#31.
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“Nothing. Just thinking, if it were you, you’d do something like that. Others might call it foolish, but I think it’s admirable. Ah, and of course, the fool I’m talking about here is you, sis.”
“…You keep calling me a fool, huh?”
I flicked Kan on the head. He’d been teasing me nonstop for a while now. He rubbed the spot where he was hit, looking like he was about to cry.
“What the heck! Why’d you hit me?!”
“Because you deserved it?”
Kan made a terribly wronged face. The old-man act from earlier had vanished, and he was back to whining like his usual self.
For a moment, I wondered if he had split personalities. It seemed like the roleplay had finally ended. Maybe today’s act was “cheeky little brother.” I thought he was holding up longer than usual, but as expected, with kids, all it takes is a little poke and their true selves come out.
Was it okay for a prince to be this careless? The way he came here all the time without any guards suggested he was pretty confident in his own skills. I was sure he could’ve dodged my flick easily if he wanted to, but he always just let it happen.
“What did I even do!”
“Figure it out yourself.”
“Noona!”
Too lazy to explain why I hit him, I flopped onto the ground. I ignored him even as he kept grumbling by my side, throwing rocks into the lake with a pout.
Kan probably didn’t mean anything by what he said, but the story he told me about the genius lingered in my heart. It was as if I could understand that genius’s feelings. It was just… so pitiful, it kept circling in my mind.
I wondered what that genius chose to do after learning the truth. I silently hoped the ending I hadn’t heard wasn’t a tragic one.
Gale kicked his feet under the blanket, remembering the last day of the festival. His behavior that day was the reason for his current frustration.
That night, the moonlight had been particularly dazzling, and Sharon—standing in it—looked even more breathtaking. And so, without thinking, he blurted out what was in his heart.
“I fell for you at first sight. Please be my fiancée.”
“…What?”
Sharon had looked completely caught off guard. Naturally so—it was only their second meeting, and suddenly he was proposing.
Even Gale thought he’d acted too rashly. Honestly, he could hardly believe himself for falling so quickly. He shouldn’t have looked into her eyes. They were too beautiful, and he spoke without filtering himself.
Winning a woman’s heart usually required patience—but Gale didn’t have the luxury for that. That’s how deeply he’d fallen for Sharon. She was three years older than him, but he didn’t care about that.
As the melody shifted, their bodies, which had been closely aligned, parted slightly as they continued the dance steps.
Sharon felt the hand holding hers grow clammy. Gale’s palm was drenched with sweat. Sharon looked at the man in front of her, wondering what the heck was going on.
Her silence made Gale nervous. The song was ending soon.
“What is it that you want?”
“Huh?”
“This is only our second meeting. I’m not the kind of naive woman who falls for romantic lines like ‘love at first sight.’”
At that moment, Gale felt an invisible wall go up between them. He had no idea what he’d said that upset her.
All he wanted was Sharon’s affection—nothing more. But she looked at him as if he’d approached her with ulterior motives. Guess it made sense, considering she was his older sister’s friend—she had similar walls.
“It’s a misunderstanding. I’m sincere.”
“I can’t believe you. All the other men approached me like that, too.”
Gale suddenly remembered what a servant had told him about why Sharon was still unengaged. It wasn’t that she never had a fiancé—one of her past fiancés had been caught trying to use her for personal gain and had his title stripped. Since then, she’d been alone.
Sharon looked at him like a wounded deer fiercely trying to survive. And yet Gale found her beautiful even in that moment. He also grew curious about that nameless ex-fiancé who had hurt her.
If the man ever appeared, he felt like avenging Sharon himself.
Gale looked at her with warmth. Sharon’s gaze wavered.
“I’m not like those other men.”
“…That’s a cliché line too.”
“Sharon, I’m a Sharligan. I already have everything. Why would I need to use you for anything?”
Sharon couldn’t say anything to that. Gale was looking at her with eyes full of love, calling her name so naturally—even though she never gave him permission.
As the music ended, Gale brought her hand to his lips in a courteous kiss.
“I don’t like you because you’re a Bernique. I like you because you’re Sharon.”
Was there ever a man who charged ahead this recklessly?
Only one thought kept circling in Sharon’s mind—I need to get away from this man, fast. If I don’t, I’ll really fall for him. I’ll be foolish and believe again… and get hurt again.
Hiding her blushing face, Sharon fled. She regretted not refusing his dance invitation in the first place.
Gale watched her retreating figure with a red face. A kiss on the hand was standard etiquette, but it felt like she saw right through his intentions.
He usually found such customs tedious, but today, he was thankful for them. Gale raised his hand to his lips and smiled faintly.
His memories ended there, and once again, Gale buried his flushed face into the pillow, kicking his feet frantically.
And then his thoughts went in a completely wrong direction.
She must be mad that I spoke informally even though I’m younger! I tried to sound cool and called her “Sharon”! I’m doomed! Doomed!
Gale was 15 years old. If Sharon knew how immature his thoughts were, she probably wouldn’t have run off.
He wasn’t the type to think things through. He just acted. With zero dating experience, he despaired over the weirdest things.
“What are you doing?”
At that moment, Roni—who had entered his room despite no response to her knocking—called out to him. Gale peeked out from the blanket, startled.
“N-Noona!”
“What’ve you been doing under the blanket all this time? Your face is bright red.”
Roni looked suspicious. Gale debated whether to tell her about Sharon or not.
Did Sharon mention anything to Noona? Was she mad? He was getting anxious.
“Uh, well, just…”
“No way… don’t tell me—?”
“W-What?!”
Did Sharon tell her about the confession?
Gale nervously waited for Roni’s next words, swallowing dryly. Roni looked at him and slowly nodded, then smiled kindly.
“Right, you’re 15 now. Sorry—I should’ve figured you were doing what every teenage boy does under the covers.”
“…What?”
“Next time, lock the door, okay? Oh, and don’t forget to keep tissues nearby.”
With that, Roni left the room. Gale sat there stunned, trying to figure out what she meant. Why lock the door? What for?
And then it hit him.
He burst out of the blanket and chased after her, yelling,
“That’s NOT what it was! Noona!”
“It’s okay to be honest, Gale. I’m happy to see you growing up. You’re a man now.”
Roni clearly had no intention of listening. Gale’s face was still red, and sweat trickled down his forehead from the heat—no wonder she misunderstood.
Gale didn’t care that Roni misunderstood. The problem was… she was Sharon’s friend.
“Ugh, please! Just don’t tell Sharon about this!”
“Huh? Why bring up Sharon now? Wait—you didn’t… not with my friend…?”
“No! No way! Say one more word and I’m seriously gonna be mad!”
Gale glared seriously at her.
Whoa, look at you throwing dagger eyes at your sister now that there’s a girl in your life?
To be honest, Roni didn’t actually think he was doing anything weird. It was obvious he was just having a “blanket-kicking” moment.
She figured Sharon must’ve been the cause of it and wanted to tease him a little. Just a big sister messing with her little brother.
After the festival, Sharon had started asking subtle questions about Gale. Not directly, but obviously him.
She’d been pretending it was about “some guy,” asking things like, “Are guys usually that straightforward?” or “Do they fall for anyone so easily?” and “Is your brother like that?”
It was obvious.
Roni looked at Gale fondly. He frowned, clearly annoyed by her gaze. Maybe she’d teased him too much—perhaps she should help him out a bit.
“I was thinking of going to Lord Ian’s party with you, but now that you’re being all grumpy with me… never mind. I guess I’ll go to Sharon’s house alone.”
