Crave rested his elbows on his study desk, propped his chin up with both hands, and silently gazed at Britia for a while.
“I knew it would come to this. Didn’t I say so? Are you finally making up your mind?”
She had expected him to mock her disdainfully, but his lack of response left her bewildered.
“Yeah, so?”
That was the only thing he managed to say after the long wait.
“And so?”
When Britia asked, surprised by his minimal reaction, Crave chuckled wryly. As she opened her mouth wide in disbelief, he reached over and tapped the back of her head, pulling her chair back as he sat down.
“You didn‘t have to say it so seriously. Tia, do you know what’s hanging here?”
He pointed his finger in the direction of his eyes.
“Eyes, you say. They allow us to see the world and perceive who likes whom.”
He lightly brushed the air with his hand, as if tracing the invisible horizon.
Britia regretted trying to imitate Sig, who openly expressed his feelings without hiding anything.
She realized that she shouldn’t have done such a foolish thing, even though she was bursting with affection for Sig and wanted to pour out her heart to anyone who would listen.
“He liked you, and it was evident that you liked him too. Denying it is impossible, whether it‘s me, you, or even Haley. Everyone knows. Even if you feel overwhelmed because he seems like such a ’great person‘ to you, it’s an undeniable fact.”
“…Haley told you, didn’t she?”
Britia had a hunch and tightly closed her eyes.
“Now that you finally realize it and have decided to be honest with your feelings, I’m glad,” Crave exclaimed, clapping his hands as if to emphasize his point.
Britia felt sorry for ever associating the prince with that detestable man. How could she have juxtaposed such a despicable man with someone who exuded such grace?
“Well, is it finally time to tailor the coat? How thick should it be?” Crave crossed his arms, lost in thought.
“Why suddenly the coat?”
“That’s what you said.”
“Me? That I need to tailor a coat?”
They stared at each other, unable to comprehend one another, their gazes fixed and their heads tilted in the same manner, perhaps a trait of being twins.
“Saying that you like Sig.”
“Well, yeah.”
“And the North is cold.”
“What‘s going on in your head, connecting the fact that I like him with the North being cold? I’m not even going to the North…”
Britia sensed what he was trying to say and trailed off.
“You interpreted it as me saying I’ll go to the North following Duke-nim?”
“Wait, Sig is going to the South? It doesn’t matter to me, but what about the North?”
Crave asked, astonished, as Britia furrowed her brows and extended her hand.
“Crave, why do you keep thinking that I or Duke-nim will go to the North or the South? I may have said that I like him, but I haven’t said anything about getting married.”
“What? So, you‘re just going to toy with him, someone who likes you so much? You’ll marry someone else and keep him as a lover?”
“It‘s not like that! You’re jumping to conclusions. I haven‘t even received a proposal. I said I like him… I haven’t even heard it directly from him.”
She wasn‘t even sure she had heard it clearly. What if he didn’t actually like her?
Seeing Britia take a step back, Crave was taken aback.
“You‘re saying that even when you see Sig? While I’m standing right here, witnessing your unabashed affection for him to the point where I feel like my limbs are disappearing?”
He might still be under the misconception that love is a disease that spreads in the capital, but he would soon realize that it’s not the case. And the proposal, too.
“The proposal is just a matter of time.”
Crave speculated that it wouldn‘t be delayed beyond this summer. The Sig he observed didn’t waste any time once his thoughts were organized within him. He swiftly put everything into action without any delay. Clearly, the proposal would be the same.
“From now on, you should have a coat tailored so that you can withstand the North. You can borrow his coat in a hurry, but you’ll be dragging it on the ground.”
“Do you want to sweep the ground with your coat?” The Crave offered a threatening counsel.
“Will he really propose to me?”
Britia asked cautiously, leaving the Crave slightly bewildered.
“Well, why wouldn‘t he? He looks at you with such intense eyes, as if he’s dying of love for you. If you’re not sure, see for yourself later. See how he looks at you.”
Crave chuckled, saying that she would be pleasantly surprised. Britia recalled Sig, who had been gazing at her so intently today.
“What? Why are you blushing?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Well, did something happen to you today?”
Crave, rising from his seat, pressed her for an answer. He grabbed her shoulder and shook her, causing Britia’s lips to quiver uncontrollably with laughter, despite her feeble attempts to hold it in.
“He was just… Duke-nim, well, he was quite cute.”
“Wow! Britia Lockhart! You‘ve scolded me before, saying he’s not cute at all, and now you’re saying such things!”
Now, openly declaring that he’s cute, Crave exclaimed in admiration, shaking his head.
“He’s not just a little cute, but incredibly cute! Truly, Lady Turas is exceptional!”
“Stop it.”
“If Lady Turas tells you to stop, then you should stop. Yes, Crave Lockhart, you should obey Lady Turas’s command.”
“Crave.”
Britia lightly tapped his cheek with her hand, as if telling him to stop teasing.
“I do like him, but there are still obstacles before we can consider marriage.”
