'Two social gatherings are overlapping. Which one should I go to first?'
Julia headed to her bedroom, thinking about her schedule.
Today, she finished the magic treatment of the necklace with Boris, had tea time with Iris, and finished all the other tasks without fail, and it was already this time.
"Your Majesty."
"Good job."
Click.
The maid bowed politely and opened the door for her. Julia stumbled into the bedroom, lost in thought as she reflected on her busy day.
'I need to wash up first. And then I'll prepare something to say to Mion later...'
Julia belatedly raised her gaze as she headed to the connected dressing room. But.
"...Mion?"
In front of the bed with the canopy down, Endymion was lying on the long chair, Recamier, which was set up for resting.
"Oh, when did you come?"
She thought he'd be later today because he said he was going on an inspection tour! Julia asked cautiously, stuttering in surprise.
But there was no answer. Upon closer inspection, Endymion was sleeping comfortably on his back.
"..."
Julia studied the silhouette carefully from below.
His long, sturdy legs stretched out across the velvet. His broad shoulders were laid forward, showing at a glance how strong and solid his physique was.
At the same time, the face with his eyes closed was so beautiful that it felt disconnected from his body.
Julia hesitated for a moment and then stood in front of him.
Judging from the white poet shirt and black pants he was wearing, he seemed to have washed up. He smelled clean and neat as if he had changed his perfume.
'...'
A solid upper body was visible through the loose-fitting Poet shirt. He must have been so tired that he hadn't even tied the laces of his shirt properly, revealing a hint of his chest muscles.
Julia had a habit of tying the cravat, so she reached out and straightened it without thinking. Then, when her fingertips brushed against a tight muscle, she came to her senses.
"Oh."
Without realizing it, Julia noticed and quickly bit his hand. Fortunately, Endymion was still asleep.
'Was the inspection very tiring?'
Julia glanced over and sat down carefully next to him. Then she could see Endymion's face closer, his eyes closed and breathing evenly.
She heard that his workload had been increasing recently, so his face had become sharper. His closed eyes were beautiful, but he had a cold air about him, and his lips were tightly shut.
The jawline that reminded me of a wild beast seemed to have become even sharper. It was like seeing a lone leader wolf walking in the dim dawn.
He was always as soft as melted ice, and this was the first time she had seen him so sharp without any filter.
Julia muttered, feeling her heartbeat speed up a little as if she surprisingly liked this too.
"You're handsome."
"..."
A clear voice flowed through the quiet room. Julia flinched as it seemed so loud. However, she became curious as Endymion still did not move.
'I know you get more handsome every day.'
It's so harmless and warm to me, but what would it feel like otherwise?
A desire to know even his new appearance slowly rose up in her mind. Julia cautiously reached out her hand and placed it on Endymion's sleeping face.
Thin white fingers brushed against his cheek, chin, lips, nose, and eyes in turn.
Still, he didn't wake up, so Julia let herself go and started touching him. He looked incredibly cold, but the temperature at his fingertips was just as she knew.
"Are you always going to be the same?"
A relieved Julia let out a deep sigh as she whispered.
Whether he was a friend or a man, why did she try to differentiate between them? In the end, they were the same person.
"Ah. It's just like when I was little."
Julia, who had been chewing over her reflections for a while, let out a small exclamation.
She thought he had grown up to be a manly man, shedding all his childish traits, but his collarbone was still the same. The center was sunken and gathered just before it stretched out like an eagle's wings.
Interestingly enough, the curve fit her fingers perfectly, so much so that Julia often played with it as a child.
'Mion was indifferent, wondering what was so strange about it. Then, when I accidentally pressed a little higher, he coughed.'
Endymion at that time was a bit colder and more reserved and had a playful side.
It was a trivial thing to others, but Julia was happy. She could see that he had not completely changed, but had grown up while still retaining his childhood.
Julia absentmindedly loosened the laces of Poet's shirt again and touched it. She felt the firm collarbone beneath the soft skin. Julia thought as she touched it as if she was possessed.
'I just found out you're one person. Are you trying to become someone else now?'
Julia became gloomy again as the thought of the honey-marine whipped cream came to mind. She was upset that Endymion had been secretly distancing himself from her for the past few days.
She knew that most married royals and nobles lived like that. If that was the ideal adult and couple he wanted, then there was nothing she could do about it...
Julia traced each of his collarbones with her wistful hands, muttering as she did so.
"I like it the way it is now. You don't like it? It's not good to be the way you are..."
Ah.
Julia let out a short scream before she could finish her words. Before she knew it, her waist was gently held and she was being gently dragged, looking straight at the languid eyes.
"Ah, Mion. Awake..."
And then their lips met. Julia was startled but soon closed her eyes. It was a reaction that had become quite familiar and habitual by now.
The kiss was just like usual. The warmth, the feeling, the stimulation.
Julia was naturally immersed in an ecstatic sensation but realized too late.
'You didn't hear what I was talking to myself earlier, did you?'
Suddenly, she felt nervous. Julia slowly opened her eyes, unlike before, when she usually kept them tightly shut. To check Endymion's reaction.
