Chapter 5 – One Step Closer (Part 1)

“Honestly, you can’t refute it, can you? You talked as if you had no connection and no intention of accepting it.”

Henry continued speaking as he moved close beside Diana.

“You said you weren’t interested in the position and wouldn’t take it even if offered… Who was it that said that back then…?”

It was Ian Curtis who said that.

Of course, back then, it was ‘Ian Christie,’ but ultimately, it was the same person who spoke those words.

“You said you came to the academy because you didn’t want to fight over succession with your nephew, who isn’t much younger than you, right?”

As someone whose job was words, Henry hit the mark every time he opened his mouth.

「I have a nephew who grew up like a brother. My brother thinks I will take his place, the place of that child.」

The image of the calm voice and the bitter smile came to mind. But what does it matter now?

Diana, biting her tender inner lip, pulled on Henry’s jacket lapel.

Even though they were close enough for their lips to brush if either moved slightly, both remained composed.

To an outsider, it might have seemed like a scandalous, intimate pose, but in reality, it was anything but.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

Just as they didn’t care about their surroundings, no one passing by paid them any attention. Occasionally, a few newcomers unfamiliar with the atmosphere, where one had to block out eyes and ears, would ask their seniors.

“Is it okay not to intervene?”

Most would ignore them.

That was because work always defied expectations. Of course, there were exceptions.

Sometimes, there was at least one kind senior.

“This isn’t something that happens in a day or two, newbie.”

“Pardon…?”

They blinked as if they didn’t understand. However, the senior didn’t extend any further kindness. They were people whose goal was to leave work precisely on time, so they couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

“If you want to leave on time, get moving.”

“Oh… yes!”

As the onlookers hurriedly dispersed, Diana casually let go of Henry’s lapel as if it had never happened.

“…We’re no longer related or connected. You know that.”

She smoothed out the lapel she had crumpled with her fingers.

“Right. But you acted like you were dumped and had a rejected face.”

Only at times like this did he pretend to be sharp. Diana grumbled but bit her lip. It was a drastic measure to avoid saying nonsense.

Feeling victorious, Henry crossed his arms and spoke with a triumphant face.

“Try saying that’s not true.”

He had caught her.

Feeling the headache that had barely subsided creeping back, Diana took a step back, and Henry put his hand on her head, bringing her close again.

“Anyway! You need to keep your emotions in check at the negotiation table. You know that, right?”

“Yes, yes. I know well.”

Diana played along and coolly brushed off Henry’s hand from her head.

“Wash your hands before touching someone else’s head, okay?”

Henry looked at her with bewildered eyes and quickly followed her, shouting.

“…Of course…!”

He was sure that there would never be a more unjust suspicion in his life.

***

“They call it the ‘Fairy’s Mirror’.”

The expression was not an exaggeration. Lorraine thought, captivated by the sparkling lake surface as if sprinkled with diamond dust.

They sat down near the lake.

“Here.”

“…Thank you.”

With a reluctant face, Lorraine accepted the croissant sandwich Edwin handed her.

She was bewildered. Edwin had quickly set up the spot and prepared the croissant with fresh vegetables and ham.

「Just stay still. Not helping is helping.」

From unpacking, Edwin had refused her help and moved quickly. It didn’t seem like he moved much, yet the picnic was perfectly prepared.

“Thomas brought jam too, so have some if you want.”

“Yes.”

Surprisingly, he was deft with his hands.

As Lorraine stared blankly at the sandwich, Edwin added while sipping his coffee.

“There’s nothing much to see. Thomas made it all anyway.”

“No, I wasn’t looking at it like that…”

He asked, picking up the fruit Thomas had also packed.

“Then?”

“You did well.”

“What… Oh, I’ve had many occasions to be outside.”

Edwin replied nonchalantly as if it were no big deal, spreading jam on bread. He neatly folded his bread with jam and asked Lorraine, who had only eaten half of her croissant.

“What kind of jam?”

“…Orange.”

Reluctantly answering, she took a big bite of her croissant.

“…Why did you join the war so early?”

“It wasn’t that early. Seventeen.”

“My youngest sibling is eighteen.”

Lorraine stuffed the sandwich into her mouth and brushed her hands off.

“What are you getting at? With a bright future ahead, why did you recklessly go to the battlefield?”

Her unfiltered statement made Lorraine put down her teacup.

“That’s…”

“Well, anyway, since you’ve graciously given me your time, to answer your question…”

All the way.

Lorraine frowned. Before she could retort, Edwin continued.

“Simply put, at that age, you don’t see a bright future.”

His voice was light, but his eyes were not.

“Yes, well…”

It was obvious that it wasn’t true, but for the first time, Lorraine pretended not to notice Edwin’s lie.

It was then.

Edwin’s face suddenly came close.

“Wha…!”

Just as a startled Lorraine was about to pull away, a gentle hand brushed against her mouth. As his face moved away, she noticed the orange jam on the tips of his long fingers.

“Are you a child?”

Lorraine’s face flushed with embarrassment. She rubbed her lips with the back of her hand and raised her voice.

“No! But why are you… wiping it with your hand…?”

“Unfortunately, I forgot my handkerchief.”

He shrugged with a nonchalant face.

A lie.

Lorraine’s eyes conveyed disbelief, as if to say that the attendants would have taken care of it, yet Edwin calmly put his jam-covered finger in and out of his mouth.

Lorraine’s bright blue eyes turned to horror.

Gulp.

Having barely swallowed her tea, she had her head bowed for a while. Perhaps tea had gone up her nose, causing a sharp sensation. After taking a deep breath, Lorraine raised her head.

“…Give me your hand.”

Setting down the bread, she took out a handkerchief from her pocket and grabbed Edwin’s hand.

She hadn’t noticed when he was wearing gloves, but there were hard calluses between his long fingers. Despite the somewhat humid weather, the slight warmth felt on his palm wasn’t unpleasant.

Lorraine was surprised at how naturally her thoughts flowed but tried to appear calm as she wet the handkerchief with water. She carefully wiped the spot where the jam had been.

“Wiping with your hand is one thing, but why would you put that in your mouth?”

“…Wiping it with my hand is okay?”

She looked at him with incredulous eyes.

“…Is that something to say now?”

“I’m just saying that since you said wiping with my hand is okay.”

“Both are bad deeds.”

She soothed him like a child. His brow furrowed, but he didn’t pull his hand away from Lorraine.

“…Am I a child?”

“It’s a problem because you’re an adult.”

Satisfied, she confirmed his hand and neatly folded the wet handkerchief as she continued.

“I’m worried you might do that in front of others when we go out.”

It was a statement full of potential misunderstandings. Whether or not she knew Edwin’s expectations, Lorraine continued with a calm face.

“I’m fine, but others might misunderstand.”

Of course. He sighed deeply, covering his face with his hands. A slight warmth radiated from his face.

‘They misunderstand what they shouldn’t and misunderstand something else.’

It had been a long time since she felt this kind of frustration. Regardless of Edwin, Lorraine continued to speak.

“Do you hear me, Your Grace? If you do this elsewhere, you’ll get sued. Okay?”

She didn’t just drive the nail; she confirmed it.

“I will…”

“Pardon?”

He removed his hand from his face after swallowing a sigh.

“…I’ll take care of it.”

He muttered with a face like a raccoon washing cotton candy in water.

‘No, it’s more like a face that ate hurriedly for thirty years.’

The actual cause, Lorraine shrugged and started to finish the bread she had been eating.

At that moment, a warm breeze blew between the two.

The future looks bleak. 

Edwin thought as he ran his fingers through his hair irritably.