Chapter 8 Part 2

Without adding any more words, Harten repeated that he was fine. I couldn’t be sure if he meant he was fine with being hurt or if he was fine with what happened yesterday, but the quiet whisper of “I’m fine” as he looked into my eyes was enough to soothe the guilt that had risen within me yesterday. I took a deep breath and pulled myself up from the emotional pit that had been dragging me down.

Right, I shouldn’t have been so worked up. My hesitation had made me more sensitive than usual. Once I realized this, I felt even more apologetic to Harten. Since yesterday, he had been nothing but patient with me, even though I had been difficult. And yet, he never once uttered a harsh word. I felt deeply sorry, especially now that I thought I understood why he had been so gentle with me.

“Don’t worry, I made sure no one is around. If anyone had come, I would have let you know.”

“…How do you know?”

“It’s difficult to master swords or magic in a short time, but I learned how to read the energy around me properly. When you sense danger, it’s easy to find an opening.”

To my apology, he instead asked why I was apologizing for that. And then, as if trying to make me feel better, he changed the subject and steered the conversation in a different direction. Despite this, Harten, who had calmly described the dangers surrounding him, escorted me with an impeccable demeanor. I was surprised by this side of him, but I obediently placed my hand in his.

“You can call on me as usual, knowing I’ll keep watch around us.”

“…”

“This is the result of my thoughts all night. I really kept debating whether to do what you wanted.”

“…Pretending not to know in front of others?”

“Yes.”

“So that’s why you’re doing it?”

Harten paused for a moment, as if considering the question, then shook his head.

“Rather than in front of others… in front of those who could harm you?”

“Huh? Why exactly?”

“That… I’ll explain later. For now, there’s one exception today.”

Harten smiled mischievously, offering no further explanation. Instead, he subtly redirected my attention elsewhere. The hand he had raised to escort me slowly brushed against my wrist, his touch faint but deliberate.

“Ten.”

Calling out to him with a warning not to do it, Harten, with a slightly regretful expression, rubbed between his fingers once as if lingering before letting go. I’ve always thought this, but Harten seems to like hands. Not just normally, but even in bed, he would act as if he couldn’t stand not being able to touch hands when he saw them.

…Come to think of it, it was the same this time too. When we spent the night in the lounge of the party hall, he would playfully pick sensitive spots to rub during brief moments. At its worst, he would even put a finger in his mouth…

“We’ve arrived.”  

“Gasp…!”

I was startled by Haruten’s sudden voice and sharply drew in a breath. As if I had just been caught imagining something vividly indecent. I could sense Harten noticing my flustered state with curiosity, but I waved one hand as if to brush it off like it was nothing.

“I-I’ll go inside now. Thank you, Your Highness.”

I was grateful to Harten for bringing me here, but I couldn’t let him see my face, which was probably burning bright red, so I bowed deeply as I thanked him. However, he gently placed a hand on my shoulder and opened the door for me.

“Let’s go in together”

“…Pardon?”

Before I could ask further, the door opened, and it seemed as if Canerva Grey had been waiting to greet us.  

“Oh, you’ve arrived! I’ve been waiting.”  

“……?”  

“……”  

Taken aback by his completely different attitude from yesterday, I was at a loss while Harten gently led me.  

“Please sit, Miss.”  

“……!”  

Startled, I immediately checked Canerva Grey’s reaction, but he seemed too busy watching Harten to care about what had just been said. What on earth is going on? On closer inspection, Canerva Grey’s face was as pale as if it had been bleached.

“I’m, I’m so sorry, Miss!”  

“Uh…?”  

Watching Canerva Grey fumble, only to apologize right after Harten’s short cough… no, to correct myself, this wasn’t just an apology, it felt more like an act of atonement. Although I’m not sure what wrong he thinks he’s done to me, the sight of Canerva Grey desperately grasping the table and apologizing was almost pitiable.  

“…Who allowed you to address the lady as ‘Miss’?”  

While it sounded like something I might say, surprisingly, I hadn’t spoken a word yet. That remark had come from Harten, who was standing behind me, his voice growling and lowering threateningly as he still intimidated the frightened Canerva Grey.  

“I’m sorry, my lady! Please, accept my apology! I, that is, there was no issue with the documents, but I made a… a mistake…”  

“Documents? A mistake?”  

Finally, a familiar word surfaced. If it’s about the documents we were supposed to discuss, it could only be about the negotiation proposal I had shown him yesterday. Although we didn’t reach a contract, I had explained it as thoroughly as possible.  

“I, I made a mistake that has… put the lady in a difficult position. I am truly sorry!”

“What exactly did you misunderstand?”

“……”

It seemed that Harten was involved in the misunderstanding, though I wasn’t sure of the details. Under Harten’s watchful eye, Canerva Grey looked resigned and began to explain.

“…So, you thought I disliked you because I frowned whenever your name came up?”

“Yes, yes.”

“And you realized yesterday that wasn’t the case?”

“Yes, I saw you two talking in the garden.”

I turned to Harten, choked with the question of why he had reacted so strongly to mentions of me. However, it was a sensitive issue, and I couldn’t just ask outright, so I turned back to Canerva Grey with a frustrated expression. Well, I suppose it’s natural to have both good and bad feelings about someone.

“Ah! My lady, isn’t the painting behind me… quite beautiful?”

“……? It’s just a plain painting, isn’t it?”

It seemed like a painting bought just to fill an empty space. It wasn’t ugly but nothing special either, just an ordinary landscape painting. canerva Grey muttered disappointedly. I can hear my lifespan shortening…

“Anyway, so you’re apologizing because you realized it was a misunderstanding?”

“…Actually, the documents you brought yesterday… were conditions anyone would covet. But I felt it wasn’t right to strike a deal with you, so I cut it off decisively. I’m sorry…”

I couldn’t help but laugh briefly out of disbelief. What is this? Give me back my wasted time. I wanted to throw away the documents I had ground myself down to prepare in order to convince Canerva Grey. It was a moment that made all my worrying seem in vain.

Yet, separately from that, I somewhat enjoyed the situation. I never imagined Canerva Grey would be so flustered by me. I looked at Harten anew with fresh eyes.

Despite our continuous insistence to sit down, Harten, who hadn’t moved from his spot, reflexively smiled as our eyes met. A gasp could be heard right beside us, but both Harten and I paid it no mind. If I said I could hear Harten thinking ‘Did I do well?’ in our exchanged glances, would it be my imagination?

I nodded and gave a faint smile, understanding what he meant by “those who could harm me,” and sensing Harten’s caring intentions as well.

“Let’s move back to the business topic. I’d like you to review the new terms I brought today.”

As the conversation turned to work, Canerva Grey straightened up, appearing to distinguish between personal and professional matters, which was quite a change from yesterday’s indecision. I held back a laugh and passed over the documents.

“Harten, would you like to take a look?”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

Alright then. As I observed Canerva engrossed in reading the documents, Harten gently placed his hand on my shoulder.

He raised his hand. It lingered quietly at first, then playfully tapped or grasped my shoulder in brief moments of touch, gradually stirring a subtle emotion. It was as if a jar of thick, sweet jam had been poured into the cozy atmosphere just before.

Yet, I did not push him away, finding the warmth that briefly touched and then left not unpleasant, and I was captivated as his gestures began to expand their reach. His fingers were soon leisurely stroking the nape of my neck.

The nape of my neck, exposed due to my hair being pinned up, felt the intensity of his gaze. Even without looking back, I could feel his eyes on me. I tensed slightly, my hands sweating as I clenched them, then I opened and closed my eyes.