The scene in front of the pilgrim’s house was bustling.
The villagers seemed to have all gathered, and the royal guards crossed their swords overhead from the entrance to the carriage. A long red carpet was laid on the ground.
“Do you like the welcoming ceremony?”
Herxis asked, arching his eyebrows elegantly. But Liz felt a sudden chill in her heart.
‘I don’t know if it’s a welcoming ceremony, but it looks more like a blockade.’
There was no visible gap to escape through the crowd of people.
Liz resigned herself.
‘For now… let’s just follow. And think later.’
Herxis pulled Liz’s arm and interlocked it with his own. Then they walked slowly over the carpet, as if parading on Virgin Road.
Behind them, the swords lowered one by one, making an X shape below, producing a clanging sound.
It felt as if going back was not an option, causing Liz to shudder again.
Now, boarding the carriage was inevitable.
Upon arriving in front of the carriage, Herxis released Liz’s arm. She thought he would offer his hand to help her up. Instead,
“Your… Your Majesty…”
He effortlessly lifted her into the carriage. There was no need to step onto the footboard.
Gasps mixed with admiration erupted from the crowd. But Liz’s face flushed with embarrassment.
Liz reprimanded Herxis as soon as he climbed into the carriage.
“Do you have to do this in front of everyone?”
“What’s wrong with people’s eyes? Weren’t you always indifferent to such things?”
“…”
“Don’t worry about being the empress. You are most natural and beautiful as you are.”
At this point, Liz felt she needed to clarify.
“I never said I would be empress. I don’t want to.”
“You can’t always do what you want.”
“…”
Facing Herxis’s insistence, Liz found herself at a loss for words.
‘When did being empress become my duty?’
“Your Majesty, should I head straight to the palace?”
The driver’s voice flew in through the open front window.
“Yes.”
“I’ll go to Duke Berium’s.”
Liz spoke, but Herxis sternly refused.
“No.”
“…”
“Do you want to go back there?”
“Not necessarily.”
Entering the palace seemed less preferable.
“It’s sudden. I need time to think.”
“Think at the palace. I will give you all the time you need.”
Herxis had become more stubborn in their time apart.
‘He wasn’t this way when he was Kain.’
Suddenly, Liz found herself missing Kain.
Even though she was looking at this man, Kain did not come to mind. His face and personality had changed so dramatically that she couldn’t believe they were the same person.
“What are you thinking?”
Seeing Liz’s troubled expression, Herxis asked.
“Kain.”
Liz answered honestly.
“Looking at this scene, it’s hard to believe that you and Kain are the same person.”
“Really?”
“…”
“Then let me make you believe.”
“How do you plan to…”
Before she could finish, Herxis ripped open his shirt. His chest and its peak were now visible through the flying buttons.
“Do you see this?”
Herxis pointed to a spot two finger-widths below his collarbone.
There was a scar left by the scale-tipped arrow that Liz had accidentally shot in their childhood.
Seeing evidence of her past mistake, Liz’s recently regained color drained from her face.
“I see it, I see it. Now, button up.”
But with no buttons left, he simply moved closer to Liz.
“It seems unfair. You left your mark on me, but I couldn’t leave mine on you.”
“So what are you suggesting?”
Liz pressed her body against the wall and asked.
“I’m thinking of leaving a mark.”
“…”
“In the same place.”
‘Is he insane?’
Liz shuddered, gripping the reins tightly. Then, with a devilish glint in his eyes, he burst into laughter.
“Not now.”
As Hersis leaned back against the carriage seat, Liz also let out a deep sigh of relief.
How did it get this complicated?
He had no idea.
The carriage bolted toward the city center.
Listening to the crunching gravel, Liz grew anxious.
The thought that once inside the palace, he might never leave, filled his mind.
He didn’t care about saying goodbye to the nobles. But Mirabel… At least he wanted to say goodbye to Mirabel.
“Your Majesty, please let me say farewell to Mirabel.”
“……”
“You know how special she is to me.”
Hersis’s eyes flickered slightly.
Indeed, for Liz, Mirabel was like a sister, or perhaps a mother.
Hersis, who had witnessed this bond for ten years, couldn’t refuse such a request.
“Alright.”
Hersis agreed.
“Really?”
Liz’s expression brightened noticeably.
“But.”
Hersis tapped his lips.
“If you give me a kiss.”
“……”
Liz’s smile faded. Hersis narrowed his eyes, seemingly displeased.
“Don’t you remember you used to ask this of me often?”
“Sigh…”
A sigh involuntarily escaped from Liz’s lips.
How long would this sin from a time he never expected to be of high status haunt him?
It seemed he wasn’t going to back down.
Liz made up his mind. Get it over with quickly.
“Alright. I’ll do it.”
With a serious face, Liz looked into Hersis’s eyes, then quickly closed his eyes and gave a quick peck on his lips before pulling away.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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