She had been skillfully refusing the drinks offered one by one by the executives, but in the end, she pretended to give in and took a few sips. Her face was now flushed with a rosy hue.
Etricia’s eyes were slightly unfocused, and her smile had lost its sharpness. Though she stood rooted in place, engaging in conversation with various people, it was clear she was merely enduring.
Just then, a woman with curly hair approached shyly, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
“Um…”
At that moment, Etricia pressed her eyelids tightly shut, as if feeling dizzy. Edmund swiftly bypassed the approaching woman and headed straight for Etricia.
He caught her just as she stumbled, wrapping his arm around her waist. His movement was smooth and natural, almost like a gentle wave.
“Ah,” Etricia sighed softly as she lifted her gaze.
Edmund noticed a hand reaching for her waist and immediately pulled her closer. The hand belonged to an unwelcome presence—someone who had been laughing and chatting with her earlier inside the building.
Feeling the icy chill in Edmund’s piercing gaze, the man hesitated. Then, as if realizing there had been a misunderstanding, he forced an awkward smile, darted his eyes around, and suddenly widened them.
His lips twitched.
“Are you perhaps the Lord’s partner?”
“……”
Partner? Edmund’s expression subtly contorted. Somehow, from earlier… He murmured to himself, covering his mouth with his hand before bowing politely.
“I wondered who this striking gentleman was, and it turns out you’re the partner the Lord mentioned. It would have been nice to enjoy the evening together. Ah, I am from the Eastern Merchant Guild.”
The word “merchant guild” made Edmund’s expression darken.
“The guild master’s son?”
“Yes, that’s correct…”
Ha. Edmund smirked. He had suspected, but to confirm that this man was the guild master’s son…
A wave of irritation surged within him. Meeting her inside the building should have been enough, yet here he was, following her all the way to the banquet and lingering around her.
‘Is he seriously thinking about marriage?’
As the thought crossed his mind, his teeth clenched involuntarily.
Sensing the growing tension, the merchant guild master’s son lost his confident smile.
Etricia, rubbing her nose against Edmund’s chest, slowly lifted her head. She took in the sight of his strong jawline and silver hair, glistening like morning dew.
She inhaled a beat too late, and a familiar scent made her lips curl into a soft smile.
Edmund immediately averted his gaze. Their eyes met briefly before he turned away with a resentful expression.
Etricia’s jade-green eyes widened.
“Brother?”
“Ahem, my Lord, since your handsome knight has arrived, I shall take my leave. Farewell.”
“Yes, enjoy the banquet.”
With that, the merchant guild master’s son flashed a knowing grin and rejoined his companions.
‘Finally, he’s gone.’
Edmund turned his gaze away indifferently, only to witness the man cheerfully walking away, arm-in-arm with another woman. A deep frown settled between his brows. Even someone as inexperienced in romance as Edmund could tell they were lovers.
“They make a lovely couple, don’t they?”
Etricia steadied herself by pressing against his chest as she spoke.
“He’s the son of the Eastern Merchant Guild’s leader. I met him while waiting for you after changing into my banquet dress. His lover is a commoner, and his father disapproves of the relationship. So, he had no choice but to attend the matchmaking event his father arranged today. But since neither of us had any interest in marriage, we managed to avoid an unpleasant situation.”
“…Ah.”
A long sigh escaped Edmund’s lips. A wave of indescribable shame washed over him as he buried his face in his large hand.
He had blindly believed the words of a stranger and let his emotions boil over for nothing.
“I need to sober up. I’m heading to the terrace. Would you like to join me?”
Unaware of his inner turmoil, Etricia walked toward the terrace with steady yet slightly swaying steps. Edmund, pushing aside his emotions, anxiously followed her.
Upon reaching the terrace, a humid summer breeze swept over them.
“Ah, that’s refreshing.”
Her red hair fluttered briefly before settling down.
Leaning one arm on the railing, she ran a hand through her hair and turned to face him with a breathy chuckle.
“You probably didn’t hear it since you were standing behind me, but everyone says I’m beautiful.”
Her eyes, softened by intoxication, glowed with amusement. Unaware of his thoughts.
A mischievous urge to ruin her triumphant expression sparked within him.
“They must all be drunk.”
“Are you serious?”
“Or their eyesight is failing.”
She squinted at him before sighing heavily, clearly exasperated.
