Chapter 3.3

The carriage carrying Zen and Lusell disappeared over the hill, and Brienne, who had been standing in the same spot, finally moved her feet. She breathed in the cool air deeply, and, finding the sky beautiful as she looked up, began to hum a tune.

“We should get going too.”

“W-when did you get here?”

From a distance close enough to touch if she reached out, Herace, who had been leaning against a tree, slowly stepped out from the shade.

“That guy…”

“Pardon?”

“…That man was caressing your hand, Brienne.”

What? He seemed about to call Zen a bastard.

But such words did not suit that gentlemanly face. Dressed all in white from head to toe, Herace looked truly devout.

So Brienne didn’t bother to ask and instead corrected his words.

“Caressing? It was just a greeting.”

“Who greets someone that intimately? Do you know how many times I stopped myself from running over and separating you two? Brienne, you have no idea.”

“Why did you hold back?”

Brienne looked up at Herace playfully. As they exchanged smiles, Herace’s eyes flashed with a cold light.

“You seemed to be enjoying yourself so much.”

“N-not really… It wasn’t like that.”

“What were you talking about with him that made you laugh so much? Your face was absolutely beaming. So pretty, too.”

“…Are you jealous right now?”

Brienne felt like she could finally read Herace’s expressions.

Even though he always seemed to be smiling, when he was upset, the angle of his gaze or the corners of his mouth would subtly change. As she watched those changes, Herace muttered softly.

“…Maybe I should cover your eyes.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing.”

Herace lightly brushed his forehead and walked toward the carriage. Brienne quickly caught up to him and, walking side by side, persistently questioned him.

“Why would you cover my eyes?”

“……”

“Tell me. Why? What’s wrong with my eyes?”

Then, as he continued walking, Herace glanced down at her. Brienne flinched slightly at the gaze that seemed to study her face intently.

The mischief returned to his face, which had lost its cool smile.

“They shine so beautifully in light green, it’s just…”

Herace stopped right there. Brienne, whose steps were also halted, swallowed hard. He slowly bent down and carefully tucked her hair behind her ear.

“…You’re like a pervert.”

* * *

Compared to the ruined villages, Luman Square near the lord’s manor was intact. Traces of the heavy rain that had swept through remained here and there on the streets, but the bustling crowds revealed the same lively energy as before.

And here.

There were a man and woman, both creating an icy atmosphere, even with that famous cake right in front of them.

“Are you still upset?”

Herace studied Brienne’s face carefully. He was displeased by how her lips remained tightly shut, even though she was the one who said she wanted cake. He spoke gently to Brienne, who remained silent.

“Brienne, it really was just a joke.”

It was only then that Brienne turned her gaze away from the window. After opening and closing her small lips a few times, an unsettled voice came out.

“Why do you keep doing this?”

Well, where should he start?

That scandalous red book with the provocative title? The copy of The Myth of Roeta she carried around just because the cover was pretty?

Or perhaps… the way she always stared at him during treatment?

Herace considered all sorts of reasons, but in the end, he turned the arrow of blame toward himself. After all, whatever it was, it was his own fault for upsetting Brienne.

“It was just that your reactions were so amusing, Brienne… I went too far with my teasing. Won’t you forgive me?”

“How could I not be upset? Last time, you almost kissed me and then stopped. You keep making me expect things…!”

Brienne, who spoke without thinking, seemed startled by her own words and trailed off. At her grumbling, Herace gave a small laugh.

“…I keep making you expect things? It sounds like you want something from me.”

He was only teasing, but Brienne’s light green eyes trembled fiercely. She avoided his gaze and finally picked up her fork.

“…That’s not it. I just misspoke.”

Seeing her awkward movements and reddened cheeks, Herace couldn’t help but smile. He had only wanted to soothe her anger, but now he found himself wanting to tease her even more. Maybe he’d developed a strange new hobby.

“It didn’t sound like a mistake. If you regret what happened that day so much, I could do it right now…”

“Stop saying weird things and just eat this!”

Brienne scooped up a random piece of cake and placed it on Herace’s plate. Herace glanced down at it with narrowed eyes.

“Is this to shut me up?”

