Ch#65
2023.11.04.
But that initial spirited enthusiasm didn't last long.
By the time they reached the middle of the stairs, Blair began to show signs of fatigue. Her breathing had been ragged for a while, and her feet ached in her shoes.
Herdin, who had been following behind Blair at first, was now ahead of her.
With the same leisurely pace as before, without even a hint of disrupted breathing.
Noticing Blair lagging behind, Herdin turned to look at her.
"Who was it that boasted so proudly that they could make it?"
How annoying.
Blair shot him a dissatisfied glare for teasing her, then gritted her teeth and climbed the stairs with determination. A competitive spirit ignited within her.
As Blair passed by his side, Herdin said slyly,
"If you ask me to carry you, I'll take you all the way to the top."
"...I can do it myself."
Herdin chuckled softly as he watched Blair forge ahead. Her refusal to yield reminded him of their childhood first meeting.
At the end of that grueling climb, the two finally reached the summit.
A cool breeze from high above swept across Blair's forehead, beaded with sweat.
As she opened her eyes, momentarily closed against the sudden gust, the panoramic view of the Capital Isle unfolded before her.
Blair gasped in awe without realizing it.
"Wow...."
The late afternoon sky was bathed in golden light just before sunset.
Beneath it, blooming cherry trees and colorful festival flags fluttered in the spring breeze, while the blue river wound through the heart of the Capital Isle.
Among that scenery stood the Imperial Palace where Blair had lived her entire life, and the Temple where they had stayed until recently.
Seeing it like this made her realize how small the world she had known all her life truly was. And how vast the world ahead would be.
Blair gazed blankly at the landscape, taking it all in.
It was the view she had always wanted to see.
The blowing wind tousled her stray hairs. Beneath them, her sweat-dampened white nape glistened.
Herdin, who had been watching her silently, removed his outer coat and draped it over Blair's shoulders.
Blair turned to look at him.
Only then did he enter her violet world.
"Thank you, Herdin. I really wanted to come here at least once."
Blair smiled brightly. It had been a while since her smile was directed at him.
Herdin stood beside her as she gazed at the distant world, quietly taking in her appearance.
The woman blended perfectly with the blooming cherry blossoms and the golden afternoon sunlight, like a painting.
At last, this exasperating season of flowers seemed a bit more bearable.
* * *
The two watched until the sunset faded before descending the stairs.
Herdin, going down first, sensed something off and turned around.
"Blair?"
Blair was gripping the wall, her trembling legs making her descend one step at a time. The strain from climbing up had left her legs weak.
She looked just like a newborn fawn.
He knew she was fragile, but not this fragile.
Herdin watched her with a somewhat bewildered expression before bursting into laughter.
"...Don't laugh."
His face, curved in a refreshing smile, looked annoyingly handsome. And all the more irritating for it.
Blair clenched her teeth and descended step by step on her own. Then, trying to speed up a bit out of greed,
"Eek!"
Her body swayed and she tumbled forward. Herdin swiftly grabbed her waist, steadying her.
"Careful."
"Ah, thank—"
Before Blair could even stand up straight, Herdin scooped her up into his arms. Blair barely suppressed a scream that nearly escaped.
"P-Put me down."
"That doesn't seem like a wise choice. With those legs, it might take until morning."
"...."
In her current state, it was a very plausible statement, leaving her without a retort.
Blair eventually wrapped her arms obediently around his neck.
"...Aren't I heavy?"
"Hm, my arms feel like they might fall off."
"...."
At his playful response, Blair pursed her lips in displeasure.
No matter what, he could at least flatter a lady.
Seeing that, Herdin laughed.
"I've served the Duchess, so grant me one wish in return."
"A wish?"
"Yes, a wish."
Blair, reading his mischievous expression, quickly countered.
"As long as it's not something weird."
"Adding restrictions makes it less appealing."
"...So you were planning something weird?"
"Why don't you explain what 'weird' means first."
"Something vulgar—"
Blair realized a beat too late that she'd fallen into his nonchalant trap and clamped her mouth shut.
