Chapter 206

Dont you like it with your heart? (2)

If he was usually a playful person, this might look awkward, but he was always a serious and an orderly man. I nodded my head slightly as I met his sharp-forged eyes. Slowly, so he doesnt misunderstand.

Anything.

His eyes deepened for an instant. At the same time, a hesitation seemed to pa.s.s. To guess I dont think theres anything he wanted or he was thinking about it. Perhaps even though he said this, he seemed to be stirring inside.

In the end, I reached out first.

Did you have anything in mind?

Pat. When my hand touched him, he flinched. His slightly widened eyes made me burst out laughing.

He was a person with a very scary and serious face as the basics, so even a little surprise would result in him making a completely different expression. I grabbed the tip of his finger. Although he showed a slight embarra.s.sment, he did not avoid it.

Is what I was thinking right?

Youre right.

He breathed in and answered. I could see his neck moving down in a gulp.

Then tell me.

His gaze falls down.

I think youll find it difficult.

I dont think so.

Having said that, I paused for a moment. Hold it.

What if we kiss here?

It may have been a far-fetched imagination, but I suddenly became serious for no reason. To put it simply, it was inevitable. I dont think theres a law saying I cant do it with all the roses in the same sense as Chaser, but.

It feels like kissing Francia on the cheek while Im doing this, but Lenag.

Having been thinking about something absurd, I shook my head lightly. It was just a stupid idea. I didnt want to think too much about Lenag. I just wanted to avoid getting serious as much as possible, but I didnt avoid the situation. The words have already been spit out anyway?

So what is it?

That.

Lenag, who lowered his head in hesitation, looked at me. The eyes showed determination.

Then if you dont find it difficult.

***

It was difficult.

I said I wouldnt find it difficult, but.

Im sorry for him, but this is difficult. Its not just difficult. It was very difficult. I covered my face. I didnt know what to say about this situation.

Excuse me, Lenag.

He looked at me as if he had been preparing for a while. My lips open and close.

Can I say Im going to back down now? Is he really going to do it?

However, not a single word could come out of my mouth. Even so, what should I do as the person who brought it up in the first place? I just half buried my face in my hands and shook my head.

nothing.

As I said that, he laid something down in front of me as if everything was ready.

And seeing him put it down made me even more disturbed. Because it was none other than steaming water in a basin or something. Its a large basin, but at first glance, I was more distured when I looked at the bowl that was covered with gold leaf and looked very expensive.

In the end, I couldnt stand it and said,

Im sorry, Lenag.

Yes. Please tell me.

Because Im not the type of person to go back on my words.

Yes. Go ahead.

He lowered his head as if he knew what I was going to say. It was just him and me in the parlor. I think its really fortunate that no one else can see this kind of scene.

Yes, I dont think this is a good thing, so once again. No. No. I will ask you one last time.

I pointed down with my finger.

Are you really okay with this?

Yes.

He laughed a little. Obviously, his hard expression softened as I had allowed him. However,

You want to wash my feet!

But the problem is that his wish is absurd.

Do you have any problems?

Dont you think so? The feet. Usually the attendant washes it, and I know how to do it myself.

Yes. I am well aware of that.

No, but why was he making a wish like this? I mean, I was prepared to hear something bigger and grander. Im fully prepared, too! It was so absurd that I was at a loss for words.

Why the feet?

What?

There are the hands, the arms. Theres the body.

Then Lenag turned his head and grabbed his cheek lightly. He looked embarra.s.sed and was at a loss of what to do.

I dont know if its somewhere else, but the body is a little.

No. Its just a figure of speech.

Of course, it was not without a guess beforehand.

Well, Lenag, this is a question that I am cautious about, maybe you have a taste for something like this. A, a desire.

What?

Maybe towards the foot.

What? I dont know what youre talking about, but no.

He flatly denied it. He seemed to be surprised by the word desire.

No, its nonsense. I was just asking.

I know. I dont think thats the case, so I went and started asking the wrong questions. Well maybe he has a desire for. Liking feet in particular. The nonsense is getting haywire here.

I sighed and asked the real question.

Is this something that I have said carelessly before?

.

He didnt answer. The silence meant an affirmation. I smiled bitterly as I buried my face in my hands again. At this point, I was wondering what Iana had in her mind. To resolutely follow her tastes one by one.

Lenag grabbed the end of the bowl and released it.

Sorry. I think I made a very difficult request.

Lenag, who tapped the rippling water, immediately lifted his head and looked at me.

Then this never happens.

No. Please.

It wasnt that Lenag had strange tastes. I dont know under what circ.u.mstances Iana in the past had brought up these words, but he even remembered the pa.s.sing words. On top of that, I said I would listen. I had no intention of going back.

Lets get it done once.

I lifted my skirt slightly and dipped my toe into the water. Then he smiled in trouble.

This is embarra.s.sing.

Rather than embarra.s.sing, I wondered if I had done something like this in my life.

Miss Iana had said something before.

Lenag, who was facing me, exhaled a little.

Did you run in slippers?

Excuse me, with a small greeting, his hand gently grabbed my ankle. His hand was so large that my ankle was caught in one hand.

