‘Why is it so loud?’
Enrico’s gaze dropped to his wrist. After hesitating for a moment, his right hand slowly moved, and he began to remove his wristwatch. The impulsive decision to listen to Emilia’s breathing led him to do something entirely out of character. The wristwatch was quickly tucked between the cushions of the sofa. The ticking sound that had been moving at regular intervals vanished from the world.
Contrary to his fear that the silence would become unsettling, the soft sound of her breathing immediately filled the space.
‘…This is fine.’
Soon, his face contorted in awkwardness. What he had done on a whim seemed to provide an unwanted certainty. The presence of Emilia, which he had tried so hard to ignore, began to grow to a size that he could no longer manage.
Slowly rubbing his chin and the side of his mouth with his right hand, he soon covered his eyes and lowered his head. The truth was, even during their last meal, he couldn’t understand why her sudden concern for him had affected him so deeply. At first, he had thought about wanting to experience that unwavering affection, but now, he found himself constantly wanting to keep her by his side.
If you want something, just take it.
He wanted to think of it simply, yet at the same time, he wanted to be wary of her for stirring such unfamiliar emotions within him. However, the moment she broke the silence, his worries seemed pointless.
‘…The only way I can have her is by binding her through a contract.’
What could he possibly do as someone who had initially forced a contract by using her parents? He had remained silent despite knowing the truth behind their deaths, making him no different from a bystander. The whole thing was wrong from the start.
‘What should I do?’
His violet eyes, resembling a starry night sky, deepened in thought. His gaze, filled with melancholy, lingered on her for a long time.
“Ugh…”
Just then, Emilia’s fingers twitched. She let out a small groan and tilted her head to the side, prompting him to rise from his seat.
As her body began to lean to the side along with her head, his hand quickly and gently cupped her cheek before it could touch the sofa. He felt the softness of her cheek and hair against his palm.
“Hah…”
Anyway, since it was just a sofa, it wouldn’t hurt much even if she collapsed onto it. A faint, hollow laugh escaped him at this belated realization. One of her eyes twitched as she slowly opened her eyelids. An awkward silence filled the space as their gazes met.
“…Your Grace?”
She blinked her eyes in a daze before quickly sitting up as if startled. He slowly stood up, clenching the hand that had recently felt the warmth of her skin.
“Your Grace, what brings you here…?”
With a flustered expression, she quickly blinked her eyes, covering the cheek he had just touched with her hand.
“I thought we might have a meal together.”
“Oh… Then you should have woken me.”
“You were sleeping so soundly that I couldn’t bring myself to wake you.”
Emilia let out a small sigh and lightly brushed back her disheveled hair.
“If you had let me know in advance, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“I just dropped by.”
His ambiguous response, which implied he wouldn’t notify her in the future either, made her half-heartedly rub her cheeks in resignation.
“Are you heading out for a meal now? I should prepare if that’s the case.”
“Well… No, maybe next time.”
Really? Her gaze seemed to ask, but she didn’t voice it. He gave a brief smile and started toward the entrance.
As she hesitantly followed him, she absentmindedly watched him retrieve a bouquet he had placed on the shelf near the entrance. He handed the large bouquet to her and quietly said.
“You look tired; get some more rest.”
“…Thank you. But why are you giving me flowers?”
At her puzzled voice, he turned around slightly, holding the doorknob.
“You got the lead role.”
“Oh…”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“…Yes.”
Emilia managed a short, vague response, unsure of what else to say. He observed her for a moment before turning back and exiting through the front door. Through the gap of the slowly closing door, she caught a glimpse of him growing smaller and smaller until the door finally clicked shut, and he disappeared.
‘It’s a congratulatory bouquet, but it feels a bit strange.’
He had urged her to take the lead role for so long. He must be quite satisfied now. But even so, to come all the way to her house to give her flowers?
Could it be that he was that impressed by her ballet? Then, does that mean without ballet, she would be nothing?
Somehow, she felt a tightness in her chest, but it was different from the feeling of having her existence denied. It wasn’t so much a desire to be treated as a person, but rather a longing for something more intimate, something she couldn’t quite grasp herself.
Emilia gazed down softly at the bouquet that filled her arms. The sound of his voice, congratulating her just moments ago, echoed in her ears. She closed her eyes and buried her face in the bouquet. The fragrance of the flowers was dizzying.
* * *
It wasn’t until a few days later that I was able to see the contents of the box, which had been separated. Inside were various items, including strange objects, receipts, and contract documents—perhaps related to the investment.