So, she calmly seated him, telling him to stop the teasing and save that conversation for later. Crave crossed his arms and looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“I mean, I see something strange.”
“Are you talking about the tail? Sig already knows about that, you know.”
If he doesn‘t know, he won’t know. Sig is a man who allows me to touch his tail and even cuddles me when I offer, granting permission.
Crave couldn’t understand what the problem was.
“Of course, when you touch his tail, he seems uncomfortable, but seeing him give you his tail, it makes me wonder if he‘s a pervert who enjoys pain. Isn’t it great that two perverts like each other?”
“…Are you calling me a pervert?”
“You’re a pervert who likes tails too much.”
Britia denied it, saying she likes it but not to the extent of being called a pervert. Crave smirked at her.
“And I’m not that beautiful either.”
While she didn’t think she was ugly, Britia felt a bit self-conscious lately due to her recent encounters with Marcus and Harty, who kept calling her ugly.
“What? Tia, you say that all the time.”
Crave playfully tapped her face as if mocking her.
“Well, take a good look at my beautiful face. You‘re a beauty because you resemble me, who is so beautiful. We’re twins, so it’s only natural.”
Crave tilted his head diagonally, blinking his eyes rapidly towards Britia. Irritated by his cheeky expression, Britia furrowed her brows.
“You’re a beautiful person with a beard…”
“Don‘t touch the beard; it’s my darling’s preference.”
Britia couldn‘t quite describe the feeling, but she was immensely grateful for the Crave’s attempt to soothe her, even though it was annoying and playful at the same time.
“And you can’t even sew.”
As she became more at ease, receiving comfort from him, Britia shared another concern that weighed on her mind. But this time, Crave burst into laughter.
“Tia, are you finally admitting it? That your sewing skills are pathetic?”
Seeing the twin brothers laugh and clutch his belly, Britia felt the door of her open heart close. She didn‘t expect him to praise her as excellent, but she had hoped he wouldn’t mock her to such an extent.
“Finally admitting that Lenny’s debutante dress was a raggedy dress. After all the fuss about how cute you and Lenny were!”
“Crave Lockhart, I really hate you.”
As Britia grumbled and mumbled, Crave draped his arm over her shoulder and chuckled.
“Though it‘s true that you’re not great, you still have your own charm. Don’t worry.”
“It’s too late, a bearded beauty.”
“No matter what others say, that‘s Lenny’s favorite dress.”
“Since I can’t stand the sight of it, it must be stuffed in the wardrobe.”
Britia, already hurt and disheartened, furrowed her brows and closed her eyes, but Crave poked her side.
“Hey, if he really hated it, he would have thrown it away immediately. You know that, right? Sometimes he takes it out, wears it for a while, and then puts it back in the wardrobe.”
“…Is that so?”
As he winked slightly, Britia let out a half-hearted chuckle, but the corners of her mouth twitched slightly.
“When he sees your sewing, I don‘t know how he’ll react, but on the contrary, imagine if he tried to shoot an arrow and accidentally broke it. Think that he can’t shoot well because he carelessly breaks them. How would you feel about him then? Completely unimpressed?”
Britia pictured Sig in her mind. He drew the bowstring to shoot an arrow but couldn’t control his strength, causing it to snap. Startled, he widened his eyes and looked back at himself. Then, he ended up breaking the bow too and approached her, apologizing profusely.
“…No, it’s cute.”
Blushing slightly, Britia spoke, causing the Crave’s mouth to drop open before he made a disgusted sound.
“I’m thankful that you let me know that you find that man even cuter than I do.”
“Why? Just imagine it. Don‘t you think it’s adorable?”
“Are you the type who finds it cute to see a bear hit a tree and break it without feeling a chill down your spine? And then die, Tia.”
“Bears aren’t cute. But Sig is.”
Even if she were to die soon, Britia insisted that Sig was cute. She thought he looked like a corpse floating up from the sea, and she had completely forgotten the time when just catching a glimpse of him made her gasp for breath.
“Maybe Sig would think similarly to you, like you imagine. Yes, it’s cute….”
That would imply that he would find Britia, who couldn’t sew, cute. As the thought settled in, Crave’s mood seemed to sour for some reason.
“Well, leave sewing tasks to the maidservants. Entrust it to Sig, who seems to have embroidery as a hobby. Or if not that, just let the two of you be cute together and live happily. Problem solved!”
The Crave clapped his hands together.
“Now, is everything problem-free?”
“No, there’s still one big mountain left.”
“What else is there? It’s really difficult for your brother to handle everything!”
He crossed his arms and let out a deep sigh, shaking his head.
“Fine then. Come on, Britia Lockhart.”
He exhaled heavily, flicking his hands as if provoking Britia to hurry up and do something.
“He’s the Emperor’s beloved nephew.”
“That’s true.”
“But what if he doesn’t like me and refuses to marry?”
At that, Crave moved his head back and forth with a serious expression, lost in thought.
“If he doesn’t like you?”
He pursed his lips as if he had heard something strange, shrugging his shoulders. It was as if he hadn’t even considered such a possibility because it couldn’t be imagined.