Herdin asked leisurely,
"Vulgar, and then?"
"...I'm not saying."
"Then we have a deal for one unrestricted wish."
Blair eyed him suspiciously but reluctantly nodded.
Finally getting the answer he wanted, a satisfied smile curved Herdin's lips.
* * *
Blair placed a palm-sized frame with a painting on the bedside table.
It was a small picture of the Clock Tower and cherry blossoms they had seen together that day.
On the way back to the carriage from the Clock Tower, she had bought it from a street artist selling paintings.
'Every time I see this picture, it'll remind me of today.'
The blue spring sky, the profuse cherry blossoms, and Herdin who had been with her in that beautiful scenery.
His voice came just as she thought of his face.
"Do you like that painting so much?"
Startled by the low voice ringing in her ear, she whipped her head around to find Herdin standing right behind her.
He picked up the frame in that position, examining the painting. His warmth from behind, his face so close.
Close enough that a wrong breath might touch him.
Fearing their eyes might meet, Blair hurriedly turned her gaze forward. In the silence, she worried he might hear her pounding heart.
To break the silence, Blair nodded and replied,
"Yes, I like it. Seeing this painting will make me think of today every time. The cherry blossoms were so pretty, the little kid selling rings was cute...."
Herdin recalled Blair's finger wearing that crude ring. Her white, delicate hand made even that ring look beautiful.
"The cherry blossom-shaped cream puff was delicious too."
Along with the image of Blair munching on the cream puff came the lingering sweetness of the cream in his mouth—and her wide-eyed surprise when she bit his finger.
"And climbing the Clock Tower was tough... but the view was incredibly beautiful."
Before she knew it, Blair had forgotten the distance between them, lost in recounting the day.
Herdin gazed silently at Blair's animated face.
Her soft, chattering voice was pleasant to hear.
Her violet eyes, sparkling like in a dream, were strikingly beautiful.
"Still, coming down was thanks to you—"
"Blair."
Herdin called her before she finished, unable to wait.
Unaware of the faint heat in his low voice, Blair turned to look at him innocently.
Herdin seized the moment and captured her lips. At the same time, he pulled her slender waist into his embrace.
Blair flinched in surprise, trying to pull away, but soon closed her eyes, accepting him.
Herdin laid her on the bed and continued the kiss.
The kisses, initially soft sucks and releases, gradually grew rough, as if devouring her.
"Mm...."
Short of breath, Blair moaned and pushed him away, so Herdin moved to her white nape.
Wherever his lips passed, flowers bloomed. Like the cherry blossoms they had seen that day.
Only after marking her body with blossoms everywhere did Herdin lift his upper body, seemingly satisfied.
Then he embraced her trembling form and united their bodies. A sensation as sweet as the cream puff enveloped his entire body.
He licked his wet lips and looked down at the woman in his arms.
"Herdin...."
Her small body covered in his traces, her lips reddened from sucking and biting, her teary eyes, and....
The spring scenery reflected in her violet, crystalline eyes.
Blair might call it profane, but for him, that framed painting would forever remind him of this moment with her.
Herdin gazed at the spring in her eyes, then leaned down for a gentle kiss.
Behind the shadows of their united forms, cherry blossoms fell like rain.
* * *
The flowers wilted after a few days of spring rain.
Herdin walked down the long corridor, gazing at the morning view of the now green-filled garden, and entered the room that had become more familiar than his own.
The room's owner seemed still deeply asleep, as it was quiet.
Herdin moved quietly, surveying the room.
On the table before the fireplace sat a scented candle instead of the marshmallow bowl. For the past few days, she had been practicing getting used to fire by lighting candles.
Passing that scene, he approached the bed, where Blair slept as expected.
Herdin checked his wristwatch. There were about 15 minutes left until the time he had ordered the carriage prepared.
It would be good to wake her before then.
Of course, he could wake her, but the last shred of his conscience—the one who had kept her up until this hour—prevented him.