Since most of the contract documents were not very important, she set them aside and started looking for something like a letter.
‘Hmm, based on the content, it seems like he consulted these three people…”
Emilia put down the three letters and folded her arms in front of her chest. All three letters said the same thing: they had heard rumors that her father was looking for a lawyer and were very interested in his current endeavor and wanted to join him on that wonderful path.
‘Current endeavor? Besides the investment rights, what else was there?’
Could they be talking about the patent rights he had mentioned before? Since I could only guess, I had no choice but to ask Enrico to investigate these three people.
‘But is that all there is?’
She couldn’t understand why the contract documents only contained such simple content. Her parents had made numerous investments in various fields, but the amounts were too small, and the contract periods were short.
While Emilia was absentmindedly rummaging through the receipts, she discovered a small note tucked between them.
-Why don’t you come to the palace? If you want something, you need to catch my eye. Otherwise, hand over your jewel.
TL/N: FOR THOSE WHO DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE JEWEL WAS, IT’S EMILIA :/
Emilia frowned.
“What’s this? The palace?”
“The palace, what about it?”
Startled by the sudden sound from behind, she turned around quickly. Enrico, who she had been told would not be at the mansion today, was standing at the door.
“I thought you wouldn’t be coming today…”
“I finished my work early.”
Enrico had his hair neatly swept back and was wearing an ivory vest and pants. Since he wasn’t wearing his top button unbuttoned and his bangs weren’t ruffled as usual, there must have been something important.
“But what about the palace?”
“Oh. There was a note mixed in here that said this.”
“Hmm…”
An unimpressed smile escaped Enrico’s lips. Sensing that he knew something, Emilia pointed to the note and asked.
“Do you know who this is?”
His eyes, which had been lazily drooping, lifted to look directly at her.
“You know him too.”
“Me? Who is it? The only people I know at the palace are Your Grace and and His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“He’s the one.”
“…No way, His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Yes.”
“Are you saying His Highness wrote this?”
Emilia quickly snatched the note and brought it closer to her eyes. The wording was so arrogant and presumptuous that, at first, she was about to ask if it was from Enrico, but then she asked if it was the Crown Prince out of sheer surprise.
“Why? Don’t you believe it?”
“It’s just… He’s always been such a polite person.”
“You really have no eye for people.”
“Yes?”
“Have you forgotten what I told you to be careful about last time?”
“I didn’t forget, but you didn’t tell me why I should be careful,”
Enrico, who had been lazily scanning the scattered papers, looked up at her.
“He’s so gloomy that he can send such a note at such a young age.”
“Oh…”
“He was born with a violent nature. When he was younger, he had plenty of underlings he would bully, but now that he’s older, he seems to have developed some awareness, so he doesn’t cause blatant trouble anymore.”
“Blatant trouble… Is he really that bad?”
“Yeah. It’d be easier if he caused trouble openly. It’s more unsettling when he’s quiet.”
She couldn’t believe it. He didn’t seem like that at all. It was hard to imagine what kind of trouble he must have caused to make even the indifferent Enrico speak of him this way.
“So the Second Prince will be coming soon.”
“Yes? I heard that the Second Prince went to study abroad.”
“A prince must return when needed; that’s his fate.”
Even a prince didn’t seem so great in Enrico’s eyes. Emilia felt like her lofty image of the royal family was starting to fade a bit.
Then again, perhaps there wasn’t much of an image of royalty to begin with. Even with Enrico, as they visited each other’s mansions and exchanged more casual conversations over time…
“Oh, Your Grace, by the way, Zavetta said she found your watch.”
“My watch?”
His smooth brow furrowed slightly but not unpleasantly.
“Yes. She found it the day before yesterday, but I haven’t had a chance to give it to you. If I had known you were coming today, I would have brought it, but I’ll make sure to bring it next time.”
“…I didn’t realize.”
“Sorry?”
“I didn’t realize I left empty-handed.”
Is that really such a surprising thing? Emilia tilted her head slightly, puzzled.
He stared into the empty space for a moment, then slowly let his gaze drift back to her face. His violet eyes narrowed slightly, then relaxed into a faint smile, creasing slightly at the corners.
His gaze, which had been fixed on the air for a moment, slowly swept over her face. The light violet eyes that had been looking down drooped slightly to the sides and soon twisted in a peculiar way, revealing a faint smile.
“That watch, take it.”
* * * *
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