8
‘Yes, I’ll take you there! Let’s go right now! So please, come down.’
Zaka stretched out both hands, staring desperately at Asha.
His heart pounded, afraid she might fall at any second.
For the first time, his fingertips trembled.
‘Hm.’
Asha tilted her head as if thinking it over, then nodded.
‘Really? Okay.’
Zaka let out a breath he had been holding, finally feeling a bit relieved.
But then—
Still hanging high up, Asha suddenly let go and jumped down.
Zaka panicked and caught her with all his strength.
The moment felt like forever, but at last—
Asha was safe in his arms.
His breath came out shaky, his arms trembling.
Still, he couldn’t relax, so he adjusted his hold again and again.
Asha laughed out loud.
Zaka looked down at her in his arms with a resentful glare.
He had almost collapsed from shock—his legs still weak.
Then his thoughts froze.
Her face was too close.
Ivory skin, cheeks flushed with a soft blush.
Her breath, rough from climbing, felt like it was brushing his ear.
The golden eyes framed by long lashes—he thought he could count each one.
His blood rushed. His heart beat wildly.
‘You’re stronger than you look, huh?’
Asha laughed again as she said it.
Zaka suddenly realized.
This woman laughs when she’s drunk.
No wonder she kept smiling at him since earlier.
‘…What if I’m not only strong?’
Asha tilted her head, not understanding his tone.
Then she smiled brightly, as if a good idea had struck her.
‘Then, do you want to come work at my house?’
‘What?’
‘Julie said we need another strong servant soon.’
‘…’
‘I can’t pay as much as the Imperial Palace.’
Zaka let out a dry laugh, speechless.
Really? In his arms, and she was offering him… a job?
‘I’ll treat you well.’
Her calm, steady voice pulled his gaze back.
‘And how exactly will you treat me well?’
‘We talk well with each other, don’t we?’
Asha answered proudly.
Zaka’s lips twisted into a crooked smile.
She really was impossible to beat.
‘Yes. We talk very well.’
‘See?’
‘If you like me that much… why don’t you really take me with you?’
‘Here, a promise.’
Asha fumbled, then grabbed his hand and hooked her little finger with his.
Zaka stared at her pinky, smaller than his.
‘Now, put me down.’
She wriggled, finally realizing she was still in his arms.
Zaka carefully set her down.
‘Shall we go up high now?’
To see what? So you can scare me again?
Instead of answering, Zaka’s eyes followed a loose strand of her hair.
He wanted to tuck it gently behind her ear.
But he didn’t.
His chest trembled too much—touching her felt terrifying.
‘Next time. I promise.’
‘Alright.’
Asha agreed easily. Soon after, she nodded off, dozing.
Zaka soothed her patiently, then finally got her into the carriage.
And afterwards…
What had he thought then?
He looked around his moonlit room.
Empty. Quiet.
Of course he knew—those words were just drunken talk.
And yes, he knew she probably wouldn’t remember.
Still…
Zaka stared at his pinky finger. Slowly, a smile curved his lips.
He wanted to keep that promise.
Even if it was only his promise alone.
When he closed his eyes, he could still see that day.
Her face, glowing in the sunset, leaning against him.
Then—
A small slip of paper fluttered through his half-open window.
Zaka’s sharp gaze lifted to the sky.
A black bird circled overhead, spun twice, and flew away into a dot.
He picked up the note.
In the dark, his gray eyes glinted cold and sharp.
As usual, I was busy with Julie, worrying over the tight budget, when—
Someone was running across the yard again.
It was the coachman.
“He’ll trip one day,” I muttered.
Julie rubbed her forehead.
“Hm? But wait…”
“Baroness Asha?”
A strange sense of déjà vu hit me.
The coachman clutched a letter.
“Another letter?”
“This time it must be a bill collector!”
Julie was merciless.
But I felt a spark of hope.
“Or maybe… a duel challenge.”
Julie smacked my arm, warning me not to jinx it.
Before we could argue more, Zaka snatched the letter first.
The coachman staggered off to rest under a tree.
No message came with it this time.
Three shadows fell over the letter in Zaka’s hands.
“Who sent it?”
Zaka raised an eyebrow.
“Why are you acting like you’ve never gotten a letter before?”
