“Are you and Yuan in a serious relationship?”

That question arrived without warning. Without any preamble like “if you don’t mind” or “I was wondering”—qualifiers that the woman’s cousin would have fussily added.

Perry stopped trying to gauge the speaker’s intention and instead pondered the question itself. She imagined the numerous possibilities that could be compressed into the word “serious.”

“If you’re in a serious relationship, you know—”

“I’m not sure.”

In a tone that sounded like a joke, Perry Humble replied with her hands neatly folded.

“Why don’t you ask him?”

[Beloved Yuan

Ah, what a beautiful night! Don’t you think so?

Please forgive my messy handwriting just for today. It’s a very, very happy day. As my friend, you would have guessed what this means, right?

That’s right!

I passed the final audition!

I’ll be on stage with Bria Sol. Well, I’ve been on stage with her before…… but then we were lead and supporting roles, right?

My goodness. I’m so nervous, and so happy too…… It feels like everything I’ve been wishing for is coming true one by one. Ever since I met you.

Of course, the kind you would draw the line and say ‘it’s all the actor’s own strength’—but even the most excellent actor cannot be an actor without an audience. In other words, anyone can be an actor if they have even just one audience member. Have I said this before?

Oh, I’m so happy! I had a drink to celebrate my acceptance. With none other than Bria Sol!

Bria personally delivered the acceptance letter! The agency director gave me two bottles of wine from his collection as a gift. It seemed too much to drink alone, so I asked Bria, and she readily joined in!

Next week I’ll meet the director too. Gardrin Sol! I’ve told you before how much I admire her.

Oh, a lead role in a major theater.

A lead role at the Royal Theater!

I might cry when the posters come out. The words ‘Perry Humble’ will be printed on a Royal Theater poster! I only vaguely imagined this as a child. No, to be more honest, as the years went by, even that imagination gradually shrank. From a lead role at the Royal Theater to smaller theaters, smaller roles, smaller and smaller…… Later, I cynically told myself I should be grateful just to maintain my existence as an actor.

But Yuan, that was actually a lie. I wanted to be more extraordinary than anyone. I wanted everyone to see me, to become very, very famous. If that happened……

Oh, shall I tell you about another dream of mine? It’s a s-e-c-r-e-t story I’ve never told anyone because I’m embarrassed! What could it be?

One, a solo signing event as a great actor.

Two, an exclusive interview with .

Three, a play production just for Perry Humble!

Yuan would have guessed already, right?

The answer is…… four, bouquets filling the dressing room. Silly, isn’t it? You might wonder why bouquets all of a sudden. Actually, this dream came from the little Perry who had just started dreaming of becoming an actor.

Twenty-year-old Perry Humble who landed the lead role in some amazing play—back then, I thought twenty was quite old—has a spacious, luxurious private dressing room—with canapés and champagne on a round table for some reason—filled with all kinds of flowers! Roses, daffodils, freesias……

I’d be surprised to see the dressing room. Sniffling “Oh my! I’m so touched” while examining each flower. Each flower has a card inserted, all with messages supporting my future. Then suddenly the dressing room door opens—

Oh, I’ll stop here. Looking back, it’s terribly embarrassing. I probably got inspired by a magazine interview I read around that time.

Oh, to be clear, I’m not asking you to do this! Absolutely, absolutely not! I’m adding this because my devoted fan might think “that’s nothing” and turn my dressing room into a garden.

It might seem like a premature caution, but based on what I’ve seen of you so far, you’re more than capable of doing just that.

Anyway, though I’m not twenty as little Perry expected, I’ve come this far after many twists and turns.

I’m fortunate to have you, Yuan.

Truly.

Are you kind to me because I’m your friend, or because I’m your actor?

Don’t answer that.

August 13,

Wishing love and peace, Perry.]

※※※

After three weeks of not sending any reply, the man was found by the riverside. No, he might not have been a man after all. Perry descended the steep stone steps, unsure. Her foot caught in a small hollow, but thanks to her good balance, she didn’t fall.

