CH 3.14

Lacius slightly bent his back and extended his hand as I turned my gaze away from Theobalt. I shuddered then lifted my chin, as if I were a lady at a real ball.

“Well, you may.”

“Thank you.”

The sensation of our palms facing each other was strangely exhilarating. A gentle heat rose from our skins touching. It’s tickling.

“Ehem!”

I coughed for no apparent reason and tried to focus on the music playing.

“Where are you looking?”

But even that effort is futile. Lacius’ deep blue-gray eyes caught my gaze.

For a brief moment, I felt suffocated because his eyes seemed to be sucking me in. Perhaps it’s because his face, reflecting the light, is full of excellence.

Lacius moved slowly and the performance slowly got on track. I moved sideways, backwards, and forwards at his pace. Then I ended up in his embrace after turning around once.

For a brief moment, I held my breath as the tight arms wrapped around my waist.

Aren’t we too close?

“Don’t think about anything else other than your dancing partner. It is impolite to avert your eyes while dancing.”

Lacius spoke softly into my ear. All my nerves focused on the hands holding my hand and waist, preventing myself from looking him in the eyes. 

I got drunk on Theobalt’s dreamy performance. The dark night’s atmosphere, Lacius’ voice, the gentle breeze, the feel of moist grass brushing against my ankles, and the light that spreads from the edge of my field of vision. All of that became a movie scene and got imprinted in my memory. It was the most romantic moment I’d ever had in my life. I will probably never forget this moment until the day I die.

“Lashin.”

I unconsciously called Lacius by his nickname. Lacius’ name would taste like blueberry candy if names have taste. The sweetness spreads in your mouth as soon as you call his nickname, just like a blueberry candy made by hardening thick syrup is rolled on your tongue.

“Shay.”

He also called my name softly. Heat rises unintentionally between our bodies as they get closer and closer.

I closed my eyes as Lacius’s head gradually tilted.

Soon after, a gentle and polite kiss caressed my closed eyes.

“Thank you.”

“…….”

“For all the time I wouldn’t have had if it weren’t for you.”

The trembling in Lacius’ voice was drowned out by the violin’s melody.

Not knowing what to do, I kept my eyes closed. 

“I thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to live a normal life like this. Meeting you has to be the only thing that has gone right in my life.”

Was Lacius’s language always so flattering? It’s a brief confession, but it’s heartfelt. Then I gradually opened my eyes. A pair of blue-gray eyes look at me quietly. We had stopped dancing. Despite this, I smiled at Lacius as I raised my hand to hold his.

“There are still things that have to be done, but you should look forward to them.”

Until the day I set you free completely.

“Because I am a person who follows through on my commitments.”

I will protect you.

I shook his hand jokingly, and a smile formed on Lacius’ lips.

Friendship blossomed, as did an unknown deeper feeling.

The night breeze of spring passed by gently.

* * *

A noble lady must bathe for an extended period of time before going to bed. Particularly on a day like today, when I went out.

Forcing myself to resist the temptation to wallow in filth, I was finally given a bath. One of the reasons I couldn’t say no was Juliet, who was waiting in the bath with her eyes twinkling.

‘I’m tired.’

Why are my eyes closing so tightly? Was it because I had used my brain too much today, or because I had been out for too long?

I was drowsy and was dozing off while Juliet combed my hair. Even if I awoke in shock, my eyelids would begin to feel heavy again within 3 seconds.

“Please lie down now! I’ll turn off the lights right away.”

“Thank you…… Julie…… et.”

Juliet meticulously covered me with the duvet up to my neck as I crawled like a snail towards the bed and collapsed on the mattress.

‘This body has low stamina, which is surprising.’

I can’t take it anymore. I fell asleep within 3 seconds of putting myself on the bed.

* * *

Meanwhile, Lacius was drinking alone not far from Shay’s room.

‘I nearly kissed her.’

But he held it in well.

Lacius was lost in thought, shaking the darkly coloured strong liquor in his hand.

He did the right thing, but why did one side of his heart regret it so much?

Feeling strangely upset, Lacius forced his thoughts to another topic.

‘She said nothing about him. Is she really rejecting him because she can’t remember him?’

Lacius had assigned a person to accompany Kun Geisha who had come from the desert. He might have come to incite a rebellion, so it was only natural to do so.

Geisha, on the other hand, was bold, as if he had nothing to hide. He had no intention of erasing his tracks and even snoops around in front of Archduke Schweiden once every two days.

Of course, Lacius did not inform Shay of this.

Geisha, who had a strong affection for Shay, most likely played a significant role in keeping the area around the mansion clean these days.

‘I would be grateful if he only acted as a cleaner, but…’

This is a disaster. He couldn’t question someone who claimed her memory was blurry. Geisha, on the other hand, must have held Shay dearly in his heart. If the Imperial Palace hears about the rumors about Geisha and orders an investigation, there is a good chance that it will involve Shay.

‘Before that happens, I need to make him disappear.’

Geisha is far too powerful to be forced out. However, sending people to the desert just to confirm if he was truly Kun Geisha, was reckless.

Most people in the Empire are unaware, but the Desert Clan do not live in a single location. They may appear to be living near an oasis, but the problem is that the “oasis” itself moves.

Lacius was embarrassed not to be aware of this fact when he first fought the desert clan because it means it is difficult to find them unless they reveal their location themselves. Well, unless you know how to find them.

“Does your head hurt?”