"A hug... you mean?"
I nodded my head vigorously.
When I thought about everything Carcel had done for me, I was sincerely grateful to him.
His face turned pale for a brief moment, as if lost in thought, and then faintly contorted.
Then, finally, he spread his arms resolutely, as if he had firmly decided on something.
And he nodded to me once.
'Now!'
I approached Carcel and hugged him tightly around the waist.
Although I ended up in an awkward position because I was much more robust than the others.
Still, his solid muscles, felt through the thin cloth, were crushed beneath my skin.
On top of that, even the sound of a rapid heartbeat reached my ears.
That pulsating heartbeat beat particularly fiercely.
"Ugh."
My breath trembled completely at the sound of that heartbeat, which seemed to be fully conscious of me.
'It must be Carcel's first hug too, just like me, right?'
I was immersed in a sense of peace, as if someone were protecting me.
My heart is pounding, yet at the same time, I feel safer than anywhere else.
'I realized that hugs are actually a really nice feeling.'
It was a different feeling from when I hugged Linea.
Carcel's hands, which had originally been standing stiffly with his arms outstretched, soon carefully wrapped around my back as well.
I took a deep breath.
'It smells good.'
The neat scent of crisply ironed linen, combined with his distinctive body scent, made me feel even better.
The arm that tightly hugged me felt somehow satisfying.
I stayed in his arms for a while, then looked up at him and whispered.
"Thank you, Carcel."
"..."
"Juh?"
I raised my head in confusion at his lack of response.
Losing even the slight smile he usually held on his lips, Carcel just stood there motionless.
I tried to push away the hand that was resting on his chest.
"Are you okay? Are you sick?"
"No!... I'm not."
He tightened his grip on me and shook his head with a face that had lost its composure.
"Just a moment, can I hold you a little longer?"
"Uh... sure."
In that moment, my cheeks flushed bright red as well.
I could feel the tension in Carcel's fingertips as he didn't want to let go of me.
'For some reason, it feels desperate.'
He slowly raised his other hand, pulled me up to his shoulder, and held me deep in his arms.
It wasn't enough to suffocate me.
However, even while trembling, I hugged everything I had.
It was just as I began to lose strength in Carcel's embrace, which felt as if it would swallow even my soul.
"Ha."
He let me go, letting out a very low breath.
I quietly looked up at Carcel.
'Ah. A man's face.'
It wasn't a face that was just affectionate, as always.
Carcel's dark gaze looking down at me was as intense as a beast stalking its prey. Even after holding me for so long, he still seemed far from satisfied.
So, without realizing it, I took a step back.
"...Carcel?"
When I called out to him in a slightly frightened tone, Carcel slowly erased the expression from just moments ago.
It's like, when did that happen?
“Yes, Asha.”
He simply showed me a warm smile, as always.
And Carcel made a suggestion to me.
"Shall we go out together early tomorrow morning to buy some other gifts for Linea?"
The tension that had roughly inflated in volume disappeared before I knew it.
I nodded.
It felt as though the sharp, untamable energy I glimpsed in him in that moment was still imprinted on my mind.
'It's not that I dislike seeing you like that, but... I'm just nervous for some reason.'
In that instant, my breathing quickened uncontrollably, and my body hesitated, speechless under the ravenous gaze.
I was so flustered by the tension that seemed to run down my spine to the back of my knees that I didn't even have the presence of mind to hide my bewildered expression.
“Asha?”
Carcel called out to me nonchalantly, as if nothing had happened.
I, who was actually overwhelmed by him, was completely out of my mind for quite a while.
'For some reason, I’m upset.'
I gathered the documents he had given me earlier, put them back on the table, and lay down on the bed.
"Good night, Carcel."
"Sleep well, Asha."
Carcel whispered to me with a faint smile.
I closed my eyes tightly.
Thinking that Carcel's relaxed daytime was his whole world.
I did not know that the moment I closed my eyes, Carcel would cover the corners of his mouth with his palm and quietly let out a breath of panic.
***
After waking up early and having breakfast with Linea, I crept out with Carcel.
And since he was trying too hard to sweep up the shopping district, it actually became my job to stop him.
'What would have happened if I hadn't gone? He would have bought enough gifts to open several shops.'
Actually, it was my first time hosting a social event as well.
Because when I was little, I had never had a birthday party either, except for the ones I had at franchise hamburger restaurants.
However, with the help of the butler and the head maid, everything was prepared on time.
“Welcome!”
I welcomed the guests who came to Linea's birthday party with Carcel.
In fact, it is said that this is the first official social event even for the Marquis of Rivandel.
Perhaps that is why. Despite the sudden invitation, people dressed up nicely and sent us kind smiles.
"Countess Annexa, have you arrived?"
Still, having met them once, I was able to treat the wives much more comfortably.
Countess Annexa smiled at me with an expression that said she knew everything.
"Eloy was actually wanting to see Linea."
"Really? Linea felt much more at ease too when she heard that Eloy was coming today."
"Oh, that's a relief. Marchioness Rivandel, please make sure to come to Eloy's birthday party next time."
The look on her face as she spoke to me was sincere.
'I guess... she meant she knew my mother-in-law wasn't taking proper care of the child.'
I gave her a sweet smile.
After she passed by and exchanged greetings with a few more people, Lucian finally appeared.
Lucian smiled brightly along with the escort knight, who still had a flustered look on his face.
“Sorry for coming late!”
"Lucian! Thanks for coming."
"Of course I should be here!"
Linea, who had been extremely nervous, seemed to relax a lot more upon seeing Lucian.
I bowed my head to Linea and whispered.
"Do you want to go play with your friends now? After we finish making bead bracelets, we have to eat a delicious meal and blow out the birthday candles."
"Yes!"
I watched with satisfaction as the children diligently learned how to make beaded bracelets from Linea.
After spending time frantically, the children enjoyed the banquet.
Fortunately, everyone looked satisfied with the meal.
"Now, shall we move to a different room and blow out the candles on the birthday cake?"
The children entered the drawing room, which was filled with gifts, as scheduled, and marveled.
“Wow!”
And understandably so, because even though I tried to dissuade Carcel, the items he bought were so excessive that they filled one side of the drawing room.
On top of that, there were even the gifts Lucian and Linea's friends gave.
“There are tons of presents.”
And Linea, the most important person at today's birthday party, was also at a loss for words over the birthday gifts she was receiving for the first time in her life.
"Linea, all your friends are waiting, so shall we blow out the candles now?"
When I bowed my head and asked the child kindly, Linea answered bravely with a face full of anticipation.
"Yes!"
As soon as the answer was given, the butler entered the drawing room, pulling the trolley on which the cake was placed.
“Look at the cake!”
"Mom, can't you do that for me next time too?"
Not only the children but also the adults gasped in amazement at the five-tier cake specially made for Linea.
The cake, taller than Linea, had 11 lit candles stuck on top.
I quickly exchanged glances with the maids.
With the cake that arrived in front of Linea, the maids began to sing a birthday song.
There was no way the invited children would have just stayed put.
Naturally, the children also joined in the song, even tapping their hands.
"My dearest Linea! Happy Birthday!"
As the song ended, it was time for Linea to blow out the candle.
"Shall we blow out the candles now?"
However, Linea had been standing there with her lips tightly pursed for a while, unable to speak, and only clenching her fists.
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