Chapter 34

-ˏˋ♡꒷︶꒦꒷︶︶︶꒷꒦꒷︶꒷♡ˎˊ˗

(Hildea’s POV)

It is a distance that is easy to cross over, once he grabs a hold of the railing on the first floor terrace.

A deep, unfamiliar scent was exuded. ‘Was it the shower cologne that he sprayed?’

I swallow dry saliva.

“Lady Hildea.”

“…Yes.”

“Hill.”

At that friendly name, he frowns as if he has eaten something very unpleasant, and pauses for a moment.

He gently rubs his chest, as if he is sick.

However, without paying any attention to his actions, Gabriel makes an unexpected request.

“Ask me, please. Why do you think I want to see you, My Lady?”

I unconsciously shake my head.

‘It’s the same as Rosé who suddenly uttered such words earlier. Could it be possible that these two had a lover’s quarrel?’

‘That’s why they’re not going to be partners anymore, and now they’ll be saying that they won’t bring me with them, right?’

(T/N: Lmao, haha Hildea seriously? Haha..)

‘Well, that makes sense.’

I’m rendered speechless by the turn of events, but the thought makes my heart ache to some extent.

It’s come to the point that it feels so weird.

“As expected, you don’t like it.”

While I was distracted for a second, he seemed to have thought of something and come to his own conclusion.

“If so, I hope you can at least accept this.”

I blankly followed him as he reached out and raised my hand without realizing it.

Just like a knight who asks for a kiss on the back of the hand and the knight’s maiden who shyly accepts it.

I feel like there is static electricity that is spreading from his fingertips, and then he moves.

He grabbed my hand and gently pulled me towards his side. When I hastily grabbed the patio railing, I leaned slightly towards him, and the tips of my messy hair brushed against his shoulder.

‘Huh.’

The tips of his hair tickle, as if they directly touch my skin.

And Gabriel’s hand moves quickly, like he wouldn’t allow that something to move away that easily.

With a clicking sound as if a door is being opened, something clatters and falls.

No, rather than falling, it sinks very slowly, as if an invisible hand is holding and lowering it.

Then, something appears in front of my eyes.

“This is…”

It’s a set with a very colorful necklace and earrings.

“Gabriel. Is this magic?”

It’s so pretty that I can’t take my eyes off it for some reason.

Somehow, it feels like the dark purple eyes in the distance are smiling beautifully.

Nonetheless, his face is still expressionless.

“Yes, it is.”

‘If so, then why are you giving this to me?’

Those words are caught in my throat. My hand, which was holding the railing, tightens.

“Will you accept it?”

Gabriel’s voice, which gasps unnaturally for a moment as if he is feeling uneasy, reaches my ears.

I reach out slowly to the necklace that is shining brightly in front of me.

The delicately crafted silver patterns around the large, vivid ruby-red like jewels are so beautiful.

The small blue gems look like they are blooming, and appear paler and brighter than sapphires.

‘What kind of jewels are these?’

“I don’t know why you prepared these things for me.”

‘But I can’t help but be excited like a child with a dazzling gift in front of me.’

Then I realized the position where Gabriel and I were standing, he gently bit my hand that he was holding.

The hand, which was hot as if he would not let go, was easily removed like a lie. When the place that he touched was exposed to the air, it felt cool as if cold sweat was forming.

“Don’t you like it?”

‘It seems like he is talking to a wall.’

‘It doesn’t matter if I don’t like it.’

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“Would you feel at ease if I told you that I went to Lady Rosériel first?”

‘That would have been natural.’

The odd thing is, he’s not even a playboy in this novel and he didn’t even need to present a gorgeous crafted necklace to his fiancée’s older sister.

“I didn’t buy it on an impulse, so don’t worry about it. Also, it’s not that expensive nor grand… I hope you don’t feel burdened.”

‘I was a bit skeptical.’ But I can’t say it out loud, so I have no choice but to quietly nod my head. Because strangely, just for a second, he looked like he was heartbroken.

“Thank you for the gift.”

‘What a funny sight for someone to see.’

‘A woman with a serious face and a man with a firm expression looking like they are very uncomfortable.’

‘But between the two of us is a very colorful ornate necklace.’

I wrapped it around my hand. The feeling of it being stretched and wrapped around my skin was eerily clear.

“It’s really pretty. Thank you for your kindness. Rosé must have been very happy. That child likes shiny jewels.”

“Yes, I know.”

‘Huh? I thought that you were being sarcastic just now.’

But there is no reason for him to not know that Rosé likes jewelry that much.

“Did you spend a lot?”

He must have sent her a lot since the woman said that she loves them.

In fact, I was saying this because I saw the letters that he sent to Rosé and the numerous sparkling gifts.

But for some reason, he flinched and jumped.

“Those jewels are simply… They were just simply bought.”

‘Are you trying to show off your wealth now?’

‘How many people were not aware of how sweet he was when he carefully ordered those kinds of things while he was on the battlefield and continuously sent such gorgeous things to Rosé?’

I sighed and took a step back.

“By the way, was this necklace the reason why you wanted to see me?”

