THSMW 58

Chapter 58

Siegfried was supposed to enter, but Aisa was standing right in front of the door, refusing to move.

The servant guarding the doorway trembled and bowed his head.

“…Ahem, Your Highness the Crown Prince. The prince is—”

“I know.”

What kind of attitude is that for someone who says they know? Aisa still did not budge. Only her gaze grew even fiercer.

“That servant’s life is as good as over.”

Millard muttered beside me. I agreed with him. Aisa was seriously scary. Ugh.

“Your Highness, what shall we do?”

The servant, as if he had nothing to lose, spoke up despite Aisa’s murderous glare. Then, the next moment:

“…Just leave her be. I have better things to do than waste time on petty mind games.”

Ah, finally. At last. Eventually.

Siegfried’s voice was heard.

His voice, now deeper than it was five years ago, sounded quite unfamiliar. I thought even his voice from just after his voice changed during puberty was nice, but compared to now, it was nothing.

The noblewoman beside Aisa gasped sharply when she heard Siegfried’s voice. It was such a thrilling voice that once you heard it, it was hard to get out of its spell.

Siegfried entered, taller than the nobles around him, similar in height to Aisa but a bit taller.

Step by step, Siegfried brushed past Aisa. I didn’t miss the deadly glare they exchanged in that brief instant.

Only the sound of Siegfried’s polished shoes echoed through the silent hall. The reaction was completely different from when Aisa had appeared.

Except for the suited knights following Siegfried, no one in the realm had seen him for five years. Not even I, who was not from the realm.

Anyway, Siegfried, making his first appearance in five years, captured the gaze of everyone in the hall except Aisa. I too was left dumbstruck, staring as if entranced.

No way. How could someone look like that?

In one word, he looked like the god of beauty descended to earth.

Siegfried wore a black suit with a pristine white shirt buttoned up completely, and a neatly tied cravat that gave him a solemn, almost ascetic aura.

Beneath the black jacket hugging his broad, strong shoulders was a matching black vest embroidered with silver thread.

He pulled one side of his jacket back, slipped his hand into his pants pocket, and surveyed the room.

Then, through the gap of his jacket, I caught a glimpse of his muscular chest and the slim waist below it.

What is this? Who is this? Is this really the handsome boy I knew?

The skinny, slightly muscular boy I remembered had disappeared, replaced by a young man whose beauty was almost too much to describe.

It amazed me how he could have such strong thighs yet wear a suit that fit him perfectly.

As I stared him up and down quite obviously, I raised my eyes.

Our gazes met. His violet eyes darkened slightly. It was clear he recognized me.

Siegfried strode boldly towards me, apparently indifferent to the fact that Aisa was watching.

He had truly changed. The boy who used to blame himself for being powerless was no longer here.

His jawline was masculine and sharp, yet he remained beautiful. Underneath thick, dark eyebrows partially hidden by hair falling on his forehead, his long eyes curled slightly upward at the edges.

Ah. So dazzling. When he smiled, it was no longer just like rose petals fluttering — it was like a radiant halo appeared around him.

When expressionless, he gave off a cool, cold impression, but his smile made him look like a puppy that had not yet fully grown.

Though now, calling him a puppy was embarrassing because he had grown so much. Standing in front of me with that size made me feel like I was looking at a rock.

The adult Siegfried I had only ever seen as a vision in the past was standing right in front of me.

“Ariel.”

“W-who are you?”

His low, pleasant voice calling my name made me blurt out nonsense.

Who are you? Seeing my reaction, Siegfried laughed shortly, as if amused.

Despite wearing shoes, I was barely tall enough to reach his chest. Siegfried took his hand out of his pocket and bent slightly to meet my eye level. Damn, that hurt my pride. He was always taller than me, but not by this much. It used to be only a hand’s span difference.

“That’s disappointing. That’s the first thing you say after five years.”

I was the one who was disappointed. I was the same as five years ago, but he had grown so much alone.

If this wasn’t the royal palace, I would have immediately called an artist to paint Siegfried. His beauty deserved to be recorded forever.

“Anyway.”

Siegfried’s gaze shifted slightly to the side. I heard a nervous gulp. Now that I thought about it, the man who had been talking to me stood beside me.

“What’s this leech clinging to you that I don’t recognize?”

“M-misunderstanding…”

The man hurried to speak. Siegfried raised one corner of his mouth in a smile that was barely there, but his eyes did not smile at all. Wow, those eyes were fierce.

Siegfried said nothing else and just stared at the man. The man suddenly remembered he had something to do and quickly left.

Though driving him away should have been enough, Siegfried watched until the man disappeared.

Now an adult, Siegfried seemed unlikely to let things slide so easily. He no longer looked like the kind to close his eyes and say cute things like, “Ariel said she likes me.”

Instead, the atmosphere was more like, “If you approach Ariel, you die,” with a charming smile.

So I moved slightly to the side, slipping into his view. Only I could save the poor creature. Then Siegfried slowly blinked.

“Ring on your hand.”

“Oh, this…”

“I gave it to you.”

“It’s not just the ring. Everywhere I go, traces of you remain on me.”

“Is it safe to make such dangerous remarks?”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

I was about to say if it was you who paid for all the boutiques I visited.

I was left speechless, blinking. His voice, low and whispery, made the word “dangerous” feel strange.

I should go out to the terrace for some fresh air and a walk. And also think about how to deal with Siegfried going forward.

“Don’t go. We just met.”

Turning around quickly, I was stopped by Siegfried’s voice. I looked up briefly at him. His violet eyes drooped slightly in a disappointed expression as he looked down at my hand.

I turned slightly and held out my hand to him. Siegfried bent his head further and kissed the back of my hand.

It was the same as the farewell five years ago, but why did I feel so different?

I felt his breath on the back of my hand beneath the thin glove. Was it supposed to make my heart beat this fast?

Siegfried held my hand for quite a while without letting go. His body heat was warm. My fingertips trembled lightly. I’m bad at handling this ticklish feeling.

I could no longer act like a childish brat whining, “Why won’t you look at me?”

At twenty years old, I was a full-grown adult.

Finally, Siegfried lifted his head. His violet eyes narrowed slightly. It felt like he could see right through my confused heart.

Seriously, why is he so handsome?

I was so nervous I thought I might go crazy. Everyone’s attention was completely on me and Siegfried, which didn’t help.

I closed and opened my eyes tightly and pulled my hand out of his large grip. For a moment, I saw Siegfried raise one eyebrow in displeasure.

“So, so, how have you been?”

I stammered in a trembling voice, totally overwhelmed by Siegfried’s presence.

Siegfried was still looking at my empty hand. If he had complaints, I wished he would say them.

Before, that kind of look would have seemed cute and made me want to stroke his hair, but now I just wanted to put my hand back in his palm quickly.

It felt like the roles were reversed.

“I missed you.”

Siegfried spoke softly.