🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 53
A soft laugh came from behind.
“So that’s why you brought a basket?”
“…I’ll return the basket after I finish making them.”
My timid reply made the laughter behind me grow even louder.
Though I felt a tingling sensation on my back, I resolutely kept facing away from As and continued making the flower crown.
All kinds of warm, bright, and soft-colored flowers were woven together in a circle.
Every time a gentle breeze passed by, the sweet scent brushed against my nose.
The flower crown, made slightly smaller to fit As’s head, was finished quickly.
I carefully checked for any crooked parts and, hiding the crown behind my back, turned to look at As.
As was leaning against the bench’s backrest, observing the swaying flowers.
“As, look over here.”
At my call, As turned toward me from his flower-watching.
I pulled back his hood, took the crown from behind my back, and placed it on his head.
“Beautiful and stylish things suit you well too.”
Repeating the words I had once heard from As, he blinked in surprise and let out a small, awkward laugh.
He looked incredibly cute.
A smile naturally formed on my lips at that moment.
“Wow, what an adorable little young master,” a person nearby exclaimed as they approached.
Their voice was quite loud, causing a few onlookers nearby to turn their attention toward us.
“My goodness, it’s true! He really looks like an angel.”
“Even wearing a cute flower crown! So cute~.”
In an instant, people began to gather around.
Everyone, with faces full of affection, surrounded As, bending slightly while their eyes sparkled as they asked questions.
“What’s your name?”
“Are you out for a walk? And is that your sister? Did you come together?”
“You’re so cute. Can I pet your hair?”
Questions poured out endlessly from all directions.
Flustered by the sudden attention, I bit my lips hard.
My fists clenched so tightly that they turned white.
A creeping feeling of displeasure rose from the corner of my heart.
For a moment, a flicker of annoyance crossed As’s red eyes, but he smiled politely, as if he didn’t want to cause a commotion, and spoke.
“I…”
Then, from the crowd, a hand suddenly reached out.
“How can a child be this cute!”
Seeing the hand stretching toward As’s head to pet him, my mind went blank.
‘—No.’
That was the only clear thought in my head.
I immediately pulled As into my arms.
Thud. His face pressed against my chest.
“Uh…?”
The voice of the person whose hand had missed came out, stunned.
The endless questions vanished in an instant.
Holding As tightly in my arms, I spoke sharply.
“Do not touch him.”
My voice was apparently too harsh. The person trying to pat As sheepishly withdrew her hand.
“I—It’s just that he’s cute, and I wanted to pet him a little. Why are you reacting so sensitively?”
The surrounding people nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, yeah.”
“It’s just a little pat, but she’s so fussy.”
“Even the little brother is staying still. Why is the sister making such a big deal…?”
The murmuring spread further.
I bit my lips again.
My arms holding As began to tremble slightly.
‘…They’re right.’
I had just overstepped.
If someone wanted to touch As, it was right for As to refuse. And as a third party, I could only intervene if As didn’t want it.
As was quietly staying still, so I had no right to tell others not to.
But.
‘…No.’
Someone’s hand touching As, petting him because he’s cute, As smiling at that person—
All of it,
I absolutely hated.
I wanted only my hands to touch him.
I wanted only me to adore him.
I wanted only me to receive his smiles.
…I wanted only me to be by his side.
Thinking this far, I bit my lips hard.
‘Am I satisfied enough with this? Do I want to keep things like this?’
It was, without a doubt, a conceited thought.
If someone As liked appeared, I would shatter into pieces—a thought both arrogant and foolish.
“…He’s mine.”
My hoarse voice slowly rose.
I hugged As even tighter and spoke with emphasis again.
“He’s mine. Don’t touch him.”
Looking up sharply, the person flinched, muttering in disbelief.
“What… what is this? I can’t believe this…”
She let out a nervous laugh and stepped away.
The crowd hesitated, then gradually dispersed.
I only released my hold on As after everyone’s attention had shifted away.
As looked somewhat dazed.
“As…? Are you okay?”
Worried, I asked, and As slowly lifted his head.
Our red eyes met.
When As parted his lips slightly, a playful voice rang out somewhere nearby.
“Oh? Mom, look over there!”
“I know that person!”
It was a very innocent, bright voice.
Reflexively, I turned toward the sound and saw a child, probably around seven, tugging his mother’s hand while pointing at As with the other hand.
The child shouted with sparkling eyes:
“He looks just like the handsome knight who came back from the war last time!”
The few remaining eyes from the dispersed crowd now focused on As again.
People murmured one by one, seeing his face:
“Oh my, you’re right! I saw that victory ceremony; he really looks just like the knight at the front.”
“What? A kid who looks exactly like that ridiculously handsome knight? Nonsense… unless you’re blind. Yep, that’s right.”
“How can his hair and eye color be exactly the same? Is he the knight’s son?”
“But that knight… isn’t he the Duke of Serenia? I heard the Duke is still unmarried…”
“Could he be a hidden illegitimate child…?”
People’s gazes toward As became more overtly curious.
Those who had seen his face, and even those who just heard the whispers, began crowding closer with curiosity.
The crowd grew denser than before.
I stared blankly at the throng of people, my face pale.
My frozen mind couldn’t decide what to do.
‘W-What should I do?’
There were already too many witnesses.
If I hastily pulled the hood back down or ran off, people’s suspicions would only grow.
But I couldn’t just stay still either.
Caught between a rock and a hard place, cold sweat formed on my clenched fists.
‘If only I hadn’t lifted the hood to put the flower crown on…’
I didn’t want to put As in a difficult situation.
I felt suffocated.
It was all my fault.
Because of me, As was in trouble.
I bit my lips hard to hold back the emotions threatening to burst out.
“Un…na…”
A small, pitiful voice came from beside me.
‘…As?’
Startled, I turned to him.
As, holding onto my clothing, looked up at me with a tearful expression.
“Sis… I’m here…”
His pomegranate-red eyes glistened with moisture.
The slanting sunlight hit the tears, scattering them like crystal.
As his long lashes blinked, a single tear fell.
The sight was so heart-wrenching that it tightened my chest.
“As…?”
Calling out absentmindedly, his small hand clenching my clothing tightened.
From his trembling lips came a fragile voice:
“I’m hungry…”