“……”

He was so quick-witted, yet so clueless. Brienne shot him a look, as if to say he wasn’t even worth answering, and took a bite of cake.

The fork disappeared between her red lips, then reappeared. Watching this whole process, Herace let out a faint sigh.

“…To think there’d be a day I’d get jealous of a fork.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing you need to hear.”

He smiled faintly and picked up his glass of water. Brienne tilted her head, staring at him, then motioned to the cake.

“Herace, aren’t you going to eat?”

“I will.”

That’s what he said, but Herace honestly had no intention of eating the cake. He hated sweets to begin with, and he’d planned to avoid eating it.

“Only if you feed me yourself.”

His gray eyes flicked between the cake and Brienne. Brienne looked startled, as if she’d misheard.

“…Here? With so many people watching?”

“So, it would be fine if it were just the two of us?”

“Of course not!”

“Oh, that’s too bad. Then I’ll just have to watch.”

“Why are you being like this…?”

Just as he’d expected. Herace was about to order coffee, amused by her reaction, when—

“…Fine, whatever. Go ahead. I’ll feed you.”

Brienne, after cautiously looking around, picked up Herace’s fork and offered him a bite of cake.

“…Brienne?”

Herace’s eyes wavered at this completely unexpected turn. Brienne, with a puzzled expression, held out the fork.

“What are you doing? Didn’t you say you wanted me to feed you?”

“……”

“Don’t tell me you don’t like cake? Or do you not want me to feed you?”

“Of course not.”

At her sly question, Herace reluctantly parted his lips. He was impossible to predict. For someone so easily embarrassed, she could be surprisingly bold…

“Is it good?”

“…Yes, it’s good.”

“Then try this one too.”

Even when he didn’t open his mouth, Brienne just pushed the fork in. Herace was a little flustered by the cream that filled his mouth, so sweet it was almost bitter.

“Brienne, um…”

“Oh, and this one too.”

After that, he couldn’t get a word in as his mouth kept being filled with cake.

Not wanting to trouble his date, Herace forced himself to eat the cake. Only after three plates were emptied did he finally get a chance to talk with Brienne.

“Should I feed you more?”

“…No, that’s all right.”

Thanks to this, Herace resolved never to tease Brienne again. He’d just eaten more cake than he had in his entire life.

His stomach churned for some reason. He was starting to fear cake, which he already disliked.

“To be honest, I thought you were going to tease me again, but you really ate well. I’ve never seen a man eat so much cake.”

Fortunately, Brienne seemed convinced by his act and smiled brightly. Herace managed to return the smile with effort.

“Yes, I like it. Very much.”

“I see. I’m glad we have the same taste. Let’s go eat cake together again when we’re in the capital, okay?”

How could he possibly tell her the truth after hearing that? Herace decided he’d better start liking cake from now on. Brienne, after taking a bite, spoke softly.

“Tomorrow, we’ll be returning to the capital already.”

“That’s a shame. I can’t believe a week went by so quickly.”

“Really? It felt so long to me… Oh, right, is your injury better now? Please make sure to take good care of it, even after we return to the capital.”

An injury. At her worried tone, Herace’s expression turned ambiguous.

Truthfully, he could have healed such a minor wound with magic at any time. The only reason he left it alone was because he liked having Brienne treat him.

So, once they returned to the capital, there’d be no need for any more treatment.

“I will.”

Feeling regretful over that fact, Herace looked at Brienne, and a similar emotion flickered across her face. With a hint of hope, Herace asked,

“Do you not want to go back?”

“What? Oh, no. It’s just… the engagement is the day after we return, and I’m nervous. The thought of seeing Kaiden in person makes me a little…”

Her slumped shoulders showed just how worried she was. Was it too much to hope she’d rely on him? Herace, after a moment’s thought, smiled gently.

“I’m nervous too. I never imagined I’d attend as your partner, Brienne.”

“Really?”

“Yes, so I’m looking forward to it.”

At those words, Brienne’s cheeks flushed a little. As he watched her, Herace suddenly remembered something.

“Oh, by the way… What happened with the second son of the Harrington family?”

“Ah… Derrick Harrington?”

Brienne narrowed her brow as if recalling somethinG.