Chapter 52
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Chapter 52
Vivian had always been that way.
Despite her honesty with her emotions, she had never once told me she wanted to see me.
Yet she would spill every detail about other matters without even being asked.
It had always stung a little, but only today did I understand the reason.
She had deliberately buried her true feelings to protect me.
'But that's merely friendship, isn't it?'
Lahedis smiled bitterly at this realization and carefully returned the diary to its original place.
'Of course, her feelings for Rachel are beautiful and precious, but....'
If I couldn't be satisfied with that alone, was my desire too greedy?
Lahedis gazed quietly at the sleeping Vivian, then carefully gathered the strands of pink hair scattered across the bedsheet.
The soft hair caught around his long fingers.
This gentle contact was a dramatic compromise with the Dark Spirit rumbling above her head.
Since I had no intention of waking Vivian, I decided to be content with simply being able to see her sleeping face.
During the day, whenever our eyes met, I was too busy naturally averting my gaze to avoid being discovered.
Vivian had grown exactly as she was ten years ago.
Still small, fearless despite that, bright and unblemished.
So much so that she was even affectionate toward an Escort she was seeing for the first time today.
'She was being that affectionate without even knowing I was Rachel.'
Given Vivian's nature, it was only natural, yet an inexplicable irritation welled up within me.
Lahedis was grateful that I hadn't sent someone else, but soon found myself mocking my own pettiness.
'Jealous of myself, of all things....'
Meanwhile, the very person who had caused this was sleeping soundly without a care.
Lahedis gazed at that infuriating sleeping face for a long while before quietly leaving the room.
Before the door stood Curtis Rohan, who had been waiting there—though I couldn't say since when.
"I didn't bring her to the Estate for you to indulge your own desires."
"Please understand, Grandfather. It's been ten years since I've seen her."
My grandson, who had endured everything over the past decade, had grown bold enough to be cheeky with me.
Curtis Rohan, who knew better than anyone the heart with which his grandson had survived that time, decided to end his lecture there.
"So when do you plan to tell Vivian the truth?"
At that question, Lahedis's eyes grew distant.
I hadn't revealed my identity to Vivian because Terrak's power hadn't yet reached my target level.
While I could tell Vivian the truth alone, now that she had entered the Duke's Residence, the Emperor would surely begin watching her as well.
To deceive the Emperor and protect Vivian from him, it was safer to deceive even her.
"...When my preparations are completely finished."
Curtis Rohan understood his grandson's heart.
Since Vivian had nearly died because of me, I needed to be certain I could protect her completely from the Emperor.
"Still, don't make her wait too long."
Regardless of Lahedis's intentions, the result would ultimately be a deception of Vivian.
Having left his final counsel, Curtis Rohan turned away and disappeared down the corridor.
Watching his retreating figure, Lahedis recalled another reason he hadn't confessed to his grandfather, and he laughed bitterly at himself.
When all the preparations were complete, and I revealed my true identity.
'Even if I'm no longer your friend Rachel... will you still care for me?'
Will you accept these feelings of mine that have grown into something far deeper than friendship?
I'm afraid of that, Vivian.
* * *
"Mmm...."
Morning, when soft sunlight began to filter through.
Upon waking, I moved through my usual routine, the same as I always did at home.
I rose from bed, stretched languidly, tied back my disheveled hair, and approached the window to draw open the curtains.
Beyond the glass lay not the small Village where I'd spent twenty years, but a meticulously maintained Garden sprawling across considerable grounds.
Though the landscape was unfamiliar, the presence of people I cherished in this place made it feel like home.
"Good morning."
As I cracked the window open to feel the gentle autumn breeze, I sensed a familiar presence beside the windowsill.
It was Kamang, who had drawn close to my side without my noticing.
I gave Kamang's head a light tap with my index finger and offered a morning greeting.
"Did you sleep well too?"
"Meow!"
But Kamang seemed to have something to say, and suddenly leaped down from the windowsill.
