Chapter 48
After this small complaint, Hitaon pressed his lips firmly against Luirene’s red lips like a stamp, then stepped back. Standing on tiptoe, Luirene fixed his cravat, which had been ruined by her pulling at it. As he received her touch obediently, he asked.
“I hear you’ve made a new maid friend recently?”
“How do you know?”
“I have a spy watching your every move.”
“…Is that true?”
“It’s a joke. Though your startled face is cute, I think you owe me an explanation for your behavior just now. Is there something about your life I shouldn’t know? Did you perhaps meet another man behind my back?”
“How could I? Anyone would be that surprised hearing they’re being watched. How do you know?”
“My knight happened to see you spending time in the library with another maid this morning.”
Luirene nodded.
“Her name is Eneka. She said she wants to learn to read, so I’ve been helping her lately.”
“You’re teaching her yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’re Teacher Luirene.”
“I’m not accomplished enough to be called Teacher.”
“That’s not for you to decide.”
Hitaon smoothed his now-restored cravat and murmured.
“I envy that maid.”
“Why?”
“Because I’d like to learn a thing or two from Teacher Luirene as well.”
“…After graduating from that difficult Academy, how can you say that?”
“It’s just that receiving instruction without pause in that pretty voice of yours doesn’t seem like a bad idea.”
“Unfortunately, I’m not the strict type when it comes to teaching.”
“Being gently coaxed isn’t bad either. Depending on the situation, that might be even more exciting.”
Luirene made a playful face of disgust and tapped his chest. Hitaon caught her hand and pressed his lips to the back of it.
“If someone becomes your ally, I’ll gladly get along with them.”
“And if not?”
“I’ll throw them out immediately.”
“How can you tell the difference?”
“Simple. When a dangerous moment comes, see whether they’re the type to put you at risk.”
Having answered clearly, he helped her down from the washstand and checked his pocket watch.
“I really have to go now.”
His voice dripped with reluctance. Luirene caught him as he headed toward the door and rose on her heels. Leaving a soft bird’s kiss on his handsome lips, she whispered like a push.
“Young master. There’s something I want.”
Instead of answering, Hitaon made a surprised face. Luirene interpreted that expression as discomfort.
“I’m sorry. Was I being presumptuous?”
“No, no. It’s not that. It’s just that you’ve never…”
“…….”
“…asked me for anything before. What do you want? Jewelry? Accessories? Perfume? Or should I write you a blank check so you can choose freely?”
She wished it were a joke, but his face was deathly serious. Luirene shook her head.
“That’s not what I want.”
“Then what?”
“I want something you had with you on the day you competed in the riding competition, young master. It doesn’t matter if it shows signs of use.”
“Something from that day? Why?”
“Because it was the day you came back safely with a good result, without getting hurt anywhere.”
“…So you want it as a keepsake?”
Smiling a smile that suited her, Hitaon held out the pocket watch he had been carrying.
“I used this watch that day too. How about it?”
“Anything is fine. If you give it to me, I’ll treasure it.”
“You can break it as much as you like. Feel free to carry it around.”
Luirene examined the beautifully gilded pocket watch. Chuckling at her excited reaction, like a child who’d received a birthday gift, Hitaon lightly pinched her cheek.
After he left, Luirene approached the window across the room. Just then, she saw Hitaon walking toward his carriage.
The man who had been dazzling even indoors stood beneath the late spring sunlight, his contours deepening, revealing a far more profound aura. Like sunlight shimmering on water, his silver hair shone with an almost unreal beauty, adorning him like a finishing touch.
Before boarding the carriage, he looked back toward her. After sending a gaze that made her chest feel as if it might crumple, he climbed inside. Watching the carriage recede into the distance, Luirene clutched the pocket watch, which glittered as if it had found its true owner, deep in her palm.
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