TCHB 35

Chapter 35

When I greeted Shuri, she looked utterly flustered, acting as if she wanted to speak but the words wouldn’t come out.

Would it make me sound unhinged if I admitted that seeing her react like that—knowing she was shaken because of me—made me happy? I hid my dark thoughts behind a smile.

“It’s been a while, Shuri. I missed you.”

Even within my shadow, her pale silver hair shone brightly. She stared at me as if she’d lost her soul, transfixed by my smiling face.

That’s right. You always liked my face.

Even when we were young, Shuri often stared at my face intently. Whenever I asked why, the child you once were would answer brightly, “Because you’re handsome!” That memory stayed with me.

“Didn’t you miss me, Shuri?”

As I smiled more deeply, she opened her mouth in confusion. Though her sentence didn’t quite come together.

She looked as though she were deeply conflicted, and now she gazed at me as if rejecting my very existence. She definitely didn’t smile like this in the past.

Back then, I believed that someone in the lofty position of a duke didn’t need expressions. Smiling felt unnecessary.

But the one who changed that belief—who changed me—was Shuri.

I wondered countless times: if we met again and I smiled at you, would you like it? If I had been kinder earlier, would you have left? Those thoughts haunted me.

“Yes. I didn’t miss you. So please don’t speak to me familiarly, Lord Richard.”

Lord Richard.

When Shuri once asked if she could call me “big brother,” I told her to address me like that instead. If I could go back in time, I’d grab my past self and curse him out for all the things he’d regret.

Was this how you felt when I drew that line? Getting hurt was inevitable. I decided to accept this as karma.

I was only receiving what I had once given.

“…I did think of you. Just a little.”

Shuri hesitated, then lowered her head deeply and spoke in a small voice.

You were still the same. Soft toward others’ pain. Even your little habits hadn’t changed.

That made me feel even more sorry. Despite the fact that I’d already hurt her, she still didn’t want to hurt me. That truth pleased me—and unsettled my heart all the more.

“I’m glad I crossed your mind, even a little.”

But if you’re weak to seeing others hurt, then I’m prepared to use that. I never wanted to imagine a world where you weren’t by my side again.

She flinched and reflexively lifted her head. I skillfully hid my dark intentions and smiled lightly. She immediately lowered her head again and raised her voice.

“I just meant back then! Not now, so let’s go already!”

Even the round shape of her head was cute.

How can even the shape of someone’s head be cute? I seriously pondered that before lightly tapping the back of her hand with my index finger.

She lifted her head, and our eyes met. I curved my gaze elegantly as I looked at her. Her face looked like it had the word ‘What?!’ written all over it.

When I looked at her as though she were the only one in my eyes—fondly, lovingly—she seemed to deny reality itself. But I was sincere. That was unfair of her.

“Where are you going? Can’t you come back with me?”

I clasped Shuri’s hand, our fingers interlacing. Her hand was really small. I chuckled softly, but she was so stunned she didn’t even blink.

Hmm. About three seconds, maybe.

My prediction was accurate. Three seconds later, she wore an expression that screamed disbelief, like she was wondering what on earth had happened to me over the past five years.

Even that transparent expression was adorable. No matter what she thought, it always ended with cute or lovely. I suppose I had to admit I was hopelessly far gone.

“No. She’s coming with me.”

So that was the presence drawing closer. Ventus grabbed her wrist—the arm above the hand I was holding.

What if she bruises? Should I let go first?

Just as I was steadying myself to release her hand, Shuri spoke firmly.

“Ventus. Let go.”

Then she told me to release her as well. I did so without complaint, and Ventus withdrew his hand too. I wanted to grasp the warmth slipping away again—but with Ventus here, I couldn’t.

Shuri is oblivious. His gaze has been fixed on her this entire time, he’s openly guarding her, yet she sees it as nothing more than a friend afraid of losing her.

Feeling sorry wasn’t an emotion directed solely at him. It was also aimed at myself.

Even when I look at her with affection, even when I clearly like her, she doesn’t notice—thinking instead that I’ve lost my mind.

“Call me Kiel, Shuri.”

Since Ventus was there, I didn’t hold her hand, only lightly brushed my fingertips against hers while tilting my head slightly. I curved my eyes again, just like before.

As Shuri stared blankly at my face, I smiled even more brightly. I liked that her gaze was on me. I liked being the only one reflected in those eyes.

Ventus frowned deeply as he watched us, then naturally seized her hand.

“Let’s go.”

His face was filled with undisguised displeasure. It didn’t look like he intended to hide it at all.

“Shuri… are you leaving again?”

I held her hand, my eyelashes trembling slightly. I applied only a weak grip—one she could easily pull away from.

I could do this because I was certain she wouldn’t pull her hand free.

Ventus looked at me with clear dissatisfaction.

Looks like you don’t like me either. The feeling’s mutual.

Because you’re closer to her than I am, if you approach her with familiarity, I’ll divert her attention—even if I have to act.

If she tells me she dislikes it, I’ll stop. Immediately.

I had no intention of earning her resentment by doing things she hated. Nor did I want to hurt her.

“It’s a secret. Lord Richard should return—your family will worry.”

Shuri spoke without pulling her hand away, then slowly turned her back. Her ambiguous answer told me she wasn’t planning to leave.

Even if she defied my expectations and left, she’d still return home—so at minimum, she’d stay about a week.

“Haa… I suppose I should head back for now.”

I rose from my seat and hastened my steps. I’d been outside too long.

I wished this good mood—born from seeing Shuri—would last, but the gods were cruel. Rote immediately told me that the ship had nearly collided with a massive rock as soon as I arrived.

Ha. Ridiculous.

