THBO 39

 Chapter 39

Cecilia stared for a long time at her younger brother, who cast a long shadow as if trying to swallow her whole.
It was a relief that Alexis’s face was hidden. If she were to fall into that violet prison right now, she felt she would be helplessly swept away.

The man looked down.
The woman looked up.
All the while the sunlight subtly changed from moment to moment.

Even as the breeze that toyed with the man’s shirt wrapped itself around the hem of the woman’s skirt, it continued on and on….

At some point, the once-bustling noise had vanished.
Neither birdsong nor the ringing of the clock tower could be heard at this moment.
All that remained were the sounds of two hearts beating at the same pace.

Just then, the wind blew.

Carrying the scent of the forest, it circled the man once before pouring down over the woman, gifting her the sensation of sinking into his body heat.
Her entire five senses filled with his presence.

Time felt solid, as though no one would dare shatter this instant.

And so the woman suppressed the urge to turn and flee, while the man restrained the impulse to snatch her up.

Even as he wanted to pull that slender body staring up at him into an embrace and bind her.
Even as he wanted to engrave his mark on her from head to toe.
Even as he wanted to pry open those lips that let out soundless moans and taste that sweet tongue.
Even as he dreamed of her restless gaze finally dissolving into pleasure.

Just before burning desire turned into a raging blaze, the man somehow crushed it down and swallowed it whole.

He was used to enduring things….

He closed his eyes, then opened them. The woman—clearly just bathed—was still looking at him.
Alexis quickly composed himself and stepped down from the railing.

“…Where did your shoes go?”

Cecilia frowned deliberately.

“I sold them.”

He answered casually.

“How much did you get for them?”

“Not sure. I don’t remember.”

“I think I’ll go into exile before you’re crowned.”

“Where would you go? You have to take care of your useless little brother.”

“Only a brother when it’s convenient….”

That last remark was painfully accurate, leaving Alexis at a loss for words.

Her soft laughter tickled his ears—sweet like cotton candy, soft like freshly fluffed cotton.
His fingers twitched, wanting to trace her relaxed smile.

He had to endure it.

“Then, Sister.”

He scooped her up in his arms.

Cecilia let out a small cry and naturally wrapped her arms around his neck. Alexis carefully adjusted his hold so she’d be comfortable.

“Let’s go see the lantern festival.”

“…Huh? Alec? Alec? Don’t you think I’m not dressed to meet people right now?”

As if I’d let anyone else see you.
This wasn’t some experiment to see how far I could be pushed before snapping.

Her comfortable nightwear, her damp hair—those were sights he could never allow anyone else.
Just imagining it made his teeth grind.

Only after taking a deep breath could the man force out his voice.

“We’re not going to the beach… we’re going to the Sapphire Gallery. It’s the highest room in Sharten Palace.”

“Huh?”

As Cecilia tilted her head, Alexis lightly kicked off the ground and leapt.
They rose against the wind, and her golden eyes widened in shock.

He chuckled softly and gently pressed a hand to the crown of her head resting against his chin.
Even if she didn’t show it openly, he could clearly feel her body’s reflexive shiver.
Her pale hand clutching tightly at his shirt, too.

Feeling the warmth burrowing into his chest, Alexis wanted to kiss every single strand of her hair.
His desire ran wild today, as though its reins had snapped.
Perhaps it was because of the gentle scent rising from her pale nape.

Barely regaining his composure, he stopped his step in midair.

Even twilight—the end of the day—had its own end. The sun slipped beyond the horizon, bidding farewell.
The final rays surged forth, drenched in a majestic crimson.

So red it almost hurt.
Like fresh blood flowing from a torn wound in the sky.

As the woman gazed at the bloody spectacle as if entranced, he admired the woman in his arms, stained red by the light.
They said violet suited her—but red suited her just as fantastically.

She was beautiful.
Almost absurdly so—enough to make him dizzy.

“It’s purple,” Cecilia murmured softly.

Only then did Alexis finally lift his gaze to the sky.
The familiar hue now spread across it, after the sunset had faded.

“It’s your color.”

Cecilia laughed lightly, and Alexis forced himself to keep a neutral expression.

“Thank you, Alec. It was so beautiful.”

“Would you like to see it again tomorrow?”

“Hm? …No, it’s fine. You have to see things only occasionally to keep them special.”

“If that’s what you wish.”

Unconsciously, she pressed her soft cheek against his shoulder.
She looked far too comfortable, far too defenseless.

They were floating at a height where a fall would mean instant death, yet she showed no fear at all.
Was it an act—or trust in him?

The dizzying sensation brought by the softness of her cheek sent warning bells ringing in his head.
Fortunately, he was used to restraint. Muttering inwardly, Alexis adjusted his hold once more.

Cradling the woman in his arms as if she were a treasure, he moved forward through the air.
They finally arrived at the balcony of the Sapphire Gallery.

She slipped from his arms and straightened her posture.
Her bare white feet landed lightly on blue tiles patterned like ocean waves.

“I didn’t know Sharten had a room like this.”

“You’ve been in seclusion for so long, Sister. It’s a room reserved for the imperial family.”

