“If you want, we could sponsor you, or you can choose whatever form you prefer? Or—yes, would it be better to create a position for you? That would give you more standing. It’s a bit of a flaw that you’re still young, but that’s not a big issue……”

“What…?”

“So what I’m saying is, even if the child has some aspects that don’t satisfy you, keep him!”

The bigwig’s proposal was similar to what Perry had imagined, but…… the context was completely different. The elderly woman continued her explanation in a stern voice.

“If it really doesn’t work out, tell me or Mardan. Since he’s our family’s child, we must take responsibility for his compensation.”

“Um, is this not about… needing someone to inherit the company or something?”

“Company?”

A tone of puzzlement. Perry finally acknowledged that her guess had been completely off the mark.

“For the company, after Mardan, we should have a professional manager. Unless Della or Yuan wrap up what they’re doing and get business degrees…… Both of them, I don’t know who they take after, they just do whatever they want.”

Well, who do you think they take after? Della’s well-kneaded response echoed softly. The elderly woman snorted dismissively.

“The child who used to live so stiffly has been living like a human being these past few years.”

“Yuan?”

“It’s clear who’s responsible for that. I don’t know who he takes after, but he at least has the eye to see that much.”

The remaining wine was emptied in one go. The woman with her vibrant hair neatly twisted up gazed steadily at her grandson’s lover. That gaze was quite warm, just like when they first exchanged greetings.

“Since you’ve lived together for some time, you probably know too, Miss Perry. That a person can’t always be good.”

But he always is good?

However, the polite guest nodded carefully instead of contradicting.

“What’s the use of having a decent appearance and looking smooth to others? That’s secondary. He’s my grandson, but how should I put it, he’s not a bad child, but……”

“……”

“The child has some inadequate and cold aspects. But still—”

“No, that’s not true!”

Perry, who had been listening quietly, opened her mouth urgently.

Just like before…… this family was too harsh on Yuan. Of course, Perry also knew that the way Yuan behaved with her was different from how he treated others, but……

‘This is still wrong!’

Inadequate and cold? Regardless of whether it was true or not—though it absolutely couldn’t be true—Perry had never once thought of Yuan that way. If anything, he was tender and attentive.

Living together, it was usually Yuan who was anxious. He cared about trivial matters and paid attention many times over. Yuan was……

“Yuan isn’t like that. I don’t know how he was with his family, but Yuan is truly a good person. He, that child……”

It’s not that she doesn’t care for Yuan.

‘That’s why she’s telling me this.’

Though her words got tangled several times, wasn’t the point simple? The family’s eldest had stepped forward to throw bait, saying, “Keep playing with our child in the future.”

‘But still.’

Perry didn’t want to hear Yuan being criticized. Even if it was affectionate nagging, she couldn’t let Yuan be misunderstood as a cold and indifferent person.

Especially by those who cared for him.

“Yuan—if I feel a little hot, a little cold, he jumps right up. Even if I wake him at 3 AM because of a bad dream, he doesn’t get angry, and though he worries a lot, he doesn’t get buried in those worries. He is……”

Perry, who had been counting on her fingers one by one, emphasized:

“The best person in the world. To me.”

“Wow.”

“So…… you don’t need to ask like this. I can’t live without Yuan anyway.”

And Yuan would feel the same, a firmness that prevented anyone from easily opening their mouth.

Her gentle eyes still sparkled warmly, but there was a stubbornness that wouldn’t allow any objection. Della, who had been staring at that expression, stuck out her tongue. Just like someone’s lover……

※※※

After the banquet, Perry spent time rotating between the three women. If she had breakfast with Mardan Bellium, she would take a walk with Berta Bellium in the afternoon. Each in their own way, they treated their grandson’s, nephew’s, cousin’s lover well.

The elderly woman took Perry around, explaining the history of the region. The middle-aged woman wasn’t as talkative as during meals, but occasionally handed over items she thought were nice.

