CH 26

Clarisse looked around with wide eyes as she climbed up the high northern wall.

Under the pitch-black sky, the private houses that were lit up looked as pretty as stars.

“The house looks very small.”

Clarisse, forgetting to hold the Duke’s hand tightly, ran through the crowd to a nearby stone ledge and pointed at the distant scenery.

“Clarisse!” 

Then the Duchess quickly ran behind her and scolded her.

“You decided not to do anything dangerous.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Clarisse remember the promise they had made before climbing the stairs.

“…I’m sorry.” 

“What did we promise?”

Clarisse answered, pointing with her hand.

“Don’t run on top of the walls, don’t go near the railings.”

“Can you not forget now?”

Clarisse nodded quickly.

“I promise you. I will never get hurt.”

“Okay. Will you give me your hand if you don’t mind?”

The Duchess held out her hand first, and Clarisse’s heart burst with a thud.

‘I guess the Madam wants to hold hands with me.’

It was amazing. Clarisse also wanted to hold the Duchess’s hand tightly.

“You know.”

Clarisse gently held the Duchess’ hand.

“Actually, they say there’s one more rule you have to follow.”

“Rule?”

“Yes!”

Perhaps because a strong wind was blowing at the time, the Duchess’ hand holding the Clarisse was a little stronger.

“If it’s windy like this, you could fly away. So you must hold the Duke’s hand.”

When Clarisse replied, glancing at her free hand, the Duchess laughed aloud as if amused.

“Ah, that’s right. Because you can fly away?”

“Yes! But I heard if I hold the Duke’s hand, I will never fly away.”

“Pft.”

Clarisse had great expectations because Brielle laughed cheerfully.

Maybe now she’s thinking, ‘Clarisse’s right. I’ll hold the Duke’s hand, too, since it’s not good to fly away,’ and she may answer like that.

Clarisse’s amber eyes sparkled as she looked up at the Duchess.

“Clarisse is right, it’s not good to fly away.”

Thump, thump.

The expected words began to come out, and Clarisse’s impatient lips had already drawn a big smile.

“So Clarisse, make sure to hold onto the Duke’s hand.”

And the Duchess passed Clarisse’s hand to Maximilian, who was standing right next to her.

Clarisse was in trouble, but the Duchess was delighted enough to clap her hands, saying, ‘You two look good together.’

Looking at it, Clarisse forgot the important promise she had made today, and for some reason, a smile came out.

‘I think I know why the maids waited for the fireworks.’

Even though Clarisse didn’t like it very much because it was a day when she had to hear only the roaring noises in her room alone.

But things are different now.

She had kind people to spend the night with.

“Clarisse, you’d better go over there and wait. It’ll be less windy.”

“I asked them to bring me warm water. I think we can make her drink over there.”

Of course, the Duke and Duchess’s voices seemed excited.

“Firecrackers are coming up from over there, okay? Don’t miss a moment and watch them. It’s once a year.”

“How many minutes are left?”

“About thirty minutes.”

The anticipated voices of those who visited the specially opened walls were also good to hear.

“Mom, mom! I see our house over there!”

Among them were children who seemed to be Clarisse’s age, all of whom held their guardian’s hand tightly.

‘I’m holding hands, too.’

Clarisse glanced at the large hand holding her.

Somehow, her steps became lighter and faster by itself.

‘Is this how it feels to hold hands and watch fireworks together?’

Clarisse, who felt somewhat impatient, raised her head.

She couldn’t wait for the new year.

*****

After repeating the phrase ‘how many minutes left?’ about 20 times, it was about five minutes before the new year when Clarisse began to doze off.

Now Clarisse leaned back against the Duke’s leg and started to really sleep.

Brielle stroked Clarice’s cheek and tried to wake her up somehow, but the sound of breathing only deepened.

“What should I do? I guess it was too much to stay awake until this time. She should take a nap….”

She stretched out her arms to hug the child. She was worried that she might fall on the cold floor if she left it as it was.

“Please leave it.”

However, it was a little faster for Maximilian to hold the child high with one arm.

Clarisse drooped with her head resting on one of his shoulders.

“It must be hard.”

As she got up from her seat and talked to him worriedly, he shook his head.

