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Chapter 40
“Ah, Caron. The sun is setting.”
As they enjoyed the festival, the sun slowly dipped behind the ridge.
Caron, who had been quietly staring at Elle’s pocket, slowly turned his gaze around.
“Good. Soon you’ll see a beautiful sight.”
“A beautiful sight?”
“Are you afraid of loud noises by any chance?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Then that’s good.”
Almost as soon as Caron finished speaking, people began sitting down one by one on benches or stairs near the plaza.
“It must be starting soon!”
Elle tilted her head at the excited voices around her.
The sun went down, and the street lights lit up.
Of course, that was beautiful enough, but there seemed to be another reason for why people were this thrilled.
“Let’s go somewhere better.”
“Where to?”
“A secret.”
Caron pulled Elle by the hand.
The crowds grew thinner, until they reached a hill fenced off from the rest.
Without hesitation, Caron opened the gate.
“Since there’s a fence, it seems like private property. Is it alright to go in?”
“It is private.”
“Then—”
“It’s mine.”
“Oh.”
Elle let out a small sound of realization and nodded. She had forgotten the obvious—this vast Peyros territory belonged entirely to him.
Following Caron up the hill, she saw him take off his outer coat and spread it out under a tree.
Then, with a glance, he signaled her to sit.
Elle carefully sat on the coat, drawing her knees close together.
“Ah, you brought me here to see the city lights? They’re so pretty.”
“No. Not that.”
At that moment—boom! A firework shot into the sky.
It soared high and blossomed like a flower, illuminating the night sky in an instant.
“…Wow….”
Elle’s eyes widened as she couldn’t tear them away from the fireworks.
No words could describe it.
The fireworks painting the night sky were more dazzling and powerful than anything Elle had ever seen.
So beautiful that it cracked open the emotions she had been holding down.
“…Elle?”
Caron called her name and held out a handkerchief. Only then did Elle realize she was crying.
As she blinked, tears rolled down her cheeks.
She quickly took the handkerchief but wiped her eyes with the back of her hand instead.
Some instinct told her she didn’t want to use his handkerchief to wipe her tears.
“It’s so, so beautiful, Caron. Thank you… really, thank you…”
Elle rambled as she continued wiping her tears. Meanwhile, fireworks exploded endlessly into the sky.
Booming sounds, dazzling lights, and cheers echoing below.
Her heart trembled.
Who could have imagined she’d ever see such beauty in her life?
Elle from Orphanage No. 8 in the slums.
Her life in the forest, where she had worried more about starving to death tomorrow than about any future.
A powerless life where she couldn’t dream of anything.
Those memories flashed through her mind like lantern slides.
And now—
There was someone more beautiful than the fireworks.
He had given her a name, food, a place to stay, a chance to learn, and the strength not to be powerless.
“Caron.”
Elle softly called his name.
Caron, who had been watching the fireworks, turned to her. Reflected in his pitch-black eyes was something sparkling.
“……”
A ring gleamed before his eyes.
Ugly, set with a murky sapphire—a ring no noble would ever even glance at.
“Elle…?”
“You told me to try my best to love.”
“……”
Caron stared blankly at Elle, who was kneeling in front of him, holding out the ring.
Boom! A crimson firework burst in the sky, bathing the hilltop in red.
“I love you.”
“……”
“Even if death comes knocking at my door again. Even if you want to use me.”
“Elle.”
His voice came out low and heavy.
“I’ll gladly let you use me. Body and soul. Even if all this is just a fleeting dream and tomorrow you cast me aside.”
“……”
“I love you, Caron.”
The fireworks came to an end. The last sparks fizzled out as they fell toward the ground.
In the silence that followed, Caron took the ring case, retrieved the ring, and handed it back to her.
“You have to put it on me.”
Elle slipped the ring onto his ring finger, her thin hand trembling as it touched him.
Because the symbol of Peyros was a blue hawk, she had thought of him the moment she saw the sapphire.
