Chapter 28. Fluffy Crow-Tit

Ulysse swallowed hard.

“Wouldn’t she have felt… hurt?”

“……”

“Everyone thinks Her Highness the Grand Duchess’s hair resembles white snow, right? But Your Highness the Grand Duke said you don’t like snow, no… that it’s wretched…”

He had to finish his sentence since he started it.

But as he saw Theo’s face contorting menacingly, Ulysse’s voice grew smaller and smaller.

“Has everyone gone mad?”

“Pardon?”

“Is that… the same as that?”

“B-but…”

“Are you saying the Grand Duchess’s hair is the same as mere white snow?”

Theo couldn’t understand.

The Grand Duchess’s hair is similar to white snow?

Where exactly?

Does that mean everything white is like the Grand Duchess’s hair?

Yuelina’s hair wasn’t just simple white.

It was as bright as the sun, dazzling to the eyes, and as glossy as if stars were about to pour out.

If there were an ever-flowing celestial lake, it would surely be made of Yuelina’s hair.

It’s hardly comparable even to the imaginary realm of gods, yet they dare to equate Yuelina’s hair with wet, cold snow?

Theo felt irritation rising.

“Your Highness. The important thing is that Her Highness the Grand Duchess felt hurt…”

That bothered him immensely too.

In any case, Yuelina had become disheartened because of him.

To think she interpreted his dislike of snow as disliking her.

How could anyone dislike Yuelina?

Theo’s biggest worry was that everyone might like Yuelina too much.

First, he needed to quickly clear up the misunderstanding Yuelina had.

Theo flung open the terrace window without looking back.

Ulysse let out a sigh of relief.

If Theo went to Yuelina to clear up the misunderstanding, he would never have to see that cold, murderous expression again.

But his lord’s brisk stride slowed down as he approached.

He seemed to be hesitating about something.

In the short time it took to cross over to Yuelina’s room, Theo had a thousand thoughts.

What if Yuelina throws a pillow at him, saying she doesn’t need a foolish husband like him?

Should he get down on his knees?

Would kneeling be enough?

To think he had hurt Yuelina.

Theo bit his lip as he raised his arm, which felt as heavy as a stone, to knock.

“Are you in there?”

“……”

“May I come in?”

“…Why?”

‘Why?’ she asks.

Ah.

Normally, she would have immediately told him to come in.

Theo realized how terrifyingly chilling it could be to have someone question back like this.

“I have something to say.”

Theo strained all his senses, not wanting to miss even the smallest sound.

“Come in.”

And as soon as her permission was given, he flung the door open.

But Yuelina, whom he expected to be standing in front of the door, was nowhere to be seen.

Theo went further inside. Yuelina wasn’t on the blanket in front of the fireplace, nor on the single sofa beside the bed.

He looked around the interior for a while.

“What are you looking at?”

The source of Yuelina’s voice was none other than the bed.

What he thought was just an untidy blanket turned out to be a small mound that was Yuelina.

“Yuna.”

Theo stared at Yuelina.

Yuelina had tightly wrapped herself in the blanket, covering her hair and body.

She had wrapped herself so neatly that it looked as if only her face was floating in the air.

Seeing her pouting lips, it was clear she was indeed upset.

But upon seeing Yuelina’s appearance, an unexpected thought popped into Theo’s mind.

Cute.

Like a white crow-tit all fluffed up in the harsh winter.

He wanted to stretch out his arms and hug her right away.

“I thought it might be better to cover up, in case my hair reminds you of the snow you dislike so much when you look at me.”

Hmph, even the way she snorts is cute.

The way her long eyelashes are visible as she lowers her gaze is cute too.

Even the blanket is cute as Yuelina wraps herself in it.

“…The blanket isn’t white either.”

At Theo’s words, Yuelina paused. Yuelina’s blanket was made of white wool, similar to her hair.

“T-this is curly, isn’t it?”

