🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 25
“This is…”
Youth’s heart skipped a beat.
But Killian didn’t react with denial. Instead, he bit his lip, showing a slightly embarrassed expression.
Something felt off, so Youth looked more closely at the pile of letters—and realized they were written in a familiar handwriting and envelopes.
“Are… these my letters?”
The recipient’s name was neatly written in familiar script:
Youth Rill Kranz
“Th-…”
Killian hesitated slightly, unlike his usual confident self, then nodded carefully as if admitting something.
“That’s correct.”
“……”
Youth was stunned—first, because her assumption had been wrong, and second, because of Killian’s behavior.
Could it really be that there wasn’t another woman?
She had kept every letter she had exchanged with Killian, and had always thought she cared more for him than he did for her. She had assumed that keeping letters like that was something only she would do.
“Killian…”
But her assumption had been completely off.
She had never imagined that Killian, like her, had been keeping all their letters.
“I… I’m a little embarrassed, actually. I hoped no one would find out.”
Killian said this softly while clearing his throat, but the thin curve of his eyes showed no trace of discomfort or displeasure at Youth having found the letters in the third drawer.
Youth felt relieved just knowing that.
“I… I’ve kept all the letters too. I couldn’t bring them here because they were heavy, but I’ve held onto them.”
As Youth spoke, she could feel her cheeks gradually warming.
“I wanted to remember every moment I spent with you, so I kept them like this.”
“Really?”
“Of course. I even have the very first letters we exchanged. If you want, we can look at them together—”
“No!”
Killian reached a little closer toward the drawer, and Youth jumped, quickly stopping him.
Not only had she never expected him to be so devoted in keeping the letters, but the fact that he remembered the memories behind them made her heart swell with joy.
Yet Youth didn’t have the courage to look at the letters she had written him long ago, with her messy handwriting.
So she hurriedly stopped his hand.
“T-That’s enough.”
“Really?”
This time, Killian asked back, his handsome face drawing even closer.
Up close, he looked even more striking—the thick eyebrows, the sharp eyes softened with a trace of gentleness beneath, the long eyelashes, high nose, and lips naturally tinted pink even without makeup. It was breathtaking.
Every time he came close, it was always stunning, never something one could fully get used to.
And the closer he got, the more the faint sweet scent of his cologne made her dizzy.
“Really… it’s fine.”
Facing him, Youth closed her eyes in embarrassment and tried to calm her flushed cheeks.
“Really.”
“Heh, understood.”
When Youth repeated it, Killian let out a low, pleasant chuckle like a whisper and withdrew his hand from the drawer.
Then he continued.
“Ah, but Youth, aren’t you hungry? I’m starting to feel quite hungry myself.”
Hearing this, Youth opened her eyes again. Indeed, evening was approaching.
“Ah…! Really? By the way, when did you have lunch?”
“I actually only had breakfast today because I was busy meeting with someone.”
Youth’s eyes widened in surprise.
“W-What…!”
“I just had too much to do. I tried to make time, but there wasn’t any.”
Killian relaxed the sharpness of his eyes slightly, acting as if he were hungry.
“I-I think I’m getting hungry too.”
Hearing that Killian was hungry made Youth feel like she had to feed him immediately.
She quickly stood and took his hand.
“Shall we go back to the mansion to eat?”
“No.”
Killian shook his head with a deeper smile.
“No, I know a good restaurant. It’s a place I’ve wanted to take you for a while. Since the weather’s nice today, it’d be perfect to eat there. Is that okay, Youth?”
“Wherever Killian goes, I’ll go. I’m fine with it.”
Youth nodded vigorously at his suggestion.
“Good.”
Killian led Youth, and she followed his shadow as if naturally drawn to him.
The restaurant Killian brought her to had a luxurious atmosphere, located in the very center of the capital.
From what she had heard Veila mention, this restaurant was the best in the imperial capital, and reservations were notoriously hard to get.
“How can someone just come here as if it’s a meal at home…”
Youth said, eyes wide, and Veila whispered in admiration.
“This is what wealth looks like. Killian lacks nothing in any way. I really like that.”
While Killian went inside first to speak with the staff, Youth admired the exterior.
The restaurant was completely shielded from the outside view, and the doors were entirely gilded.
“Or maybe he made a reservation in advance?”
Veila suddenly asked again.
“Hmm…”
Youth thought for a moment. Killian had only learned this morning that he had been invited to the imperial palace. He wouldn’t have had time to prepare such a surprise event.
It must have been a spontaneous idea to go out for a meal.
Youth had long forgotten any suspicions about him and was just happy to be with him now.
She liked Killian’s attentiveness to small things. She loved that he stayed by her side. She was grateful he remembered every little memory they shared.
“Youth!”
The restaurant doors opened, and Killian walked out, greeting her with a bright smile.
“How did it go?”
Youth asked as she met his gaze.
“Everything’s already settled. Sorry to have kept you waiting. Now, shall we go in?”
Killian extended his hand, as if by habit. Youth naturally placed her hand on his, her heart still racing as she held it tightly.
On the way back, Youth fell asleep.
Clack. Clack.
The journey wasn’t long, but the road was unusually bumpy today.
Killian watched the sleeping Youth from across, noticing how her head swayed with the bumps.
Clack!
The carriage jolted suddenly, and Youth’s head was about to hit the wall.
Without thinking, Killian quickly stood and caught her head in his hands instead of letting it hit the wall.
He moved smoothly to sit beside her.
“Are you alright?”
There was no response.
“Really… asleep…”
Killian murmured to himself with a quiet smile.
It had been a long day indeed.
He had discovered in the morning that he had been invited to the imperial palace, felt a slight shock that Youth hadn’t told him first, but such minor grievances were forgivable.
Today, feeling uneasy, he had asked Oscar to clean his office.
“Miss Celerity, do you want me to burn all the letters from the other ladies?”
Oscar, hearing such an unusual request, asked in surprise.
“Yes.”
“It’ll take some time; there are too many…”
Killian smiled at Oscar’s hesitation.
“Alright then. Burn what can be burned, and shove the rest into the third drawer.”
A few hours later, Youth returned and opened the second drawer.
She didn’t know why she felt nervous, but when she realized there was nothing inside the second drawer, her face lit up.
Her expression said it all.
Killian wanted her, so transparent and honest, to never change.
He wrapped his arms around Youth, who leaned against him comfortably, and whispered softly.
“I only want you to stay here, just like this.”
Unaware of anything else.
Just like this.
