The Hand I Thought I Could Never Hold Again

Riding a wyvern through the sky was a rare and precious experience I’d never had before.

Clearly, just that in itself was a very meaningful experience, I think.

From the start, how many people in the world have ever ridden on a wyvern and flown through the sky?

,So… it showed signs of wanting you to ride on its back, so you rode it all the way to the duchy, is that it?”

,…Yes, Duke Espelt-nim.”

,Keuheup, what a masterpiece! In all my life, you’re the first invitees like you I’ve ever had.”

However, the embarrassment of being summoned before the Duke and explaining the whole story erased everything else.

That’s right. The red-haired man sitting before our eyes, who seemed so cheerful, was Wilhelm Espelt.

The current head of the ducal family, and the very person who invited us here.

After hearing our unbelievable and ridiculous explanation, he covered his mouth as if trying to hold back laughter, even clapping and exclaiming in admiration.

It wasn’t sarcasm, but a genuinely surprised reaction, which only made us feel more awkward.

,Father, this is no laughing matter. Do you know how surprised the residents were when a wyvern suddenly appeared out of nowhere in the duchy?”

Meanwhile, the eldest son of the ducal family, Georg Espelt, who witnessed this spectacle and personally brought us to the castle, was angry at his father’s behavior, but Duke Espelt remained carefree.

,But there was no real damage, was there? I heard the residents even came to watch, saying it was the first time they’d seen one so close?”

,Th-that’s the problem! If a large number of people gather, there’s a high possibility of accidents, isn’t there.”

,Haa, Georg. It’s good that you’re serious, unlike me, but you tend to overthink everything. We can just let it go.”

,You’re too easygoing, Father!”

Well, this is a situation I could never see in our family.

It seems Duke Espelt is a much more easygoing person than I thought.

Despite his son’s scolding, he doesn’t care at all and shrugs, and he’s so generous to us, who almost caused a big commotion in the territory.

Honestly, even I think that action was quite dangerous when I think about it again.

,Anyway, thank you for showing me a rare sight after a long time. What were your names again?”

,I am Kyle from the Lyaird family, Duke Espelt-nim.”

,I am Sylvia Eleanor.”

,Hmm, I see. You’re the one….”

As we bowed our heads and repeated our names, Duke Espelt’s eyes narrowed for a moment, and he nodded, looking at Sylvia.

It wasn’t the unpleasant look that those who often called Sylvia a witch would give. At least, that’s how I felt.

He just stared at Sylvia for a long time, as if trying to get a rough idea of what kind of person she was, whom he had only heard rumors about, and then opened his mouth with a gentle smile.

,Rumors aren’t very reliable after all. I shouldn’t say this in front of the people involved, but I heard some rumors about you two, so I was a little worried at first.”

The worry must have been about whether to let us into the duchy.

The invitation did say that one person could be accompanied, but I had to notify them in advance, so I sent Sylvia’s information to the duchy beforehand.

If Sylvia’s existence was a problem, he could have cut it off early on.

But the fact that he didn’t get caught up in rumors, worried about it, and allowed us in shows that this man is quite magnanimous.

,But now that I see your faces, you’re just a handsome young man and a beautiful young woman. You look very good together. Like a saintess and a trustworthy knight protecting her?”

,Thank you for your kind words.”

I was momentarily stunned by the cheesy expression that didn’t suit me, but I agreed with the expression of Sylvia as a saintess, so I thanked him with half agreement.

,Anyway, this is a place opened for young people like you, so enjoy your time here. If you have any inconveniences, let me know.”

,Yes, Duke Espelt-nim.”

,Thank you for your consideration.”

After exchanging greetings, we followed the guidance of Georg Espelt, who was standing next to us, and moved our feet.

He, who had been making a sulky expression in front of his father earlier, suddenly changed his attitude and bowed his head to us.

,I’m sorry for being so harsh in front of my father earlier. But as the next head of the family, I couldn’t help but worry about the safety of the residents.”

As expected of the same bloodline, both Sylvia and I were surprised by his actions of politely apologizing while fluttering his fiery red hair, just like his father.

,No, I understand. Rather, we were surprised because Duke Espelt-nim was too generous.”

,That’s right, Young Master Espelt-gun. It’s my fault for acting without thinking. I just thought I could ride a wyvern, and I didn’t think about the consequences….”

,I would have wanted to ride it too. I’m actually jealous of you. When I was young, I used to watch the wyverns flying around the duchy and wanted to ride on their backs.”

,I still feel the same way now.’ He gave a bitter smile and smoothly brushed off the situation, even defending Sylvia, who was blaming herself.

As expected, even if it doesn’t seem like it, his father’s bloodline remains intact.

You can tell just by the way he smoothly handles this potentially uncomfortable situation.

,Anyway, you can use these two rooms, so get some rest. When you see me next time, feel free to call me by my name.”

,Okay, thanks, Georg.”

,Thank you.”

After receiving the room 안내, we dispersed to our respective rooms to unpack our luggage and decided to meet again outside the castle.

From the start, the reason we came to the duchy two days early was to give Sylvia a new experience.

For today, I had no choice but to move my body busily for this purpose, even if I was a little tired.

