I pulled his face closer, our lips brushing. A sweet smile curved his mouth. I parted my lips and bit his nose.
“Ow!”
I released him, his pained groan echoing. Bewilderment crossed his face.
“Why on earth…?”
“I don’t want to see you today.”
“W-What?”
He gaped, dumbfounded. I spun around, ignoring him.
“Wait, Bee!”
His footsteps chased after me as I strode away. I stopped, glaring back at him.
“Don’t follow me!”
I knew he wasn’t at fault, but his face fueled my anger.
Act 21: Trembling
The crackling of burning wood filled the quiet room. Lantt, frowning at the chessboard, cautiously moved a black knight.
“Not bad,” I said.
“Ha!”
His sharp move targeted my queen. I could delay with a few maneuvers, but her fall was inevitable.
My turn passed, and Lantt didn’t hesitate, capturing my queen with his knight.
“But…”
I moved a pawn at the edge of his side. It transformed into a new queen, flipping the game’s balance.
“You must always see the whole board.”
My new queen threatened his black king, cornered with no escape.
“Checkmate.”
“W-What?”
Lantt blinked, confused, then slumped as realization hit.
“I thought I’d win this time…”
“Close call.”
I pinched his cheek, its elasticity snapping back. His cheeks, growing plumper with age, were addictively satisfying to tease.
I should stop soon, but it’s not easy.
When Lantt came of age and became House Eliant’s heir, I’d lose this guilty pleasure. Though years away, I already felt reluctant.
“Your attacks are getting sharper—almost chilling.”
“But I still lost,” he said glumly.
Chess was as dear to Lantt as swordsmanship. I’d started teaching him, recalling that such games boost memory and focus in children.
It began as a whim, but he took to it well, lately surprising me with clever moves.
“It was razor-close today. Next time, I might lose.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
I stroked his back as he burrowed into my arms, smiling brightly. Too big to fit perfectly now, he was still my adorable puppy.
“…Sis.”
“What?”
Rubbing his face against me, he looked up. I smoothed his messy hair.
“Speak if you have something to say.”
He hesitated, lips twitching. I waited patiently. His smooth throat bobbed as he swallowed.
“Can’t you… not get married?”
His unexpected question startled me, but I hid it. He watched me, tense.
“You don’t want me to?”
“…Yes.”
“Why?”
“…”
He lowered his head, silent. I stroked his hair, asking gently, “Is there a reason?”
“…I want…”
“Hm?”
“I want to stay with you forever.”
“Marrying doesn’t mean I’ll leave you, Lantt.”
“But…”
He bowed his head, navy hair hiding his face.
“If you marry, you’ll leave this house, and I won’t see you every day.”
His trembling voice betrayed tears. I lifted his face. His doe-like brown eyes glistened. They tugged at my heart, just as they did when we first met. I wiped his damp eyes.
“We won’t live together, but we can see each other daily.”
“But…”
He shook his head, unconvinced.
Though young, he knew the palace wasn’t a place for casual visits.
“If you want, I’ll come home often,” I said firmly.
“…Really?”
He peered at me, unsure.
Marrying Sys and joining the imperial family would limit my freedom, but for my puppy, rules were trivial.
I tapped his cheek.
“Have I ever lied to you?”
He shook his head vigorously, his tense face softening with relief.
“If leaving the palace is hard, you could live there.”
“Can I?”
His eyes widened. It’d be troublesome, but for him, I’d manage.
Though I’ll need Sys’s help.
I pressed his head gently. His eyes curved happily.
“If Sys—His Highness—allows it, it’s possible.”
“…”
“So, try to be less prickly with him for now.”
His face fell instantly.
“…You knew?”
“Everyone does.”
His cheeks flushed.
Normally docile, Lantt turned feisty around Sys. No one in the estate missed it—his dislike was blatant.
At first, people watched their clashes nervously, but now they bet on who’d win.
They must’ve noticed Sys indulges him.
In truth, Sys just sank to Lantt’s level, acting childish himself.
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine. It’s cute.”
Lantt, usually mature, looked his age when pouting at Sys. It was endearing.
Sys seems to enjoy it too.
If Lantt’s attitude bothered him, Sys would’ve scolded him, not played along. As crown prince, he could call out Lantt’s rudeness, but his eyes held the fondness of an older brother doting on a younger one.
Though he’d never admit it.
I took Lantt’s hand, placing it on my lap. Once small and soft, it was now a man’s hand, calloused and strong.
