MDIHC 24

〈024〉

“Um, can I sit in the front?”

Daniel, who had been silent all this time, spoke up for the first time at the puppet show theater. Hugging Tosoonie tightly, Daniel asked with slightly flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes.

“Of course! Where do you want to sit?”

As I nodded and gave permission, Daniel quickly moved his small legs and ran up to the front row.

‘So cute! A doll going to watch a puppet show!’

I watched fondly as Daniel hopped up onto a chair in the front row.

Then I, too, should go sit next to him…

“Ah!”

Just as I was about to walk toward Daniel, I suddenly stopped in my tracks. Realizing something, I froze. And beside me, Lord Winchester also came to a halt.

“Please wait here a moment.”

Leaving Lord Winchester behind, I walked over to Daniel.

“Daniel, can you sit here quietly and watch the show on your own? Your father and I will be watching you from back there.”

Though he looked a bit uneasy, the assurance that we’d be watching seemed to comfort him. He nodded while clutching Tosoonie tightly. Finding him too cute, I patted his head once and returned to Lord Winchester.

“We should sit to the side or at the back.”

He seemed slightly puzzled that I didn’t want to sit with Daniel, but soon nodded in agreement.

I chose a seat toward the back edge where we could still see Daniel well. Since it wasn’t a formal theater but a makeshift one set up by a traveling troupe, the chairs were small and closely packed. Lord Winchester, being quite large, ended up sitting very close to me.

Through our touching arms, I could feel Lord Winchester’s lukewarm body heat. As I subtly pulled my arm inward, I sensed him glancing at me.

Worried it might look like I was intentionally avoiding him, I reluctantly relaxed my arm again. Immediately, his firm arm brushed against mine. It was just our arms touching, but the presence of it felt overwhelming.

“Was that out of consideration?”

Just before the curtain rose, Lord Winchester asked softly.

“If we sit in the front, the little children behind us wouldn’t be able to see.”

Among the children gathered in the front rows, Daniel was looking up at the stage with sparkling eyes. The other children were just as excited.

“We didn’t come here for our own entertainment. It’ll probably seem childish to us anyway.”

“You are—”

“Wow~ We have so many friends here today! Hello! I’m Rabbit!”

“Waaaaah!”

“It’s starting!”

“Waaaaah!”

As the curtain rose and a cute rabbit puppet popped out, the children erupted in cheers. Because of that, I couldn’t hear what Lord Winchester was saying.

“Sorry? What did you say?”

Trying to hear him again, I leaned toward him. But even then, all I could hear were the happy, high-pitched voices of children—not his deep voice.

“I can’t hear you, Lord Winchester.”

I leaned closer, even tilting my face so my ear was right by his mouth. Now, there wasn’t even the slightest gap between us.

That was when it happened.

“Miss Neary?”

A low voice whispered in my ear. Along with the word, his warm breath entered through the curve of my ear, and I instinctively froze.

Goosebumps broke out on my arms, and the hairs on my body stood on end.

“Miss Neary, you—”

Completely unaware of my reaction, Lord Winchester continued whispering. His breath and low voice slipped straight into my ear, unfiltered.

“Ahhhhh!”

Without thinking, I covered my ears with my hands and shot up from my seat with a loud scream.

I could feel everyone’s eyes turning toward me. Even Lord Winchester, who was sitting right next to me, looked up in slight surprise. Daniel’s innocent eyes were also fixed on me.

“Ah, um, uh, ah!”

To their silent, questioning stares, I couldn’t possibly say it—that my husband whispering my name in my ear made me… feel something.

“R-Rabbit is so! Cute!”

I raised my hand high and waved at the stage.

“Go, Rabbit! Hahaha~!”

I cheered loudly and exaggeratedly laughed while waving at the puppet. Then, trying to act natural, I slowly slid back into my seat and bowed my head low to hide my face from everyone.

“……”

I could feel Lord Winchester’s gaze stabbing into the top of my head, but I couldn’t lift my face. My cheeks were burning.

“It was fun!”

After the puppet show ended, Daniel shared his thoughts. Even if he hadn’t said it, his flushed face and higher-pitched voice clearly showed how much he enjoyed it.

“Really? I’m glad.”

Smiling, I took his hand. The theater was chaotic with people trying to leave, so I held his hand tightly to make sure we didn’t get separated.

“Where’s Lord Winchester…”

Now that I thought about it, he wasn’t beside me. He was definitely there just a moment ago.

“He’s over there.”

Daniel pointed with the hand that was holding Tosoonie. Sure enough, Lord Winchester was standing exactly where he pointed. Despite the crowd, he was easy to spot with his tall figure sticking out above the rest.

“Lord Winchester?”

As I got closer, I realized he was standing at a stall. The colorful puppets from the show were lined up there, and cute animal-shaped snacks were being sold in charming boxes.

“How about it, Daniel? Should I buy you a puppet as a keepsake?”

“No, I’m fine. I have Tosoonie.”

Aww~ He’s loyal to his plushie, too! How is he so adorable in every way?

“These two, please.”

“Ah! Lord Winchester. Daniel says he’s fine.”

He had picked out a snack and a puppet to buy, and I quickly tried to stop him. It seemed he hadn’t heard Daniel earlier due to the noise. I looked apologetically at the seller, but he pretended not to hear and promptly handed the items to Lord Winchester.

But refunds are a customer’s right!

Just as I was about to return the puppet, saying it wasn’t needed, the puppet was suddenly handed toward me.

“?”

Was he asking me to give it to Daniel? Maybe he was too shy to hand it over himself. But when I looked to the side, Daniel was already holding the snack.

What’s going on?

“You liked it, didn’t you?”

“Huh?”

I blinked in surprise at Lord Winchester’s words.

When did I ever? Honestly, I found the storyline too clean and predictable—I nearly fell asleep!

My taste runs more toward tear-jerking adult romance or chaotic melodramas…

“Rabbit, fighting! Hahaha~!”

Suddenly, it came rushing back. The goosebumps I got when he whispered in my ear, the moment I leapt to my feet. And to cover it up, I had pretended to be a child completely absorbed in the puppet show.

And the puppet I cheered for—was the exact same one he was now handing me.

“W-Well, yes, but… I’m a little too old to be getting a puppet as a gift…”

“……”

Lord Winchester paused at my words. His gaze flickered between the puppet and me. He said nothing, but I could feel his awkwardness.

“N-No, it’s fine. Thank you, Lord Winchester!”

Feeling bad that he had gone out of his way, I quickly accepted the puppet from his hand. Smiling awkwardly, I hugged the puppet to my chest and thanked him. Lord Winchester responded with a slight nod.

“I’ll treasure it.”

Maybe because the number of lies I’d told him was growing, but my heart pounded where it touched the puppet.