ITYVA 52🔐

Chapter 52

A faint, delicate voice reached my ears suddenly, and I snapped my head up.

Standing at the door with a gentle smile was As.

“What’s got you so preoccupied that you didn’t even hear me knock?”

“I was looking over the documents you gave me, haha… Um, but isn’t this work time? What brings you here?”

I quickly tidied up the papers and looked at As.

As had entered the room and perched on the edge of the bed, tilting his head slightly as his gentle eyes met mine.

“It’s been a while since Einra last came to the capital.”

“That’s true…”

It had been a full five years—definitely a long time.

“I thought this place might feel a little unfamiliar. If you’re not too busy, would you like to go sightseeing around the capital with me?”

There was no need to think about it.

I quickly nodded.

“Yes, I want to!”

Absolutely! Definitely! Please, let me!

“Capital date with As!”

My eyes sparkled as I said it, and As, initially surprised, opened his eyes wide before letting out a soft, warm smile.

“Then get ready and call me when you’re done. The steward will help you with preparations.”

“Okay, got it.”

“See you later.”

With a small farewell, As left the room.

I took a deep breath to calm my excited heart as Mrs. Semelda came in shortly afterward, as if on cue.

…Though, to be honest, it didn’t help all that much.

Since it wasn’t an official outing, the outfit Mrs. Semelda had chosen was a simple, plain ochre dress suitable for a commoner.

My hair was tied into two braids with cloth bands, and I wore no makeup at all.

‘Still… I want to look a little pretty…’

Things I usually never cared about suddenly mattered now that I was aware of my feelings for him.

I stood in front of the full-length mirror, staring at myself intently.

‘The knot in my hair seems a bit crooked. The collar looks a little off. The dress has some wrinkles. And the hood… it’s slightly off too…’

I kept noticing little imperfections.

As my eyes swept over my reflection, burning with scrutiny, a voice called out.

“Einra, are you ready?”

Startled, I dashed to the door.

“Y-Yes! I’m done! Come in!”

As I finished speaking, I flung the door open, and As smiled warmly at me from where he was waiting.

“Did you hurry so you wouldn’t keep me waiting?”

“Yes… Sorry, did I make you wait too long?”

I stepped aside so As could enter easily.

Shaking his head as he walked in, he said,

“It’s fine. I’m good at waiting.”

“…But I don’t want to make you wait.”

I muttered gloomily, then scooped him up and sat him on the Hisha I had prepared in advance.

As, sitting quietly on my lap, looked up at me with a small smile.

“You don’t want me to wait?”

“Waiting feels lonely.”

Climbing onto his back, As leaned gently against me.

The warmth he radiated was so endearing.

I wanted to hold his tiny body close, but I forced myself to breathe deeply and calm my impulses.

Be polite, Einra!

Wrapping a layer of air around us so no one could see, Hisha took off through the window as if it had been waiting for this moment.

A cool breeze brushed against my cheeks.

Enjoying the wind’s scent, I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes—when a soft voice carried on the breeze.

“If Einra continues living here…”

The voice spoke slowly, drawing out each word.

“My waiting will be much shorter.”

“….”

Hearing that, my heart fluttered unexpectedly.

A thousand thoughts ran through my mind in that brief moment.

Should I happily say I’ll stay at the Duke’s residence? Aces himself said I could stay. Maybe we can be together for a long time…

But in the end, only one thought prevailed:

‘…I’m scared.’

Ever since the day I ran away, startled by his confession five years ago,

I had tried to mend our awkward relationship.

I wrote letters, visited the Duke’s residence, and even lingered near the palace with gifts on the days he entered the court.

But Aces drew a cold, strict line with all of it.

I still remember the pain I felt back then.

Now I know it was all a misunderstanding, but that doesn’t erase five years of lingering sadness in an instant.

What if I overreact to a joke and make him feel burdened?

What if he draws a line again?

…I don’t think I could handle it then.

“….”

My heart thumped so violently I felt dizzy.

Suppressing the rapid beating, I forced a laugh, as if reacting to a joke.

Perhaps he hadn’t expected an answer either, because As didn’t say anything more.

The breeze still brushed my cheeks.

…Insensitively.

After a while, trusting my body to Hisha and looking down below,

“Hey? Isn’t that Enive Street?”

Seeing a place I used to visit often made my mood lift slightly.

Glancing down, As smiled faintly and replied,

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Wow, it hasn’t changed at all.”

I expected it to be all trendy and modernized since it’s a busy street!

As asked, voice tinged with amusement,

“Do you want to go there?”

“Yes, I want to!”

As I answered with sparkling eyes, Hisha turned its course to a quieter path, descending below.

Landing near a quiet alley, I thanked Hisha, then entered Enive Street with As wearing his hood.

The street seemed to be hosting some event, with a section adorned with colorful flowers.

“Flowers?”

Seeing the sight I hadn’t noticed from above, my eyes widened.

As approached me and spoke,

“Looks like there’s an event today. Probably a gathering of flower shops promoting themselves.”

“Ah, I see…”

Couples throughout the street were making bouquets or wreaths, enjoying their time.

I stood there, dazed, watching them.

‘…I want to do that with Aces too.’

Being surrounded by colorful flowers, choosing flowers together, making wreaths together, placing them on each other’s heads…

But that’s something you do as a couple.

‘What if As thinks it’s strange? What if I’m too eager and look weird?’

All sorts of worries swirled in my mind.

While I was deep in thought, As suddenly asked,

“Einra, don’t you like flowers?”

“Uh… Huh?”

Startled like a thief caught in the act, I turned to look at As. He tilted his head, looking puzzled.

“I thought you’d smile brightly as soon as you saw them, but you were just staring blankly.”

“Ah…”

I blinked in confusion and touched my lips.

Apparently, my worry was written all over my face.

As, studying me carefully, asked,

“If you don’t like them, should we go somewhere else?”

“No, no!”

I shook my head quickly.

“I really like flowers. So… shall we…?”

“Shall we go there?”

As asked, as if it were the most natural thing.

I nodded silently, and he smiled warmly, taking my hand.

He spoke so effortlessly what I could barely bring myself to say.

I was thrilled to do things with As, but also felt a pang of sadness that he seemed so unaware of me.

‘Ridiculous, me…’

I had just said I was satisfied as things were, yet I felt hurt he didn’t seem aware of me at all.

Ridiculous.

Biting my lip, I shook my head to erase the thought.

This was a precious time out with As.

I didn’t want to waste it on pointless thoughts.

As we entered the street, the fragrant scent of flowers filled the air.

Small baskets were placed here and there, likely for collecting different flowers.

As and I took a basket and strolled through the street, gathering various flowers little by little.

Once we had enough flowers, we found a bench and sat down.

I picked up a flower from the basket, and As’s curious gaze immediately landed on it.

My hands felt unexpectedly warm.

I twirled the basket around,

“Ah, you can’t look yet.”