At The End Of The Hand I Grasped (3)

To turn herself away from breakfast of her own accord—what a kind master she was. In Kardia’s arms, Noi thought that in all seriousness.

Of course, Noi hadn’t truly believed Kardia had a fever. Naturally so. Noi had noticed the feelings in him that even he himself had not yet noticed.

Kardia surely liked Noi.

He liked Noi in precisely the way Noi wished to be liked.

Only, Kardia had not yet realized his own love. He hadn’t realized it, and even if he did, he surely would refuse to acknowledge it. That was why, in deed and word, he tried at every turn to run away from Noi.

Words stood on Kardia’s side.

If someone so skilled at lying kept lying, someday those lies might turn into real feelings.

Noi did not want to snip off the love that had finally sprouted inside him by rushing things.

Reaching the garden, Kardia cleared his throat with a polite little “ahem.”

Even his face still carried a faint flush. A few months ago, she would never have imagined she could see Kardia wear a face like this.

“…By the way, I did not throw up yesterday.”

“That’s right.”

Because she hadn’t expected him to bring up yesterday on his own, Noi blinked rapidly.

As expected, perhaps because he recalled yesterday’s kiss, Kardia’s face went scarlet.

“…Which means, Noi—you have to keep your promise.”

“Ah yes. The one where I win you over with everything I’ve got.”

“Not that one.”

Because Kardia said it with a sulk, Noi also pouted. To Noi, that was the main point.

“You’re going to refuse that man’s offer, aren’t you?”

Pettily unwilling to say it plainly, Noi affected a bluffing “Who knows.”

Kardia set his hand against Noi’s cheek and turned her face toward him.

“Noi.”

His voice, used to bending others to his will, was imperious; yet his crimson eyes were wet with pleading.

(Because that’s not fair—it’s all you.)

Kardia liked Noi too, after all.

He had just said he wouldn’t rush things, and even so Noi wanted him to show his feelings. Love was like that—bouncing helplessly back and forth between such urges.

“Even I should be allowed one place to run away to.”

“It’s right here. I’ll be your place to run, Noi.”

Noi shook her head from side to side.

Perhaps irritated, veins stood on Kardia’s brow as he peered into Noi’s eyes.

“So it’s fine if it’s that man? Why? What do you—”

“Sometime, when you and I have a fight, I want to say it at least once: ‘I’m going back to my parents’ house!’”

When Noi said that, Kardia blinked.

“He belongs to the Galenée family. If you trace the name, you arrive at my younger brother. …Having the name still remain—it’s unexpectedly heartening.”

By now he was one of the few Royal Court Mages chosen for the king’s royal guard. He likely wasn’t in a position to linger at leisure in a place this remote, so he would surely be leaving before long. Before that, he had brought the matter to Noi.

“…Then I’ll go as well, when we pay our respects.”

That would probably be less “Please give me your daughter’s hand” and more “We are deeply obliged to you.” It wasn’t quite the form Noi had wished for, but if she pressed here, he would obviously start by denying it all again, so Noi nodded broadly.

“Ah, let’s go together.”

Kardia narrowed his eyes against the brightness of Noi’s dandelion-like smile.

“Until then, I’ll stay by you—and keep it to a level of love that won’t make you puke.”

“You learned that I don’t get sick from Noi, didn’t you?”

Perhaps because he hadn’t thrown up yesterday, Kardia answered with perfect confidence.

Grass swayed, flowers unfurled. The fountain’s water leapt, as if everything were giddy with some omen.

“Absolutely?”

“Absolutely.”

Noi slid her hands around Kardia’s neck and tilted her head; Kardia, cheeks faintly reddened, nodded.

“Then prove it.”

Noi narrowed her eyes—and let them fall closed.

Face bright red and brow furrowed, Kardia set his resolve and leaned in.

From the garden of the Hyuetos Magic Count’s manor, a bird spread its great wings and took flight.