* * *
It was a bit nerve-wracking, the way he wasn’t watching where he was going, only looking at me as he rushed forward.
Sure enough, he stumbled, tripping over something.
Before he could fall, I used my ability to quickly appear in front of him and caught him around the waist.
It was like he didn’t even think he could fall—or maybe he just trusted me that much.
His face was perfectly calm, not at all like someone who had nearly tumbled over.
He placed a hand on my forearm, which was wrapped around his waist, and stared straight up at me.
Looking at his clear, innocent face, my initial surprise faded, replaced by exasperation creeping in.
“You…”
“Vivi, you said you were looking for me!”
It was impressive how he always cut me off like he knew exactly what I was about to say.
I thought maybe he’d changed a little since we were kids—but clearly not.
The way he changed the subject whenever things weren’t going his way was exactly the same as back then.
I let out a baffled chuckle, grabbed his nose lightly, and wiggled it.
“‘Looking for you’ my ass. I just asked where you were. And Sia, you almost fell just now. You should watch where you’re walking. You can’t just stare at me and wander around.”
“You’re always nagging me, Vivi.”
“Ever think maybe you do things worth nagging about?”
I was genuinely concerned, but he only pouted, grumbling under his breath.
I clicked my tongue in disbelief, and right away, his confidence deflated as he snuck nervous glances at me.
He was no different from a kitten, really.
Tilting my head, I quietly observed him.
It was hard to believe that this person had torn apart the Imperial family and killed Letiyan.
Sometimes, he showed glimpses of maturity beyond his age, but those moments were rare.
Most of the time, he was just a boy—a boy who had done all that solely for my sake.
There was no hidden villain in the original story.
Whether it was divine error or divine intent, I didn’t know.
But the Hesia I had seen in those fragmented visions of the past wasn’t some dark mastermind.
He was someone who sacrificed everything for the sake of avenging the one he loved.
Someone who carried out all of it with a heart so noble, I hesitated to label him as a villain at all.
Looking at that young, smiling face, I raised the flower in my hand and tucked it behind his ear.
His head was small, the flower large—it looked a bit ridiculous, but oddly enough, it suited him.
Even when I randomly placed the flower there, he simply blinked without protest, not even asking what I was doing.
His face was far too soft.
“Maybe it’s because your face is so pretty… even a flower like that suits you.”
I muttered under my breath with a half-laugh and brushed past him.
As I yawned softly and walked ahead, I heard him behind me, frozen in place, before he came scrambling after me.
“Vivi… Vivi! You think I’m pretty? Huh? Do you?”
“You always wanted me to say you were pretty when we were kids. Why are you acting like it’s the first time you’ve heard it?”
“You didn’t tell me I was pretty when we met again!”
“Alright, alright. You’re pretty. Sia, you’re so, so pretty. Ugh, so pretty.”
Like coaxing a sulking child, I spoke with a mix of passion and indifference, gently brushing Hesia’s cheek with my fingers.
His flushed face rubbed against my hand, as if to show me how rushed he’d been to get here.
“Keep telling me I’m pretty. A lot. A whole lot. No one else but you calls me pretty.”
“Who’d dare easily call a prince pretty? Or… if you like hearing it that much, just tell the palace staff to shower you with compliments every day.”
I purposely dodged the words I knew he really wanted to hear, replying playfully.
Hesia’s face fell with disappointment.
But only for a second—he quickly perked back up, scurried out of the flower garden, and started chatting with the attendants.
As I stepped out, he waved at me, fluttering his hand with a bright smile.
“If you’re busy, you don’t have to come. I’ll be fine.”
“I know. You’ll do just fine without me. But I came because I missed you. Is it a bother when I come?”
How many people could really say ‘yes’ to Hesia’s downcast, sullen face?
One thing was certain—I’d never be one of them.
Letting out a sigh tinged with resignation, I gave him the clear answer he wanted.
“Of course not. Sia, I’m always the same. As long as it’s within the boundaries I allow, you can do whatever you want.”
The only thing I haven’t permitted… is for him to ask for my whole life.
Hesia, sharp as ever, quickly picked up that my words meant everything else was fair game.
“Really?”
“Really. But… that is still off-limits.”
