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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: The Embroidered Handkerchief
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Akid flinched and shifted his gaze toward me. Then he began sniffing at his own body.
'What is he doing?'
I stared at him intently for a while, and he staggered toward me.
Seeing how he was keeping even more distance than usual, I figured he thought he smelled like sweat.
Sweat smell was fine by me, though.
Didn't he know that Akid's sweat smelled more fragrant than the luxury perfumes displayed in department stores?
I wanted to close the gap in disappointment, but I held back, worried it would trouble him.
Akid glanced at the flowers on the small table and asked,
"Were you arranging flowers?"
"Yes. Pretty, right?"
I beamed and pointed at my flower arrangement.
I planned to put it in the bedroom lobby once it was done. That way, as I passed through, the floral scent might distract me from my thoughts.
"Yes, very pret—"
Akid started to reply, then his eyes widened round. He strode over in quick steps, forgetting all about the distance he'd deliberately kept.
"You're hurt?"
"Oh, just pricked by a thorn. It's nothing."
Right, I had gotten hurt.
I suddenly remembered the thorn prick and gave an awkward smile. As I hid my finger behind my back, Akid snatched my hand.
It hadn't been long since the thorn had pierced me, so when he pressed down firmly, a drop of blood welled up. Akid muttered with a serious face,
"It's bleeding this much."
That's because you pressed it.
If I said that, he'd probably jump back in surprise.
Hm, that reaction might be fun to see, too.
I tamped down the fantasies bubbling up in my mind. Deciding to milk the concern for all it was worth, I whined a bit more.
"Eung... If Akid blows on it like hoho, I bet it'll heal right away."
I added a pouty expression for good measure. As I held out my hand pleadingly, Akid's eyes wavered.
He hesitated for a moment, then slowly took my finger and began blowing hoho on it.
A ticklish breeze brushed my fingertip. It felt like a wind blowing straight into my heart.
What do I do? Akid is too cute.
I could probably destroy the continent with this energy.
I tried to calm my pounding heart as I gazed at Akid. The more he held back, the more his face flushed pink.
Then Akid looked up at me and asked,
"How's it feel?"
I'm gonna die because of you.
Boom—!
Something burst inside my heart. It felt like my heart wouldn't survive.
Just as I thought I might die from a heart attack, Vivian arrived with the ointment.
"Oh my, Sir Akid is here too."
"Hello, Vivian."
Akid stopped blowing and greeted her warmly. I looked at him proudly at the suddenly familiar tone.
As Vivian treated the wound, she muttered,
"Our young miss has always been a bit scatterbrained. She only gets hurt when she forgets the ointment, though."
"Vivian, that's neglect of duty."
I grumbled, but she just shrugged it off like she hadn't heard. Feeling annoyed, I glared at her, and Akid said,
"Then I'll have to keep an eye on you."
Yes. Please do. If Akid looks after me, I'd be fine even if both my knees shattered.
My eyes sparkled like stars, and Vivian shook her head with a look of exasperation.
I caught a glimpse of her murmuring, "Who can stop the young miss's whims?" It seemed aimed at how my attitude toward Akid had changed.
Once the treatment was done, I said to Akid,
"I heard you're doing an archery match with Duke Essel this weekend before the expedition leaves."
"Ah, yes."
"You'll be participating too, right, Akid?"
Akid nodded at my question. My nostrils flared just thinking about seeing him shoot arrows so gallantly.
'I prepared a painter in advance for that day.'
Until now, his charm bursts had been too sudden to capture in a painting.
But since he was openly setting the stage, I was thrilled at the thought of collecting perfect shots.
Akid said cautiously,
"If you're free, want to come watch?"
"Of course!"
It was such an obvious answer it felt absurd.
Who else would I show that wonderful sight to if not me?
Of course everyone should see Akid's greatness, but as a fan, I wanted to see it first.
I pulled a neatly wrapped box from my bosom and held it out.
Truth be told, I'd been waiting for Akid to give him this. The flower arranging was just to pass the time.
"I even made a victory-prayer handkerchief already."
"What? You made it yourself, Roena?"
"Of course. I embroidered it while pricking my fingers every day."
Embroidering with a child's hands wasn't easy. I'd put in so much effort to make a pattern I liked.
Several failed white handkerchiefs had turned into rags. I'd only finished a decent one yesterday.
Akid examined the embroidery silently. His quietness made me anxious, so I rambled on.
