“If you touch it with those hands, it’ll get dirty again.”

At Celine’s words, Zen looked at his hands, covered in dirt. Then, Celine took another step closer.

“I’ll tie it for you. That way, it won’t get dirty again.”

“…”

“Hurry.”

As Celine approached Zen, urging him, Zen hesitated for a moment but eventually lowered his body to match Celine’s height. And at that moment, Zen flinched at the fragrance wafting from Celine’s body.

“…?”
However, Zen had no choice but to stay still due to Celine tying the scarf. Celine slowly finished tying the scarf. As time passed, something strange happened to Zen’s body. His heart raced, and he felt his face flushing.

“Alright, all done.”

In the meantime, Celine, who had finished tying the scarf, looked up at Zen. Feeling something strange happening to his own body, Zen looked at Celine with blurred eyes. While smiling and subtly raising the corners of her mouth at Zen, Celine naturally reached out her hand to him.

“Zen!”

As if breaking the tense atmosphere between the two, a voice was heard from afar. Zen, who had been making a blank expression, suddenly snapped to attention and turned his head.

“Delina!”

Shouting like that, Zen, with a triumphant look on his face, ran straight towards Delina, pointing to his scarf.

“I found it.”

“Oh, really? That’s a relief. It’s fortunate, but…”

While Zen said it was fortunate, Delina’s gaze was directed at Celine. Trying not to show any signs of urgency, Delina, who deliberately regulated her breathing, asked Zen.

“The scarf, did Celine give it to you by any chance?”

“Yeah, it was by the window.”

“…Is that so?”

Behind Zen, Celine slowly approached, smiling with a slightly raised corner of her mouth. Celine asked with a smiling face.

“Why did you come to the garden, Delina?”

“…I was worried that Zen might search for the scarf until late at night.”

“Oh, really? Well, it’s a relief then. Now that we found the scarf.”

Smiling as if expressing relief, Celine shook hands with both of them.

“I’ll go inside first. Sleep well, both of you.”

“Goodbye! And thank you.”

Zen didn’t forget to express his gratitude to Celine as he energetically shook hands. After Zen, who looked exultant, finished shaking hands, Delina remained silent.

“Zen.”

Only after Celine disappeared from her sight did Delina open her mouth.

“Did anything happen when you were with Celine?”

Zen, who had slept unusually deeply, and the disappeared scarf. Since finding out that Zen had lost the scarf, Delina had been keeping an eye on Celine.

Sure enough, upon hearing the servant’s report that Celine had gone to the garden, Delina hurriedly followed. And there, she met Celine and Zen, who said they found the scarf.

“Hmm? What happened?”

“Anything. Like feeling something strange, or not feeling well somewhere, something like that.”

“Hmm…”

After Zen thought for a moment, he said.

“My heart was pounding like crazy.”

“What?”

“My face was turning red.”

Surprised by Zen’s words, Delina asked.

“Why? Why did that happen?”

“I don’t know. It just happened.”

Seemingly unsure of the reason for his own change, Zen grinned and then laughed brightly.

“But when Delina called my name, it stopped.”

“…Really? And after that, was there nothing?”

“Yeah, nothing.”

“Is that so… Anyway, it’s fortunate. We found the scarf.”

“Yeah!”

Regaining the scarf, Zen’s face brightened completely. Delina smiled at Zen and then glanced in the direction where Celine had disappeared.

“… ”