And then....
Kamang stretched upward, far exceeding my eye level.
'The size and form vaguely resemble a human shadow, don't they?'
As I gazed up in bewilderment, I recalled a certain person whose height and build matched Kamang's current form.
"Ah, Sir Lahedis?"
"Meow!"
Whether I'd guessed correctly, Kamang proceeded to the next action.
Pacing back and forth between the door and my bed, it seemed....
"Do you like him that much? Eager to go meet him so quickly?"
Judging by how Kamang had stayed glued to Sir Lahedis's side all yesterday, he seemed to have made quite an impression.
'It's not as though a spirit would take a liking to a human's face... though I'm not sure why.'
But Kamang's form trembled, then shrank back to his original palm-sized shape, drooping dejectedly.
"Oh, that's not it?"
I was curious what Kamang was trying to convey, but he seemed to have given up on making me understand. Sigh.
'Well, at least he's not being aggressive, so he can't be a bad person.'
I set aside the matter between Sir Lahedis and Kamang as unremarkable, washed my face lightly in the bathroom, and emerged.
Making my way to the dining hall after my preparations.
I was admiring the autumn scenery visible beyond the corridor when suddenly a soft, low voice reached my ears from behind.
"Good morning."
Startled, I turned around to find Sir Lahedis standing there—I'm not sure when he'd approached.
He too seemed to have just woken, dressed in a comfortable tunic and trousers, his hair slightly tousled.
'And yet he's just as handsome as Curtis Rohan.'
No, if anything, that understated attire seemed to accentuate his features even more.
The white tunic made every color stand out against his pale complexion.
His raven hair, those crystalline blue eyes, those faintly rosy lips for a man.
And through the loosely tied tunic, I could glimpse the defined musculature beneath.
'Thank goodness I've built up immunity to handsome faces thanks to that insufferable Curtis Rohan.'
Otherwise, I might have forgotten my promise with Rachel and completely fallen for that face.
'But wait.'
While my gaze had been stolen by that annoyingly perfect face, his hand had found its way somewhere unexpected.
"...What are you doing?"
"It looks like a puppy's tail."
My hair, tied high in a ponytail, was particularly frizzy at the ends, and his fingers continued to curl and twirl those strands.
He wasn't pulling or anything, so it didn't hurt, but...
'So basically, you're treating me like a dog right now?'
When I looked up at him with a disgruntled expression, he met my gaze and let out a soft chuckle.
"You're adorable."
'W-what did you just say?'
I blinked at his unexpected words, then turned my eyes forward to avoid his amused gaze.
'He must mean my hair is cute.'
But despite my intention to ignore him and move on, I felt his persistent stare from beside me.
As if he were waiting for me to turn back around.
Eventually, I couldn't help myself and glanced up at him to ask.
"Do you have something to say?"
"You..."
Lahedis wore a rather serious expression as he studied me for a long moment before continuing.
"You're really small."
Despite inheriting my handsome father's good looks, there was one thing I found lacking about myself.
And that was my height.
'Why are you suddenly pointing out someone else's height?'
What made it worse was that there wasn't a trace of jest in that face of his.
"...Are you dissatisfied with my height?"
"Not dissatisfied. I'm concerned."
He gently patted the top of my head and added.
"From now on, drink plenty of milk and go to bed early. That's how you'll grow tall."
His tone was almost as if he were coaxing a small child.
'Who do you think I am, a little kid!'
When I glared at him indignantly, Lahedis simply walked away with long, leisurely strides as if he were teasing the small me.
His low laughter followed behind him a beat too late.
His smile, his voice, that mischievous yet gentle touch... it was infuriating, but strangely, I didn't dislike it, which made it all the more irritating.
'I'm taking back what I told Rachel about him being a good person. I'm going to tell her everything.'
I watched him recede with competitive fire blazing in my eyes, then quickened my pace and overtook him.
Unaware of the complex emotion swirling in his gaze as he watched my back.
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