~Chapter 95~
Amel looked at Christan with an expression like she’d just been caught.
‘Oh no.’
Her face turned pale. She never thought about what would happen if Christan found out she was just pretending to be mad.
‘He… he might not be angry, but he’ll be disappointed in me. I tricked him.’
Now, everything had changed. Christan, who was worried Amel might not like him anymore, was now smiling a little. Meanwhile, Amel, who pretended to be mad on purpose, was now nervous and unsure.
At that moment, Christan stood up from his chair. Without thinking, Amel quickly grabbed him.
“D-don’t go!”
Amel grabbed Christan’s clothes and pulled him toward her. Knowing she was hurt, Christan didn’t resist. He let himself be pulled closer to her.
He almost fell right on top of Amel, but before that happened, he managed to catch himself on the bed sheet with his arm. Now, Amel was right below his eyes and body.
Christan spoke, a bit embarrassed.
“What are you doing?”
“I… I did mean to do it, but I’m sorry. It wasn’t a joke.”
“Not a joke, now?”
Christan’s gray eyes trembled. He wondered if she understood what she was doing, pulling him onto the bed like this. But then he stopped himself from thinking further.
‘Wait, that’s not right.’
Finding a clear answer, Christan asked,
“What do you mean, you did it on purpose but it’s not a joke?”
Amel hesitated, then finally confessed.
“I pretended to be mad at you, but honestly, I wasn’t mad anymore. But if I didn’t act like that… you would have left again without telling me anything. That’s why.”
“…I see.”
After she finished talking, Amel pulled the blanket up to her eyes. She was embarrassed that her lie was caught and didn’t want to show her face.
‘He must think I’m really stupid.’
She was embarrassed about being caught and also blushing because Christan had almost fallen on her. She couldn’t show her face at all.
“Amel.”
Christan kept saying her name.
“Why…”
“I want to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
From Christan’s view, he could only see the top of her head and her red eyes. Even though it was a strange time to ask, he spoke anyway.
“Am I still an important person to you?”
Amel blinked for a moment. She didn’t know why he was suddenly asking, but she knew what to say.
“Of course you are.”
He still could only see her eyes, but that was enough to feel her true feelings. Her red eyes shined clearly.
“It’s not just important. You’re precious to me. So don’t think weird things, okay?”
Even though she was the one who made him worry, her words just seemed bold and cute to Christan.
‘This is serious…’
He thought to himself as he watched her. Amel had pulled the blanket down under her chin now, but her face was still red.
He memorized her face for a long time.
They would have to say goodbye again soon for their safety. Last time they parted after a party, things weren’t good. But now, Amel’s face was something he wanted to remember.
Amel spoke while he was still watching her.
“Anyway, I’ll be the one to meet Lady Esmeralda. That’s better.”
“Alright. I trust you.”
Christan nodded, and Amel smiled. Then, with a little groan, she tried to get up from bed. Christan quickly helped her.
“You really can’t stay still, can you?”
“You don’t know how much it bothers me to just lie here.”
Amel looked up at Christan, meeting his eyes.
“Why?”
“You’re going to leave again now, aren’t you?”
“Yes. When I finish collecting evidence, I have to report everyone involved.”
He answered firmly, like he always did in serious matters.
Amel stared at him, then quietly moved her hand to hold his fingers. Her small hand fit between his large, strong fingers. Christan’s look changed a little as he watched her.
Amel didn’t avoid his eyes and confidently asked,
“Then, before you go, please hug me once. I need something to help me stay strong when you’re gone.”
Even though she had lived just fine before meeting Christan, Amel spoke like she couldn’t live or even move without him. Her words were bold, but Christan couldn’t say no.
“Alright.”
Amel’s hand slid out of his and Christan hugged her tightly, being careful not to hurt her left arm. Their bodies relaxed in each other’s warmth, and Amel closed her eyes without realizing it.
She didn’t see Christan lower his head and gently kiss her hair, so lightly that no one could notice.
‘You’re not the only one who needs something to hold on to.’
They held each other for a long time, like lovers saying goodbye.
Amel and Leon left Siad territory before Christan and headed for the capital.
Since they’d made such a mess at White Rock Mountain, Amel was worried they might be wanted by the authorities, but luckily the guards let them pass without any trouble.
“Leon, go to the mansion first. I’m stopping by the Witch’s House. Come here, Camarin.”
With her arm hurt and no longer needing to travel with Leon, Amel decided to ride her broom. It only took half a day to reach the Witch’s House in the forest near the capital.
‘The broom is really the best.’
She gave some of the stone honey she’d collected to Lilith, then rode her broom back home. This way, she even beat Leon back to the mansion.
After giving Lilith some honey, Amel used the rest to make healing potion and drank it, so she took off her cast. She thought about throwing away the medicine from the doctor, but just left it in her room.
Once she finished all her small tasks, Amel sat at her desk with paper and pen. It was time to write a letter to Kiara Esmeralda.
“…This should be good enough.”
Amel checked her letter and smiled proudly. She felt good about writing so much to her “rival” Kiara.
“I wrote that we should meet alone… and that I can answer what she asked about at the party. Perfect.”
She hummed a song as she sealed the letter. She sent it and waited for a reply.
One day, while reading Kiara’s reply, Amel paused in surprise.
“…She wants me to come to her mansion?”
