Nights of the Nobles IV

Even if he isn't holding mine any longer, I can still feel his hands. For some strange reason, the warmth of his breath makes me shudder. While sitting on the bed, I grabbed the blanket from my lap. He continues to laugh as I briefly close my eyes.

“You appear to be shivering. Lady Solstice, I do apologize for that brief moment," he pauses. He looks at the blanket before putting his hand to his mouth. He gives it a full minute of attention before feigning a cough.

However, I couldn't help but notice how his cheeks turned red. My eyebrows shot up when his hands reached out and gave my right hand a quick squeeze.

“If the coat you were wearing before slipped away from the balcony, would you mind forgiving me?” My eyes briefly expand before they immediately close. I even furrow my brows because I can't remember what happened earlier.

If some uncontrollable force had swept the coat while I was still conscious, I might have understood it, or perhaps I would also have understood the reason for the young man's apology.

"I hope I didn’t bother you with it, Sir--" when the young man I've come to know as Auster moves closer to my face. I'm unable to finish my words. Even the way his warm breath caresses my face makes my stomach tingle and form a knot.

"Lady Solstice, is it all okay if you just call me by my name, Auster from now on?" Before removing his hands and setting them on his lap, the young man offers my right hand one more light squeeze.

Has he been sitting next to my bed since before I woke up? I wonder. Is it just me, or does it appear like he hasn't moved from his seat? However, despite the fact that he is beaming broadly, I can make out a hint of sadness in his eyes.

He already stated that he has some crucial remarks to speak. But I can't ask because I don't want to continue being viewed as a meddling woman as I have been.

“Well, Lady Solstice, can you just state my name?” After waking up, I am unable to recognize it, but his voice seems compassionate, which makes me wonder what this person wants from me. Is it a result of my household? Is it my status as the crown prince's fiancé, or is there another reason?

“Milady, are you feeling alright?” He has gone so near to me that I’m shocked. He may be checking to see if I have a temperature when his hand unexpectedly touches my forehead. Whether I have a fever or not, Kaylla always gives herself these kinds of gestures, and he does the same.

"I assume you don't have a temperature, or can't my hands tell? Let me check it again then.”

“What——”

"Remain still, Lady Solstice. I assure you I won't harm you. Just have faith in me, okay?” I then gulp. My eyes continue to enlarge as I make an effort to avoid noticing how close to mine his green irises are.

He places his forehead on mine and rubs some of his hair off with his right hand to feel the warmth coming from me. Is this necessary to know someone's temperature? In my opinion, no.

According to what I understand about the manners of the noble etiquettes, men should respect and avoid approaching women. If they want to approach ladies, they should have some distance.

However, this young man challenges everything I've learned in the past and in the present.

Auster moves away from both of us and says, "Hmm, then I guess you don't have any fever then," while still grinning and winking at me.

"Sorry, but shouldn't you adhere to the nobility’s manners?" I ask. Despite the fact that my hands are trembling from holding the blanket, I finally manage to ask those questions.

The young man laughs once more before leaning closer to me. However, this time he moved somewhat farther away from my face.

“I believe you should be aware, Milady, that I typically do not adhere to decorum.”

I quickly blurted out, "Why?" I don't intend to speak, but I ask right away what I'm thinking.

I can sense some sincerity in his statements, "Because they are merely some forms of formality that I don't want to be causes for isolating myself from individuals I want to be close to." He seems to be already closing off to me.

He whispers, "I assume you wouldn't be able to know about me then," at the conclusion of his remarks. Why? He has given out an aura that I’ve already met him before I first met him earlier on the balcony, but am I the only one who can’t remember?

“Let's skip the formal greetings, Lady Solstice, as I'm not speaking to you in a formal manner as some other nobility do. Additionally, didn't I state that I had some significant words to say?”

