That Vexing Man

Tag-dak. Tag-dak.

The sound of hooves, echoing quietly in the silence, seeped into Sylvia’s ears at a steady rhythm.

Using it as white noise, Sylvia tilted her head and cast a glance across.

There, sitting on the plush seat of the carriage, was Kyle, his eyes tightly shut.

‘What on earth is Kyle thinking about?’

Perhaps it was because she couldn’t see his pupils through his firmly closed eyelids.

Sylvia found it particularly difficult to read his mind today, and she gave a bitter smile.

She hadn’t yet asked why he had suddenly decided to head to Kaintreche Castle.

No, she figured he probably wouldn’t answer even if she asked.

Sylvia could easily guess that at best, she’d get some vague excuse.

What’s truly funny in all this is that even knowing he constantly spouts lies as excuses, Sylvia blindly trusts him.

Of course, it’s not just because he’s the man she loves.

It was just that Kyle had a certain atmosphere about him that gave a strange sense of trust, something she couldn’t feel from anyone else.

A belief that even if the world abandoned her, somehow this man would stay by her side.

‘It’s a funny thing.’

Sylvia knew better than anyone that it was a ridiculous notion.

Unlike her, who had memories from before the regression and blindly loved him based on the bond they’d built since then, Kyle probably didn’t even give it a second thought.

Saying it like that, doesn’t it sound like he’s secretly crushing on her?

At that point, it’s not a delusion but a full-blown fantasy, Sylvia gave herself a self-deprecating smile.

“Young Master Lyaird, aren’t you being too quiet when it’s just the two of us? It’s rude to a lady, you know.”

And then, in an effort to break the silence, she spoke to Kyle, playing the playful young lady she usually was.

Kyle, who had been keeping his eyes closed, opened them and looked at her with a surprised expression, then blinked.

The truth was, he had been silent not because he was tired, nor to act like a brooding man.

It was simply because Sylvia was unusually quiet today, and her face seemed lost in thought, so he didn’t want to disturb her.

“…I apologize. I noticed the Princess hadn’t spoken a word, so I assumed you were tired and kept my mouth shut.”

“Huh? Ah…”

Sylvia wore a blank expression as he honestly revealed this and apologized.

In an instant, the events that had unfolded since getting into the carriage flashed through her mind like a slideshow.

Only then did Sylvia belatedly realize that she had been unusually silent for a long time after getting into the carriage today.

She also remembered that Kyle had actually tried to break the silence, uncharacteristically bringing up trivial topics several times.

‘You idiot!’

Realizing all this, Sylvia mentally grabbed the head of the tiny Sylvia figurine in her heart and smacked it hard, blaming herself.

It seemed that she had become sentimental because she had talked a lot about her family when she was talking to him before the carriage departed.

Okay, that was fine.

After all, a person can’t just spew words from their mouth like a waterfall all day long.

But to keep her mouth shut and then act like it was Kyle’s fault.

Moreover, it wasn’t like he hadn’t tried to break the silence, so Sylvia couldn’t help but feel even more ashamed.

“I-I’m sorry. Young Master Lyaird. Now that I think about it, I was being too quiet. And then I blamed you…”

“It’s nothing. I was worried that I might have upset you by asking unnecessary questions.”

Kyle gave a faint smile as he watched her, as if she would have jumped up and bowed deeply if it weren’t for the moving carriage.

That much nagging wasn’t exactly new.

From the start, he had always taken Sylvia’s little jokes or grumbles as such.

“That’s not true. Please don’t ever think that.”

Meanwhile, Sylvia, who had unintentionally made him misunderstand, waved her hands and shook her head vigorously at the same time.

Of course, she had been feeling sentimental, but she wasn’t exactly upset.

Rather, if she had to choose, she was happy that she had been able to tell him her story.

“That’s a relief. More than anything, I’m relieved that I didn’t upset the Princess.”

“……”

Kyle, who was finally relieved by her answer, nodded with a gentle smile, not his usual aloof expression.

The smile of the handsome man, who always seemed cold, was more destructive than she had thought, and Sylvia’s eyes fluttered like a goldfish as she faced it head-on.

And then, suddenly, she collapsed weakly into her seat as if her strength had given out.

“…You’re so unfair, Young Master.”

“Pardon?”

“Just know that. Hmph.”

She started to grumble, trying to hide her flushed cheeks.

Always with that ‘nothing matters’ look in his eyes, yet why is he so careful about my feelings?

The gap made Sylvia feel a ticklish sensation in her heart, as if it were telling her that she was the only precious being to him.

‘If you’re going to be prickly, then be prickly all the time. If you’re going to be nice, then be nice all the time. Just pick one attitude.’

