EEA Chapter 28

The place Ailea was dragged to was a round space surrounded by translucent curtains. It was where Flora always sat to oversee and manage the salon. There was a sofa in the center, and Ailea and Flora went to sit there. Flora slightly parted the curtains to look out and said.

"His Highness is really quite popular."

"Indeed."

Ailea forced a smile. Clint shone wherever he was. Since Ailea wasn't there, women continued to show interest in Clint. And Clint, accustomed to that situation that always arose, would joke appropriately and entertain the women. Flora, watching Ailea bite her lips beneath her mask, said.

"Until recently, I always had lovers."

"Pardon?"

"Handsome men, wealthy men, young men."

"...Ma, Madam?"

While Ailea was shocked by a story she had never imagined, Flora said matter-of-factly.

"But the most interesting man turned out to be one who communicated well with me."

"Ah..."

"Do you see that man over there? The one with the limp."

Ailea looked where Flora was pointing. She saw a young man with a cane going to stand by the wall. Though his shaggy hair covered much of his face, he still had a handsome appearance. He leaned against the wall and scribbled something on paper. Flora said.

"That's Miller, a painter."

"Yes."

"He limps and is poor, but I laugh when I talk with him."

"..."

"Ever since I realized that, I've been living without lovers."

Many men came and went to their area to greet Flora. Handsome, glamorous, and capable men continuously came and went. Yet when Ailea felt uncomfortable and sent them away without lengthy conversations, Flora whispered to Ailea.

"Conversing with artists is a pleasant thing. They make you feel again the various emotions you gradually forget."

"I'm fine."

Though she spoke freely, Flora's gaze was always directed toward Miller. She was in love. Even to Ailea's eyes, which knew little of love, that sincerity was visible. Flora said,

"Well, if there's a man who brings joy to you, you would surely be the first to know yourself. That he's special."

Flora said this with a smile and left the place.

Left alone, Ailea was quietly thinking about Flora's words. Then she noticed a book stuck in the bookshelf by the wall. It was a biography of 'Rick Pity,' a mercenary knight who had crossed from Teniac to Dipolia. Ailea reached out with a happy expression. At that moment, her hand touched another hand that was trying to take out the same book. Startled, Ailea pulled back her hand and looked to the side to see Clint.

"Clint?"

"...Why are you alone?"

When Clint asked with a frown, Ailea smiled and said.

"Just... I like this book."

"Rick Pity?"

Clint asked as if surprised. Ailea nodded.

"Yes! He was really cool. I wanted to become a knight so much that I wished I could be reborn as one."

"Which part did you like?"

"The scene where he met enemy forces in the Calton Mountains, but everyone thought they'd rather die first because they didn't want to move due to hypothermia. It was so realistic it was scary."

"They said the red blood froze immediately on the snow piled up in the mountains."

At his response, Ailea asked in surprise.

"Do you like that book?"

"Of course, I read it as a child and told my mother I would become a mercenary when I grew up. Mother was so surprised she tried to throw the book away."

At those words, Ailea burst into laughter. A sense of camaraderie formed and laughter came. Tonight in this unfamiliar space, this was the first time she had laughed out loud.

Though she had met many artists and nobles tonight, she had always felt uncomfortable and only forced smiles.

But this man made her feel at ease and brought her genuine joy. Among all the people she had encountered tonight, only this man.

Ailea gently pushed him away and said.

"I'll just read the book for a little while. Please go somewhere else."

"Ailea."

"Madam Flora will return soon."

She said this and drew the curtains again. Thinking he had gone far away, Ailea turned the pages. As she was reading, she heard women's voices from nearby.

"Ah, His Grace the Grand Duke seems to like Count Winston."

At those words, Ailea's eyes widened. He was her favorite author. Ailea slightly parted the curtains and looked outside to see Count Winston's book in Clint's hands as he still leaned against the bookshelf.

Even just standing still, he gets surrounded by women. Ailea was thinking when a young lady asked.

"Which of Count Winston's works do you like?"

"I like the Moon series."

At those words, Ailea, who had closed the curtains again, smiled and mouthed 'Me too.' Then the young lady asked again.

"Do you happen to have a particular sentence you like?"

"Hmm."

Ailea, who had been listening to Clint and their conversation, also fell into thought. And the two of them opened their mouths simultaneously.

"I like the flowers of unclear days when the moon halo sets."

Ailea, who had unconsciously made a sound, covered her mouth with her hand. Clint continued.

