CH 74

Chapter 74: Starting Point (2)

"....."

As I looked at Keirsey, who remained silent in response to my question, I felt a surge of excitement.

Can she still stir the topic back and start a fight?

But I knew that if I didn’t reign my excitement, she would cry.

It's better if she just gets angry rather than crying.

"Look. Judy said I got bitten by a bug. Or maybe something happened to my skin."

I leaned toward Keirsey, moving my neck closer to her. But at that time, she just turned her head with an embarrassed gaze.

Her reaction was different from what I expected, indicating that she wasn't getting angry.

She simply placed her hand on my shoulders and stayed close, frozen in place.

During that moment of wondering why she was acting like this, Asena called me from a distance.

"....Oppa."

"Yeah?"

"...Follow me."

She didn't say anything more and turned her body around. I almost forgot, but now I had to accompany Asena. I had no choice but to follow her words.

Thinking it would be a good topic to change the subject, I spoke to Keirsey.

"Let's go, Keirsey. Asena wants us to follow."

She nodded.

I wondered why she became calm so quickly.

Before leaving, out of habit, I looked for Daisy.

Her blonde hair was quite noticeable, so it wasn't difficult to find her.

When our eyes met, Daisy looked at me for a while, waved her hand, didn't greet me with a nod or mouthed hello silently, and turned back.

She definitely seemed angry. I knew that the change in escort was due to Asena's influence, but maybe Daisy was upset with me as well.

She knew that I occasionally felt uncomfortable with Asena, so she, usually, would have asked me before agreeing to let me be Asena's escort.

However, if she was upset because she thought I had feelings for her and still did not oppose the marriage with Judy, then I couldn't say much about it. I had given her flowers, proposed to escort her, and sent provisions. I had shown some signs of liking her. If suddenly someone else came into the picture, even if I didn't have feelings for her, she could get mad.

Was he just playing with me? That's the question that must have come to her mind.

Of course, that wasn't the case. Each time, my actions were sincere.

Of course, I admit that my thoughts were short-lived. In fact, until Grandma pushed for the engagement with Judy, I thought being with Daisy, my favorite character, wouldn't be so bad.

Grandma had told me to make an effort if there was a girl I liked, after all.

Even though I didn't pursue her intensely, I subconsciously showed my interest, which led to these results.

It's probably all in the past now... but I think I should apologize someday.

Keirsey, seeing Daisy, lifted her head and started to grab my wrist, pulling me along.

I let her pull me for a moment, but then I stood my ground.

"Oh, Keirsey, just a moment."

And then I looked at Judy.

Just a while ago, we were holding hands, so it seemed too awkward for me to leave without saying anything.

Was it because holding hands made me nervous and awkward? Or was it because I wanted to tease Judy a little more? Or maybe I wanted to muster up some courage as a man?

I lightly pinched Judy's cheek and said,

"I'll go, Judy."

Judy, surprised by my touch, blushed noticeably, which brought a smile to my lips.

It was cute to see her, who always tried to act tough and confident, with a height similar to mine and well-defined muscles, showing such a girlish reaction.

Judy couldn't say anything and hesitated before forcefully turning her body towards Daisy.

Several nobles who witnessed our actions started to whisper among themselves.

"Didn't they say they were just close friends... but it looks more intimate than that, doesn't it?"

"I mean... can Ice and Pryster really become friends..."

"But they do look good together. I envy Judy."

"And they are both knights... it seems like destiny."

Their whispers made me feel good. It had been a long time since anyone reacted positively to our relationship.

Just a few months ago, all I received was ridicule.

When I was calming down my racing emotions, I suddenly realized that Keirsey had become silent.

Has she also started to accept it now?

However, as I looked at Keirsey, her hand was trembling.

"Ah, goodness."

Her appearance made me feel overwhelmed, but... I just needed to take it slow. She just needed time.

Because of the presence of others, I gently tapped her shoulder with an affectionate touch that only she could understand and led Keirsey, who was holding my wrist, toward Asena.

****

Keirsey was left alone in the room, but that image kept lingering in her mind.

The moment when Cayden held Judy's hand.

The moment when he held her cheek and lightly pinched it - something he only did for her.

If that was all, Keirsey could somehow brush it off.

She might have tried to forget about these recent events and focus on what's ahead.

