1. The Start of a Long Summer  ( Part 4)

There are nights when sleep simply won’t come. The harder one tries to fall asleep, the more awake the mind becomes. Cecilia knew this well, yet stubbornly pressed her face into her pillow with her eyes shut. Thirty minutes later, she sighed and sat up in bed.

“Is my insomnia acting up again? I’ve been sleeping well for a while…”

Throwing on a thin robe over her light nightgown, Cecilia shuffled to the balcony door attached to her bedroom and stepped outside. Even in summer, the night air was quite cool. She inhaled deeply until her chest felt tight. The fresh air filled her lungs, easing her irritation slightly.

Cecilia gazed absentmindedly at the night sky. A large full moon softly illuminated the Earl’s estate. As her eyes counted the scattered stars, she lowered her gaze again. That was when she noticed a faint light and turned her head to the right.

‘Hmm?’

Cecilia’s eyes widened slightly as she discovered an unexpected figure there. On the balcony of a room a few doors down from hers stood Ethan. With the light in his room turned on, his figure was clearly visible.

‘Ah, right, he’s staying in a room on the same floor.’

Ethan was dressed in a thin robe. His damp hair, as if he had just stepped out of the bath, glistened under the moonlight. He didn’t seem to notice Cecilia as he moved lightly, stretching and loosening his muscles. The natural way he extended his long arms and rotated his shoulders made him look effortlessly graceful.

For some reason, Cecilia couldn’t take her eyes off him. In the bluish darkness, he seemed to shine alone. He gripped the balcony railing and gazed down at the Earl’s estate. With his back to the light, his expression wasn’t visible, so Cecilia instinctively leaned forward a little.

Did he have insomnia too?  

Was he unable to sleep because he wasn’t used to the new surroundings?  

It had already been several days since he arrived—was he still uncomfortable?

As Cecilia mulled over these thoughts alone, it happened.

“……!”

In the air, their eyes met. For a moment, time seemed to freeze, and both of them stood still. A cool breeze swept past, lightly ruffling their hair. Cecilia felt her face heat up, embarrassed at being caught sneaking a glance at him, but she feigned composure and offered a polite smile.

Ethan turned his body fully toward her and asked, 

“Why aren’t you asleep?”

His voice carried softly across the distance between them. Cecilia, raising her voice slightly more than usual, replied, 

“Why aren’t you asleep, Mr. Hoffman?”

“Oh, I couldn’t sleep…”

Ethan answered, brushing the back of his neck awkwardly. Each time he moved, his robe shifted slightly more open. Cecilia forced her gaze upward, resisting the urge to look down, and made a light suggestion.

“If you don’t mind, why don’t you come over here for a moment?”

Ethan’s eyes widened slightly at her words. 

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing serious. I just have something to give you. Let’s meet in the hallway.”

When Ethan nodded, Cecilia stepped back into her room and opened a box of tea leaves. Since she often struggled with insomnia, her room was stocked with various teas that helped with sleep. With practiced hands, she scooped some tea leaves into a small pouch.

Tightening her robe securely, Cecilia opened the door and stepped into the hallway. Not long after, with a slightly noisy sound, Ethan’s door opened, and he emerged. It seemed he had hurriedly dressed, as his appearance was slightly disheveled. His cheeks were faintly flushed as he walked quickly toward her.

Cecilia smiled faintly, tugging at the corners of her lips. 

“You could’ve taken your time.”

“It’s fine.”

“Do you often have trouble sleeping?”

“Not usually.”

Cecilia’s eyes narrowed slightly. 

“Then, is it because the bed is uncomfortable? Or because it’s an unfamiliar place?”

“No, it’s more like…”

‘More like?’ 

Cecilia raised an eyebrow slightly. After hesitating for a moment, Ethan rubbed the back of his neck and answered, 

“I think it’s because I’m excited.”

“Excited? Why?”

Ethan’s face reddened further. At that moment, Cecilia felt a mischievous impulse to tease him a bit more. It was unlike her, but seeing his handsome face react so honestly to each of her words gave her an odd sense of satisfaction.

‘What am I doing, playing with such an innocent man?’

Clearing her throat, Cecilia handed him the pouch of tea leaves. 

“These are tea leaves that help with insomnia. You can brew them into tea or simply place them by your pillow—the scent alone will help you sleep.”

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”

Ethan reached out his hand. Their hands brushed lightly as they exchanged the pouch. In that fleeting moment, a tingling sensation sparked between their fingertips.

“Ah.”

Their eyes met. Cecilia was slightly startled but didn’t look away. His golden eyes, like molten gold, reflected her like a mirror. For some reason, seeing herself in his gaze felt unfamiliar.

Ethan, too, didn’t avert his gaze. A faint blush spread across his well-defined cheekbones. Slowly, the hand he had left awkwardly suspended in the air moved toward Cecilia’s, gently clasping it.

Rustle.

The small pouch between their palms made a faint sound, but neither paid it any attention. Ethan’s large, calloused fingers slowly threaded through Cecilia’s slender ones. The interlocked fingers felt almost searingly warm.

Cecilia swallowed dryly, her senses heightened to the point where it felt as though her heartbeat had moved to her fingertips. Ethan’s fingers brushed lightly against hers as they withdrew. The moment his hand pulled away, Cecilia exhaled the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Ethan smiled softly, holding up the pouch. His eyes curved into gentle crescents. 

“Thank you.”

Cecilia, who had been staring at him as if entranced, quickly lowered her lashes. Taking a step back, she instinctively donned a slightly cool expression. She didn’t want him to notice how flustered she had been.

“Well then, I’ll head back to my room. It’s getting late.”

“Oh.”

A hint of disappointment flickered across Ethan’s upright face. Cecilia thought to herself how transparent his emotions were as she offered him a brief smile.

“Goodnight.”

With a light kiss on his cheek, Cecilia turned and returned to her room, closing the door behind her.

Click. The moment the door shut, the tension drained from her body. Leaning against the door, Cecilia pressed her fist against her chest. Her heartbeat felt different than usual.

“Whew.”

Listening to the sound of Ethan’s footsteps fading away, Cecilia let out a long sigh. She lowered her gaze to her hand, staring at it absently. The sensation of Ethan’s touch lingered like an afterimage. She clenched her fists tightly, trying to shake off the ticklish feeling.

“……”

Her face, usually pale like the moon, was now flushed with a warmth she couldn’t explain. Whether it was because of the summer heat or the guest the summer had brought, she truly couldn’t tell.