Chapter 11

𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖔: 𝕾𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 𝖇𝖞 𝕿𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝕾𝖜𝖎𝖋𝖙

***

His words became so ingrained in my mind that, despite Henry holding my hand and the heat continuing to penetrate my skin, his voice, fragrance, and movements gained such control over me that I could not help but feel the irregularity of this drum in my chest.

Why should I exercise caution around Henry? Beyond that, what other means did he utilise to determine our degree of closeness? My thoughts became hazy until I noticed that Henry had stopped moving and turned to face me as his final action.

He continued to flex his eyebrows in the direction of my face, as if to lean in closer.

"Let's be honest, Vestia, what's your problem?" He inquired. A widening of my pupils occurred.

How could he possibly believe I have an issue? I grinned at him while shaking my head and even clasping our intertwined hands.

"Silly, do you even think I have a problem now?" I was about to give him a head stroke when his other hand prevented me from doing so. Although he drew me closer to him, his narrowed irises nearly caused me to gasp for air.

I am certain I have been intoxicated with Caliere ever since he unexpectedly paid me a visit to our home, but at the moment, I am captivated by Henry's fragrance rather than reminiscing about his.

The mere act of inhaling his fragrance transports me back to spring. It has a revitalizing rather than intoxicating effect. Upon comparison, the two are undeniably dissimilar, and I suspect that their preferences are as well.

With a sigh, I had the sensation that Henry had become more perceptive, as if he were to immediately detect a mistake in my every action; the thought was already evoking a chill down my spine.

"I know that you're concerned about me, Henry, but did you learn how to embroider from my mother?" I inquired. I concealed a taunting grin at the corners of my lips as soon as he withdrew his gaze and stepped back.

It was evident that he scratched the back of his neck while concealing his face behind his fringe. I could even perceive the same intensity of redness on his face, neck, and ears.

"I thought so, ha!" "At the age of eleven, all I needed to learn was how to wield a sword; you already know how to embroider." However, he promptly grabbed my hands before I could emphasize the final words.

He seized both of them and compelled me to observe his action. I arched my eyebrows in response to his massage of my exposed palms while he was performing the action.

"Henry?" He sighed after a brief glance at me before returning his attention to the objects at hand, despite my inquiry.

"I attempted to learn embroidery because I figured it would be beneficial to experiment with something new; you were the first to suggest it to me." However, I do not believe a sword would be able to comfort you," he continued. In response, I pouted.

"Again, why not? One day, I also aspired to become a Lady Knight," I replied, to which he responded with a simple giggle.

"Being a lady knight doesn't suit you; you're more like a princess who needs to be taken care of. Besides, did you even know that your hands would be full of callouses once you tried learning swordsmanship?" Although his voice was as quiet as I could get him to say, it was not a whisper.

His expression conveyed the sincerity of his smile even when he was merely able to massage my hands. I laughed out loud and shook my head.

As I attempted to massage his hands, I switched positions with him rather than being the one massaging my hands; however, I could not help but broaden my eyes once more. It became a habitual expression on my face whenever I felt astonished, and his hands performed the action at that moment.

As each individual passed us by, the subsequent illumination penetrated the most obscured areas; I could perceive the rigidity of his hands. It was as if I were experiencing the callouses he had just described on his palms.

I could not even utter the words as I stared at him with an open mouth. As soon as I caught sight of him staring at me with those eyes that appeared to predict my next words, it became immobile.

He may have waited long enough for the void to be filled with silence.

"I suppose you were taken aback," he murmured with a moan.

Once more, he interrupted me before I could complete my sentence, "Why are your hands---?" His words this time nearly caused me to flinch.

"I've been studying swordsmanship for as long as I can recall," he stated with an air of effortlessness, his tone of voice reminiscent of tepid tea with honey. I swallowed because I felt as though I was incapable of articulating the words I desired.

The realization that a ten-year-old was already training provoked chills down my body, not because I was startled, but because it simply got the better of me.

However, he reassured me that it was a routine occurrence in their household. Yet, when I attempted to inquire whether it was acceptable for him to instruct me on swordsmanship, as I had promised, he turned his head away from me and glanced behind.

