“...Please sit down instead of standing like that.”
He barely made an offer, but he spoke in a faceless tone as if he were dealing with a stranger. It was proof that Franz was just as nervous as Judith. Judith, who had been blinking and staring at the empty bed, sat down on the edge first.
“Please sit down too.”
Franz, who had been standing there even after being told to sit down first, quietly sat down on the opposite edge only after hearing Judith's words. The two people were sitting in the same posture as if reflected in a mirror, with the center of the flatbed between them. Their backs were turned at an angle so they couldn't see each other's faces.
Suddenly, Judith burst into laughter. Franz turned his head to her with a blank expression, not knowing why she was smiling.
“Why are you doing that?”
“Just like that. Don’t you think it's funny?”
“It’s funny... This situation?”
"Yes. We are as far apart as water and oil. Like people who shouldn’t mix with each other.”
Franz then looked embarrassed and smoothed out his still wet hair. The bed on the side where he was sitting became heavier. Just as the bead rolled in a tilted direction, Judith naturally turned her body and climbed onto the bed.
The other person's scent wafted through the thin chemise. There is not even a cloudy moonlight today. There were only a few candles lit on the nightstand next to the bed. Are the stars on a summer night shining faintly beyond the curtained window? But it was something he couldn't see here.
Judith smiled. Then a similar smile appeared on Franz's lips. Judith stretched out her hand to the side of his face, which seemed to be reddened by the candlelight, and after looking at it for a moment, she carefully touched his cheek. Franz, who was stroking her soft face, sat closer to Judith.
“I feel strange trying to sleep anywhere other than the Argent Palace. For some reason, it doesn’t feel real that I’m going to be staying here for a long time, not just for today.”
“If you wish, Argent Palace will remain empty. If you think it would be more comfortable to sleep there, you can use it whenever you want.”
A playful expression appeared on Judith's face.
“Then you will be sleeping here alone?”
“Did you plan on kicking me out if I told you I was following you?”
Judith burst out laughing at the answer that came out without hesitation. At the same time, she felt full of satisfaction from the warmth of his palm caressing her cheek.
“Now you really...”
Judith, whose words were a little slurred, gently squeezed Franz's hand that was touching her cheek. Even though she was clenching, his fingers slipped about two joints out of Judith's hand. The difference seemed to make her heart flutter again.
“You have become the Crown Prince of Rotair.”
“You became the Crown Princess.”
Franz answered immediately. Although it was a title he had heard since the founding of the country, hearing it from her mouth somehow felt unfamiliar. Judith said.
“When you call me that, I feel... It doesn't feel real. It’s also awkward.”
“Even though you are the one who created this result?”
Judith looked at him with a slightly perplexed expression. She knew it wasn't his intention to criticize or be sarcastic, but it sounded vaguely ambiguous.
"That... What do you mean?”
“What do you mean? What do you really mean by this question?”
“Perhaps you... Do you think I flattered His Majesty and participated in the Crown Prince’s coronation?”
At that moment, Franz saw Judith's eyes shaking violently. He was startled, thinking that it might have made her cry, but when he looked again, he saw that it was only the shadow of a flickering candlelight. Judith did not cry. But she didn't seem relieved. He smiled as if sighing and gently squeezed Judith's small hand.
“I didn’t mean it that way. Why do you think that? Do you think I’m deaf enough to be swayed by rumors like that?”
His strangely softened face came closer as if making a secret confession. Judith, who suddenly felt embarrassed, slightly looked away and answered.
“I didn’t think so. But... I was worried that you might misunderstand me.”
“You are a really strange person, then and now.”
What does that mean, Judith tried to ask. But it couldn't be done. Before she could open her mouth, Franz's arms wrapped around her waist. As he pulled her lightly lifted body into his arms, he ended up straddling her thighs like a child. Judith's round ears turned bright red.
“You do things that no one would think of, without blinking, and are afraid of things that no one would be afraid of.”
“Your Highness, I...”
“What am I to you?”
In his twenty-three years of life, he had never seen anyone like Judith. The love he felt from his parents, the camaraderie with friends and brothers, or the wet hatred that was like mud in a swamp were all the emotions he knew.
This feeling of fear, excitement, deep concern, and affection mixed together was something Franz had never experienced. Even with all his complex emotions, Judith was the only one who looked straight at him.