But what hurt her the most was the fact that Cayden's actions would only escalate, not diminish.

If their relationship progressed like this, it would not stop at holding hands. It would extend to hugs, dates... and even kisses. And beyond.

While Keirsey could only find traces of intimacy when he was asleep, Judy would experience all of those moments through conscious heart-to-heart communication.

That was what made it most difficult for her.

Jealousy prevented her from seeing clearly.

Keirsey found it amusing to finally realize her own feelings. It was such a deep but hidden emotion that it only manifested after Cayden was taken away.

She had seen her older sister behave crazy like this before. Asena had planned to exile him from the family, and although Keirsey learned of it later, Asena had confessed her feelings to their grandmother…

It was surprising that Asena acted to this extent. Of course, Cayden's marriage date was accelerated due to it, but as Cayden said, it was bound to happen someday.

Someday, he would leave her... and all expressions of affection would disappear...

Keirsey tightly gripped the pillow she was hugging.

She had thought about it many times, but it was an unbearable future. It was a future she had never considered since he joined the family.

She recalled the expression Cayden showed to Judy.

She had never seen him like that before. He looked embarrassed and excited.

By seeing that expression, she clearly realized that the nature of their love was different.

He loved her the most, but as a woman, he didn't like her at all.

Surely, it was because Cayden had never thought of her that way.

The overwhelming feeling of him not reciprocating her love made it difficult for her to breathe.

By just thinking of the smile he showed Judy, Keirsey could discern what was right.

It was the right thing to let him go and wish him happiness.

As siblings, there was no room to twist their relationship, and Cayden and Judy would be able to live happily together.

However, Keirsey, despite knowing how selfish it was, couldn't bring herself to do it.

She was too afraid of the future where she would be left behind.

Days, where she couldn't sleep due to jealousy or sadness were too vivid.

She realized that to change this situation, something significant had to happen.

Perhaps she unconsciously felt that way, which led her to leave a kiss mark on his neck—A significant event to convey her heart.

Because even if she made up her mind to confess directly, it wouldn't be as easy as she thought; Even Keirsey knew she would be rejected if she confessed without any preparation.

As she read somewhere, confessing was an act of confirming one's feelings.

It was said that after confirming mutual love, the act of communication was considered a confession.

So, confessing her feelings abruptly would not only be a burden but also an attempt to take advantage of his kindness, nothing more and nothing less.

At least, like with Judy, if they had a slightly romantic atmosphere, she would have confessed her feelings.

But she knew better than anyone else that such an opportunity would not come to her.

So everything she did seemed ugly, rough, harsh, and wrong.

Even so, she wanted to show him only her beautiful side, to display embarrassing aegyo that she could only show him, and to naturally be with him.

Who in the world would want to fight with someone they love?

But because she had no other choice, this was all she could do.

...But even she now began to realize it.

As the opportunity to confess her feelings did not arise, time itself was slipping away.

If she continued to wait quietly for an opportunity, he would leave.

Somehow, she had to make an opportunity... Somehow, she had to come clean.

...It seemed like she had to confess her deep and unfathomable feelings to him.

****

The next day, I skipped class with the twins once again.

But this time, we weren’t alone.

As I tidied my appearance and asked the twins who were in the same room as me,

"How do I look?"

Grandma let out a kind laugh and spoke from the side,

"You look great, Cayden."

"Ah, thank you."

I smiled at her in the same way and asked the twins for their opinions again.

"Hey, guys, how do I look?"

"......"

"....."

The twins were also dressed in neat but pretty clothes today, not their academy uniforms.

Asena wore a light dress with a short fur coat gently draped over her shoulders, and Keirsey wore an elegant two-piece outfit.

Asena didn't answer whether she disliked the way I dressed. But her dissatisfaction was clearly conveyed.

It was Keirsey who spoke up.

"...You look really cool, Oppa."

I just needed a response, so I eagerly thanked her, but…

"Really? Thanks, Keirsey."

"...That’s why I’m dissatisfied."

Asena's next words made me speechless.

In this awkward atmosphere, I could only give Grandma Liana a helpless smile.

In the end, what they wanted... was for me to let go of the name of a Pryster and simply be by their side as a commoner... but I had no intention of living that kind of life. So I tidied my clothes once again.

It was the day to meet with Judy's family.