"On humid days, flowers seem to smile satisfyingly like a child with a full belly. There's a sentence like that."

It was from a book called "Flowers of the Moon Halo" in the Moon series. Then Clint opened the curtains. And he looked at Ailea.

Only then did Ailea lower the hand that had been covering her mouth and smiled.

"I'm sorry. I like it too."

"..."

"I unconsciously made a sound. Sorry for eavesdropping."

Tonight, though she had met countless wonderful people, it was amusing that the only person she felt connected to, the only person she wanted to converse with, was this man.

'If there's a man who brings joy to you, you would surely be the first to know yourself. That he's special.'

Remembering Madam Flora's words, Ailea began to laugh. It was laughter like countless jewels spilling out.

"Why are you laughing?"

When Clint asked, Ailea gradually stopped laughing and answered.

"Just..."

Ailea felt like both laughter and tears might come out at the same time.

Even without seeing his face, even without knowing the other person was Clint.

If she were ever to love someone, it felt scary that it would surely be this man.

The fact that he was already such a special person to her.

It was funny and frightening.

Returning from the salon, Ailea looked at herself in the mirror. And she sat there blankly for a while.

Clint certainly had an excellent exterior. So she thought it was natural to be captivated by that man's face.

But excluding his face, tonight, the person who matched her best was him.

Ailea took off her mask. And she stood up. Tears kept flowing.

She had thought he might dislike seeing her naked body, that he might feel disgusted like Roylin had. So even knowing Clint wanted their wedding night, she had deliberately avoided it.

But tonight, she simply felt like doing what he wanted. She wanted to be held by him.

Because Clint was such a warm person. Because unlike Roylin, he was someone who wouldn't say such hurtful words no matter how much she displeased him.

"Clint."

When she knocked and called, Clint answered.

"Come in."

At his permission, Ailea opened the door and entered. Clint, who was sitting on the bed with his left leg crossed over his right thigh reading a book, asked her.

"What's the matter?"

"Can I sleep here tonight, just for today?"

When Ailea gripped her dress hem tightly and asked, Clint thought for a moment before answering.

"...Change into nightclothes and come."

Because it's embarrassing, please understand without me having to say it, Ailea said in a whining tone she rarely used.

"No, not that..."

Clint, who quickly realized what her words meant, said calmly.

"You don't have to force yourself."

"It's okay."

She raised her head. And looking at Clint with those clear eyes, she continued.

"If I'm not such a detestable partner to you... I want to spend tonight with you."

Having said this much, Ailea hoped desperately that he wouldn't reject her.

She felt that being rejected once by Clint would be much sadder than being rejected thousands of times by Roylin.

Clint gazed at her intently. Tonight, there had been only one person at the salon.

The only person who had made him focus on his partner was Ailea, just one person.

When they reached for the same book, when they thought of the same passage, Clint was swept by emotions he couldn't express in words.

Why is it? Why do I keep pouring all my attention into her?

He put the book down on the bed. And he walked toward her who was waiting for his answer.

His strong arm wrapped around Ailea's slender waist and bit her lips painfully. Her shoulders flinched. The pain from being bitten made her momentarily forget the surprise and bewilderment when he kissed her again. But when his tongue again explored inside her lips, she quickly realized that he was kissing her. He had a pleasant scent. Though her waist bent backward making her posture unstable, the solid arm holding her was stable, making her focus only on this kiss.

After kissing her with such overwhelming sweetness that it made her head spin, Clint gently licked the spot he had bitten with his tongue before pulling away. When Ailea's face flushed red and she tried to look away, Clint cupped her chin with his fingers to guide her gaze back to his. Positioned so close their breaths mingled, he spoke in a voice that was both low and roughened with desire.

"Don't cry tonight."

When Ailea nodded slightly, he kissed her again.

"I think you'll cry if I undress you, so you undress."

Clint said matter-of-factly. He remembered how Ailea had cried last time when he tried to undress her.

Ailea slowly began by taking off her gloves. Strangely, being under his gaze made even removing gloves feel like a very lewd act.

She took off both gloves and placed them on the table, then reached behind her back to pull the ribbon. When she struggled to untie the knot alone, Clint reached out to help her.

While she undressed piece by piece, Clint turned around to give her time, taking off his gloves and drinking a sip of water. And he also took off his white shirt.

His broad back with its triangular shape was full of stability. Since he didn't seem nervous at all, Ailea felt a little wronged.