It felt as though time had momentarily stopped, Sylvia thought.
She couldn’t even remember what she had just heard, and after a long while, she finally regained her senses and struggled to recall what had been said, eventually recognizing it.
However, even after recognizing it, her mind didn’t immediately return from wherever it had gone off to.
The words Kyle had spoken were so shocking to her that Sylvia remained in a daze for quite some time, and when she finally came to, her mouth was opening and closing like a goldfish in a tank, struggling to speak.
“‘Stay by my side,’ what does that even mean…?”
Her face, without her even realizing it, had turned red from the almost confessional words.
Why was he saying such sweet, almost overly sentimental things at a time like this?
Her mind, filled with questions, was thrown into confusion as the words he had just spoken echoed in her head.
“It’s exactly as I said. Would you mind staying with me a little longer instead of leaving for the castle tomorrow? Princess.”
“……”
She hadn’t heard wrong.
She had assumed it was a mistake, thinking maybe she was just too drunk on the moonlit night to process things correctly, but the way Kyle repeated his words without changing a single syllable left Sylvia speechless.
At some point, the beautiful scenery of the garden around her no longer caught her attention.
It felt as though the world had been reduced to just her and Kyle.
‘This isn’t something someone like him would say.’
However, as her rational thoughts started to return, Sylvia began to sense something strange.
Although she couldn’t say she knew everything about Kyle, she was confident she understood his personality quite well.
And because of this, Sylvia knew that he wasn’t the type of person who would say such sweet things to a woman’s face.
No, to be more precise, he wasn’t the type to intentionally speak in such a way to capture a woman’s heart.
She firmly believed there was some hidden meaning behind his words that she didn’t understand.
“Is it alright if I ask why?”
“… There’s no particular reason.”
A lie.
“That’s a lie.”
For a moment, Sylvia’s thoughts and the words that slipped out of her mouth overlapped.
Of course, it wasn’t that Kyle’s acting was awkward.
He genuinely looked as though there was no reason at all, simply shaking his head with his usual indifferent expression.
The only reason Sylvia was able to recognize Kyle’s lie was her intuition as a woman.
For some reason, whenever Kyle lied, she could just tell, without any concrete reason or evidence.
Even though she was sure there wasn’t any special ability behind it.
Perhaps, she thought half-jokingly, there was some other kind of perception that only worked with him, hidden in her other eye.
“Why do you think it’s a lie?”
“Good question. I don’t really know either. But if I had to find a reason…”
Sylvia started, stepping closer to him. She was so close that she could see her reflection in Kyle’s eyes.
“… When I see Lord Lyard, who always seems so strong, speaking to me so desperately, asking me not to leave, it makes it hard to believe that there’s no reason behind it.”
“I see.”
Kyle nodded calmly, but deep down, he felt a bit hit by her words.
Though he had tried to hide his expression, did she feel the sincerity in his words?
No, maybe it was natural.
Even someone with no emotions would likely reveal their true face if they feared their most precious treasure might be harmed.
“Well, even so, I think it’s a bit much to make such a request without providing any reason.”
‘So I really can’t keep her here, can I?’
As Sylvia continued speaking, Kyle realized his mistake and bit his lip lightly.
She was right.
In this situation, where he couldn’t explain anything, provide a reason, or give any background, how could he expect anyone to accept such a request?
Not to mention, she had important plans ahead.
From Sylvia’s point of view, it was a crucial schedule that could change her life.
In effect, asking her to cancel that and stay here was an unreasonable request.
‘I’ll have to find another way.’
As Kyle nodded, determined to find another approach, Sylvia spoke up.
“Ha ha, just kidding. If Lord Lyard really wants that, I’ll stay here, so don’t worry.”
“……!”
Sylvia, who had stepped up so close, carefully took his right hand and lifted it to her chest while offering a gentle smile. This left Kyle wide-eyed in surprise.
“I’m sorry for confusing you. But since Lord Lyard suddenly tried to stir a woman’s heart with such words, I thought you deserved a little punishment.”
Seeing her mischievous smile, Kyle didn’t feel dumbfounded or disappointed.
He just felt confused.
Why was that?
What was I thinking that made me so willing to nod along to his words without hearing any explanation?
As layers of confusion filled his mind, Sylvia, who had read his expression, let out a small laugh and spoke.
“I think I understand what Lord Lyard is trying to say this time. You look like you want to ask why, don’t you?”
Kyle silently nodded in agreement at her ability to read his thoughts.
Sylvia’s slender yet warm hand, which had wrapped around his cold one, felt as though it was gently comforting his heart, making his chest feel oddly ticklish.
“It’s simple. It’s the first time Lord Lyard has wanted me.”
“…Is that really all?”
“Is that all? To me, it’s a very important thing.”
She smiled brightly, then removed her hand and distanced herself, turning her back to the bright full moon that had risen behind her, clasping her hands behind her back as she spun in a circle.
“Lord Lyard said at the beginning that we were in a contractual relationship. That we were together because it benefited both of us.”
“Yes.”
Kyle nodded slightly, still in surprise as she repeated his words exactly.
“But if you think about it, Lord Lyard has benefited me, but I haven’t given him anything in return yet. Don’t you think that’s a bit unfair?”
“However, Princess, that’s…”
Kyle tried to respond to her nonchalant words but couldn’t find the words.
Sylvia, with a wink and a finger to her lips, silenced him.
“Lord Lyard really has no sense, does he? Sometimes, when a woman makes a clumsy excuse, it’s a virtue to pretend you didn’t notice.”
Only then did Kyle start to understand Sylvia’s thoughts.
From the beginning, she had guessed that Kyle had his own reasons, but she had kept it to herself because she knew that bringing it up would make him uncomfortable.
Rather than question the reasons, she was simply saying she would follow his will.
For a while, the two of them gazed at each other in silence.
Breaking the stillness, it was Sylvia who spoke first.
With the mischievous smile she always wore, she approached Kyle, who had been standing with his hands behind his back, and spoke in a tone that had a certain teasing quality.
“But since I’m going to be fulfilling Lord Lyard’s request, there should be something in return, don’t you think?”
“What do you want?”
Kyle knew that this was a fallacy.
After all, only moments ago, she had been the one receiving from him, and now, to suddenly ask for something in return was illogical.
Nonetheless, Kyle nodded nonchalantly.
He understood that this was Sylvia’s way of trying to make him feel comfortable about her request.
Clearly pleased with his response, Sylvia smiled even brighter than the full moon behind her and extended her hand gently, as though she were preparing to dance at a ball.
Normally, the man would extend his hand first, but they both knew that neither of them cared about such trivial formalities.
“Even though the moon is bright, it feels a little lonely to take a walk alone. May I ask for your escort?”
“Of course.”
Kyle, who accepted her request without hesitation, took her hand, and at that moment, Sylvia’s face bloomed with joy.
Upon seeing this, Kyle couldn’t help but be drawn to her, and for the first time, his eyes didn’t wander to any of the flowers in the garden, which today seemed particularly bright under the moonlight.
No, perhaps it was inevitable.
After all, in his life, there had always been only one flower that truly mattered, and it would continue to be that way forever.