Chapter 24
Cairn reached out and grabbed her arm, breaking the stubbornly clasped fingers behind her back and lacing his own fingers with hers. In the end, they were holding hands.
“We’re at Baltar Palace, so we have to follow palace etiquette.”
“What etiquette?”
“Old friends are supposed to hold hands when they walk together.”
“Since when?”
“Since just now. I made it up.”
Lilien, who’d been trying so hard to keep a straight face, couldn’t help but burst into laughter at his words. Their fingers intertwined tightly, like the roots of neighboring trees.
Oddly enough, his made-up rules reassured her.
Well, maybe friends can hold hands. Maybe that’s allowed.
She tried to erase from her mind a line she’d read in one of her beloved author Ashburn’s books: ‘There’s no such thing as a platonic friendship between a man and a woman.’
But she and Cairn were special. The two of them could break the rules—holding hands, even being close physically, and still call themselves friends.
After all, romance novels aren’t gospel; a little exception never hurt anyone.
* * *
The picnic ended, and it was time to say goodbye. While the Grand Duke, Grand Duchess, and her father exchanged farewells, Cairn came over to her.
“Take care, Lily.”
Taking advantage of a moment when no one was looking, kissed her quickly on the bridge of her nose. Lilien’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What are you so shocked about? Just think of it like the pecks on the cheek we used to give each other as kids. It’s the same—just, you know, on your nose instead.”
He quoted her own words back at her, teasing with that sly wit of his.
‘When we were little, we used to kiss each other on the cheek. This is the same—just on the lips now, that’s all…’
Lilien scratched her nose, a bit flustered.
“Hey, Cairn. Have you ever been to Lake Boltman?”
“No.”
“Then, will you go with me?”
Cairn, who had been quietly laughing at her surprise, suddenly looked taken aback.
“You mean, just you and me? Alone?”
It was a fair question—they’d never gone anywhere together outside their gardens or the occasional outdoor party.
“Yes. Sir Regid told me about it. He said it’s perfect for a boat ride.”
Lilien’s real plan was to go boating there, then introduce Cairn to Eisen at a restaurant in Old Town. But Cairn, clueless to her ulterior motives, cleared his throat.
“Lake Boltman? That’s pretty far from Baltan, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“…You really know how to make things difficult.”
He grumbled, but the smile he couldn’t hide said otherwise. Lilien could never tell whether he wanted to go or not. With men, it seemed, what they said and what they felt were two different things.
“Well… If you don’t want to, we could just visit a nearby museum and have dinner instead.”
“Lily, who said I didn’t want to?”
“You just said it was a bother.”
“You want to go, right? It’s not like you have anyone else to take you.”
She hadn’t exactly insisted, but Cairn had a habit of twisting her words.
“Yeah.”
She lied, not wanting to admit she had plans to go with Regid next month. For some reason, she felt like Cairn would get mad if she mentioned it.
“Then I guess I’ll have to take Lady Lilien de Bermore myself.”
He tipped his chin arrogantly. It was annoyingly smug, but since she was the one asking for a favor, she let it slide.
“Yes, what an honor for my family, Sir Cairn Etienne Heddington.”
She gave a small, playful curtsy.
For some reason, Cairn touched his cheek and, out of nowhere, muttered.
“So… Is this… a date?”
“What?”
She tilted her head, unsure what he’d just said. Just then, her father called from the carriage.
“Lilien!”
She waved that she’d be right there.
“I have to go. See you soon!”
Cairn nodded, lips pressed tight.
“Bye, Cairn!”
He stood there, rooted to the spot, until her carriage disappeared past the palace walls—just as he always did, watching her go before finally returning to the guesthouse.
The Grand Duke, seeing his son’s unwavering vigil, simply gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze before heading back inside with his wife.
Left alone, Cairn gazed for a long time at the spot where the carriage had vanished.
Friend.
When had they ever truly been just friends?
The more you try to draw a line, the more you want to cross it. Why didn’t she understand that? Didn’t those old books warn her?
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