***

“I've been looking everywhere for you, Milady, and I'm frightened that—-“ Sir Rutherford joined me on the side. Right now, we are inside the venue's door. Along with the laughs and words that some of the nobility had been conversing earlier, music began to play in my ears.

I look at Sir Rutherford while keeping the coat on my shoulders.

He pauses mid-sentence to glance at the warm piece of cloth I'm currently holding. He previously wore a navy-blue coat and gave it to me, but this one is different. It is a black coat with golden linings around the borders that appears to match my outfit exactly.

I have the same design as Auster’s clothes, didn't I state it earlier? Actually, now that I think about it, I wasn't able to know earlier. Only after he puts his coat on my back do I comprehend this.

“Lady Solstice?” I became conscious at once. Sir Rutherford, who was previously standing by my side, is now staring at me from the front.

I briefly lift both of my eyebrows, but I force myself to sigh when he continued to stare at the coat. I take his hand and lead him back to our table to help him understand.

I lead him to a seat by my side, cross my legs, and give him a sharp gaze.

I remain in that position for a full five seconds before sighing once more and shaking my head.

"Sir Rutherford, I suppose you're more worried about the coat I've misplaced than this lady getting lost, isn’t it right?” When I inquire, his eyes widen and he is finally able to turn his gaze away from the coat and toward me.

"I-I, Milady, how could I? Simply put, —- "

“Your coat is expensive, right?” I chuckle a little, but when I turn to look at him, he isn't even smiling. Instead, he seems solemn for a brief moment before looking away.

“You better come to my place after this event so I can compensate you for the coat, alright?” I pause and smile at him then continues, "Okay, I'll give you a new one.”

“It's not that, Milady.”

I then give the nicest smile I can muster, "Please, Sir Rutherford, let me at least make up for losing your coat," only to watch him bite his lower lip. I am entirely aware of that motion.

Biting one's lower lip indicates that the person has something they want to say but is unable to do it currently. I briefly blink before setting my elbows down at our table and bending over to face him.

“Do you know what bothers me most about people, Sir Rutherford?”

“No, Milady.”

“Those people that I find them having difficulty expressing some of the things they wish to communicate. So, Sir Rutherford if you have anything to say, please say it now.”

He sighed for a long time before turning to face me and then returning his gaze to the coat.

My eyes widen as I hear him say, "Milady, I think it's not proper to wear a coat that isn't from your fiancé."

“You gave me your coat earlier, didn't you?” I ask.

He responds softly, "I think it's okay to lend it to you since it's the coat his highness gave me," but his eyes are still fixed on my coat.

“In addition, Milady, where did you get this coat?” I’ll not lie this time, since he’s a knight that can sense if someone is lying or not.

“It's from Sir Auster Crese, whom I met earlier and who appeared to give it to me since I had misplaced your coat. I apologize, about it again Sir Rutherford.”

"No, Lady Solstice, it's fine. But the next time, I hope you'll be able to refuse any man's request except for his highness," he says firmly, and I tightly clutch the coat. Nevertheless, I grin at him. He’s eventually a loyal knight to Casimir

After some time, Sir Rutherford is addressed by someone. He gets up and leaves, and I stay seated, grinning and nodding to him.

But the words Auster said still linger in my mind.

A figure I had previously seen approaches me. His presence hangs over me like a shadow. He leans closer to my face and places his hands on the table.

He even shares Auster's green eyes and lime-blonde hair. This young man is already narrowing his eyes and laughing at me, with the only difference between them being their behavior.

“You're the woman my brother brought to one of the rooms earlier, right? You should count yourself fortunate that he used his title for a lady like you who is unknown to him.”

At that point, Auster's words keep coming back to me.

“Please stay far away from my younger brother as you can under any circumstances. I sincerely hope you will pardon me if he approaches you. He doesn't like any ladies that approach me. He'll never hurt the people I like, but he'll definitely threaten you.”

And I guess he’s indeed correct.

“Where did you get this coat, huh?”