Let’s Just Make a Child, Your Grace - Chapter 8 Part 5

“I placed too heavy a burden on your young shoulders. You can put it down now. Live your own life.”

The body, like that of a large beast, contorted and trembled. Seeing Cedric with his jaw clenched and trembling, Arne just wanted to hug him tightly. The hand that had stopped in front of her back suddenly embraced Arne. Arne patted his back.

“I hope you’ll be happy. I’m sorry I couldn’t stay by your side.”

This was also what Arne hadn’t been able to say to Vivian.

“I really love you.”

* * *

Arne silently patted Cedric’s back for a long time. It was the first time she had seen him collapse like this.

Cedric turned his head buried in Arne’s nape. The familiar scent flowed in strongly. It had been more than ten years since the death of Princess Ramona, which was even recorded in history books.

Now, it wasn’t painfully fresh anymore. It wasn’t painful, but perhaps it was a bit overwhelming. Or was it the weight of the years he had endured? He didn’t want to let go of the warmth transmitted from this small body. The words she whispered were too sweet and warm, he wanted to bury his whole body in them.

What are you planning to do with me?

Cedric, who had buried his head deeper into the soft and warm nape, slowly lifted his eyelids.

‘Her arms are trembling.’

He could feel a slight tremor in her touch as her arms were going numb. He stared blankly, wondering how long this would last, but her hand patting his back still didn’t stop. She was foolish, tough, and even stubborn.

He should be frustrated by this foolish aspect, but he kept finding his eyes drawn to her.

Cedric, with his body raised, grabbed Arne’s wrist that had been patting him.

“You should say if your arm hurts. Were you going to stay like this until it goes numb?”

“…I was afraid you’d tease me for being weak again.”

“That was my mistake.”

Cedric laughed softly and slowly kissed from Arne’s trembling fingertips. The darkness had fallen deeper now, making the green light of the rising fireflies more visible. In that light, Arne, bathed in moonlight, was beautiful. So that’s why his hands kept reaching out even though it was frustrating to act so foolishly.

“You’ve floated your lantern, are you going to make a wish now?”

Cedric, who had kissed the hollow of Arne’s palm, raised his head. When he saw Arne nod, he lifted her up and sat down with a thud.

The bushes rustled and hidden fireflies suddenly flew up, painting the scene with light.

“Then let’s make the wish while sitting.”

As Arne looked up at Cedric, he turned her body to face forward. Cedric hugged her from behind, and she could feel his warm body temperature.

“If your legs go numb in addition to your arms when we go back, I won’t be able to face the Duke who trusted me to send you.”

Arne turned her head and stared at Cedric.

“Are you alright, Cedric?”

Cedric answered while looking at her clear eyes. Who should be asking whom this question, when her arms were still trembling.

“…Thanks to you.”

Arne nodded and leaned her body loosely against Cedric’s upper body. She murmured while watching the fireflies flying in front of them.

“I feel a bit more at ease too.”

Perhaps because her mind was at ease, she could fully appreciate it — the sight of lights dotting the pitch-black night was even more enchanting. Arne closed her eyes and made a wish. That she would surely meet Vivian again.

Cedric looked down at Arne’s lips moving silently with her hands clasped. As if she had finished her prayer, she opened her eyes and murmured.

“What’s your wish, Ced—…”

Arne, who turned her head with a slight smile, couldn’t continue her words. His face was too close. He had been looking at her, though she didn’t know since when.

His large hand touched her cheek. His thumb stroked her cheek a few times, then caressed Arne’s ear. His gaze looking down at her was hot. Just like that time at the restaurant when he pressed his lips against Arne’s.

Cedric’s head slowly tilted to the side. She could feel the heat from his breath as it came closer. His slightly parted lips were too close.

Arne’s pupils trembled. Cedric’s deeply lowered gaze didn’t waver at all. After her surprised eyes blinked slowly a few times, Arne’s lips parted slightly.

