Chapter 2.2

“You, on the other hand, couldn’t see me even if you went out, right?”

Miguel, who had been recently scrutinized by the Earl and Countess regarding whom he met, had nothing to say. Even if Lisael had freely gone out, he couldn’t guarantee that he would see her. It was merely an attempt to blame Lisael.

“I’m also so busy with heir education that even ten bodies wouldn’t be enough. Unlike you, who stays at home doing embroidery.”

“What’s wrong with embroidery! You can’t even draw a pattern!”

Lisael, who indeed spent time doing embroidery at home, was provoked by the accurate remark. Unable to control her fiery temper, she unintentionally slapped the wall around the crack with her palm. As a result, a new crack formed along the hole in the wall that had been impacted.

“…Oh no!”

“Geez, calm your temper.”

“Whose fault is it!”

Lisael, who had moved slightly away from the wall, shouted angrily at Miguel’s scolding.

“I’m leaving now! Sleep well or not!”

“Wait, Lisa.”

As Lisael, about to go inside, turned her head, one of Miguel’s eyes shone through the hole.

“Step back a little more.”

“Ha! I was going to leave anyway!”

“No, don’t leave. I can’t see your face because the hole is small.”

If she hit the wall once more, the hole might get big enough to give Miguel a good flick on the forehead. With such thoughts, Lisael stepped back as Miguel instructed.

‘But why am I doing what this guy says?’

Lisael, who had followed Miguel’s words without question, belatedly wondered but had already stepped back enough for him to see her face.

“…I missed you, Lisa.”

And then, the blue eyes beyond the wall briefly gazed at her and murmured softly.

“Ugh, don’t say such creepy things. You know there’s a terrible rumor going around in the village about us, right?”

When Miguel, who had never said such things, suddenly spoke as if he had evening sentimentality, Lisael was appalled. But was it normal for one’s stomach to feel ticklish when hearing something creepy?

Experiencing this for the first time, Lisael pondered alone.

“I know. Whoever spread it, it’s a very admirable… I mean, ingenious mischief. It must be a deliberate villain trying to tarnish my reputation as the Young Earl.”

“Just you wait. I’ll bring tools, break the wall, and beat you up.”

A short, low laugh came from beyond the wall. Lisael was genuinely angry, but Miguel seemed to find even that amusing. He was so carefree, not knowing the wall was his lifesaver.

“Thank you, Lisa. I can only laugh when I’m with you.”

‘This must be sarcasm.’

“The night air is cold, so go inside now. I’m going to bed too.”

Lisael, crossing her arms against the chilly night breeze, deliberately made a yawning sound.

“…Lisa, let’s meet here again at this time tomorrow.”

This guy seemed particularly clingy today, probably because he missed seeing his best friend for fifteen days. In truth, although they bickered again in this short time, Lisael was also glad to see him.

“Okay, see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Miguel.”

* * *

Thud.

The next day, as Lisael loitered around the wall under the pretext of a walk at a similar time as the previous day, something suddenly flew over the wall. Upon picking it up, she found it was a luxurious cashmere shawl.

“…Miguel?”

“Wrap it around yourself.”

As expected, it was something Miguel had thrown over. The cashmere was warm and soft enough to block the cool night breeze just by its texture.

“The heir training you receive at the castle must be quite good? Even a troublemaker like Miguel Dante is showing gentlemanly manners.”

“I’ve always been a gentleman, except to you, Lisael Cherlin. You, on the other hand, should consider looking into a mercenary guild instead of being a lady. Someone as tough as you would be perfect for it.”

“Miguel… I really miss you. I want to see your face directly, from a place where I can reach out and touch you.”

As Lisael clenched her fist in anger and approached the hole to confirm Miguel’s face, her eyelids shot up in surprise.

“Hey, what are you saying such embarrassing things for? Between friends…”

Beyond the hole, a boy with cheeks flushed as if they would burst and turning his head shyly was barely visible. Lisael was taken aback by the innocent yet embarrassed demeanor of her friend, and her mouth gaped in shock.

She never imagined that what she said would be misunderstood as a fluttering confession exchanged between lovers. Of all people, Miguel Dante should not have misunderstood it that way.

What was more shocking was her own reaction. She should have retorted with contempt at her friend’s firm misunderstanding, but she couldn’t understand why her face was also heating up. The hot flush rising to her cheeks was unmistakably felt.

She was grateful for the wall separating her from Miguel for the first time. That day marked a turning point. She began to look forward to and feel excited about meeting him with different emotions than before.

It must be a fondness stemming from not being able to freely meet her friend.

Lisael eagerly awaited that night every day. She didn’t mind the tickling throb in her chest that grew each time she whispered trivial stories with him, using the wall as a screen.

The joy from the secret meetings with her friend was something she gladly welcomed.

“Miguel, I think I can finally go out!”

It had been fifteen days since they shared their friendship across the wall. She had accumulated enough manners. She could now embroider with her eyes closed.

Lisael wanted to see Miguel’s face directly after a long time. Not through that suffocating hole used as a telescope. Miguel was not a celestial body in the sky.

“Did you get permission from the Village Chief?”

“Um… actually, he seems to be very busy these days. The atmosphere at home is unsettled, so the surveillance has become lax.”

Perhaps because they were neighbors. Or because they were families managing Cherlin together. Coincidentally, Earl Dante had also been on edge these past few days.

They decided to go on a picnic with other friends to the lake at the village entrance.

“What? A picnic? Miguel Dante, I have quietly tolerated you mingling with the villagers as the future Lord. But now, enough is enough.”

“…Pardon?”

Miguel, who intended to boldly ask for permission because the Earl seemed to be in a better mood than usual, immediately stiffened at Earl Dante’s threat.

“You are now the Young Earl who will soon participate in the social circles and interact with nobles. Mingling with commoners will be the last of your childhood! The ones you should associate with are nobles with titled parents like you!”

Miguel, who usually countered the Earl’s scoldings without backing down, kept his mouth shut this time. He was vaguely beginning to realize.

None of the offspring of the surrounding southern Lords mingled with commoners like he did. It was a fact easily realized when meeting nobles following his father.

He had a premonition that the day would come. The day would come when simply being friends would not suffice as a reason to meet Lisael and other friends.

The time to let go of once childish and pure bonds as mere memories suddenly arrived. Except for one person.

“As you said, Father, I will focus more on building connections in the social circles from now on. But not Lisael. She is my first friend since coming to the South.”

“Ah, you mean the former village chief’s daughter? Go ahead and meet her. I’m worried she might slap you, haha.”

As the Earl sarcastically made nonsensical remarks, a chilling shiver crawled up Miguel’s spine.

“What do you mean by ‘former village chief’?”

He vaguely understood that the Lords of the four villages had been coming and going to the Earl’s castle, causing friction with the Earl. It seemed like a conflict could arise once, given the recognition of the independence of the four districts within a large territory, so he didn’t pay much attention.

The Earl, who arrogantly adjusted his posture and laughed heartily, added words that made Miguel’s heart pound. He felt the hot heat rising from his core, heating his insides.

Bang!

“Miguel! Where are you going!”

Before the Earl’s heroic tale could even end, Miguel kicked the door open and dashed out. He heard voices calling him from behind, but Miguel couldn’t even think about stopping.

The Young Earl, forgetting his dignity and composure, dashed across the town, not caring about his pants and shoes getting soaked in muddy water.

Huff.

Huff, huff.

Huff, huff, huff!

Even as his breath reached its limit, his running didn’t stop. Heading to the entrance to go to the lake, Miguel suddenly changed the direction his legs were taking him.

He didn’t know why. If he had something like intuition, it was probably because of that intuition.