Even though I knew he was just being polite, the corners of my lips lifted uncontrollably. At the same time, I felt embarrassed because I knew Edmund wasn’t someone who said things he didn’t mean. Could he be serious?
Turning away, I removed the ring I had yet to take off and held it out to him.
“What happened to the person who wanted to put the ring on for me?”
“I meant in the future, when everything is over. Not now.”
“Oh, really?”
So, he didn’t have a specific person in mind. I felt a bit flustered for getting worked up over nothing and quickly changed the subject.
“A ring might get in the way when swinging a sword or spear, so I’ll take it off. Instead, let’s reduce the weight and turn it into an accessory for daily wear. I was struggling with what type to choose, but I’ve found the answer quickly.”
Edmund nodded, seeming to agree that it was a good idea.
As I packed the sample rings into a box, he naturally took it from me as if it were his responsibility.
When we stepped out of the knight’s hall, the sun was setting behind the mountain ridge. Despite that, the sunlight still burned intensely, and I was reminded of his slightly reddened neck.
‘That must sting.’
Sunburn could be quite painful, yet he showed no sign of discomfort.
Casually, I suggested that he wash up with cold water when we got back. Seeing him lower his head to check if he smelled bad made me burst out laughing. My stomach hurt from laughing so much that I wiped the tears from my eyes and clarified,
“That’s not what I meant. Your skin looks sunburned, so I was suggesting you cool it down with cold water and apply some ointment.”
“…I see.”
Edmund turned his head slightly, looking somewhat awkward.
Just as we were leaving the training grounds, I noticed something—he was deliberately keeping a bit of distance from me.
Even if it wasn’t intentional, it seemed to be on his mind. I had to hold back a smirk at the sight.
Truthfully, he didn’t even have a trace of sweat odor. Instead, he always smelled good—like the musk-based perfume I used to love in my past life. It was one of my favorite scents. The thought made me feel oddly shy, and I let out a small chuckle.
Between the training ground and the building, there was a small path where knights sometimes took a breather from Tale’s brutal training or secretly cooled off with ice in their mouths.
At that moment, a knight and a maid were embracing each other there. The love between them was so intense that I could almost feel it in the air.
Narrowing my eyes, I took a closer look and realized it was the same knight who had asked me for relationship advice during a previous consultation. I was about to smile approvingly.
‘It’s great that things worked out for him, but… he’s still on duty.’
I stole a glance at Edmund, who had also stopped and was watching them.
As a strict and principled man, he was not the type to tolerate such romantic distractions among his subordinates.
Especially romance—something he likely found incomprehensible. He had probably never experienced emotions that clouded rational judgment or made someone sway at a single word from another person.
I wasn’t trying to defend the knight, but it was best to call him aside later rather than scold him in front of his lover.
Just as I was about to suggest heading back home, Edmund spoke first.
“Let’s go.”
“…That’s unexpected. Doesn’t it bother you that they’re slacking off during work hours to flirt?”
“It does.”
“Then why…?”
“If I reprimand him in front of his lover, he’ll lose face.”
‘Oh? Since when did he become so considerate about romance? I thought he’d explode in anger over such an irresponsible act during duty hours.’
Curious about this unexpected change, I gave him a teasing look.
“What happened to the man who thought couples sneaking out of vineyards were stealing grapes?”
At my playful remark, Edmund almost dropped the box he was holding. His ears turned slightly red as he glared at me, making me chuckle to myself.
We walked side by side toward the mansion.
Or rather, he matched his pace to mine. If I walked faster, he slowed down; if I slowed down, he sped up.
The warm glow of the sunset wrapped around us.
Glancing back, I saw our shadows stretching out behind us, close together. It made me feel strangely sentimental, and I found myself making an uncharacteristically emotional remark.
“I envy that knight. Love that passionate isn’t easy to come by.”
I felt his gaze on my profile, waiting for me to continue.
“Look at them. Just being together makes them emotional. They’re so madly in love that you can feel their longing for each other. It’s a love so intense that it consumes them completely. If it deepens further, they’ll throw away obligations and values for it—a love without calculation.”
“…”
“But when that kind of love repeats, all that’s left in the end is irresponsibility and pain.”
I glanced at the knight again.
That guy was definitely going to get scolded by Tale tomorrow.
“So, while passionate love is nice, a steady love built on trust is more stable.”
It was then that Edmund suddenly stopped walking.
I turned to him naturally.
Under the sky, now streaked with deep crimson, he stood there, lost in thought. Then, in a serious tone, he asked,
“Have you ever been in love like that?”
An unexpected question.
Was he curious about my love life? Or was he asking if I still hadn’t moved on from Devon?
I shrugged and smiled.
“You know, I don’t believe in first impressions. If first impressions decided everything, then the two of us wouldn’t be standing here now after pointing swords at each other when we first met.”
He looked away slightly, perhaps feeling guilty.
“I didn’t bring that up to make you feel bad. I just meant that my memories of loving someone—of loving Devon—are vague.”
Though my mind recalled memories of past relationships, my heart remained cold and indifferent.
So, could I really call that love?
See? Things fade eventually. That’s why a steady love is better.
“…Then.”
Then? I tilted my head, and after a long pause, Edmund asked in a low voice,
“Do you think you could ever love passionately again?”
Despite the weight of the question, my answer came easily.
“Hmm… right now, I’m fed up with romance. I just got divorced, and I have no interest in seeing anyone.”
“…I see.”
He let out a small sigh. He seemed both relieved and disappointed—or maybe his shadowed expression just made him look troubled.
Was my vague answer bothering him?
I decided to clarify.
“But that doesn’t mean I’ll never love anyone again. Giving up on love because of Devon would be unfair.”
“…Then let me ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“What’s your ideal type?”
Hmm, my ideal type?
Someone with soft hair, shining eyes, well-defined features, a deep voice, and a cool, composed aura…
Wait. Someone just came to mind.
Shaking my head, I tried to come up with a more abstract description—one he wouldn’t be able to guess, just as I had tried to guess his.
“You remember the ocean we saw at the summer retreat? My ideal type is someone as breathtakingly beautiful as that sea—someone so mesmerizing that I’d want to dive right in.”
“…The ocean?”
He looked dazed for a moment. I chuckled, about to turn away—until our eyes met.
His golden irises flickered with a dangerous intensity before darkening.
Suddenly, my body tensed.
“Then… do I fit your ideal type?”
“What?”
Did he realize what he was asking?
Faced with his piercing gaze, I instinctively looked away.
“I don’t know… I’ve never thought about it. You’re my friend’s younger brother, and to me, you’re like a little brother…”
At that, his expression instantly hardened.
“A little brother?”
His face showed more than displeasure—it showed anger.
He hadn’t reacted like this in a long time.
“…Oh, sorry. Did that upset you? I just meant that you feel familiar and close to me.”
He let out a deep, heavy sigh, as if forcing himself to calm down.
“Let’s go.”
His voice was stiff, the atmosphere between us suddenly awkward.
I scratched my head, following behind him.
I might have made him angry for no reason.
Edmund stood under the cold running water, bracing himself against the bathroom wall. The stream of water hitting his back was ice-cold, but he still found it hard to stay calm.
“Little brother?”
The moment the word came back to him, a hollow laugh escaped his lips.
“Little brother? What am I to her, really…”
Damn it. He clenched his teeth and roughly rubbed his face.
With Etricia’s voice echoing in his head over and over again, he quickly finished his shower, threw on a robe, and stepped out of the bathroom.
Then, he saw himself in the mirror straight ahead.
