Chapter 19. Will You Do It For Me?

On Yuelina’s earlobe, particularly, there was a red dot.

So it was difficult to tell whether her ears were pierced or not.

Regardless of the reason, Theo thought it was all his fault.

He hadn’t pierced his ears either, yet he assumed she would have because she was a woman.

He was angry at his own careless attitude.

How flustered must Yuelina have been when she received the gift?

Theo berated himself as he ran a hand across his forehead.

“To wear earrings, you need to pierce your ears, but I couldn’t do it alone.”

“That’s terrible. Why would you pierce perfectly good ears?”

Yuelina burst into laughter at Theo’s serious face.

Theo tilted his head, unable to understand why Yuelina was laughing.

“But I want to wear the earrings.”

Sincerity was evident on Yuelina’s face as she said this.

Theo’s pupils shook violently.

“I like them, and I really want to try them on.”

“……”

“So, will you help me?”

Yuelina placed her hand on top of Theo’s large hand holding the box.

Then, with her other hand, she tidied her hair and slightly turned her head to reveal her ear.

“This mark was also made by my father. He used a needle.”

“Still, it will hurt.”

When Theo hesitated, Yuelina shook her head.

“In the village, we often prick acupuncture points with needles for indigestion or headaches. It’s the same thing, isn’t it?”

Theo nodded at Yuelina’s words. Her gentle voice was pleasant to hear.

“So I can do it. Please do it for me.”

Yuelina took a deep breath and moved a little closer to Theo.

As her face came closer to Theo’s chest, he once again smelled the sweet floral scent he had forgotten.

The Grand Duchess, exuding a floral scent, was right in front of him asking to pierce her ears.

This woman had instantly brushed aside all of Theo’s mistakes as if they were nothing.

Theo realized one thing.

That from now on, everything about him would be determined by Yuelina’s mood and actions.

Theo bent his waist close to Yuelina’s face.

His breath came very close to Yuelina’s ear.

“If it hurts, tell me immediately.”

“Yes.”

“You must tell me.”

Theo brushed Yuelina’s braided hair back with his thick hand.

Suddenly, a cold wind wrapped around Yuelina’s nape and disappeared.

While the wind was harsh, Theo’s breath was unbearably hot.

Yuelina flinched at the strange sensation.

Theo was just as nervous.

He couldn’t believe how adorable the white and soft ear was above the fair and delicate neckline.

She smelled of flowers all over her body. Her ear was no different.

Unknowingly, Theo brought his face closer to Yuelina’s neckline.

If he lowered his head just a little more, it seemed Theo’s nose might touch Yuelina’s ear.

And Theo’s lips would naturally touch Yuelina’s neck.

Theo swallowed dryly as he touched her earlobe.

Yuelina’s shoulders trembled slightly at his touch.

The earring was a bit blunt.

Theo picked up one earring and separated the stopper. It was a very difficult and strenuous task for him.

The earring in Theo’s hand was just like a toy, and if he applied even a little force, it might break or fall to the floor.

Theo concentrated all his nerves as he separated it and then patted Yuelina’s shoulder.

“I’ll finish as quickly as possible.”

Theo held Yuelina’s soft earlobe and placed the earring pin at its center.

Yuelina squeezed her eyes shut at the feeling of the thin, cold needle touching her.

It had to be done in one go.

Theo applied force to his hand without hesitation.

With a soft sound, Yuelina’s ear turned bright red.

Theo’s expression twisted grimly. His face, which had been flushed, turned pale white.

What have I just done?

I ruthlessly stuck a blunt needle into Yuelina’s soft flesh.

“Does it hurt? No, what a foolish question. Of course it hurts. How much does it hurt? I’ll call a doctor right away.”

Theo looked around. He needed to call a physician immediately and have Yuelina lie down.

Moreover, blood was beading on her earlobe. She might faint from excessive bleeding if not careful.

“No! It’s bearable!”

Theo didn’t believe Yuelina’s words. That must surely be a lie.

Her earlobe had turned as red as a rose petal. There was even a faint smell of blood!

