I don't know on what impulse I did it. I couldn't control myself and suddenly kissed Cesar on the cheek.
This is one of the popular greetings in the capital, but only for really close relationships such as parents, siblings, or lovers.
Of course, since I've never done this before, I was worried about whether it would be awkward or not.
A kiss on the cheek is not about placing your lips directly on the skin, but rather bringing your lips close to the cheek and making a sound.
Of course my head tilted closer, but when I couldn't feel the touch, Cesar looked confused. I gently raised my eyebrows a few times at the spot I just kissed, and a deep pit appeared on his cheek.
Slowly, his eyes locked on me. A quiet silence spread between us.
Cesar was clumsy and rarely spoke for long, but his emotions were always clear in his eyes.
At first I couldn't guess what he was thinking, but now it was clear: like it or not, Cesar couldn't hide his feelings.
So, even if I didn't say anything, I could easily guess his thoughts. At this moment, what I felt from Cesar was clear admiration.
Things that speak for him: the corners of his eyes curl up when looking at me, his eyes sparkle, or his cheeks turn pink.
“T-this… is the popular greeting in that capital.”
Suddenly, I felt thirsty. The throat feels like it's filled with sand and is dry. Maybe that's why I try to explain, not like excuses. Then Cesar slowly brought his face closer.
"EH?"
Before I could react, his lips touched my cheek. Not just the sound of a fake kiss like me, but actually a real kiss.
My cheeks perked up, my lips naturally curved. Then another kiss touched the other cheek. Voice
little
resonates clearer than before.
"S-so... it's just a greeting, right? How do you know to do both sides..."
I was confused, trying to pull Cesar away a little. Yes, I just showed him how to say hello, that's all. Why are my cheeks so hot?
Probably because his face is so handsome. Furthermore, I have never faced people of my own age directly, never had a frank conversation.
So, I just want to believe that it's all because Cesar is so handsome, always entering my space without any hesitation.
“Ren, that's good.”
"EH?"
I understand that this "good" does not mean liking me in a romantic way. I laughed softly, wondering what I was so confused about.
“I like it too.”
He spoke frankly, without any hesitation. Of course, Cesar sometimes scares me and sometimes hurts me, but…
“I like it.”
“I like it.”
We kept repeating those two words, like idiots who only know how to say "like." A warm feeling arose in my heart, and I naturally smiled non-stop.
Outside the window, the night was still thick.
“Let's go back to sleep…”
Suddenly, I felt afraid that if I closed my eyes, I would fall into that terrible nightmare again. So, I didn't have the heart to tell Cesar to go back to his room.
“Don't come any closer.”
His presence made me feel more secure, but my mouth still kept repeating unreasonable, angry sentences.
"Cesar has a room. If you're afraid of sleeping alone…."
His room is right across from mine, so no matter what happens, we're close so we don't have to look for each other at night.
Of course, even though I said that, he still didn't listen. But I have to remind him to let him know that even husband and wife need to have limits.
“…Call me?”
"EH?"
"Call."
“Me?”
Cesar nodded vigorously. Could it be that I was talking in my sleep during a nightmare? Also a bit embarrassing.
“Why did I talk nonsense while sleeping?”
"Are not."
But you knew I was calling?
"Call."
It's the same old saying again. Sometimes Cesar speaks in a difficult way to understand.
“Ah, I guess I already called.”
"YES."
I found the further confrontation ridiculous, so I gave up. I can only agree with him.
“So you came to save me?”
He sighed and nodded. The adorable gesture made me laugh.
“Thanks for waking me up.”
"YES."
We hugged each other for a long time. Eyes heavy with tension are relieved. I slowly leaned my head on the pillow.
The warmth of his body crept between his arms. Now I'm used to it, if I didn't have it, I would feel empty.
Before, I was afraid to sleep, but now I feel secure. If you sleep like this, you probably won't have nightmares anymore.
If I had a nightmare, Cesar would probably wake me up again. Thinking that, I drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, when he woke up, the place where Cesar was lying was empty. His sudden disappearance sometimes happens, so I don't find it strange.
I called Delfina out to prepare for the morning. Mercedes also did not appear.
“Where is Mrs. Aronzo?”
Delfina smiled disdainfully. I said I didn't need any more help, but she hasn't appeared since then, so I'm understandably curious.
“She hasn't left her room since morning.”
“I see.”
That was the first time I heard about Mercedes since we broke up.
I glanced up at the ceiling, thinking. Mercedes looks gentle and quiet on the outside, but sometimes reveals unexpected features. Her darkness sometimes makes others worry.
I feel like she's hiding another side that I don't know yet.
“What kind of person is Mrs. Aronzo?”
As Delfina wiped my face, her hand suddenly stopped and she lowered her head. She seemed to have difficulty speaking.
“She…”
She seemed to weigh every word.
“Tell the truth.”
I added that sentence to reassure her.
“She… cares a lot about His Highness.”
Everyone knows this. So Delfina understood that I didn't need to hear the obvious. Her eyes trembled slightly.
“Sometimes that love is too much…”
“I see.”
Excessive love. Exactly how I feel. There's clearly a reason for her to say that.
“Did Mrs. Aronzo ever do something?”
“That…”
Delfina hesitated a few times, then decided to speak.
“Before His Royal Highness entered the palace, his previous fiancées were also present.”
"Right."
I temporarily forgot that Cesar used to have a fiancee. Up to four people have passed away. Delfina reminded me that I was the fifth person.
“I didn't meet them all, but I heard about how Mrs. Aronzo treated them.”
The four former fiancées stayed at the palace to learn pre-wedding etiquette, and were always in conflict with Mercedes.
"Especially, when the fourth fiancee, the daughter of the Feregrino family, caused chaos at the ceremony, Mrs. Aronzo was very angry."
"Rebel?"
“Yes, saying you can't get married causes chaos everywhere.”
The Feregrino family is one of the most prestigious lineages, on par with Flores. But that name is familiar…
'The only daughter of the Feregrino family has to marry a fool like him!'
Sure enough, this guy appeared in last night's dream. And the situation also coincides.
So is that dream a memory of the girl Feregrino? But why is that so?
Is it just a meaningless dream?
“Definitely Feregrino…”
Realizing that, I shivered. Along with dizziness and blackness before my eyes, I groaned softly. Cold sweat poured down like rain.
“Your Highness, your face is so pale.”
Delfina quickly brought the jar of vinegar and brought it to my nose. The pungent smell woke me up, but the unpleasant feeling remained.
“T-thank you.”
I have encountered a similar situation before. I looked into Delfina's dark brown eyes.
That was the dream she had the night before she was falsely accused. Thanks to that dream, I discovered who really stole the treasure.
Maybe…