TYHL 77

~Chapter 77~

“Blanket… coat! Quilt!”

Boyd came running with armfuls of furry coats, blankets, and throws, piling them up like a mountain.

But when he faced me, he just trembled, unable to actually cover me with anything.

“W-what if the coat’s too heavy and it crushes my little sister flat?”

What’s wrong with him?

“I’m not made of bubbles.”

“Gasp—! I didn’t know! Liam, did you hear that?”

…Can Boyd even speak normally anymore?

I puffed my cheeks and shouted, annoyed.

“Just a few days ago, I was spinning like a windmill when we played! Why are you acting like this!”

“Right… what have I done…”

Boyd staggered, looking as if his whole world had collapsed.

That one’s hopeless.

Seriously sick.

I shook my head firmly and turned away without hesitation. But the moment I took a step—

“Where are you going?”

Two broad, dark backs blocked my view.

“We’ll guarantee you comfort with our wide backs, little fairy.”

“Ruby’s used to my back!”

“Wow, unbelievable.”

Ugh, exhausting.

I ignored both of them completely and walked out. Sparks practically flew between my brothers’ eyes, while Hazel, watching from the side, stifled her laughter behind her hand.

Hmph. I’ll just go find my backup battery! Where is he hiding?

“Khal—ah!”

I stumbled when I flung open the door too quickly.

Because there he was—standing stiffly like an old tree, a shadow right beside the doorway.

“Careful.”

Khalid caught me before I tripped. I blinked up at him.

“You were right here at the door? Why didn’t you come inside…”

His dark, gloomy face made me frown.

No way.

“…Don’t tell me you’ve been standing here this whole time?”

Usually Khalid never avoided my eyes, but now he turned his gaze away.

“Don’t say you’ve been here for days!”

“…”

He didn’t answer.

Khalid even pulled his hand away from my shoulder and stepped back.

Crash. The shock hit me hard. Khalid never pushed me away first.

Inside, it felt like thunder and lightning cracked across my chest.

“You—you! Why won’t you look at me?”

“…”

“You’re not talking just because I told you not to? I asked if you’ve been here this whole time!”

“…If I answer, I’ll end up lying. So I won’t say anything. Don’t ask.”

He gave a cold reply, lips pressed tight, eyes lowered, refusing to meet mine.

“He’s been reflecting,”

came a voice behind me.

Two dark-haired heads peeked out of the door crack side by side like peas in a pod.

“Reflecting? About what?”

I didn’t even need to ask. His drenched-puppy face told me enough.

I bit my lip and glared at Khalid.

“Look at me. …Cough, cough!”

At my cough, Khalid’s head snapped around. His face drained pale, blue, then white.

“See? I really am hopeless…”

He staggered back.

“That’s not it, you idiot!”

What should I do with him?

I hesitated, then made up my mind.

I grabbed Khalid’s wrist tightly before he could get away.

Everyone watching flinched, but I didn’t care.

“Ruby? Ruby, Ruby, Ruby? Aren’t you a bit too close to him—”

“Khal, run!”

I dashed the opposite way, away from everyone.

“H-hand… why are you holding…”

Khalid stammered, frozen stiff.

Hmph. He grabs my hand so casually, but when I hold his first, he always acts like this.

“Let’s escape! From those bothersome brothers!”

“Ruuuuby! Where are you going!” Boyd’s despairing cry echoed behind us.

“Boyd, follow me! We have to catch them!”

“Brother, why are you running the wrong way! Ugh, you idiot!”

“…That can’t be right.”

“What do you mean not right—ah! Don’t push your glasses up while looking at meee!”

Their bickering voices faded in the distance.

“Where do I go now!”

“…Follow me.”

Khalid’s hand, loose a moment ago, tightened firmly around mine. At first I was dragging him—but now it felt reversed.

His straight profile was just ahead of me.

He didn’t shake me off.

My lips twitched upward.

“As expected.”

My loyal puppy.

My heart thumped happily in my chest.

We reached the greenhouse behind the Duke’s mansion.

“Three and a half laps around the training ground!”

Panting, I made a V-sign. Khalid chuckled lightly, his face somehow refreshed.

The greenhouse was huge and warm. Flowers of every color peeked out of the beds. I slowly shrugged off my coat.

“You’re still not fully over your cold. Don’t take it off.”

“I’m fine! The cough’s almost gone.”

It was way too hot! I fanned myself with my hand. Reluctantly, Khalid took my coat and held it.

“I didn’t know a place like this existed!”

“There’s even a tea table near the pond.”

“That’s amazing! Let’s have tea!”

Pretty flowers, a pond, and tea-time!

But Khalid just shook his head.

“No. I’ll stand guard here and keep reflecting.”

“Enough already.”

So stubborn!

“I’m the one who ran off and got caught up in trouble. It’s my fault, not yours!”

“Never. It’s not your fault.”

“Fine then. Let’s just make it 100% the bad guys’ fault!”

Khalid still seemed shaken from losing me at the hot spring. His emotions—anger, frustration, regret—poured off him.

Ugh… but why punish yourself for that!

I didn’t even know what this boiling feeling inside me was. Anger? Sadness?

Khalid bit his lip and stared straight at me. His eyes were a little red, like he hadn’t slept.

“I know, I know… but I can’t stop being angry.”

“….”

“For now, just leave me be.”

He turned away with a sullen voice.

Gritting my teeth, I shoved my hand out at him.

“Give it.”

“…What?”

“Don’t play dumb. Hurry.”

“…You don’t seem low on magic.”

“How would you know just by looking at my face? I feel dizzy right now.”

Though he knew I was exaggerating, kind Khalid slowly unfastened his bracelet. His hesitant fingers reached toward me.

I grabbed his hand firmly.

“Here. A handshake of forgiveness! Okay?”

At the same time, I gently pushed my magic into him. His magic, flowing toward me, faltered.

“What are you doing? With just a speck of magic?”

He tried to pull away instinctively, but I shook his hand harder, like in a handshake.

“I’m saying I forgive you! I don’t know what you think you did wrong, but the real wrong ones were the criminals! Why are you digging your own grave? It only makes me upset!”

Khalid stared at me. After a short silence, he asked:

“…You get upset? When I feel bad?”

For some reason, that hit me hard. I nodded quickly.

“Of course!”

His lips parted slightly. A faint wrinkle formed on his smooth brow.

“…Me too.”

“Huh?”

“When you feel bad… I get upset too.”

“…R-really?”

Khalid’s eyelids lowered slowly. His long lashes brushed down, then lifted again—revealing his bright, storm-colored eyes.

My throat tightened.

“T-that tickles… stop.”

Khalid smiled faintly. My magic was still trickling into him little by little.

“Sorry.”

I tried to pull my hand back, but his long fingers tightened.

“But it feels good. Just a little longer.”

Sunlight streamed through the glass above us, gleaming in his blue-gray eyes like polished glass.

“You said if I feel good, you feel good too.”

“I… I don’t think I said it quite like that…”

“You did.”

Without realizing it, my head tilted toward him.

What is this?

Thump, thump.

I pressed my free hand against my chest.

Why was my heart pounding like I’d been running?

I had no idea.