Love Me Just Once - Chapter 23

At that, the man’s face turned bright red. Ophelia, who had never seen a person’s face turn so red before, asked.

“You… what’s wrong with your face?”

“Y-You, don’t you have any shame? How can you say such things with your own mouth…?”

And before she could say anything, Idren rushed out of the carriage.

Bang.

Ophelia flinched at the door that closed more roughly than expected. It seemed the other party felt the same, as the door opened and closed once more. This time, the movement was very gentle.

At the sound of footsteps hurriedly moving away, Ophelia slightly poked her head towards the carriage door. Through the window, she could see the back of the man who had already walked quite far.

“…Why is he getting angry all by himself.”

He was more sensitive than a precious orchid.

Ophelia grumbled quietly as she turned her body back to its original position. She leaned back against the backrest and closed her eyes. She was a bit tired from not sleeping properly yesterday.

However, just as she was about to fall asleep, there was another knock on the door.

Ophelia frowned at the untimely noise.

At first, she thought it was Idren and almost said something, but on second thought, it seemed to be someone else. That proud man wouldn’t likely return after storming out like that.

As she was about to ask the person outside in a slightly softer voice, a gentle voice was heard.

“Your Highness, we have arrived at the canal.”

“…Ah.”

Realizing that the carriage had stopped because they had arrived at the canal, Ophelia opened the carriage door.

The first thing she saw was a black head of hair. Though it looked very similar to the hair of the man she knew, Ophelia didn’t mistake it. The eyes below were light green.

And green eyes were one of the colors she liked. Ophelia stared at the knight who was smiling kindly.

“I am Penrel Soar, the knight of your future husband. Please feel free to address me comfortably.”

“Soar, would be better.”

Ophelia replied, remembering by then that he was the knight who was always with her husband. Since she wasn’t close to any of her husband’s knights, that was more comfortable.

The knight nodded slightly at her words and extended his hand.

“I will help you get out of the carriage.”

He seemed to have come in place of the man who had helped her into the carriage but fled when it was time to get off.

Ophelia took his hand and got out of the carriage. The carriage, which was quite luxurious for something hastily prepared, was quite high, making it difficult to get in and out without someone’s help.

The knight escorted her to the dock and then helped her onto the boat.

The boat, decorated with thin, soft silk and flowers, had two plush chairs prepared. They were said to be for her and Idren. Ophelia chose the chair on the left. It was the one further from Reden.

After making sure she was seated in the chair, the knight said he had something to do and needed to leave. Even as he hurriedly disembarked, he added one last excuse for his master.

“His Highness hasn’t gone far, so he will be back soon.”

Nodding half-heartedly to those words, Ophelia closed her eyes. The warm sunlight poured over her body.

When Idren boarded the boat, the first thing he saw was Ophelia asleep.

The woman was leaning quietly against the chair with her eyes closed. It was a peaceful appearance not much different from when he had last seen her.

His heart sank, and Idren unconsciously covered her face with his hand. Fortunately, he could feel her small breaths.

Relieved at that, Idren felt a bit of resentment.

Even in this aspect, Ophelia had him wrapped around her finger. It was a masterful taming. Idren gripped the candy bag he was holding a little tighter.

That wasn’t the only thing he felt wronged about.

How could she say such things without even batting an eyelash?

“Of course, I know you like my appearance.”

Since Idren never imagined Ophelia would say such a thing, he couldn’t help but blush as soon as he heard those words.

Of course, Ophelia was very pretty. Idren knew that he tended to interpret Ophelia’s positive aspects to the extreme, but even objectively, she was pretty.

But thinking that to himself and her bringing that fact out in the open were completely different matters.

In the end, Idren had no choice but to leave the carriage in a completely flustered state.

He couldn’t even remember what was said before and after that. The only thought occupying his mind at that moment was that he needed to hide his bright red face.

Penrel seemed bewildered when he, who should have helped his betrothed out of the carriage, ran away instead.

