Peter, who had bent his knees and lowered his stance, came even closer.

“Riena. You’re out of your mind right now. If you’re with me and the nanny, you’ll be okay.”

The gun barrel that had been slightly avoiding Riena suddenly turned toward her. Riena drew in a breath. When she faced the round barrel, only as thick as a finger, up close, it looked gigantic like a cave.

“That crazy bastard.”

It happened in an instant.

‘Bang!’

Another gunshot shook the earth. The sound of gunpowder was terrible no matter when she heard it. Riena unconsciously covered her ears and closed her eyes.

She opened her eyelids belatedly. Kyle, who had been behind her, had somehow rushed at Peter and grabbed the barrel, lifting it upward. Unable to overcome his strength, Peter had fallen backward and fired the gun.

“Ugh! Let go!”

Kyle climbed on top of Peter, gripping the barrel with his right hand while punching Peter’s face with his other hand hard enough to make thudding sounds.

“Kyle!”

Cruel bursting sounds rang out. Riena quickly approached Kyle. Her legs kept giving out, making her stumble.

“Stop it! Kyle!”

At that moment, their eyes met as Kyle turned around. He had been frowning and breathing heavily, but seeing Riena about to collapse, he slowly released the strength from his fist.

When Peter had made her betray him, Riena had refused to look at him for a while. 

Remembering that, he couldn’t hit Peter anymore. Peter, who had already lost a tooth, was groaning in agony.

He looked down at Peter with excitement still not faded from his face, then stared at Riena hesitating behind him. Peter, who had been hit a few times, couldn’t even come to his senses and had his gun taken away. Kyle threw the gun far away. He stood up muttering curses.

“Is your hand okay?”

The barrel had definitely been smoking. He must have grabbed that gun with his bare hands and gotten burned. Instead of approaching the sprawled Peter, Riena ran to Kyle and examined his hand first.

The hand that had gripped the barrel was red and hot, with blisters swelling up.

“You came to me first.”

He raised the corners of his mouth happily as he offered his hand.

“Are you joking? Doesn’t your hand hurt?”

Kyle, who could think about such things even now, was so annoying and hateful.

“Say it. That you won’t go.”

He stared at Riena obsessively, like her answer was the only thing that mattered in this situation.

“You said the place I should return to is always by your side.”

Riena said that and leaned her head against his chest. Kyle inadvertently embraced her with his one uninjured arm.

“I have a place to return to now.”

Riena spoke self-deprecatingly and laughed. She could only hope she wouldn’t regret this choice.

“Riena! You’re crazy, you’re crazy!”

“That bastard—”

When Kyle tried to grab the fallen Peter again, Riena now wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Please stop. I’m not going anywhere.”

He looked down at Riena and smiled. After meeting her, injuries kept accumulating on his body one by one, but he couldn’t be happier about it.

* * *

Kyle was looking at the water surface sparkling with golden powder. His right arm still throbbed. The bullet had only torn the skin, so it wasn’t life-threatening. 

Come to think of it, since being with Riena, scars had been appearing on his body one by one. First his palm, then his chin, and now even a gunshot wound.

A laugh escaped him. Maybe because they were all traces created by Riena, even that made him happy.

“You came out early again today.”

“And you’re late again.”

His father’s hair had turned whiter than before. This time too, he silently held out a paper densely filled with client information. Kyle returned it to his father without even looking at it.

“I came today to tell you I won’t be doing this kind of work anymore.”

“…What?”

“You’ve used me as you pleased until now, so you shouldn’t have any complaints.”

“No, have you finally come to your senses?”

His father opened his eyes wide, seemingly quite moved. The monocle hanging precariously looked like it would fall, making Kyle laugh.

“Why on earth?”

“The puppy I’m raising doesn’t like that kind of thing.”

Ah. Duke Daimbert only now realized that puppy wasn’t an actual puppy.

“You’ve really become human.”

He burst into a good-natured laugh. What parent would dislike their son stopping being an assassin?

“Then the advice I gave you last time must have been completely wrong. People need to be embraced.”

“But somehow it worked out well. But you’re not going to force me to keep doing that work, right?”

“Well…”

Duke Daimbert folded the paper neatly and put it back inside his suit jacket. Though it was regrettable, people who did this kind of work were everywhere.

“You were fast and accurate at handling jobs, which was nice, but it doesn’t have to be you.”

“Right.”

Come to think of it, hadn’t Riena originally tried to marry the count for money?

He didn’t covet the duke title now, but it did sting a little. It would have been nice if he’d met her after becoming duke.

“Haha, ah. I’m so happy that you’ve become human.”