And as expected, blue suited him well.
“No next part?”
“Next… part?”
Elle tilted her head in confusion.
“You’re supposed to close your eyes.”
“…!”
Caron cupped her face and devoured her lips.
The fireworks had ended, people were heading home, and a deep quiet settled over the night.
Under the shadow of the tree, with no light seeping in, Elle clung to Caron, gasping for breath.
Could happiness really feel like this? It was like floating inside a dream.
“Elle, breathe.”
“U-uhh… mm…”
“Good girl.”
The sticky sound of lips meeting, saliva mingling, filled her ears, sharp and vivid.
Elle clung to him, barely able to breathe, lost in his embrace.
When their lips finally parted, she thought regretfully—it might be their last kiss.
With flushed cheeks, Elle smiled brighter than ever. Never realizing how heartbreaking she looked.
Caron brushed his thumb over her damp lips.
“You look as if I’ve ravished you.”
“N-no, it’s not like that.”
Elle quickly shook her head, lowering her gaze.
Her chest still rose and fell rapidly with leftover heat.
Pressing his thumb firmly against her swollen lips, Caron muttered:
“No. It’s the opposite. Because you’re the one who loves me.”
“But it was me who started it—”
As Elle began to speak, his thumb brushed against her teeth. Caron lazily stroked the inside of her mouth he had just tasted.
“Then you’ll have to take responsibility.”
“…What?”
Startled, Elle instinctively tried to close her mouth, then gently bit his thumb.
With exaggerated theatrics, Caron pretended it hurt and rested his head on her shoulder.
“Were you planning to just taste my lips and run away?”
“That’s not what I meant, but… taking responsibility means…?”
What did he mean? What was he thinking?
Just how far did he want to use her?
The more alluring Caron became, the more it hurt Elle. Because he wasn’t hers. He never would be.
“I liked it. Didn’t you?”
It was so good she couldn’t even lie and say otherwise. But she couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud.
“Elle. Your heart is racing so fast.”
At his murmur, her face flared crimson.
She quickly pushed him away and pressed her hands against her chest. Thump, thump—the sound was loud enough to be heard outside.
Of course he’d noticed.
Embarrassed, she pressed her flushed cheek with the back of her hand and muttered an excuse:
“Maybe I was just short of breath.”
“Then maybe next time we should go slow.”
“Cough!”
“You must be cold. Let’s head down.”
Elle shot him a glare with teary eyes. He obviously knew she had choked out of embarrassment.
Caron only chuckled, kissing the back of her hand.
“If you want to stay longer, I wouldn’t mind.”
“Let’s go already!”
Elle jumped up and hurried down the hill awkwardly.
Caron, watching her retreating back, laughed quietly. Hearing that, Elle blushed all the way down to her neck.
The festival streets felt strangely desolate once it was all over. The noise that had filled every corner was gone.
“Thank you, Caron. For bringing me here.”
On their way back, Elle kept her eyes down, staring at the tips of her shoes, her face still red.
Caron, watching her with detached eyes, tapped her cheek lightly with his finger.
“If you’re thankful, try looking at me fondly.”
“How could I dare? It’s enough for me to worship you like this.”
Elle stubbornly replied, still refusing to meet his eyes.
Caron frowned faintly, displeased, and fiddled with the ring on his hand.
But didn’t you just say you loved me?
He wanted to childishly argue, but instead pressed it down, speaking in a cold voice.
“Think about how it feels to be the one worshipped.”
“But… I can’t help it.”
Even as she said this, Elle anxiously gauged his mood.
She couldn’t help it. She would probably spend her whole life watching him carefully, serving him, and giving him anything he wanted.
Could this be called love?
Perhaps it was love. A shabby, clumsy, pitiful sort of love.
Yes, Elle knew her feelings were love.
But around that love, there was something even bigger.
A feeling that overshadowed love itself.
To be continued in the next chapter