This is water mixed with herbs.

He was also a swordsman, so a long scar was visible on his hand. No. His weapon was a bow, though?

He poured water over the top of my foot and continued his words.

I was worried that you might get hurt because you ran in a hurry today.

As he said, there were small scratches on my ankles and the back of my feet. Inside the Domulit mansion, I wore indoor shoes, which were not suitable for running.

However, in order to deceive Chasers eyes, I could not change shoes beforehand, and there was no time to do so after taking Chaser down. Was he thinking of something that even I had not thought of? I was a little surprised. Because it was unexpected.

If you just leave it alone, it will get better soon.

Thats right.

Lenag agreed.

Of course, wounds are anything over time I want your time with pain to be short.

Looking at his face, I couldnt bear to say that it didnt hurt. Eventually I nodded and gave him my foot.

Splash.

For a while, only the sound of water splas.h.i.+ng and pouring was filling the parlor. The warm body temperature and the warm water make me feel drowsy. I rubbed my eyes to chase away my sleepiness.

But I have a question.

I still thought this wasnt the case, but it turns out he seemed softer and more pleasant than usual. So instead of pointing it out, I brought up another story. I intended to drive out the awkwardness through conversation.

Please say it.

Come to think of it, I was at a crossroads when I met him at Domulits garden today.

Did the other direction at the crossroads today lead to another gate?

I asked, just in case. In this slightly awkward situation, I wanted to relax the atmosphere while not having much to say. However, he gave an unexpected response. Lenag looked troubled.

He grabbed my foot and lowered his eyes slightly.

Thats right.

I let out a small laugh.

Lenag, you really cant lie.

He rolled his eyes in embarra.s.sment. Like a man who heard words he would never have heard in his life.

Not necessarily, but. Maybe in front of Miss Iana.

I dont think hes aware that he was being very honest even with this figure.

Do you not like it?

It is better to be honest than to lie.

As I said that, I lightly rubbed my cheeks that were splashed with water.

It is difficult and annoying to know whether the other person is lying or not.

It might be rather lazy to not even make such an effort. Anyway, I felt like that. Saying this, I clenched my chin. Even during a conversation, he looked diligent. Hes a hard worker for just about anything.

As he grabbed my foot, I was able to see Lenags face up close, and I saw a small hairline crack in his gla.s.ses.

Are your gla.s.ses cracked?

It was so subtle that I wouldnt notice it unless I looked closely. However, I had heard from someone that it was very annoying and bad for eyesight while wearing gla.s.ses.

Of course, Lenag wasnt really bad-eyed, but It wouldnt have had no impact. I tapped Lenags shoulder.

Hey, Lenag. I think theres a hair crack in your gla.s.ses.

Oh, did you see it? I dont have clear gla.s.ses.

Are there others?

There was, but everything was broken.

He smiled slightly as if nothing was wrong. Gla.s.ses are not for battle. And he was a man of position and t.i.tle that was not far from battle. I pondered for a moment, then removed my hand from my chin.

Can you excuse me?

Its okay if its Miss Iana, but.

After hesitating, I cautiously reached out my hand. Slowly, just like when he was holding my foot carefully, I took off Lenags gla.s.ses.

Miss Iana?

Its okay.

I looked into his face and said clearly again. So that he doesnt miss a word.

Im not afraid anymore.

He looked like he was about to cry.

So, you dont have to wear gla.s.ses.

Its uncomfortable.

I said one more time.

Its not scary.

He couldnt stand it and lowered his head. Are you crying?

No, he looks like he will cry. For some reason, it felt certain. But when he looked up, he wasnt crying.

Instead, in a low voice.

I love you.

He confessed to me.

The moment I saw his face, I knew that he was just not crying yet.

This feeling I hold even though I know it will be a trouble to you. What should I do? Yet I hold them.

Before he could say anything more, I reached out my hand.

Drop.

The gla.s.ses fall to the floor.

No, Lenag.

I whispered softly, covering his eyes.

I have something to tell you.

Maybe I should have talked a little sooner.

Im sorry for him, but now I know. I realized it late. I am not the one who should see these tears. What this person, who was too pure with such a sharp face, has in his chest, the feeling. That should not be taken lightly.

I reflected on the time I had wasted carelessly. And, I just found out now. Why did it have to be today? Why did I have a foreboding that today would be the last time I had a quiet conversation with him?

Because I know I cant go back to our previous relations.h.i.+p if I tell him everything today.

But I had to tell him.

Me.

I am not Iana.

It was time to say so.

Dont do it.

His words were faster. His hands overlapped mine and then grabbed onto it.

Lenag? Wait, Its not that, its important.

I was afraid because it felt like he was rejecting me, so I tried to speak quickly. But he held my hand firmly.

No. Dont do it.

Intercepting my words, he said quickly.

what you want to say I know.

Lenags lips trembled slightly. Like a tree swaying in the wind, so violently. I felt him closing his eyes. I could feel the water on my palm. Then, a voice so weak that it was unbelievable that it was Lenags voice came out in difficulty.

I know.