He had asked Judith that question before. At that time, the two of them were crying, and there was nowhere to lean on in peace other than each other's shoulders. Like leaves floating on a river that had swelled violently due to heavy rain, there was nothing they could do but hold on to each other tightly, fearful of their fate and not knowing where they would end up.
Judith's expression as she was looking at him softened a little more.
“You...”
“...”
“You are the person I love.”
Franz seemed to be quietly considering Judith's answer. His lips moved, the corners of his mouth moved slightly as if he was going to laugh, and then he lowered hia head slightly and gave more strength to his arms that hugged her.
“Because I love you, I can do anything, I can worry, I can feel safe..."
“You...”
“...”
“You are the person I love.”
Franz seemed to be quietly considering Judith's answer. His lips moved, the corners of his mouth moved slightly as if he was going to laugh, and then he lowered hia head slightly and gave more strength to his arms that hugged her.
“Because I love you, I can do anything, I can worry, I can feel safe..."
“It is like that.”
Judith's arm gently hugged Franz's shoulder. They were light, like fluttering flower petals or feathers blown by the wind, but the warmth of them crossing each other was extremely vivid. As if it were a raised knot that could be touched with one's hand.
Their body temperatures, which had been close enough to pass by, became even closer. She felt like she could even feel her heart beating beneath her skin, which was only covered with a thin layer of fabric.
However, the moment their lips met, she could not feel anything. They couldn't hear any sound other than each other's breathing. There was no moon today, and she couldn't even see the faint twinkling starlight, but a lover was kissing under the translucent curtain of night.
The shy kiss ended for a while. While Franz was biting her slightly moist lower lip, Judith could hardly take her eyes off his face. It was a small movement that was not calculated and random, but for some reason, it was so alluring that she couldn't bear to keep looking at it.
“If it’s awkward to call you Crown Princess, should I call you something else?”
"How?"
“I could call you pretty girl like Rogero often does.”
If Rogero had been here, it was a joke that would have elevated Franz from a 'piece of wood' to 'a piece of wood that was barely human.' Judith, whose shoulders had stiffened in shock at the unexpected expression, lowered her head and smiled.
“I don’t think either of those words suits me.”
Instead of answering or denying, Franz bit Judith's lips at an angle. The eyelashes that grew densely along the tightly closed eyes trembled. The trembling that started with Judith soon moved to Franz and became a cautious gesture. Like a fire that spreads silently, like water just before high tide that quietly builds up and wets your ankles before you know it.
As their gently pressed lips brushed together again and again, he slowly caressed Judith's back with a very careful hand.
It was as cool as freshly fallen snow, and at the same time as warm as a cradle, and when he touched it, wondering if it was a prominent skeleton, he could feel its soft skin, as if it would stain his hands. It was a sensation that was difficult to describe in any language Franz knew. It was sad because it was so bright and uncontrollable like the light scattering before his eyes.
"Your Highness."
After kissing for a long time, Judith finally ran out of breath and called out to him as if pleading. At that moment, a change occurred in Franz's body. Both people's faces turned red at the same time due to the distinct heat that they could not hide or pretend not to notice. However, when Judith, who felt embarrassed, unconsciously tried to pull away from him, Franz's arms wrapped around her waist even more tightly and did not let her go.
“Why am I calling you? Beautiful young lady.”
“...If you’re going to make fun of me like that, I’ll call you something else instead of it.”
Franz almost burst out laughing at her clumsy imitation. He covered his lips and barely managed to hold back a burst of laughter before placing his forehead on Judith's shoulder. His feverish lips tickled the area near her prominent clavicle bone.
“I’m not making fun of you, but I’m a bit curious about the idea of calling you something else. Can I hear what you’re going to call me?”
Judith's back straightened slightly as if she was tense at the feeling of lips running over her thin skin.
"Hmm… Now, I’ll call you handsome master.”
This time he couldn't hold back his laughter. When Franz lowered his head and laughed, shaking his shoulders, Judith covered her mouth and turned her head away as if pouting.
“Who on earth did you hear say that to whom?”
“That’s what Cheraan calls when she makes fun of Bartholomew.”
“Ah, so you want to make fun of me.”
"Yes? No, that's not it...”
This isn't it. Judith unconsciously bit her lip. She told this story because she wanted to see Franz as embarrassed as she was, but somehow things turned out strangely.
“Call me.”
