Chapter 6. The Day of the First Snow (4)

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Sebastian carefully carried a plate with a beautifully arranged cake and headed back toward the room.

Sebastian had been working at the duchy’s estate for almost a year, but given the enormous size of the property and the countless rooms, he often found himself lost. He firmly believed it wasn’t because he was bad with directions, but simply because the mansion was absurdly large.

After walking down a long corridor once again, Sebastian finally reached the room.

Knock knock.

He knocked a couple of times before entering. As usual, he opened the door naturally—and then witnessed a startling scene.

Master Kyle, who always kept people at arm’s length, especially women, treating them as if they were no more than inanimate objects, was now pinning Lady Radel against the wall with his arm.

‘To think that the master, who is usually the one being clung to, is acting so possessive himself,’ Sebastian mused. Kyle’s gaze toward Lady Radel was so tender and filled with emotion that it hardly seemed like the man he knew. He looked so different that Sebastian nearly forgot this was the same young master he served.

After observing the two for a moment, Sebastian accidentally made eye contact with Kyle. The sharp, menacing wolf-like glare he met immediately conveyed its message.

“Leave.”

“Yes, sir.”

Though the words were brief, the unspoken meaning was clear: “Leave now or else.”

Living by the motto ‘better safe than sorry,’ Sebastian quickly shut the door and stepped back.

As I sighed and resumed walking down the corridor, I couldn’t help but think about how rare it was for the young master to show such an expression. In all my years of knowing Kyle, over a decade now, this was the first time I’d ever seen that look in his eyes. I silently decided to add “Radel Karel” to the mental list of people to stay on good terms with. After all, when Kyle inherited the dukedom and took a wife, that woman would become the mistress of this grand house. Being on her good side was nothing less than essential.

As I carefully noted down her name in my mind, I continued walking at a steady pace, letting the thought settle.

***

I had been standing outside the room, waiting for Kyle to finish changing his clothes, all the while clutching my chest to steady the rapid beating of my heart. In the past, it wasn’t unusual for us to be close—holding hands or having my hair gently patted—but today, it was different. Every time Kyle moved near me, my heart pounded wildly. It felt like the entire atmosphere had shifted, making him seem unfamiliar somehow.

“Come in.”

Just as my racing heart started to calm, I heard Kyle’s voice from inside the room.

I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, reminding myself to stay composed. Why did he look so much more handsome today? I had to be careful. If I lost focus, things could spiral out of control.

“Radel,”

Kyle called out again, his voice steady and firm.

Carefully entering the room, I found Kyle casually perched on a chair, dressed in a neat white shirt that made him appear radiant. How could someone simply sitting there look so picture-perfect? He looked like a model, his every move exuding effortless grace.

His ruby eyes seemed to beckon me forward. Even in the dimly lit room, where the curtains kept the light at bay, his eyes sparkled like precious gems. I stared, momentarily captivated, before quickly shaking my head to snap out of it.

Clutching the towel, I took cautious steps toward him. With each step, my heart raced faster. It was only a matter of drying his hair, so why was I so nervous? It’s all because of Kyle’s overwhelming good looks.

“Stay still.”

“Okay.”

I gently patted his sleek, jet-black hair with the towel, moving delicately as though handling the finest glasswork. It felt almost sacred, a task requiring immense concentration.

As I worked, I noticed Kyle was unusually quiet. Had my touch lulled him to sleep?

“Kyle.”

I called his name, but there was no reply. Lowering the towel, I leaned closer to his face—and sure enough, he was sound asleep.

His peaceful, closed-eyed expression only made his face appear even more striking. Seizing the moment, I crouched down to get a closer look. His flawless features stood out even more clearly.

‘Wow, how can someone be this perfect?’

I thought, admiring Kyle’s long, stunning eyelashes. He looked even more beautiful and adorable than most girls. If Kyle were a girl, I was sure he’d be incredibly popular with guys.

‘Oh, his nose! It’s a masterpiece!’

His face was so stunning it almost made my heart race out of control. This must be why women flocked around him. Maybe I should join his fan club too.

‘Huh? His bangs…’

As I kept staring at Kyle’s face, I noticed how his bangs seemed to get in the way. They fell slightly over his eyes, which looked annoying. I instinctively reached out, intending to smooth them back, but—

“…Oh.”

The moment his eyes flashed open, I froze. Ah, looking into Kyle’s eyes this closely was dangerous. Those deep eyes stared straight at me, and it felt like if I let my guard down for even a second, I’d get completely sucked in.

“Are you feeling really sleepy?”

I forced myself to beam brightly at him, as if it wasn’t embarrassing that I’d been caught staring. It was definitely not because I felt awkward. Definitely not.

