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Chapter 9
In that brief moment, I instinctively looked at Whistler. A line from a book I had once read flashed before me like a revolving lantern: If you want revenge, first conquer ridicule completely.
Even amidst the chaos, I curled one corner of my lips into a smirk. Then I spoke, loud enough for Whistler to hear.
“I was meant to be stolen.”
And with that, the two of us turned our backs on everyone else and began to run.
“With stamina like this, Filena, you’ll never be a real knight.”
Heraise pulled me along with force, bursting into laughter as he tugged off the cloth covering his mouth and nose.
“Ah, don’t worry. Since you’re slow, I’ll just protect you.”
Sirens blared in my head. My reason screamed at me to drop his hand immediately—that it was dangerous. But I couldn’t.
“I mean it. I’ll take full responsibility. Just follow me.”
All day I had heard the whispers that clung to me, and I had felt the sharp gazes cast my way. I hadn’t cared much, but I had noticed them.
Yet that suffocating darkness I thought would never leave me vanished completely the moment Heraise shone his light on me.
—My heroine. I’ll remember you. You, who were like a midsummer’s dream.
Perhaps it was because Heraise that day reminded me of Whistler when he was young, in those bright summers past. Or maybe it was because the memory of his pinky pressing against mine, tracing a slow circle in a childish promise, resurfaced. Whatever the reason, I gave in and matched Heraise’s stride.
Heraise dragged me up a nearby hill. Once at the top, he released my hand and plopped down on the ground.
“What are you doing? Sit.”
“Um…”
My legs buckled beneath me as if drained, and I sank down. My mind was completely blank, my lips refusing to move properly.
What just happened? I should have stopped. I should have…
I should have stopped Heraise, steered him back into the script I had in mind. Or at the very least, I could have brushed his hand away on the grounds that his surprise was excessive.
“Isn’t it nice to run like that?”
Heraise muttered leisurely and lightly rested his head on my shoulder. When I tried to shift away, he noticed and immediately adjusted, pressing in again.
“You said we were going to date. If we’re preparing for that, then small gestures like this need to come naturally.”
Just as I was about to push his head away, Heraise pressed closer, rubbing slightly against me as he added firmly:
“Even if nobles like us crave scandal, they’re not so blind they won’t notice bad acting.”
“We’re not officially dating yet. I think practicing little gestures can wait until then.”
I pushed his head away at last. Thankfully, this time he withdrew without complaint.
“Heraise, this whole relationship…”
I still believed dating Heraise to gain attention and improve my reputation was the best move. I did. And yet… Heraise was not predictable in the slightest. My heart was still pounding wildly because of him.
I wasn’t sure I could handle this any longer. Comparing risk and benefit, I needed to step back.
“I think it’s better if we don’t do this.”
“Ahh~”
Heraise leaned back, meeting my gaze with a look that said he understood.
“You regret what happened today.”
“I do. I’ve branded myself as a reckless young lady who can’t separate public and private matters in the eyes of several priests and nobles. I’ve added a new layer of negativity to my reputation, different from before.”
“And you think that’s my fault?”
It wasn’t an accusatory tone. He genuinely seemed curious. I frowned slightly and shook my head.
“I don’t think so. Maybe when you first grabbed my hand without warning, but once you took off the veil, I… wanted to run away with you.”
“Filena, you’re very rational.”
“Thank you.”
Pleased with myself, I smiled faintly. Heraise chuckled softly and tapped the corner of my raised lips. Tap, tap.
“If I explain why I acted the way I did today—and why we need to date—will you keep going with this?”
“…I’ll consider it.”
Tilting his chin, Heraise spread his fingers, then began folding them one by one as he spoke.
“First. Neither of our reputations can sink any lower than they already have.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Think about it. I was able to cause a scene because of the temple’s negligence. The temple moves in line with the imperial family, so this is as much their mistake as it is mine. And today was only the first gathering. The second and third will be very different.”
“…Unlike today, later gatherings will have many more attendees. Their names will be on firm lists, easier to control.”
“Exactly. Which makes it easier to keep things quiet. In this empire, nobles survive by keeping their mouths shut—both the high and the low. If word leaks among a small group, it isn’t hard to track down the culprit and crush them.”
Amusement curved Heraise’s eyes as he continued.
“Why would trapped rats risk turning against the empire just because they dislike us? On the contrary, to avoid suspicion, they’ll tremble and tread with extreme caution.”
He lifted a second finger.
“Second. I’ll take responsibility for everything with that small group. Even if the secret holds, I’ll need to make an official statement. And when that happens, I’ll ensure it’s clear I alone was involved. That’s what both the temple and the imperial family will want, anyway.”
“I was involved too, but if it becomes known, it’ll put me in a bad position. You’re a duke, but I’m only the scandalous daughter of a count’s family. If I’m painted as a threat, it’ll be unacceptable. They can’t afford to admit being defeated by someone like me.”
“Smart. You’ve got it.”
“…And what about you, Heraise?”
“Don’t worry. They won’t completely hate me. They’ll think that by covering this up now, they’ve secured leverage to use against us later. As for that future—don’t trouble yourself.”
If his reasoning was right, I would suffer little damage. Whatever those nobles thought privately, I would outwardly remain “the victim” of the incident.
“Third. Even if those select nobles keep the secret, they won’t suppress their curiosity. Our relationship—my feelings for you—that’ll become their entertainment. And that shift will ripple outward. More nobles will invite us together, again and again.”
There were several upper nobles. If they moved as Heraise predicted, society would indeed start buzzing.
“Until now, invitations rarely came to either of us. But out of curiosity, parties and tea gatherings will start including us. And curiosity is the same as gaining attention.”
“Which means we won’t have to go out of our way just to appear in the same places anymore. That’ll be the starting point for our little performance.”
“So there is benefit in all this.”
Turning this mess into fuel for curiosity wasn’t a bad strategy. It was advanced psychological maneuvering.
Heraise might actually be a genius.
And geniuses are never ordinary. Heraise, who so easily slipped beyond the bounds of common sense, might not be entirely sane.
“Filena, you’re thinking I’m not in my right mind, aren’t you?”
“…How did you know?”
“Now, fourth—”
He stopped suddenly, clapping a hand over his mouth. He couldn’t suppress a laugh as his white teeth showed.
“Filena, you must not realize—you’re terrible at acting.”
“I’ve been practicing by reading books. I know that good acting requires harmony of expression, tone, and even gestures.”
My rebuttal only made Heraise’s smile deepen.
“So you do know.”
He leaned in, brushing lightly under my eye, then tracing down my face, tapping my lips at the end.
“But everything you think shows right on your face.”
“Really?”
“Really, really.”
His voice dropped low, warm and soft, as he leaned closer. Then he suddenly pulled back, waving a spread hand.
“And fifth—because it’s boring.”
“I can understand the other reasons, but the fourth one still doesn’t make sense.”
“Hmm?”
Heraise arched one brow, shaking his head as he jerked his hands in robotic motions.
“Sur-prise.”
He exaggeratedly enunciated, then lifted his hand like he was waving hello.
“Fun.”
This time his lips stretched into an awkward grin, his wide-open eyes strangely mismatched to his cheerful tone.
“…That’s supposed to mean me, isn’t it?”
“I may have exaggerated a bit, but you really do get awkward like that.”
With mock sincerity, Heraise pressed a hand to his chest and straightened into a gentlemanly pose.
“Half the reason I acted out earlier was because of that.”
“And the other half was because, as you said, the script was boring?”
“Yes, Filena. Your script is dull.”
