Chapter 59.1

“How did it happen that you came back earlier?”

“I would continue to torture myself if I didn’t personally check that you are all right.”

“So you didn’t send me letters because you were so busy preparing for early graduation?”

Raynard opened his eyes wider and looked at Yurina. Then, when he found her previously displeased face relaxed, Raynard burst out laughing.

“There is such a thing. And I wanted to tell you about it personally.”

Raynard let go of Yurina’s hand and stepped a little closer.

“Moreover, Yurina…”

Yurina’s earlier anxiety vanished.

Now, Yurina was surprised by the sudden change of mood, hiding her smile and only blinking frequently.

In an instant, the distance between them was so greatly reduced that only a fist would fit between them. Suddenly startled by the red eyes in front of her nose, Yurina retreated reflexively. However, Raynard immediately followed her to the distance she had gained.

Retreat, pursuit, run, chase.

Yurina, who was repeating this pointless chase, bit her lip as she felt her thigh rest against the corner of the table.

She quickly turned and tried to run away, but Reynard was faster. He stretched out and locked Yurina between his arms. Desk in back, Reynard in front.

Yurina looked into Reynard’s eyes, unable to read his mind, and leaned back as much as possible. She felt her thighs pressed hard against the table.

At the same time, the heart in her chest seemed to burst from an invisible pressure. It was difficult to breathe. And the air between them was highly irritated.

“Listen, Ray.”

Yurina carefully grabbed his arm. But she couldn’t find the strength to push him away.

‘No, just tell him to get out of the way, he will definitely leave. He couldn’t hypnotize me, could he?’

Although she knew it, Yurina couldn’t tell him to get out of the way, and she couldn’t push him away and run away.

She could only stare at him stupidly, as if she was captivated by those red eyes right in front of her nose.

‘Like the novel said, everything will play out from his return.’

‘I don’t know why at that moment I remembered his appearance depicted in the book. However, as has been said, his appearance made him stand out from the crowd.’

‘At the time of our meeting in the Crohn Kingdom, I thought he looked great, but a year and a half later, he was different again. There were no significant changes in appearance. However, his aura was now completely different.’

‘He is still very confident, and at the same time, he doesn’t let himself waver in front of anyone. Even now, looking at me, he slightly pursed his lips and smiles, albeit playfully, but somehow relaxed.’

‘Is it because I am in his hands? Now he seems to me like a beast with a full belly. When he was very young, he seemed to be a soft herbivore. Now before me stands a terrible predator that has already driven me into a corner.’

“Yurina.”

Raynard, who was silently watching Yurina, suddenly spoke, his hot breath tickling her forehead. As Yurina reflexively lowered her head, he leaned in after her and caught her eye again.

“Yurina.”

Yurina couldn’t answer. She couldn’t even imagine what kind of voice would come out of her throat if she spoke right now.

“Are you longing for a letter?”

‘If he asked me about it all of a sudden, I would blurt out ‘no’. But if you think about the heart with which he rushed to me across the border…’

“Yes.”

Then Reynard held his breath.

After a while, he asked in a lowered voice.

“Then how do I…”

A year and a half ago, when Yurina reunited with him in the Crohn Kingdom, she wouldn’t hesitate to reply that she really wanted to see him. But, oddly enough, this time her tongue did not move.

‘But why?’

‘What has changed since then?’

‘It’s not that I wasn’t expecting him. I waited for him so much that I was annoyed by his silence. However, I can’t tell him that.’

‘Because I realized the importance of the meaning of these words.’

While Yurina remained silent, Raynard raised his eyebrows in displeasure and pressed his lips to her forehead. The tip of his nose dipped lower and suddenly their lips were even.

His red gaze fell on Yurina’s blue eyes.

“Do you think I didn’t wait long?”

Yurina wanted to break free from the pressure, but her body didn’t obey her. As Yurina’s silence continued, Raynard squeezed her hand and whispered softly.

“Do you think I didn’t want to see you?”

“Wanted.”

“Did you want to see me or not?”

“I…”

“Milady, are you here?”

Betsy’s voice followed the sound of the door opening. Yurina quickly pushed Reynard’s shoulder.

Betsy, who was looking around the room, found Yurina and smiled brightly.

“I knew you were here. If you’re not at home, then be sure to be in this room… Umm?”

Raynard was now standing in front of Yurina.

Betsy bulged her eyes and screamed.

— Milady!

* * *

“Well, I didn’t know who might have broken in here… I wouldn’t have screamed if I knew it was Raynard.”