Chapter 11
“Leon, what’s that over there?”
“A tree!”
“That’s right! That’s called a Linea Tree. It looks like that all year round. That’s why in the capital it’s called the Ghost Tree. While other trees sprout new leaves in spring and summer, this one stays bare like that.”
“Really?”
It was winter, and the only things to see were the snow that had fallen yesterday and the leafless trees buried beneath it, yet the two of them looked amazed and fascinated, as if seeing the scenery for the first time, chatting excitedly.
Suddenly, they heard someone walking from the other side of the garden. Leon turned his head and shouted:
“Ah, big brother!”
Following Leon’s voice, Grace looked and saw Arthur wearing a black mask.
Unlike his usual uniform, he wore something more casual. Arthur awkwardly raised a hand in response to Leon’s greeting.
Grace stared at him blankly. When his gaze turned toward her, she awkwardly lowered her eyes.
It was only natural. That night, during their walk, he had told her not to get too close, and now this was the first time they met since. The tension from their thoughtless words made the situation even more awkward than their first encounter.
Seeing Grace like that, Arthur’s mouth tightened awkwardly, but he soon relaxed his expression as he watched Leon run toward him.
“Are you done with work, big brother?”
“Yes. I’ve finished the urgent matters.”
“Then let’s go for a walk with me and sister-in-law!”
Leon grabbed Arthur’s cloak excitedly, chattering. Arthur gently ruffled his hair as he replied.
Grace, watching this tender interaction, couldn’t help but relax. Then Leon’s next words made her eyes widen.
Arthur seemed just as surprised by Leon’s suggestion, and his heterochromatic eyes gleamed strangely beneath the mask.
Slowly, he turned his head to look at Grace, and their gazes met again.
Facing Arthur’s deep, intense eyes, Grace felt her expression stiffen once more.
Arthur’s mouth tightened awkwardly in response. Unlike before, he avoided her gaze, looking down at Leon clinging to him.
“Thanks for the suggestion, Leon…”
“…Is it not allowed?”
Arthur’s gentle attempt to refuse made Leon’s face fall instantly.
Leon gripped Arthur’s cloak tightly, looking up at him pleadingly. Arthur, a little embarrassed, replied:
“I don’t mind, but your sister-in-law might feel uncomfortable.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Is it uncomfortable to walk with big brother? Sister-in-law?”
This time, Leon’s pleading gaze turned to Grace.
Grace looked down at Leon, who had come close and was clinging to the hem of her dress, his little face upturned.
Indeed, walking with Arthur was slightly uncomfortable, but refusing him while seeing Leon’s almost tearful, pouting face made her hesitate.
‘Ah, what should I do?’
After briefly glancing between Arthur’s impassive face and Leon clinging to her dress, Grace sighed softly. She bent down slightly toward Leon and said:
“No, Leon. It’s not uncomfortable.”
“Then we can walk with big brother and sister-in-law?”
“…Uh? Y-Yes. Let’s go. For a walk.”
“Wow! Thank you!”
Grace’s hesitant approval made Leon’s frown turn into a bright smile. She smiled back, relieved to see him so happy.
Seeing him so delighted, Grace thought it had been right to indulge his whim. She ruffled his hair, and Leon laughed even more brightly before turning to Arthur and shouting:
“Big brother! Come here! Let’s walk together!”
Arthur paused for a moment at that and then slowly walked toward Grace and Leon.
When he stopped about a step away from Grace, Leon, beaming, positioned himself between them and held out his small hands.
“Hands! Let’s hold hands while walking! Okay?”
Before Arthur or Grace could respond, Leon grabbed both their hands tightly. His wide, round eyes looked up at them, urging them to start walking together.
Now, Arthur and Grace were awkwardly standing side by side, holding Leon between them.
“…Shall we go, my lady?”
“…Ah, yes.”
Grace nodded, still a bit dazed, at Arthur’s hesitant encouragement.
Arthur stepped forward first. Leon, eager, followed, tugging Grace’s hand. Grace carefully moved, walking beside Arthur.
“Hehe.”
Thus began the most awkward walk the two adults had ever taken.
Walking slowly through the snow-covered garden in silence, Arthur and Grace felt tense, while Leon laughed out loud, shaking the hands of the two adults as he walked between them.
It was the most anticipated time of day for Leon—the walk with his favorite sister-in-law, accompanied by his favorite older brother. He couldn’t be happier.
Seeing Leon laugh so freely, Grace smiled involuntarily.
“You really like it, Leon?”
“Yes! I really like it! It feels like a dream!”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
Leon grinned, showing his teeth. Grace, smiling gently at his joy, happened to glance at Arthur—and was startled once more.
For the first time, he smiled softly, a rare expression she hadn’t seen.
Even behind the black mask, his lips curved gently, and his red-and-blue heterochromatic eyes sparkled like jewels. Grace stopped walking, staring at him in awe.
“Ah!”
At that moment, unaware that Grace had stopped, Leon lost his balance while walking ahead excitedly. Grace gasped at his cry.
“Oh my! Leon!”
“Whoa!”
Grace twisted her body and sat down swiftly, catching the stumbling Leon before he hit the ground.
She planned to absorb the impact herself before he fell. Even if her dress got dirty from the melting snow or she hit the ground, it didn’t matter.
“…!”
Yet she felt no impact at all.
Confused, Grace looked down and saw Leon half-cradled in her arms, while Arthur’s strong arms held both of them tightly.
Her cheeks instantly heated, and she let out a shriek.
“Eek!”
“…Stay still. If you struggle, we might all fall.”
Arthur spoke gently, trying to calm her. Then he lifted them slowly with his arms, taking care not to jostle them, and stepped back slightly. Once he released them, he looked at them carefully and asked:
“Are you alright, my lady? Are you hurt anywhere? Leon, are you hurt anywhere?”
“Yes, I’m fine, big brother.”
“….”
“…My lady?”
Leon, composed in her arms, answered obediently, but Grace remained dazed. Arthur asked again, and Grace finally snapped back to her senses.
“…Yes? Ah, I’m fine.”
“Are you really alright? Your face is very red. If anything’s wrong, I should summon the doctor—”
“N-No! I-I’m fine! My cheeks are just… I was surprised because you suddenly held me, I mean us…!”
Arthur’s worried gaze made Grace’s face grow even redder as she stammered her explanation.
He awkwardly stiffened his expression.
“…I apologize. If you were startled by me touching your body, I’m truly sorry.”
“…No. It couldn’t be helped.”
“Still…”
“Really, really, I’m fine.”
Grace waved off his polite apology. When she refused to accept further apologies, Arthur finally fell silent.
“….”
Once again, an awkward silence settled between them. Grace lowered her gaze, watching the top of Leon’s head cradled in her arms, while Arthur looked away, his mouth stiff.