‘Maybe there is a meaning that I am not aware of.’

Since the family engagement has already been decided, it could be that he is just being polite to the other candidate as well.

‘Oh, maybe the necklace sent to Rosé has the same shape, but the jewels inside are different.’

‘I was not interested in jewelry at all, and I didn’t want to know the detailed patterns and their meanings, so I stayed away from them, but Rosé has mastered those kinds of things…’

Thinking like that made my heart feel a little lighter.

So, with a careful hand, I lifted the necklace and looked at it, and saw Gabriel with softened eyes.

“It may be early, but congratulations, Gabriel.”

“…Did you just congratulate me?”

“Yes.”

‘Hasn’t he waited a long time? The end to the never ending wait that this man in front of me yearns for is now just around the corner.’

(T/N: What she meant on this is that she thought Gabriel has been waiting for this moment when he can finally get engaged to Rosé. Lmao)

Even though you will go through quite a bit of hardship and adversity before that.

I wiggled my fingers, hiding my feelings of being a little lonely.

‘The day will come when I lose my friend from those letters, who I’ve gotten to know, and my younger sister, who I’m only looking out for.’

It’s not really lost, but it won’t be the same as before.

“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time too, so why don’t we go together as partners?”

“Wait… What?”

“I mean why didn’t you ask for a partner?”

‘Oh, that’s what he meant then.’

(T/N: Haha poor Gabriel.)

“Oh, you don’t have to wait…”

“But why not?”

For some reason, his eyes widened. Then I tilted my head.

‘This topic started because I didn’t have a partner like Rosé, but then why does he look like that? Didn’t he hear what I said earlier at the dinner?’

I spoke slowly without thinking any further.

“If you ask me again, then I would say that it might change. Not having a partner for the first dance is a bit… Because it might become a flaw in the future. I may have already regretted it whenI said that earlier.”

However, his reaction was unusual.

“You’re regretting it. Does that mean that you plan to have a partner?”

‘Somehow it feels like he is asking me. Maybe it’s because the end of his gaze is towards me even though that would be impossible.’

‘You should ask Rosé directly.’ Those words tickled as if they were coming out of my lips.

And it’s really absurd to be having all these intimate conversations with me.

I calmly take a step back. He seems surprised by my actions. I bow my head slightly as if to say my greetings.

“Thank you for the necklace, and today’s conversation was also helpful. However, it is late, and the situation is a bit impolite.”

Gabriel looked very embarrassed.

“Well, that’s not… Excuse me.”

For some reason, he looked really embarrassed, and he seemed to be like a naive boy. I was about to burst out laughing.

At that moment, Gabriel’s expression of being embarrassed changed, like someone who saw something very unusual.

‘Why is he making that face again?’

Can it be because I haven’t lifted the corner of my mouth before on my own? But seeing his suddenly blank expression makes me feel comfortable smiling in front of him.

Actually, I wanted to tell him with a bright smile.

It must be just to show his kindness and most likely even though the letters were written by someone else, but nonetheless.

‘I received a lot of comfort from those letters.’

‘I want to say that.’

‘That I’m so thankful.’

But I don’t want him to be swayed, and I don’t want to burden him as well because of it.

Also to my sister, whom I love.

“Please take care, Gabriel.”

I slowly closed the door to the terrace with so much meaning on it in front of the man who was standing blankly.

As I drew the curtains and turned off the lights.

‘But why?’

I stood still, holding my breath, until Gabriel’s shadow in front of me disappeared.

Like a person who didn’t want to leave, as I held on to the cold necklace tightly in my hand.

-ˏˋ ━━━━━━ ʚɞ ━━━━━━ ˊˎ-

(Gabriel’s POV)

“Ah.”

‘How can she come so affectionately and gently, then slowly push me away very coldly?’

I looked at my hands which were trembling helplessly as I sighed and slowly backed away.

I want to knock on that closed window door, draw the curtain that came down, and ask her directly.

‘Hildea.’

‘Are you, perhaps, of the same mind as me?’

‘Are you sad as well?’

‘Did my courage to not ask for a partner and not tell you hurt you?’

My heart is pounding and my ears are ringing.

That gaze, which was clearly facing me, seemed to say that the hope that had been dimly embraced so far was not an illusion.

“The letters, it wasn’t a lie.”

When the cold, heartless, and monotonous sentences gradually began to tell stories of everyday life, little by little.

The words in those letters that passed between the two of us were obviously full of intimacy.

‘That’s why I know her more than anyone else.’

That’s what I thought.

People say that Hildea is a smart person, does not know what loneliness is, and likes to be alone.

‘But you seemed so lonely in that letter.’

‘Like you want me to hold your hand.’

I rubbed my mouth nervously and took a few quick steps.

‘What do you mean by that smile?’

It was significantly different from the subtle smile that Rosériel had drawn when she was spying.

The figure holding the necklace in her hand, looking at me, and smiling brightly enough to be fond of-

It was literally like a weapon that caused my heart to explode.

“It’s so…”

It was a light that could not be expressed by any words.

TO BE CONTINUED…