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Chapter 52
After Killian’s perfect birthday party ended, Yus returned to her room after wishing him a good night.
Of course, she couldn’t deny that she had wanted to return to the room together with Killian if possible. However, Killian told her that something urgent had come up this morning that he absolutely had to finish by tomorrow. Along with a small kiss on her forehead, he apologized.
If he had simply said he was sorry, Yus had absolutely no idea what kind of scene she might have caused right there. But that completely unexpected forehead kiss at the end was enough to make her lose her senses entirely, so his apology could be considered excusable.
With her face flushed bright red, Yus returned to her room and sat neatly on the bed.
“How did it go? Was it a success?”
Baela asked with sparkling eyes. Without a word, Yus held out her left hand and showed the ring on the fourth finger.
“Gasp! Congratulations, Miss! It was a complete success!”
Baela jumped with joy as if Yus’s success were her own and quickly sat down beside her.
“Did the Duke fall completely head over heels? I heard that when the lady makes the first move like that, the other person completely loses it!”
“W-What…? I-I mean, not to that extent!”
Yus stammered, her cheeks turning red at Baela’s unfiltered words. Of course, she wished Killian had fallen completely for her, but the expression he had shown the entire time was not simply that of a man who had fallen in love. It was something more subtle and complicated… in any case, it was difficult to explain.
“Anyway, I can’t just sit still right now.”
With that, Yus lightly rose from her seat.
There was still something she had yet to finish. Because as a friend, there was still something she clearly needed to resolve.
Knock, knock, knock.
A cautious knock sounded on the door.
“Who is it?”
Floheta, who had been reading a book as usual, struggled to sit up from the bed where she had been lying.
“Flo, it’s me.”
The voice that followed was one Floheta could never forget and instantly recognize.
“Yus!”
Before Floheta could even gather her thoughts, her body moved first. She rushed to the door of the annex and flung it open.
“What’s going on?”
Floheta greeted her with a bright smile.
Fortunately, in Yus’s eyes, Floheta didn’t look sulky at all. If anything, she seemed more happy to see her, genuinely welcoming her.
“It’s been a while, Flo.”
Likewise, Yus smiled as she was guided into the annex.
“It’s a bit dark inside, right? I usually don’t turn on the lights.”
The annex was clearly different from the main building. Electricity was one of the biggest issues. In the first place, Floheta was not the type to keep her room brightly lit, so she was quite used to the darkness.
“It’s okay. I actually kind of like the dark.”
Yus shook her head with a soft smile.
“Floheta.”
Soon after, she sat on the sofa Floheta had guided her to and quietly called his name.
“Hm? Why? Hey, do you know that the scariest time is when you call me Floheta instead of Flo? Haha.”
Floheta forced out an awkward laugh and sat across from her.
“What? I’m not that scary.”
Feeling oddly relaxed by Floheta’s sincere behavior, Yus continued speaking more comfortably.
“Anyway, Floheta. The reason I came here is because I wanted to apologize to you.”
“Huh?”
“I think I was paying too much attention to Killian last time, and you were upset about it. Don’t say you weren’t. I can tell right away. After all, I’ve spent so much time by your side that I know you well. Anyway, that’s why I came here to apologize.”
Floheta’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“And this is a gift to make peace. You like macarons, right? I went into town and saw some that seemed just your style, so I bought them.”
“Haha.”
At Yus’s words, Floheta laughed loudly. He looked carefully at the macaron box she handed him before slowly reaching out to take it.
“Hmm… Honestly, I’m not the type to forgive someone over something like this. But seeing your sincerity, I’ll make a special exception this time. But there won’t be a second time.”
With that, Floheta opened the box and picked up his favorite chocolate macaron among the many colorful ones before taking a big bite.
The shell was chewy, the filling was rich, and the bitter, deep taste of chocolate filled his mouth perfectly. It was the very essence of a macaron crafted by a master.
“Mmm… It’s good?”
“Really?”
Yus had been holding her breath while watching his reaction. When she noticed the faint smile spreading across his face—the one he always showed when eating something delicious—she also smiled.
“Is the chocolate flavor good? They say if your favorite flavor tastes good, the macarons are a success!”
Encouraged by his expression, Yus spoke more proudly.
“Yeah, it’s good.”
Floheta smacked his lips and nodded again. Since it really was delicious, he didn’t even feel like lying.
“Then can I have one too?”
Yus, who had been licking her lips, widened her eyes and said.
“What?”
“Actually, I didn’t get to eat any macarons either. But they look really delicious… and you seem a little less angry now, so… um, just one?”
“You’ve got some nerve.”
“Haha.”
Floheta laughed in disbelief at her words, but still handed her the box.
After a moment of serious deliberation, Yus chose a blueberry macaron and took a bite. Soon enough, her expression became exactly the same as Floheta’s.
“It’s delicious!”
Yus exclaimed loudly.
“Yus, thank you. Honestly, I could have just let it pass, but there aren’t many people who come to apologize for something they said wrong and even bring a gift in person. Every time this happens, I realize what a good friend you are.”
Watching her carefully, Floheta thanked her in an unusually calm voice.
“Hey, it’s nothing like that. Taking responsibility for what you say is only natural!”
Yus, now embarrassed instead, shook her head and coughed awkwardly.
“Really? But there are fewer people like that than you’d think. That’s why I’m even more grateful.”
“Really? Haha. If you’re so grateful, why don’t you treat me to something?”
“Huh? That’s strange. Weren’t you the one I came to apologize to?”
“Hey!”
Still, through their bickering, Yus could clearly feel that Floheta had returned to his usual self.
He never let a single remark slide.
“Well, fine.”
Floheta soon continued.
“In two days, I’ll take you to a really good restaurant in the city and treat you.”
“That sounds great.”
Yus didn’t refuse. Instead, she nodded with a bright smile.
Killian sat elegantly with his legs crossed, leaning back in his chair.
It was a gesture that could only come from someone who knew he held complete control over the situation.
And he was always the one in control.
In a small café on the far outskirts of town, completely empty of customers, Killian sat across from Selitias, who seemed so anxious that she kept biting her lower lip repeatedly.
“Killian, the reason you called me here today—”
Unable to endure the silence any longer, Selitias spoke first.
“Ah, yes.”
Killian slowly nodded, lifting his gaze and resting his chin on one hand as he looked down at her.
“The reason I called you here, Miss, is to say goodbye. Miss Selitias, it would be best if we ended things here.”
It was a breakup.