“I understand. You see women as nothing more than rocks. Even earlier, you ignored all those women surrounding you.”
She kept grumbling, her words slurring slightly. It seemed she became more talkative when drunk.
Then she shivered, rubbing her arms. The alcohol must have lowered her body temperature.
With a quiet sigh, Edmund took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
Etricia looked up at him in surprise before smiling sweetly.
“Thank you, brother.”
Resting her arms on the railing, she gazed quietly at the garden.
Her unfocused green eyes, the soft sighs escaping her rosy lips, and her flushed cheeks—she, who usually stood tall and spoke with unwavering confidence, was now completely relaxed.
Noticing his gaze, she chuckled softly and leaned her head against her arm, looking up at him sideways.
“It’s only because it’s you. Just until I sober up.”
She said it so effortlessly, as if it were natural to let her guard down around him.
For a moment, Edmund felt conflicted—should he be pleased or warn her not to trust so easily?
But even that uncertainty crumbled when her eyes, shining like rippling starlight, met his.
“Let me know if someone comes.”
He nodded wordlessly. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
As he watched her fall into a peaceful rest, he knew—today must have been an exhausting day for her.
The pale yellow lights of the banquet hall colored her back. Occasionally, people passing by the terrace glanced inside.
Edmund stood behind her and pulled his jacket up to her ears to cover her. Worried that the banquet lights might disturb her rest, he stood there without moving.
Her features were clearly visible in the shade. Fair skin, vivid rose-colored hair. Even the soft sound of her breath between her plump lips was alluring. Etricia was simply too beautiful.
After staring at her face for a long while, Edmund frowned deeply.
‘I already knew… that you were beautiful.’
He had known for a long time. He only denied it because someone else said it first and because she had looked happy about it. Ever since their summer trip, he had been realizing it more and more with each passing moment.
And even someone like him, unfamiliar with romantic feelings, had slowly started to recognize that this was something close to love.
The reason he didn’t hesitate to swear on the Stone of Vow to keep her, the reason her smile began to look so lovely, the reason he found himself smiling along with her, the reason her gaze felt as sweet as honey, and even the reason he was jealous of the merchant lord’s son—all of it came from the same feeling.
He had just left that feeling in a corner of his heart, not fully embracing it, not letting it go either.
But he still believed that this emotion was nothing more than a sandcastle that would disappear when the wind blew.
Pfft. At that moment, Etricia smiled with her eyes closed. He was feeling so frustrated—what could be making her so happy? Edmund furrowed his brows slightly.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because you’re cute.”
“Cute…”
Edmund was stunned. He had never heard anyone say that to him before, and he couldn’t speak.
Her eyelids lifted, revealing her eyes. Her irises shone like fresh green leaves, and her eyes curved gently.
She soon laughed while shaking her shoulders, saying it was the first time she had seen that kind of expression on his face. That laugh kept making his chest ache more and more.
She sat up, wrapped her head with his jacket, and faced him.
“Sorry. You looked so cute when you were upset about not getting to say I was beautiful first.”
Embarrassed, Edmund closed his mouth and turned his head. What she said was true.
That only made her laugh louder. Now that she had seen through him, he felt even more annoyed.
“Please stop laughing.”
Edmund spoke bluntly, frowning, but her laughter didn’t stop.
“Hehe.”
“Stop laugh—”
His annoyed gaze, directed at Etricia, started to tremble.
Wearing his jacket like a bonnet, she poked out her delicate face and smiled with narrowed eyes…
“You’re so cute, little brother.”
She was as cute as a red fox.
Edmund swallowed a groan and buried his face in his hands.
“…That’s my line.”
As the wind brushed past, it lifted his hair, revealing his red ears. When he lifted his head again, he had regained his composure.
No matter how he looked, the alcohol that had wrapped around her didn’t seem to be fading. If anything, it looked like it was getting stronger.
Edmund gently held Etricia’s shoulder, still wrapped in his jacket.
“You should go and rest now. I’ll take you back to the estate.”
“I’m not drunk.”
She sure could talk well. Letting out a small sigh, he moved to adjust her shoulder.
Then Etricia, who had been tilting her head while looking up at him, suddenly opened her eyes wide.
“Wait a moment, little brother.”
She reached out and gently pulled Edmund’s face down with both hands.