“Yuna’s hair isn’t curly either.”

“T-then I’ll cover myself with something else.”

Yuelina tried to get up while still wrapped tightly in the blanket.

But she immediately sat back down.

The weight of the wool blanket was too much for her to move while dragging it.

“May I sit for a moment?”

Theo approached Yuelina, who had sat back down on the bed.

“Since it seems you can’t get up.”

“…Go ahead.”

After Yuelina’s permission, Theo sat on the edge of the bed.

“Aren’t you hot?”

“I’m fine.”

The attic room was warm with the fireplace blazing.

Yuelina’s face, covered by the wool blanket, was turning red.

“You look uncomfortable.”

“But if you see my hair, you’ll think of snow and dislike it.”

“As I said before, the blanket isn’t white either. It’s curly like your hair.”

“But… people don’t say my hair looks like a blanket.”

Theo lowered his head to meet Yuelina’s gaze.

“I’ve never thought it looked like snow.”

He reached out and removed the blanket Yuelina had wrapped around herself.

Yuelina’s hair, full of static electricity, fluttered busily.

Theo gently stroked her hair.

Yuelina’s heart softened at his careful touch.

“You’ve really never thought that?”

“I swear.”

“Then, since it’s like a blanket, you won’t dislike it?”

Theo chuckled at Yuelina’s question.

“Actually, I’ve never thought it looked like a blanket either.”

“What?”

“I just think it’s pretty.”

Yuelina’s cheeks turned red at Theo’s direct words.

“Still, if I hurt you, I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m more sorry.”

“No. I’m more sorry.”

Theo’s eyes curved as he listened to Yuelina.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t beat my sorriness. I’m always sorry to you.”

“…Why?”

Theo had countless things to be sorry for to Yuelina.

From the first day, he scared her covered in blood, and told her to stay in the attic room, intending to confine her lonely in the tower.

Even after that, he plotted all sorts of schemes to keep Yuelina here.

Moreover, he might someday put one of those schemes into action. It was still ongoing.

Unable to tell her these things, Theo just shrugged his shoulders.

“…Why do you dislike snow, Theo?”

Yuelina suddenly became curious.

When Theo said he doesn’t like snow, his face was truly sincere.

It was so cold that she mistook it for him disliking her.

“My mother died because of snow.”

“What… did you say?”

“To be precise, she died in the snow.”

Yuelina felt her heart sink at Theo’s words.

“I wanted to at least retrieve my mother’s body, but it was a place where the snow never stopped.”

“……”

“So I had to leave after seeing her. I had no choice but to leave her there.”

Theo’s voice was calm as he said this.

He looked just like someone relaying someone else’s story.

“That’s why I dislike snow. If there hadn’t been snow, I could have easily retrieved her.”

Yuelina’s heart ached even more because of this.

Moreover, she had thrown a fit without knowing this story.

Yuelina felt terribly sorry towards Theo.

“I’m so sorry, really. I didn’t know…”

She bit her lip, lowering her head in apology.

Theo reached out and lifted Yuelina’s chin. Their eyes met.

“I’m fine.”

“But…”

Theo brushed Yuelina’s hair back.

Then he gently touched the ruby earrings she always wore.

“Because you’re wearing these earrings, I’m fine.”

“……”

“They comfort me.”

Yuelina was grateful that Theo said that.

Even though he must be sad, even though he must have felt hurt by her, Theo was comforting her first, saying he was fine.

On the other hand, Theo regretted telling her such an unnecessary story.

He stood up.

“Well then, get some rest. I’m going to have a glass of wine.”

“Shall we… drink together?”

Theo blinked.

Is this woman suggesting they drink alone in this cramped room?

“Here?”

“Ah, well… Raye said that drinking makes you feel better. She said you can do anything you couldn’t muster the courage for when you drink. So I was curious…”

Courage?

If grown adults need to borrow courage from alcohol, then…

What else could it be?