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Chapter 14
Isbrandt sensed a presence and slowly turned around. Seren suddenly realized that she had rarely seen him from a distance. Seen this way, he was enormous, imposing, and alien, yet at the same time, utterly captivating. Seren tried to suppress the feeling of her heart plummeting and to cool her flushed cheeks.
“Seren.”
He called her in a soft voice. Seren instinctively squeezed her eyes shut. If she were to classify him between light and dark, he would surely be on the dark side, and unlike the shade of a tree, a strange shadow seemed to linger around him. Yet, as if dazzled, she could not look at him directly.
“Why? Are you uncomfortable?”
Isbrandt strode over and cupped her cheek in his hand. Seren struggled to steady her breathing and replied,
“No, I’m fine.”
“Your cheeks are red.”
“Maybe I’m a little warm.”
Seren scrambled for an excuse. Isbrandt seemed to believe her, nodding, and gently lifted her in his arms.
“Ah, Is—!”
“It must have been difficult walking here.”
“No, no!”
Though it wasn’t, Isbrandt ignored her protest and carried her to a bench under the tree. Seren covered her reddened face with her hands.
“You’re too forward.”
“It’s better if you get used to me.”
Isbrandt smiled.
“Or is it because you dislike it?”
“Well…”
She didn’t dislike it, but being unmarried—or perhaps because they were engaged—she felt that this wasn’t exactly behavior befitting an emperor and empress.
“I’m worried you might get in trouble because of me.”
“That won’t happen.”
Isbrandt’s voice was gentle yet resolute, as if to protect her. Seren, suddenly embarrassed, waved her hand and turned her head. The tree was enormous; even sitting on the bench at its base, she could see the tips of the branches just by lifting her head slightly.
“This tree is huge. I’ve never heard of it before.”
“It’s not in an area open to outsiders.”
“Does it have some significance?”
“They say it existed even before the palace was built.”
“Ah!” Seren exclaimed, understanding.
“I’ve heard of it! Isn’t it said that the palace was built where the tree spirit loved by the Winter Dragon resided? Is this that tree?”
“There’s a story like that. But they say that tree withered, so this can’t be it.”
“That’s not very romantic.”
“Still, it’s a treasure of the old palace, so there’s no reason to be disappointed. But…”
He pursed his lips and silently watched Seren, who had just spoken. Her heart, which had calmed a little, began pounding again. Seren held her breath and asked,
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
He leaned slowly toward her. His graceful, long fingers brushed lightly against the pearl necklace around her neck.
“It’s something I haven’t seen before.”
“I got it from my father. He returned today. It belonged to my late mother… is it too modest to wear in the palace?”
Seren felt her lips tremble. Isbrandt’s fingertips moved below the necklace, lightly brushing the exposed collarbone.
“You can do whatever you want.”
Those words alone sent shivers across her skin, as if he had touched the back of her neck. Her lips twitched as if waiting for a kiss.
Isbrandt slowly lowered his head and let out a small laugh. The breathy laughter brushed against her lips, and Seren, who had closed her eyes, opened them with a pouty, sulking expression. But before she could turn away, their lips met.
Her breath stolen in an instant, Seren squeezed her eyes shut. Instinctively, she grasped his shoulders and tensed her thighs. Just a little more. To absorb the sensuality she was learning, Seren made a small sound through her throat. The dizzying, floating sensation lifted her high, then seemed to drop her back to the ground.
“Mm….”
Isbrandt removed her hand from his shoulder and held it in his own. Due to the size difference, it wasn’t a perfect clasp, but Seren’s hand fit snugly in his as if it were a baby’s hand. When she leaned back, craving more, he lightly bit her lips one last time before letting go.
Their warm breaths mingled on Seren’s lips. She kept her lips tightly closed to trap his breath and shivered, still keeping her eyes tightly shut. Gradually, she managed to digest the sensation and slowly opened her eyes. Her light brown lashes and blue irises were moist.
Feeling Isbrandt’s hand brush against her lashes, Seren opened her eyes with mild annoyance. He never let her linger in the afterglow of a kiss. Frustrated, she pinched the back of his hand lightly.
Isbrandt, unfazed, wrapped his arms around her waist. Seren rested her head against his chest and let out a long breath. For a moment, it felt like they were just an ordinary couple.
Seren cautiously began to speak.
“You know… maybe…”
She had wanted to ask before but worried he might think it ridiculous.
“Have we… perhaps… met before?”
“Before?”
“Before you saved me at the train station. I mean… while I wasn’t aware of it.”
“……”
“I have a feeling we must have.”
She felt déjà vu. She must have spent peaceful moments like this before, nestled together, like a pair of birds pressed close, their beaks touching. Seren looked up at Isbrandt with eyes full of hope and unease. If that were true, she could understand why he loved her. She wished it to be so. She hoped it was a long and deep connection.
But he covered her eyes with his hand and spoke gently.
“Don’t strain to remember. Some things are better forgotten.”
“Was it that terrible when I had the accident?”
“…Well.”
Isbrandt lightly kissed her lips and changed the topic.
“By the way, you mentioned using the Wing Room for the wedding.”
“Oh. Yes.”
Seren hesitated before answering. She realized he deliberately avoided the topic of memories, and if they had met before, it would feel unfair to press her.
“Duchess Sons thinks the Grand Hall is better, but you wanted a quieter wedding…”
“Yes.”
“Are you really sure? I won’t have many guests anyway, but it’s a royal wedding. The nobles would want to attend.”
“If you want many guests, that’s fine. But you don’t need to force it. Even if someone wants to attend, it doesn’t mean you must let them in.”
Isbrandt paused before answering. Seren tilted her head again.
“Is there a problem?”
“No. It just depends on how grand a wedding you want.”
This time, he answered directly. Seren pouted slightly.
“You always say that, Is. But reality doesn’t work like that.”
“You don’t need to overthink it.”
Isbrandt smiled gently. Seren sighed.
“I have another worry. It’s trivial, so you might laugh…”
“What is it?”
“When I enter as the bride, I’ll have to use a cane, right? It might look strange if my father helps me…”
“Hmm…”
“It’s my first public appearance, after all. Or maybe we could ask Duchess Sons or Lady Maybeck. But holding one hand with my father and being supported by the other might also look odd.”
“No matter what, you’ll look beautiful.”
“Why do you always say things so nicely?”
Seren pouted. Isbrandt’s words made it feel like everything would really be fine.
“If that’s uncomfortable, I can carry you in.”
“Huh?”
Seren laughed, lightly tapping his shoulder, thinking he was joking.
“I’ll forget how to walk because of you.”
“That works too.”
Isbrandt answered calmly. Seren laughed again, impulsively wrapping her arms around his neck. He never failed to notice what she wanted. So the second kiss was long and deep. Seren thought she would learn more from him with every kiss in the future. And though things might change slowly, she believed this heart-fluttering feeling would last forever. Because she believed that only eternal love could truly be called love.