I could observe him hesitating, and as I followed his gaze, I caught a glimpse of the festival's onset.

I am perplexed as to why the sounds were previously inaudible during my conversation with Henry; however, since my attention has been drawn to the location, the sounds have become significantly louder.

Then I observed the pathway along which spectators would form a queue to observe the performers, who were all adorned in elaborate garments; some were dressed as nobles, whereas others were figurines and dragons.

When I returned my gaze to Henry, he was staring at me rather than the performers or the hair clip that the elderly woman had given us that day. As I watched him touch the clip from my hair, I could see that he had started to smile, and I could only shake my head.

"You look good at the moment, Henry," I remarked as I inspected the necklace lock on his neck. I attempted to touch it, but before I could, his hand grabbed mine; he then drew me closer to him, which caused me to exclaim.

"Vestia, there is a passerby by your side; you may wish to approach slightly." He whispered this to me as his lips approached my ears, and the warmth of his breath could be felt.

I maintain a distance from him while nodding, but he promptly intertwines our hands.

He replied, "For safety reasons," and as I turned my back, I noticed Anna and Sir Francis conversing. Anna would occasionally return a gaze in my direction, while Sir Francis would fixate on our hands. I couldn't help but chuckle when I spotted Anna and Sir Francis staring at us and noticed their expression.

I escorted Henry through the various stools as the festival progressed, but the one I desired most was the elderly lady's, but she was not in attendance. Perhaps she became so preoccupied with work that she was unable to attend festivals. It's just unfortunate that I couldn't let her see that we were donning the items she gifted to us.

As I noticed the various lights illuminating the area, I chuckled because I could feel Henry tightening his hold on my hand.

A fish-shaped piece of bread with ice cream was among the many foods we were able to enjoy. I was also able to consume a honey-coated apple that resembled miniature chocolates.

As night fell, the temperature dropped, causing me to tremble. However, Henry's placing a scarf on my neck went unnoticed by me. I intended to inquire where he obtained this, but all he did in response was shake his head and chuckle.

"It's absolutely night, even though it's not winter, so I might as well get this from the store on the way back to where we walked earlier," he said. I was shocked that he had purchased one for me. Exactly when I stopped laughing, he responded with the same action.

Currently, nothing could be more perfect than this week has been; it has provided me with the most cherished memories that I will ever have with Henry. I desired to express my pleasure at his company and in our time together; however, I became cognizant that this could wait.

Since he emerged as my initial indelible friend, there is still much I wish to discover with him.

It has been observed that one cannot compel another individual to love oneself; rather, for others to love one, one must simply be themselves. I would like to express my gratitude to Henry for enlightening me on the significance of such a momentous occasion in my life.

As we approached our carriage while laughing, I heard these sounds emanating from the open window on my side. Upon observing the situation through the open window, I immediately exclaimed at the horseman to cease his behavior.

Despite his midway diversion, I was able to stop a noblewoman from mistreating the young boy.

As soon as I approached them, I noticed that the elderly woman, attired in sophisticated, high-end garments, had ceased striking the impoverished boy, whose clothes were filthy and lace.

"Stop what you are doing," the elderly woman said as if issuing a command; her countenance was distraught and her eyes were narrowed.

"What a courageous young lady you are!" the elderly lady remarked, but her expression changed when Henry approached me.

"Countess Illianna, you ought to have had enough of beating a poor boy," Henry said. Upon hearing these words, the Countess immediately recoiled and apologized as she walked to her carriage with an expression of horror.

I was perplexed, and Henry was already staring at the young lad when I turned to him.

"We ought to visit an infirmary tonight; we might still find some open," he advised. However, upon closer inspection of the lad, my eyes could not expand any further.

When I caught a glimpse of the wretched boy's crimson eyes and silvery-purple hair, it was enough to remind me that in an alternate existence, he had been Caliere's right-hand man, a knight with sufficient strength to be his insane dog.

Caliere's devoted ally, he was prepared to do anything to safeguard his master. It seems appropriate to claim him as my own for the time being.

"No, Henry, I just have the brightest idea..."

***

Author-nim note: edited ^-^ Please forgive my grammar; English is not my first language. ^-^