Chapter 40

Rezette lowered his head, meeting Elise’s eyes with a tenderness that belied his stern exterior. He reached out and traced the outline of her pale cheeks, which had turned as white as snow in a mere moment. His voice softened as he spoke.

“So, what I mean is, once we’ve had a chance to know each other better,” he began.

“We’ll use this place for that,” he continued, lightly tapping the sheets of the bed where Elise sat. Her eyes glistened with moisture, and though he didn’t explicitly say it, she understood that he wouldn’t forsake her.

“When we become closer?” she inquired, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes,” he confirmed gently.

A cascade of emotions swept across Elise’s face—relief, anxiety, resentment, and impatience jostled for dominance. Reluctantly, she agreed to his proposition, yet a lingering suspicion still lingered in her eyes.

“How long will it take?” she ventured to ask once more, her voice tinged with both hope and hesitation.

“It depends on how you feel,” he replied, the weight of his words carrying the gravity of an unspoken promise.

“Why should I…? It’s you who needs to make an effort. You didn’t even show your face to me, and when I finally went to see you, you got angry…” Elise’s voice trailed off, her frustration and confusion pouring out like a stream that had long been restrained.

“I apologize,” Rezette interjected with unexpected contrition, swiftly disarming her with his acknowledgment and apology. Would this man ever know that he often silences her with just a few curt words like this?

As Rezette observed Elise, he couldn’t help but notice the way she seemed to close herself off, as if hiding from her own past. 

“Your Highness,” he called out to her.

Silence enveloped the room.

“I will instruct them to prepare a room for you on the second floor so that you can rest comfortably. If the top floor is inconvenient for you, choose any room you want.”

Elise’s response was reluctant, and though her expression remained sullen, she abstained from voicing her discontent.

The challenge of understanding her weighed heavily on Rezette’s mind. How could he coax the truth from those tightly pressed lips?

“If you want to say something, just tell me,” he encouraged. Once more, a mere nod was her reply.

“There’s a festival in the square outside the castle. Would you like to go and see it?” 

Her response held a moment of hesitation, but he couldn’t help but notice the curiosity that shimmered in her sweet, golden eyes, like honey-coated gems. It was evident that she truly desired to experience the world beyond her confines.

“Shall we go tomorrow?” he proposed, leaving the decision in her hands.

After a contemplative pause, she finally responded with a soft, “Yes.”

A flicker of relief crossed Elise’s face, like a gentle breeze sweeping away the clouds of uncertainty. Rezette couldn’t be sure of the conclusions she had drawn in her mind, but he sensed that, for the time being, she took solace in the fact that he wouldn’t abandon her.

As the man’s gaze lingered upon her, Elise could sense the weight of his words before they even left his lips. When he finally spoke, his voice carried a low timbre.

“Everything I mentioned is only between you and me. Everything else, too. Do you understand?” 

Silence engulfed the room, punctuated only by the subtle sound of Elise’s breath. 

“Your Highness, I need an answer.”

Elise felt a slight softening in his voice, an undertone of gentleness beneath his firm exterior. With a barely audible sigh, she acquiesced, nodding her head once more.

“As long as you are there when I need you, it won’t be difficult,” she replied.

In the depths of Rezette Kyrstan’s argument, Elise sensed a facet of his principled nature. It dawned upon her that, when viewed objectively, his demands were reasonable. Cooling down and reevaluating the situation, she recognized the validity of his stance. She didn’t want to jeopardize her life by engaging in a reckless affair, but she also harbored a desire to be embraced by him willingly, without force.

“Yes, perhaps taking things at a more leisurely pace would be wise,” she mused, allowing herself to believe that the discussion on this matter had reached its conclusion. She held the belief that a few more days of building intimacy would be sufficient.

Little did Elise know, however, that she was gravely mistaken. The truth of the situation would reveal itself much later, as time slipped through her fingers, leaving her to confront the consequences of her misplaced assumptions.

• ***

The following morning, as Elise slowly opened her eyes, she was greeted by a sight that left her utterly surprised. There, sitting in front of the window, easily visible when she pulled back the canopy of her bed, was someone unexpected. The man sat leisurely, sipping tea and perusing through papers, but when he sensed her wakefulness, he raised his head to meet her gaze.

Her lips fell agape in astonishment, and a lone tear that had clung to the corner of her eye now traced a path down her cheek. In that moment, her vision cleared, and the truth settled in.

“…Andrei?” she murmured, the name escaping her lips as a hopeful wish.

But the realization quickly struck her like a sudden gust of wind extinguishing a flickering flame. It wasn’t Andrei; it was her husband. The lingering traces of a dream that had played with her emotions vanished, revealing the face of the man before her. He bore a slight frown, though its cause remained unknown.

Rezette, with an unreadable expression, spoke slowly, as if aware of the emotional turmoil he had inadvertently stirred within her. “You can continue sleeping. It’s still early.”

In her confusion, she managed to voice the question that weighed on her mind. “Why are you here?”

“I said I would come up in the morning yesterday,” he calmly reminded her.

“Morning…” she repeated, the word registering in her mind as she slowly grasped the reality of the hour. The sun had yet to rise, leaving everything in the room cloaked in a dim and hazy aura.

As Elise rubbed her sleepy eyes, the initial surprise of finding Rezette by her side faded, giving way to a flood of weariness that washed over her, almost like a deceptive illusion. Lately, something had felt off; her internal clock seemed misaligned as she struggled to wake up at the usual time.