As the distance narrowed, her doubts faded. Unlike before, black hair covered his forehead, but his back remained straight despite sitting carelessly, and his profile was neat.

“Humble?”

“Hello, Jin.”

Perry slipped into the seat beside him, waved her hand cheerfully, then looked ahead. A deep, clear river flowed, stretching all the way to Priton.

“What brings you to Roju?”

“Just…… felt like I should come.”

“Is today special?”

The man reflexively shook his head, then answered again before Perry could look back. No, nothing special.

His black suit, unsuitable for the season, was slightly wrinkled. Perry belatedly noticed he was holding something in both hands. Heavy-looking material, small gleam. Her dark eyes narrowed.

“What’s that?”

“Ah.”

“Looks like a box…… may I touch it?”

Without answering, the man handed over the cubic box. Smooth wood, metal, jewels? As Perry tried to deduce its craftsmanship with her fingertips, she tilted her head diagonally. Drawing closer, she noticed a different perfume scent. Not the fresh, cool scent the man usually wore…… but a dry wooden smell. One rarely encountered in the kingdom.

Her flowing hair touched the man’s elbow then fell away.

“A jewelry box? What’s inside?”

“Nothing.”

In truth, the identity of the jewelry box wasn’t important. There were far more pressing questions between them. At least Perry Humble thought so.

Even if, contrary to her resolve, she ended up making trivial small talk.

“Were you just enjoying the river view?”

“Yes.”

“All the way in Roju?”

“I guess so.”

The conversation hardly flowed. It was difficult to read the atmosphere from lips that quickly closed, and the shadowed face was hard to identify.

The only tangible fact was that the man sitting beside her had never spoken first.

An uninvited guest.

Recalling this bleak noun, Perry lightly bit the tip of her tongue. The sweetness of the candy she had eaten on the way still seemed to linger.

Perry Humble was not inherently rude. She wasn’t insensitive enough to ignore social cues and act as she pleased, nor selfish enough to care only about herself regardless of others.

Yet somehow, in front of this boy, repeatedly,

“Aren’t you going to ask why I’m here?”

“Ah……”

She acted like a sulking child. Being clingy and demanding attention, whining for him to look at her.

“What brings you here, Humble?”

“I saw you.”

It couldn’t be helped. It was all his fault.

“So I came.”

The man suddenly held his breath, then exhaled slowly. The sun was setting gently. Perry stared at her pen pal who consistently responded with silence and avoidance. “Yuan” didn’t lavish unusual praise as in his letters, nor awkwardly share his daily routine.

Yuan Bellium, Yuan Jin.

Rolling the distinctly different surnames in her mouth, Perry impulsively said,

“May I touch your face?”

“……Face, suddenly, face?”

“I can’t see well. It must be different from when you were a student.”

“That’s, but……”

She didn’t back down with a “I won’t force you.” When Perry pushed strongly, “Yuan” couldn’t refuse.

Her prediction proved correct.

Instead of answering, the man awkwardly bent his upper body. After fumbling a couple of times, her hand landed perfectly on the man’s face. Smooth forehead, hollow eye area, distinct bridge of the nose, dry cheeks, angular jaw. Perry slowly caressed the slightly sticky area under his eyes.

She didn’t ask, Have you been crying? Because he would say no.

She didn’t ask, Did something happen? It was obvious she would get the same answer. The boy Perry liked, from before until now…… never gave the answers Perry truly wanted to hear.

Sometimes she wanted to force answers out of him, but that would be meaningless. That particular statement needed to come from him directly, not because he “cleverly figured out” what to say, but because he truly realized it.

Sincerity, only sincerity.

The stubborn woman swallowed all the questions that had risen to her throat and touched the other person very slowly, for so long that others might consider it leisurely.

You’ve lowered your bangs? No time to do my hair. Work? Day off. Aren’t you hot? I’m fine. Do you have thick eyelashes? I’m not sure.