"The design might not compare to store-bought or Mother's, but it's my sincere effort..."
"Is this me?"
Akid held up the embroidery with a somewhat excited voice. I'd thought he didn't like it because he was so quiet, but it was the opposite.
I nodded reflexively, and he smiled with his eyes crinkling softly. For a moment, flowers seemed to bloom behind him in an illusion.
Sure enough, that handkerchief was a failure. Compared to the real thing beside me, it was not just lacking—it was downright shabby.
I decided to make him a new one and reached out.
"No good. I'll make another before the weekend..."
As I tried to take it back, Akid quickly pulled away.
"No."
"Pardon?"
"Now that it's in my hands, this handkerchief is mine."
True to being the son of Grand Duke Hadellus, his declaration was bold.
I withdrew my hand in bewilderment, and he swiftly tucked the handkerchief into his bosom. Then he grinned and said,
"Since you gave me a handmade embroidered handkerchief, I'll repay you by taking first place in the archery match."
"Ah, no need to feel burdened. I gave it because I wanted to..."
"I'm saying it because I want to."
"You, you want to?"
"Yes. I want to."
At Akid's words, I fidgeted with my lower lip and mumbled,
"Th-the handkerchief really pleased you... If I'd known you'd like it this much, I'd have given it sooner."
"It's not just the handkerchief. What matters is that it's from Roena. So, you have to cheer only for me, okay?"
Akid spoke clearly with that soft eye smile. Dazed by the sight, I nodded and thought,
'Th-this is fan service I've only heard about...'
He seemed to be managing me in advance, worried I might cheer for Father or Duke Essel.
So much worry. All I see is Akid!
I grabbed his hand firmly and declared loudly,
"Of course! I'll cheer hard from the best spot!"
* * *
Swish, thunk!
The sound of something shooting and hitting rang out rhythmically. It was Akid practicing fiercely ahead of the match.
He practically lived in the training grounds from early morning till evening, so his instructor Ethan was stamping attendance there too.
Ethan, vice-captain of the Hadellus Knights, had become Akid's swordmaster on the Grand Duke's orders.
It had been nearly a year since Akid enlisted, and they'd finally added physical training, which had worried him.
Teaching a child with no proper training experience wasn't easy, even for a veteran like him.
But his worries proved unfounded—Akid had solid basics.
For a boy who'd spent nearly a year in endless liberal arts classes, his body was remarkably sturdy.
True to the Hadellus bloodline, his athleticism and strength surpassed ordinary people.
If he awakened the family's unique ability upon adulthood like this, he'd make a promising family head.
Akid quenched his thirst after landing the final arrow perfectly. Ethan handed him a towel and said,
"It looks like you'll win this match, Sir Akid."
"You're too kind. I still have a long way to go to beat Father."
"True, His Grace the Grand Duke was exceptional at archery even as a child. And Duke Essel enjoys hunting, so his skills must be impressive."
"It's no easy feat."
Akid stared intently at the quiver of arrows with a serious expression. Suspecting he meant to practice more, Ethan dissuaded him.
"I'm kidding. You're already excellent, so don't forget to manage your condition before the match."
"Yes."
Akid fiddled with the handkerchief tied around his wrist, as if soothing his regret. At a glance, the crooked embroidery caught the eye.
It clearly had eyes, nose, and mouth, so it was a person, but too sloppy to call one.
As Ethan stared through it, Akid lifted the corner of his mouth and said,
"With this, I'll win the match."
"Some kind of talisman?"
"More precious than that."
The first gift from my wife.
Ethan nodded in understanding at Akid's quiet mutter.
It seemed the duchess consort had gifted the handkerchief to pray for his victory.
'I heard they didn't get along, but that was just rumor.'
Ethan had been posted to the front lines a year ago to hunt beasts and returned this year, so he'd only heard of Roena's notoriety by word of mouth.
He'd never seen her himself, but gifting a handmade embroidered handkerchief suggested she wasn't on bad terms with Akid or ill-tempered as rumored.
Embroidery was a hobby too fiddly for an impatient person. Besides, Ethan had learned firsthand that rumors weren't reliable.
Akid had bad rumors too, but the young lord he'd met was completely different. So the duchess consort's must be false too.
Ethan smiled and patted Akid's shoulder.
"Then you'll take first place, Sir Akid."
"Yes. I will."
A spark lit in Akid's pale blue-gray eyes. Resembling Demian's childhood, it made Ethan watch fondly.
