Chapter 13

His eyes were sharp enough to make one’s legs tremble.

“Vivi.”

Sir Costance casually draped his coat over her shoulders.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“N-no!”

“That’s a relief.”

He gently held her waist and helped her up.

But he didn’t stop there; he pulled her behind him. Hidden behind Sir Costance, she noticed his gaze had sharpened again. He was glaring at the man in front of them.

“Who are you?”

“Uh, well.”

“If you have no business here, I’d appreciate it if you left.”

His voice was low and deep.

“N-no. I think there’s a misunderstanding. I just wanted to talk with Miss…”

“Leave.”

“…”

“Are you deaf?”

Constance, who always spoke politely, spoke roughly. The man before him seemed frightened.

“I-I’m… s-sorry!”

The man fled as if he had been caught stealing. She didn’t expect him to be so quick on his feet.

“Vivi.”

“Y-yes!”

She was startled by Costance’s call.

“Be careful of men like that.”

“…What?”

“He’s a disrespectful man. What reason would he have to take you, whom he’s meeting for the first time, to his place? Don’t even talk to such men.”

She hadn’t realized that man might have had disrespectful thoughts. Her mind was solely focused on Sir Costance.

“Yes…”

She blankly stared at his back. Up close, his back was really broad.

Was it because he worked out? Or was he born that way? 

She felt an urge to touch that broad back. Just then, Sir Costance suddenly turned around.

“I was worried.”

“…?”

“You weren’t coming. I wondered if you hadn’t seen the note. Or if something happened to you on the way. I almost went back to the library to find you.”

Costance let out a breath all at once.

“…I know. In front of you, I’m just as disrespectful as that man.”

Costance’s face darkened. He tried hard to erase his bitter smile.

“I know I’m being selfish. I’m sorry, Vivi.”

“…Why are you apologizing to me?”

She finally asked. Her gaze met his.

“I ignored you. I made you wait for a long time today as well. So why are you apologizing to me? Aren’t you angry with me?”

Sir Costance was silent for a moment at her question. Then, as if he had made up his mind, he spoke.

“I was a little angry. Just a little, but… seeing your face like this…”

He stopped speaking and quietly looked at her. A bright light hovered over his previously dark face.

“My heart melts.”

Sir Costance smiled softly. Who could spit at Sir Costance’s face? She couldn’t bring herself to say, “I actually didn’t plan to come.”

“Sir, I…”

While choosing her words, she keenly sensed the gazes around them. The people inside ‘Atlantis’ and those nearby were glancing at them.

“Are you hungry? I happened to reserve a seat.”

At his words, she shook her head.

“Vivi?”

“I want to move to another place.”

There were too many people watching here.

“Let’s go somewhere quiet.”

At her words, Sir Costance moved.

* * *

The place they went to was a small reservoir in Canary Village. Neither spoke on the way there. An awkward silence hung between them.

In front of the reservoir was an empty bench. It was a dark place without streetlights. Sir Costance seemed displeased with the spot, but she liked it.

As she sat down, the air grew colder. She unconsciously pulled Sir Costance’s coat on her shoulders closer to her chest. Noticing her gesture, he looked around.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

He quickly ran off somewhere. She turned her gaze to where he had gone. It was a small shop selling souvenirs. Then, he came out with a red blanket.

“Thank you.”

“It’s quite cold. If the wind gets any colder, let’s go into a nearby café.”

Sir Costance said as he covered her legs with the blanket.

“You must really like coffee, Sir.”

Her tone unintentionally sounded a bit mocking. She worried that Sir Costance might be offended by it.

“I do.”

Contrary to her worries, he answered clearly.

“Pardon?”

“Coffee. I like it.”

“…Oh. I dislike bitterness, so coffee isn’t for me.”

“It’s also strong in flavor. I didn’t enjoy coffee from the start either. But… I got used to it as I kept drinking it.”

“That’s not liking it.”

“Now that I think about it, you’re right.”

She burst into laughter at his unexpected answer.

Then she remembered Sir Costance telling her a few days ago, “Your smile is beautiful.” As expected, Sir Costance was looking at her.

“Sorry. I saw the note late.”

She quickly changed the subject, feeling burdened by his gaze.

“I made the appointment on my own, so it’s partly my fault too.”

“You don’t have to apologize. Sir, you really did nothing wrong. It’s just that… I’m embarrassed to face you….”

“Was there something to be embarrassed about?”

…Sir, are you really unaffected?

Even if nothing happened, two young people spending a night in a nice hotel room together was significant.

As she remained silent, at a loss for words, Sir Costance flinched, realizing the implication.

“Oh, that was unavoidable, and nothing happened. I-I just looked at you, I didn’t touch….”

“…”

“It’s all my fault.”

Sir Costance hid his reddened face and ran a hand over it. A breeze blew.

The wind was colder than ever, but his reddened earlobes seemed hot.

“Sir.”

She quietly called out to Sir Costance. He was a good person. A perfect man with nothing lacking.

Every woman liked him.

It didn’t suit him to sit alone at ‘Atlantis’ waiting for hours.

“Vivi?”

“Do you… like me, Sir?”

So this feeling of his must be fleeting. She wanted to end this fleeting feeling.

“…”

A silent moment passed.

“…I like you.”

Sir Costance finally confessed his feelings. Even though she had guessed, his answer was surprising. What should she say in response…?

Her thoughts completely halted.

“I’ve liked you for quite a while.”

“For a long… time?”

His continued words were even more surprising.

“You may not know, but I’ve… known you for a long time.”

“How?”

“……That’s….”

Sir Costance hesitated. 

How did a soldier like him know me for a long time?

‘Could it be that he knows my true identity… No, if he did, he wouldn’t like me.’

Unconsciously, she clenched her fists. If the government knew her information, she would have been dragged to an institution for questioning long ago.

A peace-loving man like Sir Costance wouldn’t like her if he knew her existence. Yet her heart pounded as if it would burst.

“I intended to confess my feelings after getting closer to you.”

“…”

“I’m not expecting an immediate answer from you. I know you don’t like me.”

Sir Costance looked at her.

“I just want to get to know you better.”

He said. He wanted to get to know her. Costance, the hero of Toramde and a naval officer.

“You know, Sir. To be honest…”

She parted her lips. Nervous, Sir Costance’s Adam’s apple moved.

“I find you a bit overwhelming. Your actions, your feelings, all of it. …Do you really want to be friends with me, Sir?”

Sir Costance swallowed his answer to her question. His gray eyes wavered with anxiety.

“I…”

“Sir.”

She cut off his words. His lips closed.

“I can’t accept your feelings, Sir.”

She said.

“Ever.”

And then silence flowed again.

She looked down at her clenched fists, then mustered the courage to raise her head. She expected to see an angry face, but… surprisingly, Sir Costance was crying.

He was crying.

A man who wouldn’t blink even with a sword pointed at him…

Was crying.