episode_0023

I held her hand.

It was truly a small and delicate hand.

How many tears have I stolen with these hands?

It breaks my heart to think of the pain you must have felt.

It was okay if they just cursed at me.

Love is heavy and there is no need for gifts.

Even if I didn’t like it, even though it was heartbreaking, I could accept it.

However, you put yourself down.

I didn’t do anything wrong, I was just born unlucky.

That’s why you blamed yourself, not others, for having to suffer so much.

okay.

Rather blame me.

If only I went back a little longer.

If I had been there to take care of you from a very young age, it wouldn’t have ended up like this.

Of course, I know it’s impossible.

But it felt like I was admitting that it was really my fault if I didn’t think about it this way.

You definitely haven’t done anything wrong.

To me, you are more precious than anything else.

I couldn’t bear to watch you belittle yourself like that.

So please… .

“… Please stop, please stop.”

I said that with my head down.

Because I couldn’t bring myself to look at her face.

The head of the sinner who tormented you for 10 years was so heavy.

I can feel Luna’s hands shaking slightly.

She was also quite embarrassed.

I guess I should apologize.

Luna must have mustered up the courage to speak up, but she ended up acting against etiquette.

Thinking about that, I slowly raised my head.

The blue letters embroidered in the air scatter and disappear.

Any traces of how you put yourself down are erased.

When I finally met her, she looked a little surprised.

His eyes were just slightly wide open, but there was a clear difference from his usual face.

‘You’re surprised too.’

It was really funny, I had such thoughts that did not fit the atmosphere.

Thanks to that, I calmed down a little and slowly removed the hand I was holding.

As the warmth I felt in my hands disappeared, I felt a little lonely.

Eventually, you, who was staring at me blankly, started moving your still hand.

[Are you okay? As expected, if you’re hurting somewhere… .]

“I’m fine. It’s just that it was difficult to watch Princess Luna belittle herself.”

[but… .]

“Was any of what you just said the princess’s wish?”

No one in the world would want to be born dumb, and no one would want to cause discomfort to others.

And the same goes for Luna.

Nothing happened regardless of Luna’s will.

But why is that a reason for her to be hurt?

If there is someone who says that being born itself is a sin, I will personally rip out that person’s mouth and kill him.

Luna answered my previous question by shaking her head.

The pen he received as a gift was held tightly in both hands as if it was precious.

“I don’t know what the princess thinks of herself. However, to me it just feels amazing. If I were in the same situation as the princess, I would definitely be frustrated and not be able to stand up.”

Yes, I am weak.

Unable to overcome the temptation of the entertainment district, he lived a life of pleasure and self-satisfaction.

But you weren’t like that.

Even though it hurt so much, didn’t you endure it well until now?

And it will hold up well in the future. Even if you fall, you will get up bravely.

I was always proud to have you as my wife.

So please.

“The princess is someone who deserves respect. So please, have confidence.”

If you have a hard time, you can always come to me.

Even if the whole world is your enemy, I will remain on your side.

That’s what I thought, but unfortunately it couldn’t come out of my mouth.

It was because it was so shameful.

If I say any more here, I won’t be able to control myself.

Nod-.

Luna’s head slowly moved up and down.

He still didn’t seem to understand, but it didn’t really matter.

Because I didn’t think that just a few words could open her heart.

But I have no doubt that someday, as time passes and I work harder, I will be able to thaw your frozen heart.

Even if you, who are exposed to sunlight, bloom at night, I am satisfied with that.

‘It’s awkward.’

The air around me was heavy as what had just happened was work.

The awkward atmosphere made it feel like the seat was somehow uncomfortable.

And it seemed to be the same for Luna.

His expression was still the same, but his gaze was directed downward, as if he had committed a sin.

Looking at her like that made me feel guilty.

I didn’t say anything wrong, but her being hurt is a separate issue.

In addition, hadn’t he done something that was against etiquette earlier?

I held her hand arbitrarily and spoke out before she could respond.

I said this with the hope that this atmosphere would lighten up just a little bit.

“Sorry for being rude.”

Luna’s downward gaze turns to me.

Luna shook her head left and right.

Let our two eyes cross for a moment.

She moved the pen belatedly.

Blue letters are embroidered in the air.

[I am more sorry. You probably didn’t come here to hear this, but I ended up being rude.]

“No. The princess must have had a lot of courage, but I am more sorry for ignoring her.”

[no. I’m more sorry… .]

“I am more… .”

We competed with each other to see who was more at fault.

Then, suddenly, this situation itself was so funny that I burst out laughing.

The awkward atmosphere had long since disappeared.

“The story will not end like this. Let’s pretend that neither of us did anything wrong.”

[but… .]

Have you not given up yet?

It felt refreshing because it was my first time seeing such stubbornness.

However, regardless of that, she has no intention of giving up if she continues the fight.

It was a moment when I was thinking ironically, what kind of crime should they bring up next?

After coloring in what she had previously written, she wrote new words next to it.

[■■■Good.]

I burst out laughing at her behavior.

It wasn’t because it was funny, but because it was so cute.

Perhaps she didn’t like my reaction, but the atmosphere I felt from Luna suddenly became cold.

Perhaps because it was a dull expression, the feeling felt even stronger.

“I didn’t mean to ridicule you.”

[Yes, I know.]

“Not really.”

[Didn’t I tell you that I knew?]

When I meet you, I feel like I’m becoming truly childish.

But it is so enjoyable that it cannot be compared to things like going to an entertainment district.

However, did you say that happy times always feel short?

We must have met early in the morning, but when I came to my senses, the sun was already setting.

It was time to break up with you.

Before getting on the carriage, I saw Luna one last time.

She was looking at me with a dull expression, as always.

After repeatedly clenching and unclenching my fist, I carefully stretched out my hand.

It was a very slow pace.

If someone saw this, they would beat their chest in frustration.

However, my heart was pounding because it seemed too fast for me to feel.

The hand moves forward and stops repeatedly.

After much hesitation, the place we arrived at was your hand.

I wanted to hold my palms face to face or clasp my hands like any other couple, but I couldn’t muster the courage to do that.

So I just held on carefully with four fingers.

However, I felt nervous and my mouth felt dry.

My saliva was swallowed by itself and my eyes wandered with nowhere to go.

However, it was nice to hold hands so much that I forgot all about it.

I loved the warmth flowing through my hand, and my heart fluttered at the illusion that I had become a special person with you.

I spoke with those feelings in mind.

“Princess Luna, we look forward to our next meeting.”

[Yes, I will also make plans for our next meeting.]

Luna moved the pen and wrote.

Our hands were still held together.

Some time after boarding the carriage and departing for the Duchy of David, I realized something too late.

‘You didn’t go to the garden.’

The garden is Luna’s favorite place.

I felt regretful that I couldn’t lead them there first.

But why didn’t you say let’s go to the garden?

Was the time I was with you that comfortable?

As I thought about that, the corners of my mouth naturally went up.

* * * * *

And that time.

Luna was also raising the corners of her mouth.

‘Smiling face.’

The corners of the mouth rise and the eyes draw an arc.

I practiced in the mirror, but the result of my forced smile was the worst.

A person who anyone would suspect to be the devil was reflected in the mirror.

‘As expected, it’s meaningless if it doesn’t come from the heart.’

I wanted to laugh like he did.

It seemed like it was still too much.