Passionate (1)
“I’m sorry.”
Vlad’s chest trembled greatly at the unwelcome sense of dizziness. A heavy sigh flowed out, as if pressing something down with a rock.
“…What are you sorry for?”
Lily bit her lower lip. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you, about Her Highness Ingrid. I know how uncomfortable you are with the imperial bloodline, but I alone decided to bring the Imperial Grandson… That too.”
Her green eyes were as quiet as a thick forest. Neither the braided hair nor the light sky blue dress was disturbed. She was upset. The mere recollection of Ingrid’s poisonous accusations made her face red again. She was also keenly aware of why Vlad had imprisoned Ingrid.
Ingrid instinctively figured out where his weaknesses were.
Instead of answering, Vlad closed his mouth and stared at her. It wasn’t long before he wiped his face once with a large hand. After a brief silence, a softer voice was heard, “…The imperial grandson has no way of expressing feelings. What can we do with a six-month-old?”
That’s what he said, but it wasn’t like he was comfortable. He tilted his head awkwardly.
“There is only one problem that arises from taking on the imperial grandson. The princess will have an excuse to communicate with you.”
How thoroughly had he been defending against the intervention of the imperial family? He blocked it more tenaciously than the monsters pouring down from Ataka. It was not treason, but he was treading a thin line that could be interpreted as a terribly uncooperative attitude. How much effort had he used to maintain the status quo?
The emperor was Ingrid’s predecessor. Her appearance and personality were also reminiscent of the emperor. He knew the bloodline and their characteristic pathological obsession better than anyone.
Lily strode towards him. “No matter what happens, I will never become the handmaiden to the Crown Princess. So don’t worry about that, Vlad.”
Her eyes, less than a step away, were more bitter than ever. Her fine brows were so tightly contorted that her forehead was wrinkled. Both her small fists were clenched.
“You can’t have someone who hurt you. I was actually very angry. Very much.” The more she continued speaking, the more she seemed to explode. Her fists shook.
“…” The corners of Vlad’s lips moved up to one side involuntarily. “If it’s because of what the princess said, I’m fine.”
Those words seemed to inflame her fury even more. Her eyes widened even more and she stepped closer. “Don’t say it’s okay. Now I know it all. You’ve never been okay with that.”
“It’s really all good this time.”
“Vlad.”
“Because you denied it. It’s okay.”
“…”
Vlad’s handsome lips drew soft arcs. It was the first relaxed smile she had ever seen. Lily held her breath and bit her mouth. The summer sun pouring in from the window seemed to break around him.
This was his laugh. The softness of burying himself in a pile of cotton wool. The kindness that had always peeked out little by little, even if he couldn’t hide it, was right in front of her.
Everything around him seemed to melt away. No, the person to melt might be the one watching him. She felt like she had fallen in a shower of honey water. Her feet were stuck to the ground and couldn’t move at all.
While she was hardened, not knowing what to do, he stretched out his hand. His fingertips touched the border of her forehead and tickled her fine hair. “I only need you.”
He denied himself every time. To her, he was not disgusting, not terrible, not desolate. There was no place for him in this world, except when he was alone with her. He had enough.
Naturally, she buried himself in his arms. The rustling of each other’s collars tickled her ears.
As she leaned her cheek against his firm chest, a pounding pulse penetrated her ear. She liked the heavy scent that tickled her lungs as if she had buried her nose in an old tree grown in rich soil.
“You are the sweetest man in the world.” Lily looked up at him, her chin pinned to his chest. “I know how fragile your heart is. If anyone is being mean to you, tell me. I will never forgive you if you don’t.”
Finally, a small smile graced his lips. He let out a low laugh and his chest rumbled. Lily’s eyes widened. This was also a first…
A gentle man. It was an evaluation that everyone who knew him would ignore once they heard it.
“There is only one person under heaven who thinks of me like that. Lily.”
Hearing his words, it was obvious that the knights would try to arrest an imposter this time. They might even mention a folktale about the prince and the beggar who changed their identities.
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