What’s he trying to achieve by making a woman who’s already head over heels for him fall even harder?

Sylvia stared out the window, muttering complaints under her breath, not knowing who they were directed at.

Because she didn’t want to show him that expression right now.

***

For some reason, Sylvia hadn’t tried to look at me at all during the carriage ride.

I carefully asked if I had offended her, but she would point out the window, saying things like, ‘Wow! A squirrel!’ and blatantly change the subject.

Moreover, there was no way there could have been a squirrel, considering that we were passing through the heart of the earldom’s city center at the time.

Well, I guess one or two squirrels could pass through the middle of the city.

I decided to assume that they weren’t full from acorns and had come to the city to steal something.

Anyway, after the little commotion, we arrived at Kaintreche Castle, and there was an unexpected figure waiting in front of the castle gate.

“M-Mother…!?”

“Sylvia, did you have a good trip? Hehe, you seem to have gained a little weight in the meantime.”

That’s right. It was none other than Sylvia’s mother, the mistress of the Eleanor family, Mrs. Eleanor, dressed in an elegant dress.

Her manner of speaking and appearance were just like Sylvia’s, and her youthful appearance, which didn’t even look like she was in her 40s, made me momentarily wonder if Sylvia had a hidden older sister.

The only slight difference was that Sylvia’s hair was almost silver, while her hair was somewhat weak and closer to white, adding to her sickly appearance.

“Y-You’re not feeling well, so there was no need to come all the way out here…”

“How could I stay cooped up when a guest is coming? Since Creed-nim is away, I should at least play the role of the hostess.”

I see. Creed Eleanor is away from the castle for a while.

I secretly cheered at the thought that it was a good thing and carefully stepped forward to greet her.

“I apologize for the late greeting, Mrs. Eleanor. I am Kyle Lyaird.”

“Nice to meet you, Young Master Lyaird. I heard you’re dating my daughter?”

“Yes, I am, though I am lacking.”

The superficial relationship was correct, so I nodded indifferently, and she smiled, looking me up and down.

“Hehe, you’re a colder man than I thought. I didn’t know my daughter’s taste was like this.”

“M-Mother…! Please don’t say unnecessary things.”

By the way, this is the first time I’ve ever seen Sylvia so flustered.

No matter how mischievous she is, she must be weak in front of her mother, who gave birth to her.

As I watched her anxiously trying to stop Mrs. Eleanor with a curious look, she met my eyes and turned her head away as if she was sulking.

It seems she found me quite annoying for standing by and watching.

“Please come in quickly. It’s been a while since I’ve had a guest visit me, so I’m getting excited and forgetting my age.”

By the way, it’s quite a disconnect to hear her mention her age with that face.

To exaggerate a little, she looks like she could put her arm around me and Sylvia and walk around with us.

On the one hand, I thought it was truly a blessing that Sylvia had inherited her mother’s blood so strongly, and I followed Mrs. Eleanor.

Generally, people who are physically weak have a hard time supporting their bodies, so they naturally tend to hunch over, but I couldn’t see any of that in Mrs. Eleanor.

Perhaps Sylvia’s habit of always keeping her back straight and maintaining an elegant posture was also a habit she learned from her mother.

“Your mother is a very beautiful person.”

“Isn’t she? She’s my pride and joy.”

I don’t know if it’s impolite to evaluate her mother’s face, but when I honestly expressed my feelings, Sylvia shrugged her shoulders as if she was boasting.

She looks quite different from when she talks about her father, Creed Eleanor.

That might mean that her parents each have different meanings for Sylvia.

Kkuuk.

“…Princess?”

As I was thinking that and walking, I felt something pressing down hard on my back from behind.

When I turned my head slightly, I saw Sylvia pressing down on my back with her two thumbs alternately, like a cat, with a sulky expression on her face.

“…The more I think about it, the more resentful I feel. You’ve never said anything like that to me.”

“……?”

Something like that, are you perhaps referring to me saying that Mrs. Eleanor is beautiful?

Now that I think about it, I got an earful for not saying something similar at the social party.

Then I have no choice but to try this time.

“When I said that your mother was beautiful, it was only because she resembled the Princess. I was lacking in my words.”

“Y-Yes, yes…! Then me too…?”

“Yes, of course I think you’re beautiful. I have eyes, you know.”

Sylvia, startled by my answer, stared blankly at me, then suddenly stopped grabbing my back and ran ahead, approaching Mrs. Eleanor.

“Sylvia, what’s wrong? Why did you suddenly run over here?”

“Ah, it’s nothing, Mother. I just wanted to walk with you.”

“Hehe, even though you’ve grown up so much, you’re still a crybaby.”

And then she made a very poor excuse and never came back to my side.

Was my way of praising her bad?