Like denying a pet begging for treats, I spoke firmly.
Hesia bit his lip but obediently nodded.
“Then… can I sleep with you?”
“Is that… necessary? …Fine, alright.”
I couldn’t resist the gaze fixed on me, so I gave in completely, raising both hands in defeat.
Hesia’s face instantly lit up, and as if he’d been holding it all in, he poured out a barrage of words.
“Let’s have every meal together! And when I work, stay with me in the office. No one will say anything to you, so it’s fine! Let’s have tea time together too. Sometimes I have to deal with heretics—come with me then. You can just stay in the shade. Also, whenever we have time, let’s take walks together, and… if possible, let’s travel too. I hate that you’re stuck in this cramped palace all the time.”
His last words made me freeze for a moment.
Calling this enormous palace ‘cramped’—only Hesia would say such a thing.
As if to prove that, Hesia whispered softly, whether others heard or not, in that gentle, almost singing voice of his—the same one that used to whisper this place was too small for me.
“Far to the east, there’s a country where the blue hydrangeas are beautiful.”
It was as if he barely dared to voice a wish he’d held for so long.
His pale face flushed, maybe from the heat, maybe from excitement, and his eyes curved in a smile as he looked at me.
“Let’s go there together. I already got Grandmother’s permission. I’ve wanted to go with you for so long… it always felt impossible, being so far, but this time I’ll make it happen. You love blue hydrangeas, and now, I’m someone who can take you anywhere.”
So let’s go, together.
Like someone proposing, he waited nervously for my response.
Even the palace attendants and guards fell silent for that moment.
I could tell the way they looked at me had changed slightly, but I said nothing.
Instead, I lowered my shoulders a little and smiled.
“Alright. Let’s go together.”
At my reply, Hesia’s face bloomed into a radiant smile, like a flower in full bloom.
Seeing that face, all my worries and doubts suddenly felt so trivial.
Knowing someone could smile because of a single word from me—it was such an indescribably happy thing.
Hesia stayed by my side for a long while after, rattling off his grand plans.
There was only one chair, so we stood and talked endlessly, until one of the attendants, pitying me, brought over another chair.
We sat and chatted about other things for quite some time, until a noble finally came looking for Hesia.
Even after all that talking, Hesia kept glancing back as he left with the noble, as if reluctant to go.
I smiled and waved him on, teasingly laughing at his droopy, reluctant eyes.
That finally gave him the strength to walk away more confidently.
“You’re so simple.”
Muttering under my breath, I rested my chin on the table and sipped the now-cold tea.
The attendant offered to bring me a fresh, warm cup, but I shook my head and nibbled on a cookie.
It was perfectly suited to my taste—savory, not too sweet.
Staring down at the cookie, slowly chewing, Hugo approached quietly and spoke.
“Is there… something that displeases you?”
“No… It’s just, I’m surprised the cookie isn’t sweet.”
“The prince instructed the kitchen to serve only unsweetened dishes to suit your palate.
The head chef made these cookies himself.”
His calm, steady voice explained everything—the unsweetened cookie, the meals that had perfectly matched my tastes for days now.
‘That kid, who’s obsessed with sweets, paying attention to all these details…’
I chuckled softly, brushing crumbs from my hand.
Looking up, I saw Hugo leaning in, pouring tea into my empty cup.
“None of the palace attendants are curious about me?”
“The prince ordered us not to be curious. To act as if we saw nothing, heard nothing, and simply serve you with the utmost care. That was his command.”
It wasn’t like him, but he’d been unusually thorough.
I lifted the corners of my lips for a moment, then let them fall again as I sank back into the plush chair.
Hugo sensed I didn’t want to talk anymore, quietly retreating with the teapot.
With the faint sounds of palace attendants and guards breathing around me, I closed my eyes.
A vision flashed across my mind—the boy with flowers in his hair, laughing like a carefree child.
‘Vivi!’
I died… and when I opened my eyes again, everything had changed.
The way people looked at me.
The infamous reputation clinging to me.
Even the state of my estate.
But only one thing had stayed exactly the same—the way Hesia looked at me.
It was beyond strange—so overwhelming, it was almost terrifying.
* * *