“It’s still light. As expected, I wonder if I should increase the distribution of meals more.”

“I heard she’s eating enough. I think she’ll gain weight and grow taller over time.”

“Hmm…” 

“Anyway, please give it to me. I’ll take her to her room. The Duke must guard this place.” 

“It’s not long.”

“Yes?”

“The firecrackers. Didn’t you say you were looking forward to it?”

“Ah…” 

“It is over there. We will start soon.”

Brielle stood side by side in the direction he was looking and looked up at the still-empty sky.

‘Yeah, I said I was expecting firecrackers, but…actually.” 

She looked at the man next to her secretly.

He was still staring at the sky, holding Clarisse in one arm.

He must have wanted to present the dignity of a Duke in front of so many people, but it was amazing to see him give his arms for the comfort of a child who was only a prisoner.

She used to think he was a bit scary—.

But for some reason, the air around him had changed since Clarisse came.

Brielle smiled lightly.

“The Duke is so…kind.”

Then, as if out of nowhere, the sincerity came out in small words.

“Ah…” 

Realizing her mistake, she groaned briefly and quickly closed her mouth.

And she hoped

May he not hear, drowned out by the sounds of those around them.

“….”

Fortunately for her, there was no answer from Maximilian.

Brielle only turned her eyes to examine his complexion.

It’s to see if he heard her.

Fortunately, there was not a slight change in his face. Still holding Clarisse, he just stared up at the sky.

‘That’s a relief…’ 

In fact, there was no way Maximilian would listen to every little voice of hers.

Because she’s not even a real wife in the first place.

Just then, with a loud explosion, the first firecracker spewed white smoke and rose rapidly into the sky, creating a large red flame.

At the same time, the shouts of the people who started increased, and one after another, firecrackers cut through the dark sky and spread colorful pollen far away.

“….” 

Brielle forgot about Maximilian for a while and looked up blankly at it.

‘Pretty.’

If she had known this, she shouldn’t have rejected Maximilian’s offer to come and see it before.

She refused to go out with him because she was afraid of being discovered as a fake, but she couldn’t help it.

‘Actually, I had to refuse this time too….’

Now that she knew she had come to like him, she couldn’t bear to refuse to see the fireworks together.

For some reason, she thinks she will regret it if she refuses this time again.

‘It’s okay… to have memories.’

Last time, Maximilian said he would set Brielle free someday.

So, it was almost certain that they wouldn’t live together someday. 

‘Just a little, I’ll make a good memory.’

If she doesn’t do that, isn’t it pitiful for her to realize that?

‘If the Duke knows what I think….’

Brielle looked back at him secretly.

“Oh.”

However, for some reason, their eyes immediately met.

Doesn’t it seem… like he was looking at Brielle?

Of course, it can’t be.

“…I, it’s pretty.”

Brielle quickly said what she had been trying to think of.

“Yes?” 

But it seemed like he couldn’t hear it because of the constant popping sound.

“So…”

Brielle inadvertently took a step closer to him.

But she shouldn’t have done that.

When they suddenly closed the gap without fear, the backs of their hands collided with each other.

It was the hand he wasn’t using to hold Clarisse.

Even though both of them were wearing thick winter gloves, this accidental bump made their fingertips feel numb.

‘W, what should I do?’

Should she say she is sorry? No, but it’s really just a quick glance—.

‘Should I move my hands somewhere else?’

However, it was nothing short of openly saying that she was very concerned about the slightest contact with him.

And when the firecracker exploded again, the back of their hand touched again. 

Was it a coincidence or a lingering regret this time? 

Besides, this time, both of them didn’t even budge, somehow clumsily touching each other.

That doesn’t mean I’m not holding on to it.

‘Could it be that the Duke… Don’t you know?’

Brielle had thought of that, but it didn’t seem like it. 

‘…I’m embarrassed.’

Though thinking so, Brielle couldn’t bear to let go of her hand. 

At the same time, the sound of fireworks exploding started to become louder. 

It was only after a while that she realized that it was actually the sound of Brielle’s heart beating so painfully. 

Red flowers bloomed in the sky.

The backs of their hands that barely touched came a little closer.