“…Yeah, I’m sleepy,”

Kyle muttered, still blinking groggily. That was strange—was he really that tired? But Kyle was a total powerhouse; a few hours of sword training shouldn’t have worn him out this much. I wondered if touching his hair had caused it somehow. It was starting to feel like a plausible guess.

“If you’re sleepy, then go ahead and sleep. I’ll wake you up.”

I offered gently.

I guided Kyle to the bed, and he obediently perched on the edge. My initial plan was to let him rest and take a breather myself. But just as I thought I could settle down, Kyle suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me down beside him.

“Whoa—”

I flopped onto the mattress, feeling the plush softness beneath me.

‘Wow, this bed is on a whole different level,’

But before I could dwell on how luxurious the bed felt, something warm and firm wrapped around my waist.

I gasped.

Looking down, I realized it was Kyle’s arm. My heart jumped, and I instinctively tightened my stomach muscles. If he felt any flab, I’d be too embarrassed to bear it.

I snuck a glance at Kyle, only to find him leaning his head on my shoulder, his eyes peacefully shut as if he were already deep in sleep.

What’s going on? Was he sleep-talking? But his grip on my waist was too strong for a simple sleep reflex. I struggled against his hold, trying to wiggle free, but it was no use. His arm wouldn’t budge.

A scientific observation struck me:

‘Even asleep, a Sword Master’s grip is ridiculously strong.’

I sighed. “Kyle, you’re heavy…”

My voice came out in a resigned whisper, not really expecting him to hear. But then, to my surprise, Kyle’s eyelids fluttered open.

“Too heavy?”

he asked softly.

Oh no. He wasn’t actually asleep.

Seizing the opportunity, I flashed him my best smile.

“Yes, so I’ll just get up and—”

Before I could finish my sentence, he shifted his weight, and the next thing I knew, I was lying flat on the bed.

“Wait! No, that’s not what I meant!”

Pinned down by his misunderstanding of “too heavy,” I felt utterly defeated. Why did it feel like I had no control over my own body anymore?

“Are you comfortable now?”

“…Yes, very comfortable. Haha.”

I let out a weak laugh as I stared at the ceiling, and Kyle pulled me into a tight hug. When I glanced at him, he seemed to be in a very good mood.

I never knew Kyle could be so clingy. In moments like this, he just seemed like a big, affectionate puppy…

“Radel.”

But when those steady eyes fix on me, he looks like a fierce predator, as if he’s going to devour me. Even now, Kyle’s lazy smile makes him seem like a wolf—one waiting for the perfect chance to pounce.

In an effort to escape from the big, bad wolf, I shouted,

“Ka-Kyle! Can you give me a tour of the mansion?”

“A tour?”

He wasn’t going to refuse, was he? Actually, maybe he would. Kyle didn’t like doing bothersome things. I mean, in the original story, he even turned down Seria’s request because it was too much trouble. It was only after she put on a display of cuteness that he finally agreed. So would he even consider my request?

“If that’s what Radel wants,”

Kyle nodded readily, as if laughing at my doubts. I was surprised he agreed so easily, but what surprised me even more was his expression. I thought he’d look annoyed, but instead, he seemed… happy. Could it be that he felt pleased because I was relying on him?

“Have you seen the garden?”

“I’ve been there, but I didn’t get a good look around.”

I hadn’t had the chance to explore the garden properly since I’d spent my time drinking tea with the duchess. It was a shame because the garden had looked stunning at a glance, but now it seemed Kyle would be showing me around.

“Here,”

Kyle said, extending his hand toward me.

Huh? What was this hand gesture about? I stared at his outstretched hand in confusion.

What is this? Does Kyle, like the Crown Prince, enjoy high-fives? But his palm was facing the wrong way for that.

“Take my hand.”

“Uh, what?”

A strange little sound escaped my lips. The gesture was so unexpected, my eyes went wide.

When I reached out hesitantly, Kyle grabbed my hand firmly. Oh my goodness!

“Let’s go to the garden.”

His large, steady hand wrapped around mine, making my hand feel tiny in comparison. Feeling flustered, I fidgeted with my fingers, and Kyle looked at me, a soft smile appearing on his face. Oh no, my heart can’t take it if you smile at me like that!

It was a dazzling smile, but in a different way from Aren’s. It wasn’t a big, bright grin—just the faintest upward curve of his lips. Yet somehow, it seemed to sparkle.

‘Ugh, my hands are going to sweat.’

I was so nervous that my palms seemed on the verge of turning damp. Why was I so tense? I needed to calm down… I had a feeling that the walk to the garden was going to be more intense than I expected.