In front of was the person who had told to go to the garden.
My Lady.
She sat in the chair across from . The light from behind fell diagonally onto the table, reflecting her face on the brownish tea in the cup. Her black hair was longer than it had been four years ago, so the back was tied with a butterfly ribbon that matched her hair color. On both sides of her shoulders, two strands of hair fell with slight waves at the ends. Her bangs, which used to cover her forehead, now revealed it.
A gentle breeze passed by. The air was cool as my gaze fell upon her. Her eyes were the sa as before, no different, only now they were more sincere. Softer. My Lady gently brushed her hair with the back of her hand. Her gaze turned towards , a little shy.
"Um... Touji... Why are you looking at like that?" My Lady asked.
I flinched, snapping back to reality.
"Ah... no. It’s just, have you changed your hairstyle? The last ti I t you, it wasn’t this neat. You look more beautiful when I see you from a man’s perspective," I replied.
The Princess beca even more shy. She even covered her face. Her face turned red, hot.
"D-don’t think that just because you praise like that, I’ll forgive you for being late!" she shouted.
Just like that, I realized it. I had arrived later than usual.
My Lady had her arms crossed. Her gaze was sideways, her cheeks puffed out on one side behind her flushed face.
I was silent for a mont. I chuckled softly seeing My Lady’s expression like that.
"Hahaha!"
The Princess glanced at . Her eyebrows furrowed deeply. "Why are you laughing...?" She turned her face away again. "It’s always like this. So insensitive," she muttered.
I looked at her face. My laughter slowly stopped. "Hahaha... Sorry, My Lady. I won’t do it again."
However, my words alone couldn’t stop her anger. I smiled faintly. I extended my pinky finger to her.
"Alright, My Lady. I promise next ti I will invite you when I practice swordsmanship. So you can remind when I’m late for our appointnts." I smiled sincerely at her. "How about it? Will you?"
She glanced at sideways. She started to get interested. Her hand also reached out towards . Her pinky finger extended between the rest of her clenched fingers, binding our two pinky fingers as a promise. A promise that must not be broken and must be kept.
"Alright. I agree...," she revealed. Her expression changed for the better. The wrinkles on her brow relaxed.
I smiled hearing that. "Thank goodness...."
For a mont, the Princess seed to fall silent. She looked like a living statue. Her face turned even redder. Behind her still extended pinky finger, she looked at from the corner of her eye. Her mouth was covered by her palm.
I looked at her sideways in front of . "...What is it, My Lady?"
She casually threw her gaze to the side. As if she didn’t dare to et my eyes.
"T-Touji! C-can I ask sothing of you?" she asked.
I nodded, allowing it. I considered this like a commitnt to the promise I made with her.
Besides, My Lady’s requests won’t go too far, right, to the point of risking my life?
The Princess pressed her hand to her mouth even harder. Her gaze shifted towards . Narrowed slightly. She let out a short sigh. Her hand slowly lowered from her mouth. Although her face was still lowered, she was beginning to dare to show herself to .
"...My request is only one...." She looked into my eyes. Her face was still red. "I... I..." She pressed the corners of her lips. "I-I just want you to hug !"
"...Eh?"
I dared not speak. Indeed, what she asked did not risk my life, but didn’t this also risk my dignity as a man? A man who, in his past life, was a thirty-year-old uncle trying to hug children. If there were newspapers or sothing in this world, it would probably be the most disgusting headline ever.
I sighed shortly through my mouth. I need to calm down first.
I looked at the Princess in front of . Her face was flushed red. Her gaze was deeply lowered. Her gaze confused slightly. Because in my past life, I had never once hugged a woman. I didn’t even have the desire to approach with my arms open. I didn’t have that desire before. And perhaps it would be the sa now.
However, the one asking this is My Lady. I could still consider it a friendly hug.
I cleared my throat softly. I looked at her with an awkward smile. "Alright, My Lady. I will accept your request." I stood up from my position. Both my arms spread wide. "P-please, My Lady...."
She looked at . The corners of her lips showed a faint smile. Without hesitation, she stood up from her chair. She ran towards . With her arms also spread wide, she imdiately jumped into my embrace.
A sensation of warmth imdiately touched my waist. Below , she was already hugging tightly. Her eyes were tightly closed without uttering a single word. She was like a child who wanted warmth. Who wanted affection from soone. I could only smile faintly. I lowered both my arms, hugging her tightly as well.
My Lady was like in my past life. A person ostracized by the world. She was just a lonely human. She was just trying to get attention like most living beings. I had understood her a lot over the last four years.
I looked behind . Staring at the yellowish ceiling. The sound of the wind roared loudly. My bangs, which covered part of my eyes, fluttered aimlessly. I looked at the Princess below . My hands gently stroked her back.
What would have happened if our eting had never occurred?
For My Lady, I understood, she would have ended with a tragic death caused by her rebellious subjects. But ? No one knew. Perhaps I would have ended more tragically than My Lady herself.
For so reason, I can already accept my life like this....
A life as a child about to turn fifteen.
My Lady began to release her embrace from . I also released her. My Lady looked at from above, smiling faintly.
"Thank you, Touji! You’ve cald down a bit," she said.
I flinched. I bowed slightly. "No, My Lady, I should be the one thanking you for several reasons," I revealed.
The Princess put on a confused face. She shrugged her shoulders, letting the confusion between us happen.
"Alright then—!" My Lady fell silent instantly seeing my brown hair. Her gaze locked there for a mont. "Touji... Your hair..."
I glanced at My Lady from my bowed position.
"Don’t you want to try a new style? Your hair feels botherso. Especially covering part of your eyes." She touched her sharp chin. "It feels like your face is diminished," she said.
I was silent. Then I stood up from my bowed position. I gently stroked the ends of my bangs for a mont. Observing from the corner of my eye, before looking back at My Lady in front.
"...Is it really that botherso, My Lady?"
She nodded strongly. Agreeing with what I said.
My hands, still gently stroking the ends of my bangs, looked at My Lady in front with hesitation. My eyes looked at the ends of my hair again. My hands lowered from that position afterward.
"...Alright. I will try it later, My Lady."
She smiled broadly. Pleased with my response.
My Lady quickly turned around and sat back in the chair where she was previously sitting. I followed after her. There, we continued to talk about several things. Sotis we made small talk, joked, so the conversation wouldn’t be boring if overheard. Occasionally, I saw the Princess drinking tea. I always drank afterward, as a form of politeness.
And ti passed so quickly. The twilight light had taken over the sky. The sound of birds could be heard loudly in the sky, heading to their respective nests. The forest outside the fence had also been swallowed by darkness. The tea that filled the cup had no drops left. This indicated that the ti for conversation had ended.
I looked at the Princess in front, smiling. "It’s getting late, My Lady. We’ll continue tomorrow, okay?"
She nodded slowly. She already understood.
My Lady stood up from her chair. I imdiately followed her. My hands began to pick up two cups from the table, placing them on a square wooden tray.
The Princess saw doing it. She turned around and left after I finished my task. I followed the Princess from behind. Passing the sa path, flat stones, until we were in front of the doorway.
We entered the long red carpet area. Walking through it.
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