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Chapter 135

A week after the terror attack.

My body had fully recovered, and under the pretense that I had just returned from a recovery trip for the “Kashmir Crisis,” I was back home in one piece.

The Empire was thrown into complete disarray due to the attack. As it became known that the bombs were the work of the North, the citizens were gripped by fear, and the nobles convened for meetings.

Although it was said that the festival was halted for two days due to the investigation of the bombs, the festivities resumed on the third day after my awakening, and the capital was bustling once again. Today marked the last day of the festival, a day for floating lanterns on the lake.

And it was also the day I had promised to meet Reiner.

“Where is he?”

I wandered around the entrance to the square, glancing about. Every time I turned my head, my long hair, pulled up high into a ponytail, brushed against my cheeks. While looking around, I briefly fixed my gaze on my reflection in the glass of a street vendor’s stall.

I wore a white dress shirt, a navy vest, white riding pants, and black boots. Not silk as the nobles wore, but clothes made of coarse fabric commoners would use.

I looked quite like a street urchin rather than a noble headed to meet fellow nobility.

“If other nobles see me, they might gossip about me being common… but… who cares.”

The corners of my mouth curled up softly as I looked at myself in the glass.

For nobles, enjoying the festival generally meant riding in carriages to explore the city or taking a short stroll. They kept their distance from the commoners’ stalls, maintaining their dignity.

“Common stalls truly are the heart of the festival!”

One could only say they genuinely enjoyed the festival if they indulged as the commoners did. That was precisely why I had chosen to dress like a commoner.

“Kashmir, over here!”

While I was glancing at my watch and peeking around the meeting spot, a familiar voice called my name. I turned with a gentle smile.

Beneath the scorching sun of late spring, Reiner’s silvery hair shone like the moon. His golden eyes, reminiscent of sunlight, sparkled with kindness.

“Reiner.”

There he was.

“How are you feeling?”

Reiner approached me in haste, quickly checking my condition. Although I had assured him multiple times that I had fully recovered when we arranged the meeting, he still appeared extremely worried.

“Well, considering I fell from the sky like a rag doll…”

I smiled a little bitterly. I seemed to have burdened Reiner with my troubles.

To prove my good health, I dramatically waved my arms around.

“I’m all fine. You know my recovery ability, right?”

“Here, I could even do a sword dance.” I added playfully as I naturally stood beside Reiner. He paused for a second at the sudden closeness before letting out a sigh and smiling.

“I was quite worried, so I’m relieved, Kashmir.”

The relief flooding his golden eyes was like a painting. My heart softened at his concern, and as I scratched my head, a sudden thought crossed my mind, causing me to stiffen slightly.

“I heard you were placed under house arrest.”

“Oh, that?”

When I asked hesitantly, Reiner replied casually. I was worried that the incident might have jeopardized Reiner’s position, but he appeared unfazed.

“I received house arrest for not reporting the presence of the bombs, but… it was only for ten days. I’ve also been awarded a medal for safely dismantling the bomb placed in the imperial carriage—thankfully, the bomb in the imperial carriage was much weaker than the one set in the square. Truthfully, ten days of house arrest feels more like a holiday than a punishment.”

Indeed, saving the Emperor and the Crown Prince was an achievement worthy of being hailed as a hero.

As I sighed in relief, Reiner squinted at me.

“And because of that house arrest, I can be here with you, Kashmir. I’m quite satisfied.”

His blunt yet tender words might feel a bit strange to someone hearing it for the first time, but I was very much used to it. However, just because I was accustomed to it didn’t mean it didn’t affect me.

It was still pleasant—his steadfast gaze, his sun-like kindness.

Every time I faced him, my heart grew warm and fluttered strangely.

“…Then that’s a relief.”

I smiled back at Reiner.

We began walking slowly through the capital. The stalls of the festival became most lively as the afternoon darkened slightly, but since it was still early afternoon, we were first sightseeing through the flower-lined streets.

“Your outfit is quite nice.”

Strolling in comfortable silence, I suddenly commented on Reiner’s attire. I had previously given him a heads-up to dress like a commoner, but I hadn’t expected much as he had lived his whole life as a noble.

However, he seemed to have put in some effort, as his outfit looked quite common except for its slightly expensive appearance.

“Well, he still looks handsome.”

Feeling a bit pleased, I smiled slightly.

No matter how ruggedly he dressed, Reiner’s charm didn’t fade. If anything, this neat outfit suited him even better than the flashy uniform.

“Ah, thank you. Kashmir also looks great. Especially with your hair tied up… it suits you.”

Reiner nodded in response to my compliment, adding that straightforward and stiff praise without any special embellishments was refreshing.

I found it adorable how he tried to avoid my gaze while receiving my praise, and I playfully patted my chin.

“Really? Perhaps I should tie my hair up more often.”

I spoke leisurely, giving my high ponytail a light flick. The hair tied with a blue ribbon danced in the wind.

I usually let it down, but since summer was approaching, it didn’t seem bad to tie it up.

“Oh, by the way, this ribbon was given to me by Diego.”

I chuckled softly as I looked up at Reiner.

“This ribbon was given to me by His Highness during the hunting tournament. Since I have red-toned hair, I thought a blue ribbon might not suit me, but does it look fine?”

“…His Highness, you say?”

At my light inquiry, Reiner paused briefly. When I nodded in response, his expression shifted into an indescribably strange one.

While I couldn’t decipher all of his feelings, I noticed that he didn’t seem pleased as his eyebrows narrowed slightly.

“…Is that so? A ribbon given by his Highness… while he was on his way to meet me.”

Reiner spoke slowly in a tone lower than usual. Although it was a calm voice, it also had an underlying sharpness to it.