* * *

Arne glared at Cedric with her arms crossed inside the Renigrad carriage. Despite her whole body exuding the intention that she was very displeased, Cedric was calmly reading documents in the carriage.

Saying that there were documents left to review today because the schedule had been delayed more than expected, he even wore glasses that he usually didn’t use, and his face looked quite serious.

Arne’s index finger tapped on her arm, but Cedric just turned another page of the document.

‘How can he be like this? He’s just looking at documents so nonchalantly.’

No matter how much she thought about it, this time she really couldn’t understand.

‘No! Wasn’t that a timing for a kiss by anyone’s standards?!’

Cedric looked like he was about to kiss her in front of the rising fireflies, but instead he blessed her forehead. Then he suddenly stood up, carried Arne down, and immediately called for a carriage. While coming down, Cedric said just one thing.

“Let’s go now. We’ve made our wishes.”

Arne spoke in a low voice, as if imitating Cedric. Cedric looked at Arne and smirked, seemingly finding it trivial.

“Are you teasing me? Am I being toyed with? You look at me with such mysterious eyes and now you say let’s go. Why do you make people misunderstand like this?”

“What mysterious eyes?”

Cedric took off his glasses and looked directly at Arne.

“Well, you know, that. I can’t explain it but those mysterious eyes.”

Cedric’s right eyebrow raised.

“Did you expect me to kiss you?”

Arne was at a loss for words at the blunt question. She thought anyone could misunderstand with such enigmatic looks, but on the other hand, Cedric had never given such an opportunity.

He always rejected and restrained Arne’s proposals. He hadn’t kissed her except when the red mana was acting up.

‘It’s too difficult. I don’t understand what this man, Cedric Schopendha de Renigrad, is thinking.’

His eyes, waiting for Arne’s answer, were calm without even a flicker.

“No, it’s just, when you look at me like that, anyone would misunderstand…”

As Arne continued speaking, she felt strangely resentful that she was the one making excuses. Arne glared at Cedric.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

Cedric put his glasses back on and turned his gaze to the documents.

“If I had kissed you there, you wouldn’t have been able to go home today.”

“What does that mean?”

Cedric’s hand stopped as he was turning the pages of the document.

“Your legs would be too weak to go home.”

“Then I could just take a carriage.”

“……”

A strange silence lingered. Then Cedric’s voice continued as he resumed turning the pages.

“Go home while I’m letting you go easily. The Duke is waiting, isn’t he?”

The words ‘As if the Grand Duke would really be waiting’ rose to the tip of her tongue, but Arne closed her mouth at his resolute expression that seemed like not even a needle could penetrate.

He looked completely nonchalant as if nothing had happened.

Arne glared at him. Making someone misunderstand like that. Did he even know how embarrassing and ridiculous this feeling was!

Despite looking at the documents, Cedric smirked. Arne seemed to be making her own kind of protest, but it wasn’t threatening at all. Rather, it kept making him want to laugh.

While Arne was glaring, Cedric leisurely turned the pages of the document. Time passed too quickly. The Renigrad carriage had already stopped in front of the Ronia ducal residence.

“They might be worried since it’s late. Should I go explain the situation myself?”

“No. It would be awkward to tell such an exaggerated story. I’ll just say I went to the training grounds after a walk. I go to the training grounds every day, so they’re not the type to worry about such things.”

“Every day until this time?”

“Believe it or not, I am a grand mage.”

Arne shrugged her shoulders.

“Then I’ll be going now. I really enjoyed today.”

Arne answered, emphasizing each word. She couldn’t shake off this strangely resentful and unsettling feeling.

After Arne paid her respects, she got out of the carriage. Through the closing carriage door, it seemed like she might have heard a ‘hmph’ sound.

Her steps were forceful as if she was indignant about something. Watching her, Cedric took off his glasses and exhaled deeply.

“To say she could just take a carriage… she couldn’t understand other people’s feelings.”

He pressed the end of his eyebrow with his index finger, pondering.

The moment he saw Arne’s slightly parted lips, he instinctively felt it.