There was a torture technique where needles were inserted into the soft flesh between the fingernails of enemy soldiers.

Didn’t those enemies writhe in pain and spill all their confidential information then?

He had just performed an equally ruthless act on Yuelina.

All of Yuelina’s skin was delicate and soft. Her earlobe was no exception.

On the other hand, when Theo showed no intention of piercing the other ear, Yuelina herself separated the stopper of the remaining earring.

It really didn’t hurt when Theo pushed it in firmly in one go. She felt she could handle the remaining one well too.

Above all, she liked that the first earrings she would wear were the ones Theo had gifted her.

And that he had pierced her ears for her.

“Shall I do the remaining one myself?”

Yuelina asked Theo with sparkling eyes.

No, what on earth is this woman saying?

Theo shook his head vigorously.

He couldn’t just stand by and watch her torture herself.

“I will do it.”

Theo reluctantly snatched the earring Yuelina was holding.

The other ear was also adorable.

She was a Grand Duchess with two adorable ears.

Theo composed himself and pierced the remaining ear accurately in one go.

As expected, the other ear also turned bright red. Theo’s heart ached.

“Now I’ll call a physician. I think we need to disinfect it.”

“I’ll ask Raye to look at it. It really doesn’t hurt.”

Yuelina grabbed Theo’s sleeve and smiled sweetly.

Then she stepped back one step from Theo, keeping her back straight.

“Please look at it too, Your Highness.”

Theo looked at Yuelina’s face. Unlike her white face, the tips of her ears were flushed red.

“To me, it looks painful. We should call a doctor.”

“No. That’s not what I meant. I’m asking you to look at the earrings.”

“Ah.”

“Do they suit me well?”

Yuelina stood on her tiptoes to look up at Theo.

Theo was so tall that even with Yuelina straining on her tiptoes, it was impossible to meet his gaze.

Theo also looked down at Yuelina standing in front of him, smiling brightly.

Yuelina, smiling and showing off her red ruby earrings, was truly adorable.

Today, she was wearing a fluttery dress that matched her eye color particularly well.

With her hair neatly braided, she looked just like a fairy.

“Beautiful.”

Theo spoke with sincerity.

Yuelina’s heart swelled.

It was a short answer, but it seemed Theo truly thought she was beautiful.

He had said it was his mother’s heirloom.

She pondered Theo’s feelings, giving her his mother’s earrings yet not mentioning they were an heirloom.

Giving his mother’s earrings… doesn’t it mean he thinks of her as his wife?

Yuelina, who had lived on a far southern island, had now formed a marital bond with Theo, who lived in the cold north.

The distance between them was closing, albeit very slowly.

That’s what Yuelina believed.

Over the red mark of being the village heir, her husband’s gift now overlapped.

So, couldn’t this be seen as a sign that he thought of her as his wife?

Yuelina met Theo’s blue eyes.

“Did your mother often wear these earrings too?”

“She wasn’t one to enjoy accessories, but she wore these often, saying they were comfortable.”

“I see. I’ll make sure to wear them often too.”

At Yuelina’s response, a faint smile unconsciously appeared on Theo’s lips.

The earrings were the last remaining heirloom of his mother. That’s what they were to Theo.

Thinking about it, this Black Mansion, the bed in his mother’s room, and all her clothes could be considered her heirlooms.

But to Theo, these earrings were all that remained of his mother.

Because they were what he had painfully retrieved from his mother’s corpse.

Because he had no time or strength to take care of his mother’s body.

Like a drowning man clutching at straws, he had taken them from the inner pocket of the knight’s uniform his mother was wearing, from her cold body.

His mother, who thought of herself more as a knight for the people of the principality rather than as a Grand Duchess.

So it could be called an honorable death of a Grand Duchess.

It was truly strange.

He had taken these earrings instead of his mother’s body in that cold snowy field.

At that time, it seemed crucial to keep something of his mother’s.

But it was only for a moment. After that, he had never attached any meaning to the earrings.

They’re just earrings his mother used to wear. Nothing more, nothing less.

But now that Yuelina was wearing those earrings…

Sorrow that had been tightly bound somewhere began to flow out.