Like Ponref, Sharten also had many rooms inaccessible to anyone not of the ‘Lusien’ bloodline.
Among them, the most famous were the Sapphire Gallery and the Pearl Gallery.

Named after gemstones, the two galleries were lavishly adorned in blue and pure white respectively, exuding an exotic atmosphere.

Cecilia smoothed her hair and glanced toward the room beyond the balcony.
Just a brief look was enough to guess how much wealth had been poured into its creation—and the dedication of the artisans.

An enigmatic turquoise hue swirled through the room, as though recreating the depths of the sea.
Colors reminiscent of turquoise and absinthe felt dreamlike beyond words.

“Would you like to go inside? There’s still time before the lantern festival starts.”

“…No, it’s okay.”

Cecilia declined without delay.

“The balcony is beautiful too.”

Though less flamboyant than the room, the balcony itself was a massive work of art—
wave-shaped railings, tiles the color of the sea, and tiny crystals sparkling everywhere like reflections on water.

And that wasn’t all.

As if prepared in advance, a table held a basket of bread, jam, cheese, and even a bottle of white wine.
The fragrant scent of freshly baked bread drifted up.

She was hungry, having skipped lunch and taken a nap, but Cecilia endured it out of habit.
With social events starting tomorrow, restraint was necessary.

At this hour, the only thing she could allow herself was white wine.

“Won’t you eat something?”

“…Mm, I’ll just have wine.”

“If you insist.”

Alexis nodded readily and poured wine into her glass.
In the encroaching darkness, the pale green liquid shimmered faintly.

Cecilia gently swirled the glass, then extended her arm toward Alexis.
The clear chime of glass meeting glass spread softly through the air.

“To you finding a partner as soon as possible.”

The moment she finished the toast, Alexis let out a long, earth-shaking sigh.
Cecilia brought the glass to her lips and shot him a sidelong glance.

“Isn’t that a perfectly reasonable wish?”

“…I’ll find one on my own, Sister. I’m not a twelve-year-old child.”

“For someone who says that, you don’t seem very motivated.”

Instead of answering, Alexis stabbed at the cheese with his fork.
Watching her brother pretend not to hear and eat diligently, Cecilia kindly reminded him.

“You said by this winter.”

“That’s right.”

“Then don’t be so relaxed about something with a deadline…. When we return to Ponref, I’ll invite all the young ladies of Lusien. How does that sound?”

Once again, no answer.

Alexis simply continued eating his buttered baguette with gusto.
She could only click her tongue quietly at the sight.

No matter that he currently held the position of crown prince—he could only inherit the throne after finding a partner and stabilizing his magic.

‘…He’ll bring someone by winter.’

Cecilia leaned back slowly in her chair.

Once Alexis completed his coronation…
She—
the ‘fake princess’—

would become an obstacle.

‘It might be fine to disappear quietly….’

Her thoughts broke off abruptly. Cecilia reached out and poured herself another glass of wine.
The sweet-bitter aroma made her whole body relax, and perhaps because her stomach was empty, the alcohol hit her quickly.

‘Get a grip, Cecil.’

Forcing herself to gather her wits, she set the glass back down.

“It’s started.”

Alexis tipped his chin.

Turning toward the beach, she saw a thin streak of light cut across the sky.
Cecilia blinked blankly, following its path.

It was no longer just one streak. Multicolored lights flickered together, pushing back the darkness.

Red, gold, blue, green, purple, silvery white….

Perhaps because they were made by magic, it felt as though daytime had returned—brilliant enough to engulf the entire world.

“It’s beautiful.”

The admiration slipped out on its own.

She murmured softly as she watched the lanterns paint the sky.
They were dazzlingly bright, breathtakingly beautiful—
enough to leave one utterly spellbound.

The first lantern was red.
The next, pale green.
Then blue, vermilion, silver-white. And then….

“Yeah… it really is beautiful.”

“That—”

Cecilia stopped herself mid-agreement.

It was nothing special—just a simple response, an ordinary expression of awe.
And yet, she found herself turning her head in mild surprise.

The sincerity in her brother’s short remark felt strangely heavy and awkward.

‘Something’s… off.’

Alexis wasn’t the type to be moved by festivals like this. And yet that tone—
the moment she looked at him, their gazes tangled.

While she had been watching the night sky, the man had been watching her.
Those violet eyes seized her gaze and bound it tight—
so firmly she couldn’t escape, so deeply it was immeasurable.

Something was definitely wrong.

She slowly opened and closed her eyes.
Even in the brief darkness, he remained vividly clear.

Her thoughts were a mess, but her instincts sharpened all the more.
Even the slight buzz of alcohol vanished completely.

And that made it all the more… strange.

As she mulled it over blankly, Cecilia suddenly widened her eyes.

A distant sound echoed from somewhere. Perhaps the sound of lanterns rising into the sky.
But that sound pounded loudly, rummaging through her entire consciousness.

Like tinnitus.
A sound of the world spinning, of all forms collapsing and breaking apart.

…the sound of falling.

And so, she had no choice but to realize it.

Cecilia rose to her feet, her face drained of all color.