Even as they briskly walked down the hallway, Calix didn't let go of her hand. Odelia, guided by his hand, walked in unison, her pace pulsating.
The sound of footsteps echoing through the hallway, the sight of maids bowing their heads in silence, even the heavy, refined texture of the air—Odelia was vaguely aware of it all.
But what was more striking than that was Calix's back as he walked ahead, holding onto her wrist.
Her gaze continued to wander beyond Calix's broad shoulders. A glimpse of his profile revealed a deep anger.
He said nothing, and the silence made the situation feel even more unfamiliar. She doesn't know why, but maybe she's pissed him off again.
After walking like that for a while, Odelia suddenly took a deep breath.
“Uh, Your Highness.”
Calix didn't look back, as if he couldn't even hear her.
"Yes."
"..."
"Ha... I do!"
"..."
“Your Highness, it's hurt...!"
Only then did Calix stand still.
He slowly turned his head and looked down at her hand. Odelia's wrist was swollen and red from how hard he had gripped it.
Calix returned to his quarters, rummaged through the medicine cabinet, and carefully took out the ointment.
After hesitating for a moment, he knelt before Odelia, who was sitting quietly on the sofa.
When he slightly lifted Odelia's sleeve, the handprint that had now turned blue was clearly visible.
Calix carefully lifted her swollen, red wrist and examined it. His expression was more apologetic than affectionate.
Even his gesture of lightly covering the ointment with his fingertips was tinged with hesitation. His hand, which cautiously touched Odelia's wrist, moved slowly, as if gliding.
Odelia let out a small gasp without realizing it, at the sensation of his hands spreading the product on her skin with a thin pressure like a single breath.
“Are you hurt?”
"That's not it..."
"...I'm sorry."
He, too, seemed visibly bewildered by the weight of emotion he carried on his fingertips, leaving a scar on Odelia.
"...I didn't mean to hold on this hard."
Calix, who had been silent for a while, raised his head and reached out his hand toward Odelia's face.
A large palm gently touched Odelia's cheek. Odelia, her head raised by the careful grasp, realized that Calix's face was gradually approaching hers.
She closed her eyes tightly, forgetting to breathe, as if she was about to touch something, when something warm brushed past my cheek.
A soft and calm feeling, as thin and careful as a rainy night.
'...What is it?'
Odelia slowly opened her eyes and saw Calix carefully rubbing her cheek with his ointment-soaked fingertips.
Only then did Odelia realize she'd been slapped on the cheek by the Empress's ring-wearing hand. It hurt a lot, considering it was a slap from that delicate wrist.
As if sharp metal had passed quickly by, Odelia's cheek was cut thinly and long, and a little blood was pooling on it.
Calix quietly added ointment to it and then opened his mouth.
"Are you an idiot?"
"...yes?"
Odelia blinked quickly at the completely unexpected words.
"Are you an idiot? You're just getting hit."
"...Then..."
"Do you think it makes sense that a guy who can dodge enemy arrows can't avoid the touch of a woman who wears a ring and drinks tea all day long?"
I'm confused. Am I getting scolded right now?
What did I do wrong to deserve this? Then why should I avoid the Empress's beating? If I avoid it, it's considered blasphemy! Odelia began to feel aggrieved.
"Besides, what if you come right away when she calls you? You should have at least discussed it with me."
"But..."
"Why are you acting so recklessly?"
Odelia eventually exploded at Calix, who kept talking about himself without even giving her a chance to speak.
"No, then you're not going?! I thought I'd have to go someday, so I came here thinking I'd get hit first! Seriously, you're being too harsh! Why do you keep scolding me?"
Calix looked at Odelia, flustered by her slurred words. He then raised both hands as if to calm her down.
"No, I didn't mean to scold you..."
"It's true that you're scolding me! Why do you say things like, 'You're stupid and an idiot'? It's sad enough to be hit."
With those words, the emotions that had been surging within her suddenly came crashing down. With a sigh, tears fell.
Like a dam breaking, the tears that had once burst began to flow quietly down the ointment-covered cheeks.
It felt like all the moments she had held back were bursting out.
The experience of being summoned by the Empress, being led down a hallway without saying a word, the unfamiliar silence, the feeling of being constantly scolded, her heart that had been strangely throbbing since before
All together, it seems like it was built up just for this moment.
What good would it do to know that she liked him? She had a thousand years to find a marriage partner, and he was the Crown Prince. In that case, she wanted to at least do well in her given role as a subject. That was all.
Odelia burst into tears.
Calix flinched in surprise at the sound of the cry.
"Odelia, why are you crying?"
Calix's fidgeting hands floated in the air, and then he quickly took a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her.
Odelia snatched the handkerchief away with a sob, buried her face in it, and began to sob.
A small, heavy sob spread across the handkerchief, as if all the sorrow pent up in her heart was spilling out onto the fabric.
How can I run to Odelia? Calix kept thinking to himself.
He didn't know she'd be like this. Crying is shocking enough, but to cry like this? To throw it away. What can he possibly do?
"...I didn't call you an idiot, Odellia.
“That’s it...!"
Ah. That's not what he meant. In the end, Calix let out a groan in response, then slowly reached out and began patting Odelia's back.
"I'm sorry, I was too harsh. I didn't mean to scold you or tease you. I just..."
"..."
"...I was worried, so I did that. I made a mistake. So don't be wrong, Odelia."
Calix muttered softly, carefully patting her sobbing back.
This was his first time trying to comfort a woman, so even the simple act of patting her on the back felt incredibly awkward. His fingertips tensed and then withdrew, and his timing was off, so he awkwardly raised and lowered his hand two or three more times.
Then Odelia sobbed and muttered.
"Your Highness... if you hit me like that, my back will hurt."
“Oh, really?”
Calix raised his head in surprise and hurriedly pulled his hand away.
After a few minutes of awkward patting, Odelia stopped crying and sniffled awkwardly while fiddling with the towel.
"I'm sorry, I'll wash the handkerchief and bring it back. If you still feel uneasy, I'll give you a new one."
As she spoke softly, her voice trailing off, “I’ll buy you a new one,” Calix chuckled.
"Seeing you say that, I think you've calmed down. Will you forgive me now?"
Odelia lowered her head.
'I am so ashamed and embarrassed that I cannot turn my head.'
Calix, who thought her silence was because she was still angry, lowered his head sadly and looked into Odelia's face.
And so the moment their eyes met the water
The snow shovel and the aforementioned ram, lips stained red by the sound of the wind.
Bloodshot eyes, slightly flushed cheeks, and lips flushed red with moisture.
Calix's gaze scanned it carefully.
A complex and awkward emotion, neither hot nor cold, flickered in her eyes.
It wasn't pity in her eyes, but a face that he had vowed never to look at in the direction his heart was constantly leaning towards, yet strangely enough, his gaze kept being held.
Odelia also met his gaze without avoiding it and sniffed softly.
"There is something I want to ask you."
"...What is it?"
"Does Your Highness still love Her Majesty the Empress?"
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