Ch.14Journey’s End (3)

It’s enjoyable.

Even just walking on foot, eating sweet desserts together, or enjoying light entertainment on the street—this world that would be unbearably boring compared to modern times feels painted with the colors of starlight.

Rian. Even his hastily made alias seems cute—this child of the deposed emperor. Though he differs somewhat from what I had always imagined based on my memories of the original work, he hasn’t given me even a speck of disappointment. Rather, I find the current bouncy version of him more charming than the original, who thought like a mechanical doll and clung to one woman.

I often make unreasonable demands of Rian. The fact that he somehow accommodates me when I push seems unlike him, yet feels exactly like him. I’m satisfied seeing him take a step away from the original work that I had pitied.

“Rian.”

“Yes. Did you call for me?”

“I just called because I was bored.”

“…I apologize. I’m not very good at knowing how to entertain others.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

You’re fun just walking beside me. It’s not your masked face that’s entertaining, but your very existence. This is the peak of my happiness after living a stiff life like a rusty gear in my previous life.

Though I must admit, there’s hardly anything as fun as teasing him.

“I burst out laughing just thinking about taking off your mask.”

“I’m beginning to wonder if this is how women feel when they’re being harassed.”

Rian took an ambiguous posture, almost but not quite folding his arms. I could clearly tell he was unconsciously adopting a defensive stance.

“Harassment… harassment. If it’s with Rian… that might be nice too. Would you allow it?”

“How could you say something so vulgar…”

“Come now, what’s vulgar about it? Come here and snuggle into my arms, my little kitten.”

“That ‘little kitten’ nickname… I wish you would please… stop using it.”

“Pfft, hehe…”

I’m experiencing firsthand how convenient it is that men are generally dominant in romance fantasy worlds. After all, isn’t there a prevalent culture that denies the very premise of women harassing men? This is exactly what empowers me to approach Rian so boldly.

“I really want to bite you just once.”

“What? What did you just say…”

Rian quietly asks as if doubting his ears. This time, I was a bit flustered too and could only awkwardly ask back.

“Did I say that out loud?”

“You did.”

Even so, this seems closer to concrete harassment than a metaphorical expression…

I suppose the filter on my lips has loosened because today is the last day.

In that case, the stance I should take here is…

“Can’t be helped. Since it’s come to this, may I bite you once?”

To brazenly put on a thick skin.

“Is that some kind of punishment?”

“It’s a reward.”

A reward for myself, that is.

I want to leave bite marks from his fingers to his nape and collarbone. I’ve only just realized that such dark desires were lurking within me.

“Sometimes I wonder what’s going on in Serin’s head.”

“If you’re curious, touch it.”

“That’s alright. It wouldn’t be readable even if I did.”

“Why not try before making that determination?”

“Serin…? Ugh.”

I boldly pulled his delicate hand. Then I lowered myself, guiding Rian’s hand to gently rest on top of my head. This created the illusion that warm body heat was traveling from my head down to my face, neck, and chest.

“It’s softer than I expected.”

“…”

I rubbed the silent Rian’s palm against my forehead. Next, I pressed the warm heat against my cheek, and then leaned my weight to cling to his shoulder line. Until that moment, Rian hadn’t uttered a single word.

“Has your curiosity been somewhat satisfied?”

“I think I’ve become even more confused.”

“That’s good in its own way.”

Unsolved riddles that get more and more tangled tend to occupy one’s mind more than solved problems. If I could become such an existence to Rian and be imprinted in his consciousness, that would be quite an achievement. At least I wouldn’t be easily forgotten.

The desire to be remembered for a long time was natural for me.

To think that I would encounter him through such an incredible coincidence when I thought I had completely lost the thread of our connection. Honestly, I was convinced it was fate. I even indulged in the delusion that it was a special privilege the world was giving to my reincarnated self.

Because through my past life and current one, he had become my most special person.

Even though I never saw his face or heard his voice, unchangingly, continuously.

“Rian.”

“…Yes.”

“Are you upset? Because I teased you a bit? Really?”

“Of course not.”

Rian denied it flatly, but I found it hard to dismiss my suspicion.

“Hmm, it’s really hard to tell because of the mask.”

“I’m not taking it off.”

“Who said anything about that?”

“Someone has been saying it all along.”

“Ah, I see…”

That’s right. I’ve been the one saying it all along.

It was my own blunder, a self-inflicted wound for once.

By the way, he knows how to counterattack now; he’s changed so much in such a short time. Until now, I’ve only been on the receiving end of unconscious counterattacks, like being condemned for calling squats vulgar.

After briefly pretending to be distracted, I bought a flower from a girl selling them nearby, paying an excessive amount. Rian looked at me curiously for this unexpected behavior. He seemed quite intrigued by my smile.

“It’s so dainty. It doesn’t seem to be any particular species, just a wildflower, I think.”

“She probably gathered flowers blooming here and there into her basket.”

“But isn’t it pretty?”

Knowing Rian wouldn’t understand, I still casually held out the wildflower and asked for his opinion.

Since meeting Rian, I’ve grown accustomed to paying attention to things I hadn’t noticed before. And sometimes I ask Rian: what does he think of this, or what impression does that give him?

Each time, the well-mannered Rian would ponder deeply before squeezing out a strained answer. He probably didn’t understand. He likely couldn’t find any value beyond the material meaning.