＊＊＊

The Espelt Duchy was a very bustling place.

Perhaps because the eastern region is famous for its major specialties and natural products of the empire, there were especially many people who appeared to be traders.

The commercial district of the Lyaird County is also not small, but I had to fold my hands in front of this place.

Especially, whether they came from all regions, I could see people with unique clothes wrapped in cloth all over their bodies, or women who were almost naked.

,L-Lyaird Young Master-gun. Look over there!”

,…Young Lady-yang. You’ve been doing that for a while now, are you enjoying messing with me?”

But somehow, every time those women appeared, Sylvia suddenly pointed somewhere, and when I asked, ,What is it?’ she would whistle and turn her gaze away.

After repeating that about three times, I couldn’t just take it anymore, so I said to Sylvia as if scolding her, and she suddenly pouted her lips.

,It’s because of Lyaird Young Master-gun. Even if we’re not really in a relationship, you easily look at the scantily clad women when there’s another woman right next to you….”

After hearing the situation, I could understand to some extent.

Of course, it’s not jealousy, but it must have been a feeling of being unpleasant to look at.

From the start, it’s the same for everyone that it’s unpleasant to see a man gaping at scantily clad women.

However, there was something Sylvia was greatly mistaken about.

,You seem to be mistaken, but I didn’t look at those women. From the start, scantily clad women aren’t my type.”

,………Huh?”

Women wearing revealing clothes aren’t really my type.

From the start, what I was looking at was not those women, but the scenery of the street where various cultures coexist.

When I pointed that out, Sylvia blinked at me with a look that said, ,What did I just hear?’

,…Why are you so surprised?”

,Th-then what about what you said back then….”

,What words?”

What did I say to her?

No matter how much I retraced my memories, I couldn’t guess, so I expressed my doubt, and Sylvia blushed red and suddenly hid her face.

,Ah, no…! I think I misunderstood. I’m sorry, Lyaird Young Master-gun.”

,It’s not really something to be sorry about. It’s true that I acted in a way that could be seen that way.”

Then she hurriedly apologized, but I shook my head because it wasn’t really something to care about.

Since my gaze was directed there, there was no reason why she couldn’t have misunderstood.

Anyway, is the story over with this?

I was about to move my feet thinking that.

,Mom, look over there! That older sister’s eyes are different colors.”

,Shh, you can’t just say things like that.”

,As I heard, ominous eyes….”

,I know, right. I wonder why the Duke-nim invited a witch….”

,They’ll hear you.”

When I broke away from my own world and started hearing the surrounding stories, even the unpleasant content I didn’t want to hear naturally seeped into my ears.

Perhaps the news that Sylvia was coming had spread quite a bit in the duchy through some route, and even though they couldn’t openly send words of contempt because of the difference in status, they were busy gossiping behind her back.

I’m so used to the contempt poured out on me that I don’t even feel anything anymore, but when I think about the voices directed at her, I clenched my fists.

I feel like pulling out the tongues that are spouting nonsense.

,…I’m sorry, Lyaird Young Master-gun. I was careless. It would be better to find an eyepatch somewhere and wear it.”

Of course, she heard the sound too, so Sylvia gave a bitter smile and said as if it was all her fault.

Then, as she said, she tried to hurry her steps to find a merchant selling eyepatches.

Seize.

At that moment, my hand went out first without thinking.

Even though I knew it was a hand I shouldn’t grab carelessly, even though I knew it was a hand I shouldn’t touch again.

Because of the sudden thought that I couldn’t let her go like this, I reflexively reached out and grabbed her slender hand that seemed like it would break easily.

,L-Lyaird Young Master-gun…? Why are you holding my hand….”

,…….”

Paaat.

Toward her, who asked me the meaning of my actions with red-stained cheeks, I cast magic as it was without any particular answer and created a thin barrier around her.

It’s a soundproofing barrier that’s often used when exchanging secret stories.

Not only does it completely block the sound going out from the inside, but also the sound coming in from the outside, so with this, she won’t have to hear any more unnecessary sounds.

Sylvia’s eyes widened and she looked at me, realizing that the sound had disappeared from the world.

,…It’s okay, so please stay by my side while walking around here. Even if I can’t shut their mouths, I can do this much for you.”

,Ah….”

When I conveyed the words in a blunt tone as if trying to kill my emotions as much as possible, Sylvia’s gaze, which had been looking at me with admiration, turned downward.

Only then did I realize that I had been holding her hand all along, and I was startled and tried to let go.

Seize.

However, as if not allowing it, Sylvia grabbed my hand again and said with a brighter smile than ever.

,You said to stay by your side. What should I do if Lyaird Young Master-gun, who said those words, tries to let go of my hand?”

In the end, I couldn’t get away from Sylvia, who kept grabbing my hand with various excuses that day.

Once, she said that she might get lost in an unfamiliar place, so she couldn’t help it.

Once, she used the words I had said as an excuse.

Once, she said that her hands were cold because of the spring cold, so she couldn’t help it.

Even though I knew it was a very flimsy excuse, I didn’t let go of Sylvia’s hand.

Maybe even I was just using her flimsy excuses as a justification to hold this hand.