While the knight went to Ophelia to smooth things over, Idren walked around the carriage to cool his heated face.

It was by chance that his eyes fell upon a cart selling candy.

The merchant selling colorful candies in glass jars was at just the right angle to be seen by Ophelia if she were looking out from inside the carriage.

When he came to his senses, he had already bought candy from the merchant.

Only after holding the bag containing various types of candy did Idren realize he had done something foolish. He wasn’t even sure if Ophelia had really been looking at the candy merchant.

Even if she had really been looking at the merchant, would street candy be suitable for the mouth of a princess who lived in the palace?

But before he could think any deeper, Penrel approached.

“I have escorted the princess onto the boat.”

And the knight looked at what he was holding in disbelief.

“…Did the princess say she wanted candy?”

“…No.”

The knight then stared at him blankly. His light green eyes held the question, then why?

Since any answer would be close to a lie, Idren did not respond.

A chilly silence descended. After briefly looking at him, the knight awkwardly said,

“You could have bought it.”

“……”

“Though you haven’t eaten candy until now, I think you could have bought it. People don’t live just to eat food.”

Idren shook his head at the knight, who clearly didn’t know what he was saying.

“You don’t need to say more.”

“…Yes.”

And the knight lowered his eyes.

Before silence could settle again, Idren felt his chest. He wanted to give Penrel the signet ring, as he had something to ask of him.

However, he couldn’t find it. Only then realizing that he didn’t have the royal signet ring, he frowned.

“Penrel, did I give you the ring?”

“I do have a replica, if that’s what you mean.”

As it was precious, there were several copies of the royal ring.

But what he was referring to was the original.

Frowning, Idren tried to recall where he had last seen the royal ring. But no matter how much he tried to remember, nothing came to mind after the time he had dropped it in the well before turning back time.

No, wasn’t it supposed to be hanging around his neck in the first place?

When he was outside the royal palace, he always wore the ring around his neck.

And Idren realized that the leather cord that the ring was threaded on was still there.

As he stiffened in confusion, Penrel asked,

“…Is there a problem, perhaps?”

“Ah, the ring……”

And Idren hesitated.

It was certain that the ring wasn’t hanging around his neck, but the cord wasn’t broken.

Moreover, Idren knew that he hadn’t lost the ring around this time. No, he had never even taken it off his body. He always had the royal ring with him. Even after Penrel died, after Ophelia died…

When his thoughts reached the possibility that the disappearance of the ring might be related to the strange phenomenon he and Ophelia were experiencing, Idren decided to keep this fact hidden for now.

This was true even if the other party was Penrel, who had stood by his side for half his life.

Consciously relaxing his tightened lips, Idren answered.

“No, there’s no problem.”

“……”

“When you come up with the procession sent by the King of Reden, use the replica you have.”

The knight answered without hesitation.

“Yes.”

“And there’s something you need to do while staying behind.”

In fact, this was the real reason for leaving Penrel in Reden.

Idren said to the knight who was looking at him with loyal eyes, as he always had.

“Find out how Ophelia was raised in the Reden royal family.”

“You mean Her Highness the Princess?”

“Yes. Prince Mahanas said he cherished his younger sister, but to my eyes, it doesn’t seem so at all.”

In fact, the point where he felt the dissonance in their relationship was earlier, after learning what Ophelia had done to destroy Reden in her previous life.

But at this point, that was a truth known only to Ophelia and himself.

The knight bowed his head deeply, indicating that he understood the order properly. Idren added to him,

“Without being detected by anyone.”

Let alone the King or Prince of Reden, it seemed Ophelia wouldn’t be very pleased if she knew.

Penrel bowed his head even deeper at those words.

Idren left him behind and boarded the boat where Ophelia would be. He hurried a bit, fearing that if he delayed any longer, it might arouse suspicion.

However, making that haste seem pointless, Ophelia was already asleep inside the boat when he arrived.

Idren was about to turn his head away with a small sigh after briefly observing her perfect face. At that moment, Ophelia opened her eyes.