Kyle smiled at his father with relaxed eyes.

“You’re finally answering my prayers.”

“I’ll go ahead. The puppy’s waiting.”

Though he didn’t know if she was really waiting. He shrugged and stood up from his seat.

“Kyle. Bring that child home sometime.”

“Eventually.”

For the first time, he could leave his father feeling lighthearted. Even the fishy smell of water from the riverside felt good.

* * *

To the north of the town was a wide hill where a stream flowed. During the day, it was a place where everyone—young and old, regardless of status—enjoyed walking in the park the hill embraced.

Coming late at night, there were few people around. Thanks to the particularly bright moon tonight, the path was clearly visible.

Riena and Kyle walked up the hill following the narrow path through the grass. The hill at the edge of town, which they’d taken lightly, was much higher and steeper than expected.

Her small body was walking ahead of Kyle. Since Riena wasn’t looking back anyway, Kyle scanned the hill path with an unimpressed gaze. Romance was already trash in the garbage can for him. The kind of thing he didn’t even want to dig through.

Rustle, rustle. The sound of grass being stepped on under their shoes could be heard intermittently. The sound of insects crying out on the summer night was quite pleasant to hear. 

But what disturbed that tranquility was Riena’s rough breathing.

“You’re the one who wanted to come.”

“I didn’t know, it would be, this hard.”

She’d just impulsively suggested going out with Kyle because she wanted to see the stars at night. Since it was the first time Riena had suggested doing something, Kyle had readily followed.

Kyle looked at Riena with disdain, then crouched in front of her and turned his back.

“What?”

“Get on. At this rate, the sun will rise before we arrive.”

Riena didn’t hesitate and climbed onto his back. Kyle lifted her without wavering and stood up easily.

“Ah, why are you touching my b*tt!”

“Payment for carrying you.”

“Pervert.”

Kyle smirked. Look who’s talking. He patted her bottom and climbed the somewhat steep hill, and the lights of the city began to appear in the distance.

Riena, riding on his back, swung her legs happily. Not wanting to ruin her mood, Kyle kept his mouth shut. All sorts of dirty jokes passed through his mind.

Even with Riena on his back, Kyle climbed to the top of the hill at the same speed as before. At the summit stood a large windmill. Since it was quite high, a fence surrounded the hill. 

Fortunately, benches were scattered in the direction where they could gaze at the stars.

Kyle set Riena down on a bench. His dry gaze as he sat beside Riena was directed at the cityscape below the hill. The night sky spread endlessly over the small, cozy horizon. 

In the dark sky was a valley made of stars. If he could capture and sell this moment, how much would it be worth? He wouldn’t take it even if offered money.

“Wow…”

But Riena sitting on the bench seemed to disagree. She was looking at the sky with shining eyes, ready to spread both arms to catch a star if one fell. 

Was she serious? She was smiling like that just from seeing stars? Except for the twinkling stars being pretty, they had no value whatsoever.

“Thank you for coming to see them with me.”

Kyle stared at Riena, whose gaze was fixed on the sky. Her white cheeks were plumply raised.

“Riena.”

Riena, who finally took her eyes off the sky, glanced at Kyle. Kyle gently held Riena’s chin and lowered his head to take her lips.

Riena flinched for a moment. He could feel every sensation of her lips stiffening. It was a bit funny. Riena just standing there with her mouth open.

Kyle quickly pulled away. Riena’s expression was starkly revealed under the bright moonlight.

“Don’t like it?”

Riena couldn’t answer at all. She liked it so much her throat was burning up. This moment felt so good it seemed like a dream, but she couldn’t bring herself to say she liked it.

“I like it. Being like this with you.”

He’d thought stars were really useless, but the cool night breeze, the smell of grass, and Riena’s happiness. That was valuable enough.

Riena seemed to have no intention of giving an answer and kept her mouth firmly shut. But that was fine. If she stayed by his side, she’d smile at least once, and be happy at least once.

He bit Riena’s lips again. His tongue entered her mouth smoothly like a snake. When the soft, hot tongue entered, Riena’s body tensed up even more.

Her heart tingled at the warmth Kyle shared and his scent. The hand stroking her back brought a rising feeling different from simply feeling good. Her head was dizzy, perhaps from not being able to breathe. Riena gripped Kyle’s collar tightly.

Riena decided to be brave just once. To be honest with her feelings.

Riena, who had pushed him away slightly, met his eyes.

“…I like it too.”

Her voice caught even as she said she liked it. As soon as Riena finished speaking, Kyle smiled.

Riena shyly smiled and grabbed his cheeks, coming closer. The future with her would be happy. He wanted nothing more than this.

fin.