Nevertheless, I wanted to show him. From the story I observed in my past life, that even his monochrome world could be imbued with colorful hues. I gave a wry smile to Rian, who still couldn’t readily provide an answer.

“Well, I suppose it’s hard to be impressed when you’re already looking at the prettiest thing in the world.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Ahaha.”

Your face.

It was pure fantasy to think that was a genuine question asked out of ignorance. Well, this is a romance fantasy setting, so I guess it’s not that strange.

Even though he hides behind a mask, his distinct features always capture my attention.

Golden hair swaying in the breeze and blue eyes that occasionally quake like an earthquake.

It’s yellow like the setting dusk, and blue like a lake embracing the sky and rippling. If I were to compare it, it would be an awe-inspiring jewel. An aquamarine that diffusely reflects elegant colored lighting. Even just a fragment of what he possesses contained a beauty too overwhelming to conceal.

“Some things are better left unknown.”

“For me not to know something about myself… that’s unreasonable.”

“I suppose so.”

I lightly agreed.

Suddenly, I recalled the early evening at the Baron’s residence. The early evening when I squandered the chance to see Rian’s face for the first time. At that time, Rian had expressed such emotion that I wondered if he was really the person I knew, leaving a memorable impression.

Moreover, it was a time when I confirmed that Rian had ample opportunity to diverge from the original work. Perhaps he just wasn’t aware of it, but the monochrome world was gradually being painted with various colors—a thought flashed through my mind.

That made it even more regrettable.

“The shadows have grown long.”

The unkind sky painted a faint crimson on Rian’s hair. The setting sun was burning its last energy, preparing to meet the pitch-black darkness. The moment to put a period on this briefly enjoyable journey was rapidly approaching.

“You must go, Serin.”

“Yes, I should.”

I briefly answered and took Rian’s hand. The white hand scorched by the yellow sunlight held onto the lingering moment with no sign of letting go. So a slight jealousy raised its head. No matter how much I regretted it alone, to Rian, this was probably just escorting an ordinary woman.

I should be satisfied with this.

I’ve confirmed that he’s doing well, so that should be enough. I believe that if I ever finish the succession dispute, there will be an opportunity to formally summon him. For now, I can only rely on Rian’s fate, which I’ve somewhat disrupted…

‘If he falls for the original female lead after I’ve made such an impression, I’m really going to cry.’

If that happens, I won’t need this tiresome throne. I’ll immediately hand over the crown to my brother and flee from the imperial palace.

While immersed in these impure thoughts, the shadows deepened, and eventually the night sky that required walking by lamplight embraced the top of our heads. I must have been uncomfortable, walking without saying a word, lost in my reverie. Only now did I feel sorry for Rian.

Whether he knew this or not, Rian simply quietly announced:

“We’ve arrived, Serin.”

“Yes… we have.”

The imperial palace was right before us.

I didn’t say anything.

Instead, I stared directly into Rian’s blue eyes, waiting for him to speak first. But even after a long staring contest, he didn’t seem likely to speak first. So I was the one who gave up first.

“Did you know?”

“I knew.”

“Haha…”

At this point, even someone as dense as him couldn’t not know.

To escort me, whose whereabouts were kept secret, all the way to the imperial palace. Rian must have noticed at some point… no, perhaps from the beginning, that I was an imperial princess.

“This makes me quite embarrassed, you know.”

“I guessed you didn’t want to reveal it.”

“Well, I suppose we’re quite alike in that way.”

You wouldn’t have wanted to reveal that you’re the child of the deposed emperor either. That’s why you protected your mask with your whole body as if it were your life.

“Was I not uncomfortable for you?”

“Not at all.”

“That’s a relief. I’ve been observing you all along, and I’ve noticed that Rian doesn’t lie.”

“…”

“Instead, you hold back your words.”

“I’m aware that it’s shameless to ask for understanding.”

“There’s no need to ask. I wasn’t upset at all.”

“Is that so? Then I’m glad.”

After Rian’s relief, we stood silently for a long time. Whether trying to choose appropriate farewell words or thinking of more decent excuses, even I was confused and found it difficult to say for certain.

“…”

“…”

Step.

He took one step closer.

I looked up at Rian and tilted my head.

Rian’s mask gradually came closer to me. As I froze in surprise at this unexpected action, a soft sensation briefly touched my forehead.

If my intuition is correct—it was unmistakably the feeling of lips.

“Don’t get kidnapped again.”

Rian whispered in my ear and darkened my eyes with his palm. When I blinked a moment later, the palm that had been covering my vision had cleanly disappeared, and Rian’s figure was gone as well. As if he had melted into the darkness.

For a while, I stared blankly at the place where Rian had been, my mind gone.

When a cool breeze brushed past and I regained my senses, I could only silently scream while pulling at my hair.

Kneeling on the cold ground.

‘…… Ah… Aaah… Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!’

My favorite, the one I had longed for over a decade, had kissed me with lips that had been sleeping beneath his mask, if only for a moment.

On my forehead, which no one had ever permitted, nor planned to permit.

I became dizzy from the erupting body heat.

“This… bewitching… creature…”

I had firmly believed that I would be clearly imprinted in his memory…

Instead, I was utterly defeated by his counterattack, unable to resist.

A gentle lingering sensation teased me.

As if confirming that a seal had been stamped, permanently imprinted in my memories.