“You can sleep more. I know you don’t usually get up at this hour,” Rezette said, gently placing the papers aside and rising from his seat to approach her. With a tender touch, he smoothed out her disheveled hair and encouraged her to lie back down.

“You’re awake? You said it was too early…” Elise mumbled, her voice still laced with the drowsiness that clung to her.

“I’m not one for morning sleep,” he admitted with a faint smile.

“I see…” She couldn’t help but appreciate the glimpse into Rezette’s habits, as each small revelation brought them closer together.

Shifting her body to face him, Elise settled back down, seeking his presence as a comforting anchor. “Then, can you stay here a little longer…?” she softly asked.

“That’s why I came. I’ll wake you up when it’s time, so sleep,” he casually reassured her.

Elise closed her eyes, and a profound sense of contentment washed over her. The missing piece that had left a void for a week reappeared, filling the gap and restoring a sense of stability and warmth that she had sorely missed.

“Come out of there, Milady. You know, where you should be…!” Andrei’s voice echoed from the periphery of her consciousness, filled with urgency and concern.

“Come here, Elise!” His call, though possibly laced with reproach or admonishment for her pitiful condition, was softened by the gentle touch of his hand, tenderly brushing aside her hair.

Elise was caught in the limbo between sleep and wakefulness, the remnants of her brother’s plea barely registering before she drifted back into slumber. This time, there were no dreams, no consecutive visions to fill her mind.

Rezette’s fingers delicately entwined themselves within the luxurious, silvery strands of Elise’s hair. Each delicate thread seemed to possess an ethereal glow, as if entangled with a subtle, otherworldly radiance. Yet, as his touch lingered, the strands slipped away from his grasp, dissipating into the air like a wisp of smoke, leaving no trace behind.

***

The day unfurled like a warm embrace, the spring sun casting a golden glow upon the world. Wispy clouds meandered lazily across the clear skies, adding a touch of whimsy to the picturesque scene. For Elise, who had long been confined within castle walls, the sight of the unfamiliar streets lined with blooming flowers was a feast for her eyes. It was her first venture beyond the city of Rotiara, and she savored every moment of this newfound freedom.

April was coming to an end, and in the southern regions, the transition to early summer was already underway. But here in the northern lands, a refreshing spring breeze still kissed the air, caressing their faces as they strolled through the central square. Rezette held her hand gently, choosing to forgo their usual horseback ride in favor of a leisurely walk.

“The northern regions stay relatively cool even in the summer. Rotiara, in particular, enjoys milder summers compared to other areas, but the winters can be quite severe,” he remarked, offering her a glimpse into the region’s climate.

Elise listened intently, grateful for the robe she wore, a masterpiece provided by none other than Rezette Kirstan himself. The garment, though undoubtedly elegant and luxurious, didn’t weigh heavily on her in the temperate spring weather.

“It’s fortunate,” she mumbled softly, appreciating the comfort of her attire.

“What do you mean?” Rezette asked.

“Even wrapped up in these stuffy clothes, it’s not too hot,” she explained.

“If you feel tired, you should tell me,” he advised.

“Yes,” she replied courteously, though the truth was that Elise would never voice her weariness to him. She knew that if she did, he would immediately turn back, taking her back to the castle without a second thought.

Deep down, Elise didn’t realize how stuffy the castle could be until she stepped outside, inhaling the fresh air and feeling a sense of liberation

Walking through the vibrant streets for the first time, Elise’s heart brimmed with excitement as she soaked in the sights and sounds of the bustling village festival. It was also her first encounter with such a multitude of people, and she couldn’t help but glance around in wonder at the lively scenes unfolding before her.

The festival, which marked the end of the festivities, had transformed the area outside Rotiara Castle into a small city, with numerous roads branching out like intricate spiderwebs from the central square. The streets were alive with exuberant music, captivating street performers who entertained the crowd, and the animated conversations of passersby.

However, riding on horses drew too much attention in this crowded setting, prompting Elise and Rezette to navigate their way through the throng on foot. Elise’s petite frame made her susceptible to getting lost in the bustling crowd, a fact that didn’t sit well with Rezette.

“It seems like it would be better if you were carried,” he contemplated.

“I want to walk. It’s my first time walking outside like this,” Elise insisted.

“…First time?” Rezette repeated.

“Probably,” replied Elise. “Whenever I took a slightly longer walk, Andrei would chase after me like a wild duck. I remember getting upset because he couldn’t pick me up right away, just like now with you.”

An awkward silence enveloped them as Rezette absorbed her words. It seemed he hadn’t anticipated such a response. Elise’s attention soon shifted back to the lively street performers, drawn in by their captivating displays.

Elise rarely mentioned her deceased twin brother, Andrei, but Rezette understood the profound impact he had on her life. He knew the depths of her reliance on the Emperor of Argan. Whenever Elise found herself lost in a dream, she would call out her brother’s name, tears streaming down her face in an endless cascade of grief.

It had happened during their journey to the capital, on the road to Rotiara, and even earlier that very morning. Mistaking Rezette for her brother within the realm of her dreams marked the second time it had occurred that day.

Andrei…? The name echoed through Rezette’s mind, stirring a complex mix of emotions within him. Initially, he had felt a twinge of sympathy for her mistaken identity, but now, that sentiment seemed distant and foreign.