Della Bellium, who was now like a friend……

“Ah, I met a catfish in that sea. Its red fins were truly beautiful. The white dress that fluttered was really……”

“Wasn’t the blonde you met at the sea called Lu—what was it?”

“Ludhi. That one was not from that sea but near the port. Platinum blonde, the son of a candy store owner. The green apron suited him fantastically.”

The love stories tied to just one region seemed endless. The green eyes visible through the glasses were full of melancholy as they recalled memories.

“It was really good. Ludhi’s elastic skin, tanned by the sun……”

“It’s remarkable that there weren’t any love quarrels when you dated so many people without breaks.”

“When I’m in love, I only see one person. I have my own sense of devotion.”

“Do you even know what devotion means?”

“There are so many beautiful people in the world……”

Among them, Bria was the most beautiful, and Perry let the comment pass, unsure if it was a lament or an exclamation. It was obvious that despite saying such things, she would appear with a new love interest in less than two weeks.

“If you want to impress Bria, wouldn’t it be better to be more serious?”

“……Serious? But my charm is being like the wind!”

“Yes……”

“No, really. She liked this side of me.”

“……”

“I’m telling you it’s true!”

All that aside, I just want to see Yuan. The sea with its glimmering reflections was as brilliant as a fairy tale, and the villa designed in an exotic style felt new each time the sun’s position changed, but……

Still, she missed Yuan.

Perry repeatedly loosened her loosely braided hair, then tied it again. Today was the day Yuan would return home, so they could meet as early as tomorrow at lunch.

Her calloused hand lightly touched the hour hand of the clock. As she counted time while listening to the sound of waves, time seemed to flow even more slowly.

During this time, new information arrived. The one who received the contact was Mardan, who was reviewing documents next to the telephone.

“He’s expected to arrive around 3 AM.”

The subject was omitted, but the person referred to was obvious.

“3 AM? What kind of time is that…… There won’t even be trains from the airport to here, right? They’ll all be stopped.”

Della frowned, showing pure distaste.

“Don’t tell me he’s going to drive his own car all the way here right after returning?”

“He said he’d come without delay, so I suppose so.”

“He’s really…… Ugh, love is scary, so scary.”

The gesture of rubbing both forearms was exaggerated. Perry, who would normally have added a comment or two, remained silent. 3 AM, 3 AM, 3 AM. Her mind became as busy as a student awaiting test results.

3 AM.

Perry, who had been circling the spacious villa right after dinner, burst out through the front door before midnight. Even so, she couldn’t go beyond the sparsely installed lights.

Just a few steps from the front door. The path leading from the gate to the villa. Perry waited for Yuan with her arms crossed.

“Why don’t you wait inside? There’s still time left.”

“I want to be like this.”

Some feelings only became clear after being spoken aloud. The woman who had been repeating “I miss you” as if the phrase would wear out smiled faintly and spoke again.

“Yes, I want to be like this.”

Even mindlessly passing time felt good. Whether waiting outside or inside, even if she lay down in bed because it was late, the time of Yuan’s arrival wouldn’t change. And yet.

Still.

The salt-laden wind was sticky. The seaside after sunset was cool. Swoosh, swoosh, the sound of foam splashing up and falling down. Perry quietly closed her eyes and recited lines she had memorized long ago.

Probably from a time when she couldn’t even get the lead role in a school play.

Her mouth, which had drunk after-dinner wine, still had a bitter sweetness. Though she hadn’t drunk enough to get intoxicated, the moderately excited woman reenacted a play she hadn’t recalled for a long time, without ever faltering.

The wind blew, the waves swayed, and also……

A bright light seeped through the inside of her eyelids. The familiar headlight. The actor who had persistently stayed up until dawn uttered her final line.

“Ah, my beloved has arrived.”

“Perry!”

The man who had crossed a border once and traversed the coastline rushed over hurriedly. His uniform, which he hadn’t had time to change out of, gave off a slightly unfamiliar scent. Yuan embraced Perry in one breath and whispered quickly.