'Ah.'
But then their eyes met.
The languid walls stared at her intently, as if recording every single reaction.
"Now, just a moment."
Feeling like her true feelings had been discovered, Julia was embarrassed and pushed Endymion away.
Fortunately, the lips that had been digging persistently withdrew obediently. She fumbled, covering her lips which were just beginning to heat up with one hand.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"To see how you feel."
The slightly muffled low-mid tones sounded dizzying. Julia's cheeks flushed hotly, and then suddenly a chill ran down her spine.
Wait, you saw my face when we kissed?
"By any chance, did you do it with your eyes open before too...?"
No, no. No, no. I've seen you always close your eyes when you start!
But the earnest wish was soon shattered.
"Sometimes."
Endymion blinked in agreement. Julia's face turned pale.
'I didn't even know that, and during that time...!'
Ah. Julia, who was hastily recalling how she had reacted during that time, was in despair. She was so embarrassed that she wanted to faint.
At that moment, Endymion slowly approached her again. Before she knew it, their lips were naturally about to touch again.
'Ah.'
Julia, struggling with extreme embarrassment, involuntarily took a step back. Then, she suddenly realized something.
If you are a mature and calm adult, you should never leave this out!
'I don't want to look young again.'
Julia pretended not to notice her heart pounding like it was going to war. And she awkwardly lowered her eyes with a stiff face, trying hard to suppress her embarrassment.
"..."
But suddenly, the breath that had been tickling her lips disappeared. The shadow that had been cast over her face also disappeared.
'Huh?'
Julia, puzzled, reflexively raised her gaze. And then she witnessed a shocking scene.
"Uh, Mion?"
"...Julia."
Endymion was weeping. His beautiful blue eyes were shaking, and moisture was pooling under his quivering eyelashes.
"Why, why?!"
That's ridiculous. Mion is crying!
Julia sat down in shock without realizing it. The distance between the two that had been distant for a moment became closer again. At the same time, the clear water that had been in his blue eyes rolled away.
Drop.
"Oh, what should I do? Mion, are you okay? Why are you crying? What the heck is going on...!"
"I think I'm going crazy because I like you."
A locked voice whispered. Julia, who was reaching out in great bewilderment, could not believe her ears.
"What...?"
A stream of water fell from his blue eyes and soaked Endymion's face. Julia stared blankly as the tear-stained beauty rested his cheek on her hand.
"I love you so much, I can't help it."
The voice was lower than usual. It was calm, but it felt so languid that it made her stomach tickle.
'Oh, what should I do? I didn't expect this!!'
Julia felt her pale face turn bright red and didn't know what to do. This confession was much more intense than before.
How on earth is a mature adult supposed to react in a situation like this?!
"I know you like me as your childhood friend."
Endymion said with a wet face.
"Oh, yeah. I like it, really."
Julia answered urgently. Fortunately, her face was red, but her voice came out quite normally.
'Phew, thank goodness. It must have been natural, right?'
But at that moment, a drop of water rolled down from his other eye as well. Now Endymion's handsome face was completely soaked with sorrow.
Julia looked surprised and worried and tried to wipe away his tears.
"If you say to stay like this now, does that mean to stay like when you were young?"
Julia sighed inwardly, her voice heavy with shock. You heard everything, my monologue!
"That's...right."
What if you're disappointed in me? If you think I'm still acting like a child.
Julia was furious, but since she had been caught, she agreed for now. But, fearing that Endymion would be disappointed in her, she opened her mouth hurriedly.
"Hey, Mion, I am!"
"I'm sorry. I can't do it."
Yank.
Endymion pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her shoulder. Julia, who had been hugged in surprise, opened her eyes wide.
"Hey, Mion? Why are you like this..."
"I like you so much, I can't possibly treat you like you were when I was younger."
Sudden tears, a sorrowful voice. The overwhelming sadness made her heart beat faster.
Julia was at a loss as to what to do in this strange situation she had never experienced before and then tilted her head slightly.
'But what does it mean?'
You asked me if you looked good when you were young, and then you said you couldn't treat me like you did back then?
The conversation didn't feel like a conversation. Still, it was a desperate confession, so Julia wrapped her arms around Endymion's waist with her cheeks flushed.
"Yeah. I like you too. So don't cry and just...."
Julia patted him on the back, thinking that she didn't know why he was crying while confessing, but that she should at least try to comfort him.
"I can't help it. Even if you think you're sick of me."
"...Uh?"
"Because I'm already bigger than when I was young. I want you more every day, and even when I hold you like this, I feel thirsty because I want to have you more."
Endymion hugged her tighter. Then, as if he didn't want to let her go, he pleaded in a wet voice.
"I'll do better. I'll endure it as much as I can so that you don't feel burdened. Even if you hate me and get sick of me like this, please stay by my side."
It was a confession as sad and romantic as a romance novel. It was enough to melt even a person with a heart made of iron without asking any questions.
But surprisingly, the realistic Julia broke the mood without asking any questions.
"Wait a minute, what does that mean?"
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment