Duke?”
Sereniel knew that fact.
“Even after a long time, is it still beautiful?”
Showing her ear with one earring already in place, Sereniel asked with a faint smile, “If you’re okay with just one, shall we go out like this?”
Lexion remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. He then opened the small jewelry box he had been holding tightly in his hand.
Inside the jewelry box, the other earring quietly awaited its place.
“Would you like to put it on?”
“Me?”
As Sereniel nodded, Lexion’s expression turned bewildered.
“But I’ve never done this before. I might hurt you.”
“It’s okay. You’re the Duke, after all.”
After hesitating briefly, Lexion approached Sereniel with the earring in his hand. Sereniel had one ear exposed, standing vulnerably before him.
Soon, he felt her warm breath close to him, and his black eyes fixed on her white neck and earlobe. His large hand delicately handled the round earlobe.
Very cautiously, Lexion began to put the other earring on Sereniel’s ear.
“Even with just one… you look beautiful.”
“Huh?”
“You were like that that day too.”
“…”
“I really don’t know how much of my stupid antics I rambled about…”
After finishing putting on the earring, Lexion gently supported Sereniel’s slender neck as if cradling it carefully.
Turning her head, Sereniel quietly looked up at Lexion, who still had a blush on his cheeks, with eyes as clear as glass.
“You’re still beautiful.”
“…”
“I just wanted to say that.”
Lexion muttered absentmindedly, then suddenly pulled away from Sereniel as if he had committed an unforgivable act.
Sereniel silently watched his retreating figure and firmly grabbed Lexion’s hand that had slackened.
“Duke, you’re still admirable.”
And she said, “You were amazing at the debutante ball. How brave and strong you looked, even though you didn’t know anything.”
“…”
“I just stood quietly knowing you could win if you fought.”
Lexion fell silent.
“You didn’t look foolish at all.”
“…”
“So, Duke, you’re still admirable.”
Though there was no immediate response, Sereniel smiled brightly and slowly pulled Lexion along.
“Duke, shall we go out now? Vaim must have prepared the carriage.”
—
Where on earth is she trying to take him?
According to what Sereniel mentioned in the carriage, it had been several years since they had become a married couple. That meant the present Lexion remembered was already over ten years ago.
He had many questions he wanted to ask.
Why did you marry me? Did the Count and Countess really not oppose it at all? How much do you actually know about me? Even after knowing everything, was it all right? Wasn’t it disgusting? Didn’t you hate it?
But he didn’t know how to approach any of it. So,Lexion simply kept quiet, listening to Sereniel’s chattering voice with a silence…
Her warm voice gently explained the forgotten past moments in his memory.
And Sereniel changed the subject after a considerable amount of time had passed since they got on the carriage.
“Do you know where this road leads?”
“Are you asking about the destination?”
“Yes.”
Sereniel grinned.
Lexion couldn’t give a clear answer, so he just turned his head and looked out the window for no reason.
…
Lexion was quite familiar with the road that stretched beyond the wide-open window.
And he didn’t completely ignore what the large building looked like at the end.
But Lexion, trying to ignore all of this, tried. No, I tried.
And while waiting for Sereniel’s clear smile in front of me, I instinctively realized that she already knew everything about secretly coming here endlessly, even without Sereniel knowing it.
Lexion rubbed his forehead, closed his eyes tight.
“Duke? Are you okay with a headache?”
Sereniel felt like her heart was pounding suddenly in response to his sudden movement. The doctor said there would be no big problem, but nobody knew.
But the answer that came back…
“I’m just wondering what kind of person I was right now.”
A little, no. It was very cute.
“It’s so silent, light, and pathetic.”
“…”
“Really, it’s driving me crazy.”
Sereniel desperately held back the laughter that kept coming out of her lips.
And while Lexion was soaking alone in embarrassment and embarrassment, the carriage smoothly stopped as if it had arrived at its destination.
“Let’s go, Duke.”
Sereniel reached out to Lexion with her hand, but he didn’t hold that hand.
Instead, he got off the carriage first and reached out to Sereniel again.
“Even though I don’t remember anything, I know this much etiquette.”
While the words were trembling, Lexion’s face seemed to blush subtly again as he held hands tightly.
“Then let’s go.”
Sereniel nodded her head with a still smiling face, and Lexion slowly took a step with her.
Toward the Verdelette Viscount’s house visible in front of him.