“... Yes?"
“Didn’t you say you would call me that? I'm a handsome master. Call me, I want to hear it.”
At that point, Judith's face could not have turned any redder. Franz's unusually sly smile was the kind that could not be resisted.
Judith's lips moved quietly, but then they clenched as if biting into something sour. At that moment, Franz felt the weight of two palms pushing on his shoulders. The moment the bodies fell without resistance and overlapped without the slightest gap, the candle went out with a whooshing sound. It was a hasty breathing.
Judith's arm gently hugged Franz's shoulder. They were light, like fluttering flower petals or feathers blown by the wind, but the warmth of them crossing each other was extremely vivid. As if it were a raised knot that could be touched with one's hand.
Their body temperatures, which had been close enough to pass by, became even closer. She felt like she could even feel her heart beating beneath her skin, which was only covered with a thin layer of fabric.
However, the moment their lips met, she could not feel anything. They couldn't hear any sound other than each other's breathing. There was no moon today, and she couldn't even see the faint twinkling starlight, but a lover was kissing under the translucent curtain of night.
The shy kiss ended for a while. While Franz was biting her slightly moist lower lip, Judith could hardly take her eyes off his face. It was a small movement that was not calculated and random, but for some reason, it was so alluring that she couldn't bear to keep looking at it.
“If it’s awkward to call you Crown Princess, should I call you something else?”
"How?"
“I could call you pretty girl like Rogero often does.”
If Rogero had been here, it was a joke that would have elevated Franz from a 'piece of wood' to 'a piece of wood that was barely human.' Judith, whose shoulders had stiffened in shock at the unexpected expression, lowered her head and smiled.
“I don’t think either of those words suits me.”
Instead of answering or denying, Franz bit Judith's lips at an angle. The eyelashes that grew densely along the tightly closed eyes trembled. The trembling that started with Judith soon moved to Franz and became a cautious gesture. Like a fire that spreads silently, like water just before high tide that quietly builds up and wets your ankles before you know it.
As their gently pressed lips brushed together again and again, he slowly caressed Judith's back with a very careful hand.
It was as cool as freshly fallen snow, and at the same time as warm as a cradle, and when he touched it, wondering if it was a prominent skeleton, he could feel its soft skin, as if it would stain his hands. It was a sensation that was difficult to describe in any language Franz knew. It was sad because it was so bright and uncontrollable like the light scattering before his eyes.
"Your Highness."
After kissing for a long time, Judith finally ran out of breath and called out to him as if pleading. At that moment, a change occurred in Franz's body. Both people's faces turned red at the same time due to the distinct heat that they could not hide or pretend not to notice. However, when Judith, who felt embarrassed, unconsciously tried to pull away from him, Franz's arms wrapped around her waist even more tightly and did not let her go.
“Why am I calling you? Beautiful young lady.”
“...If you’re going to make fun of me like that, I’ll call you something else instead of it.”
Franz almost burst out laughing at her clumsy imitation. He covered his lips and barely managed to hold back a burst of laughter before placing his forehead on Judith's shoulder. His feverish lips tickled the area near her prominent clavicle bone.
“I’m not making fun of you, but I’m a bit curious about the idea of calling you something else. Can I hear what you’re going to call me?”
Judith's back straightened slightly as if she was tense at the feeling of lips running over her thin skin.
"Hmm… Now, I’ll call you handsome master.”
This time he couldn't hold back his laughter. When Franz lowered his head and laughed, shaking his shoulders, Judith covered her mouth and turned her head away as if pouting.
“Who on earth did you hear say that to whom?”
“That’s what Cheraan calls when she makes fun of Bartholomew.”
“Ah, so you want to make fun of me.”
"Yes? No, that's not it...”
This isn't it. Judith unconsciously bit her lip. She told this story because she wanted to see Franz as embarrassed as she was, but somehow things turned out strangely.
“Call me.”
“... Yes?"
“Didn’t you say you would call me that? I'm a handsome master. Call me, I want to hear it.”
At that point, Judith's face could not have turned any redder. Franz's unusually sly smile was the kind that could not be resisted.
Judith's lips moved quietly, but then they clenched as if biting into something sour. At that moment, Franz felt the weight of two palms pushing on his shoulders. The moment the bodies fell without resistance and overlapped without the slightest gap, the candle went out with a whooshing sound. It was a hasty breathing.
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