“You’ve been here ten days. Have you seen me get a single letter?”
“…Ah.”
Zaka understood quickly.
For some reason, that annoyed me. I used to get plenty of letters, thank you.
“Priyen Izanar…”
Zaka murmured, reading the sender’s name.
“That priest?”
“What? A priest wrote to me?”
I remembered—when I was sick as a child, the temple had sent someone.
I took the letter from Zaka and read quickly.
And then I learned something surprising.
**[To Baroness Roxan,
Allow me to finally introduce myself.
I am Priyen Izanar, a holy knight serving the Central Grand Temple for eleven years.
We met briefly at the victory banquet, though you may not remember me.
I apologize for contacting you so suddenly, but I have something of yours and wish to return it.
If you could tell me a convenient time this week, I will visit your estate to thank you in person.
May the blessings of God be with you until then.
P.S. Do you remember the handkerchief?
—Priyen Izanar]**
At first I wasn’t sure. But the handkerchief—yes, that was the clue.
I hadn’t met many people at the banquet.
The real problem was… I had been drunk and blacked out.
Luckily, he had remembered.
I hadn’t even asked his name properly that night.
“Priyen Izanar… so that’s his name.”
“The one who saved you when you almost fell from the terrace?” Julie asked.
“Yeah.”
“Is he handsome? A real beauty?”
“Why do you ask that suddenly?”
“He’s a holy knight!”
“And?”
Julie stomped her foot in frustration.
“Holy knights can marry and date freely, unlike priests!”
Her words were too obvious. I just smiled instead of answering.
But she pressed again.
“So, is he handsome?”
I sighed, but finally answered seriously.
“Very.”
Julie covered her mouth with both hands.
“The most handsome man you’ve ever seen?”
“Hmm. Almost.”
Her excitement dimmed.
“Almost? Who’s the other one? …And don’t you dare count him!”
Of course she meant Rohwinas Canesion.
That man was famous since youth for his beauty. But I never considered him.
“You wouldn’t have reminded me if you hadn’t said that.”
“…Anyway!”
Julie huffed.
“But Zaka’s handsome too, right?”
“….”
Her expression twisted strangely. Not a smile. Not anger. Just… complicated.
“And Duke Gladinare was incredibly handsome too. Why doesn’t anyone talk about that?”
“You mean Duke Ishtan Gladinare?”
“Yeah. People say he’s scary, cold, even murderous. But no one mentions his looks.”
Julie blinked, confused.
“Maybe he’s too scary for people to notice his face?”
“Nah. When I saw him, he didn’t feel that scary.”
“Really?”
Julie glanced at Zaka for confirmation.
But Zaka stood there, frowning, an icy wind practically blowing off him.
“And I heard Duke Canesion was very handsome in his youth too.”
“Don’t bring up that cursed family!” Julie snapped.
I covered my ears until she calmed down.
“Geez.”
“…Sorry.”
I counted a few other famously good-looking nobles, and finally—
Zaka muttered in a sulky voice.
“So basically, you think good looks are all that matter.”
“Not really. Once beauty reaches a certain level, you can’t rank it. Everyone has their own charm.”
Just then, Julie returned waving a gossip magazine.
“Look here!”
It listed the “Most Beautiful of the Year.”
Half the capital had voted, apparently.
The issue was fresh off the press yesterday.
“I knew the name looked familiar!” Julie squealed, pointing at the top.
1st place: Priyen Izanar (65.9%)
An overwhelming first place.
As my eyes drifted down to second place, Julie tried to cover it with her hand.
Which of course only made me more curious.
I gently pried her hand away.
2nd place: Rohwinas Canesion (33.2%)
Of course.
I wasn’t even surprised.
I didn’t usually care for these silly surveys.
But seeing the old darling of society beaten by a new star? That was satisfying.
If I were still in contact with him, I’d happily shove that “33.2%” in his face.
“Strange. Why isn’t the Duke on here?”
I kept reading all the way down. Even found a stubborn wife who voted only for her husband. But no Duke Gladinare.
“Does that matter? What matters is—Sir Izanar is the overwhelming beauty here!” Julie declared.
…Was he really?
Maybe.
I was too drunk that night to be sure.
Maybe I should drink less.
…But I probably won’t.
