CH 18

…and Elaina’s letter quickly arrived at the baron’s house.

****

The day the baroness came to the duchy, Citrina was with Desian.

Desian had been subtly busy these days. Still, he had visited her frequently in these past few peaceful days.

Actually, they didn’t do much in particular together. Citrina was busing testing her ‘rehabilitation project’ and Desian was busy giving her gifts.

“Citrina.”

It was the same today. Desian spoke to her as he knocked on her door.

“Yeah?”

Citrina tried to act indifferent as she opened the door.

Desian had given her various gifts lately. It was an obvious sign of favor from Desian.

“Desian, thank you again for today.”

Citrina took the lead since she thought there would be another expensive and pretty gift today.

“Today again?”

Desian’s expression became subtle.

Citrina smirked at the thought of the expensive mana stones and dresses in her wardrobe.

He chuckled.

‘Did you think I would like that?”

“I think you have a present for me today as well.”

“… There is.”

Desian looked serious. Then he somehow felt cute, so Citrina burst into laughter.

‘I never thought I would live long enough to see the villain acting cute.’

Why did it feel like he was her first friend? He followed her like a duckling follows its mother. So it seemed like her rehabilitation project was seeping into Desian.

“These are flowers.”

Desian handed her roses that was still wet. Straight from the garden, the flowers were fresh.

“Roses?”

Come to think of it, Aaron did ask her if she liked flowers. It was unexpected that it was Desian, not Aaron, who handed her flowers.

“I thought you’d like it.”

“Thanks. Come on in.”

Come to think of it, Desian had been standing at the door for a long time.

Entering the room with Desian, Citrina put the roses in a vase on the table.

The roses were freshly blooming.

She sat facing Desian at the table. It was a natural routine in recent days. The book they read together yesterday was still on the table.

Citrina opened the book. Citrina smiled at the image of Desian reading a book.

“It’s not something big, but it’s good.”

“… if you like it.”

Citrina didn’t realize that bit by bit they were becoming a bit more close with each other.

She was just proud that Desian looked like a gentle sheep now.

‘I think reading books is the fastest way to learn.”

When Desian first visited her, Citrina was troubled. Meditation, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, kendo? What was the best way to stabilize a person’s body and mind?

They had already had tea once, and they had tried meditation….

‘The tea ceremony was boring, and meditating with your eyes closed was a failure.’

She thought about his eyes as he had watched her when she suggested meditating with their eyes closed.

It was a rather obsessive gaze.

It was then.

Desian closed the book at abruptly asked a question.

“I’m curious about something, Citrina.”

“What are you curious about?”

Desian winked at the book. The book was called <How to Live Like a Human Being>. It was a title she had chosen because it was close to Citrina’s feelings.

“It’s in the book you gave me. People give nicknames to close friends. Pet names or whatever.”