When I turned toward where Rote pointed, the rock and ship were so close it wouldn’t have been strange to say they were touching.

I glanced at Father, and he nodded. He was thinking the same thing.

Does that Emperor lack a brain entirely? To target us by slaughtering everyone aboard this ship? The absurdity made me laugh hollowly.

As I calmly thought through what to do next, the ship—previously stopped—began moving again. Something felt off.

It was almost certain that the Emperor had orchestrated this.

Originally, the ship should have sunk, forcing the passengers to struggle through the sea to survive.

But just as if everything had been anticipated, the ship didn’t sink despite colliding with the massive rock—and resumed sailing.

Who designed this? And how did the Emperor’s scheme fail?

I tapped the table lightly. Thoughts tangled endlessly. Just as I sank deeper into them, an announcement rang out. We had arrived at the island.

When I stood, people had already gathered at the exit. Anxiety was written all over their faces from the earlier incident.

It wasn’t my problem. Nor Shuri’s. I decided not to care. I was already busy enough; time was scarce.

Anything unrelated to my family or Shuri—I cut away. That had always been my policy.

“Kyaaa!”

Just as we were about to disembark, a passenger screamed. Everyone’s attention snapped toward the sound.

“What is it—gah! A-a person…!”

“Why hasn’t everyone gotten off yet? That person—is that the c-captain?”

The captain?

The corpse was drenched in blood. The one identified as the captain was wearing a navigator’s uniform. When no one could speak from shock, Father stepped forward.

“It’s Duke Richard. What exactly happened here?”

…Father, announcing your title will only cause more chaos.

As expected, the crowd erupted upon the appearance of one of the Empire’s most powerful dukes.

“I-I don’t know. I’m the ship’s vice-captain, but I was on leave. I don’t remember much—someone tipped me off, so I came just in case. I never imagined this would happen…”

So someone knew the captain would end up like this? And the captain… was he a disposable pawn of the Emperor?

My head began to ache.

Only after the knight order dispatched to the island ruled that this was not a death by sword but something closer to magic were we allowed to leave.

There wasn’t a single mage among the passengers.

Except Shuri and Ventus—who had disappeared midway.

But neither had motive, nor could I believe they would do such a thing.

The one who “doesn’t remember”… could it be Shuri?

It was too early to be certain, but I had a growing sense of conviction. I didn’t know what was happening—I only hoped she wasn’t doing anything dangerous.

Ha… are you alright? I wanted to see your face and make sure.

* * *

“Father. Mother.”

“What is it?”

“I’m going to return to the ducal estate.”

As time passed and the last ship’s departure neared, I finished dinner early and stood to speak. I deliberately chose a moment when Rote wasn’t around.

“What are you talking about?”

Mother looked confused.

Understandably so—I’d offered no explanation.

“Shuri has returned.”

The impact of that single sentence was immense. My dignified, etiquette-loving mother spit out her water for the first time in her life, while Father froze mid-motion with his spoon.

“Really? After all this time? She’s on this island—no, you said you’re returning, so she must be at the count’s estate.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Rote would return from the restroom any moment now. I cherished my younger sibling, but if we traveled together, the same situation from earlier would repeat itself.

I urged Father and Mother with my eyes.

“Go, then. After five years of acting like that, it’s impressive you didn’t bolt sooner.”

Rarely, it was Father—not Mother—who answered.

Though briefly surprised, this wasn’t the time to dwell. I bowed in farewell and ran toward the harbor before Rote could return.

By the time I arrived, people were just boarding.

Good thing I’d secretly secured a ticket earlier.

I wanted to see you as soon as possible. I wanted to know if you were alright.

If Lukain saw me now, he’d probably clutch his stomach and laugh himself sick—but I didn’t want that unlucky bastard to taint the good mood Shuri had given me.

After arriving, I entered the southern estate and searched for a scroll. Since it was late, I decided to visit Shuri tomorrow morning or around noon.

In case she left again, I wanted to spend as much time with her as possible.

At first, she was just a scheming girl who had charmed Rote and my parents—so how did I end up falling too?

I reminisced about old memories alongside these feelings whose origins I couldn’t pinpoint. The day passed, and the next day, I arrived at the Clamback Count’s estate.

Having not slept, my face looked rough. Since Shuri likes my face, I should probably take better care of it.

Only after arriving did I realize how rude this was. Visiting without a letter or notice—I’d been too excited to think.

“Haa.”

Next time, I’d write first and ask permission. It would be unacceptable if I became the one who disrupted her happiness—when she deserved to be cherished and given everything.

“Lord Richard, did you have an appointment?”

“Ah. Sorry. I forgot in my excitement to see Shuri.”

“The young lady just went out for dessert.”

At the butler’s subtle hint, I analyzed the popular dessert shops opening today. Best to start with the closest.

“Thank you.”

“Not at all.”

Turning away from the estate, I began visiting dessert shops Shuri might go to. The first. The second. She wasn’t there.

If I arrived too late, I might miss her altogether—so I quickened my pace.

The most famous place here was ‘Vermance’s Garden’, the one I’d invested in. I recalled the interior and frowned.

I’d told the manager countless times to change it, but his tastes were immovable. Pink and lace, he insisted, were sacred—his very identity.

I had nothing against pink. I didn’t care about interior design, even if I owned the land.

But that place was truly severe. Just changing the decor would triple profits.

“Shuri…?”

Murmuring her name, I caught sight of pale silver hair beneath a wide-brimmed hat. Her twin braids swayed gently in the breeze.

She pressed the hat down and turned—and her face was filled with surprise.

Seeing her unharmed face, a smile naturally spread across mine. She looked like a cat who’d snuck outside through a window and gotten caught by its owner.