He lifted his hand and slowly brushed his fingers over the blue ribbon that bound my hair. Something murky seemed to spill from his golden gaze as it looked at the ribbon.

“Excuse me for a moment. Please forgive my rudeness.”

With a swift motion, Reiner grasped the knot of the ribbon and tugged at it decisively. As the knot fell apart effortlessly, the blue hue, reminiscent of Diego’s eyes, spread through the air, and my hair, which was tied up, began to cascade down.

I looked at Reiner in shock.

“I must speak boldly, but that ribbon doesn’t suit Kashmir. It’s too… blue. A different color would be better.”

Reiner lowered his gaze, staring at the blue ribbon in his hands. At that moment, a sharp glint flashed in his golden eyes, reminiscent of a storm cloud eclipsing the sun, hiding behind his long, delicate eyelashes.

As he handled the ribbon as though tearing it apart, Reiner returned the ribbon to me. His touch felt somehow reluctant.

“I think… silver-gray or gold would suit you best, Kashmir.”

Leaning slightly closer, Reiner whispered, his golden eyes reflecting an endless yearning that rolled like waves.

An intense air spread between our gazes.

His golden eyes, filled with profound desire, seemed almost to devour me. The corner of his stiffened mouth curved slightly as he extended his hand towards me.

“I’ll buy you a new ribbon in the city. Would you like to come with me?”

His voice was as sweet and flowing as melted chocolate, rich and inviting.

“…Sure.”

After staring at Reiner for a moment, I quietly accepted his offer and gently took his hand. His large hand grasped mine firmly.

Though it was merely a matter of going to buy a different ribbon, I found it impossible to refuse, as if I were being tempted by a devil.

“Hey, you two! Don’t forget to check out the accessories!”

As we strolled through the city, the street vendors had been calling out for people to take notice, and the word “accessories” stopped me in my tracks.

“Shall we take a look over there?”

“Sounds good.”

I pointed towards a booth filled with accessories, and Reiner nodded.

“Well… I’m not very good with these types of things…”

Standing before a variety of colorful and vibrant accessories, I wore a slightly troubled expression.

Having only pursued simplicity, I had never liked accessories, nor was I familiar with them.

Besides, my sense of aesthetics… was rather poor.

It shamed me to admit it, but I wasn’t particularly good at it. As for fashion sense, it was practically nonexistent—if it were up to me, I’d probably wear nothing but shirts and pants for the rest of my life. I had to go through inspections from my maids and Aria whenever I attended any official functions.

“Rhuelin would know how to pick these things well.”

Suddenly, I recalled my friend, who possessed a genius sense of style, as I fiddled with a delicately carved red rose pendant.

After the news of Mir thwarting the terror spread across the continent, I had received a letter from Rhuelin asking about my well-being. Since we had both been busy and hadn’t seen each other for a long time, I thought it might be nice to arrange a meeting.

“I should send a gift while I’m at it.”

Staring at the pendant, I couldn’t help but think it would surely be something Rhuelin would like.

“It should be fine to buy it as a gift.”

While I rummaged through the display for assets suitable for my family, I suddenly heard Reiner’s low voice calling me.

“Kashmir, how about this ribbon?”

I turned to see Reiner, hovering near a display, holding a silver-gray ribbon with a golden wave pattern.

“It’s pretty. I like it.”

Seeing him grasping long, slender ribbons in his big hands just to buy one for me was cute, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Reiner, who had been gazing at me quietly for a while, soon called for the vendor, paid for the ribbon, and approached me.

“May I tie your hair up?”

Reiner’s hand gently brushed through my hair. His touch felt incredibly natural, and I happily accepted it.

“Thinking about it, Reiner has become more comfortable with skinship with me.”

I reminisced about the old Reiner.

Back then, even the slightest touch would make him stiffen, but now, it seemed he had warmed up and was the one initiating contact.

“Of course, that’s fine.”

Feeling that our hearts had drawn closer, I agreed cheerfully.

Reiner smiled lightly as he stood behind me, carefully combing through my hair with his long fingers. With closer proximity, the faint scent of rosewood brushed against my nose.

Gathering my hair high, he tied the ribbon with a somewhat clumsy touch. A breeze caressed my neck, sending tingles of sensation.

“…It’s done.”

“Oh, thank you.”

As Reiner pulled his hand back, I glanced at the mirror on the booth to check my displayed hair.

The ponytail, which showed signs of someone who rarely touched long hair, had a few stray hairs sticking out. Although the result was far from perfect, somehow it didn’t look bad.

“Silver-gray and gold… they are colors of Reiner.”

I thought while adjusting the ribbon.

In the sunlight, my silver hair sparkled as if scattered by moonlight, and his golden eyes seemed like they would shine even in the darkness.

“That ribbon feels like a part of Reiner.”

As I realized this, I spoke without thinking.

Reiner’s eyes widened at my words, the golden hues swirling as they focused on me.

His lips parted as if to speak, before he finally managed to say something.

“So… you don’t dislike it?”

His carefully laced question hinted at hesitation.

I blinked, then smiled softly.

“Not at all. I actually like it.”

Reiner took a deep breath. After staring at me for a while, he let out a strange laugh, his face twisting in a peculiar blend of laughter and tears.

After gently brushing my tied-up hair with his warm hand, he lowered his head above my hair.

Soft lips descended soundlessly onto my hair. While my hair wouldn’t feel anything due to the lack of sensitivity, I sensed a soft expression of affection radiating in my chest.

As I blinked and turned to him, he looked at me with a gaze almost sanctimonious, as if performing a sacred rite, letting his lips linger upon my hair.

“This is your problem.”

The golden light glimmered, seemingly ready to engulf me.

“I just can’t resist wanting to hold you close.”

His lips, pressed against my hair, released deep, rich, and sticky emotions that dispersed into the air.

 

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