Subliminal Wayfarer

In a fleeting moment, the breath escaping his lips sweetly entwined with hers.

It felt as though a tiny giant was dancing inside her heart.

Thump, thud, thump, thud.

Her racing veins finally peaked, and her breath halted.

At that moment, Lucas slowly pulled away.

“But I am trying.”

He rose, chuckling bitterly, his ears turning red as he let out a cough to clear his throat.

Likewise, Grace’s face flushed a deep red.

She hadn’t done anything, yet her lips felt as though they had done so much.

At the same time, an inexplicable emptiness, a sense of loss, surged through her.

Her lips were parched, and she couldn’t recall how many times she had to moisten them with her tongue.

Lucas stood by the window, having risen and turned his back to her.

His broad back heaved as if taking deep breaths, swelling and then deflating.

Watching him repeatedly sweep back his damp hair, she thought without realizing,

‘Why stop now…’

She was embarrassed by such a shameful thought, yet she honestly felt such longing.

‘Restraint… isn’t necessary.’

Should she say it? ‘You don’t have to hold back’? Should she just blurt it out?

Perhaps Lucas heard the hesitation in Grace’s voice as he spoke in a slightly subdued tone,

“I hope we can marry soon.”

“…Ah.”

“As soon as tomorrow.”

She understood the implication of his words.

It meant that once they were married, they needn’t restrain themselves with each other.

Unable to contain the wild beating of her heart, she blurted out,

“Do you like me?”

Lucas turned around to face Grace and nodded slightly with a slanted smile.

“I do like you, Grace. Quite a lot.”

“But why?”

That was what she really wanted to ask.

Lucas clearly had feelings for her. That was undeniable.

But Grace was curious about why, how he had come to like her.

“I heard from Julie that Your Excellency wouldn’t marry without love.”

“That’s correct.”

“So, are you saying… you love me now?”

They hadn’t spent much time together, nor had there been any particular event that might make him like her.

Or was it really just love at first sight?

Love.

What a thrilling word.

Yet she thought it was not a term to be used lightly.

She did not want to stake her life on a heart that had merely seeped into hers lightly.

Why, how did you come to like me?

Every time I saw you, I trembled, I used to avoid you, and I viewed you with prejudice…

How did you come to like me?

Are you truly a man who speaks of love so easily?

“Frankly speaking.”

He approached slowly, then awkwardly, perhaps a bit uncomfortably, he uttered,

“It’s not love yet.”

Hearing these words, Grace strangely felt relieved.

She may have let out a sigh of relief without realizing it, as Lucas’s expression subtly changed.

He scratched his forehead and took one more step toward her, speaking earnestly.

“I’m sorry if you’re disappointed.”

“……?”

‘No, not at all. In fact, it’s rather reassuring.’

She shook her head vigorously, signaling ‘no’ with her hands.

As he had been quietly observing her, Lucas reached out and pulled her close.

In an instant, she was drawn tightly into his embrace.

And before she knew it, he effortlessly lifted her and sat her by the window.

“But I really do like you.”

Their eyes met at the same level.

From a very close distance, the two looked at each other again.

With her seated between his arms, Lucas gazed directly at her and whispered in a low voice,

“It might be embarrassing to bring up that time again. When I became ‘Luki’ and was by your side… I found you incredibly lovely, Grace.”

“…Your Excellency.”

With her face flushing, Grace looked away, not knowing what to do.

He lifted her chin with his fingertips, meeting her gaze again.

“Sometimes, just being there makes you seem dazzlingly beautiful without any reason.”

How could he say such things so effortlessly?

Grace felt nervous, her lips drying up.

Each time she licked her lips, Lucas’s gaze followed them.

“Just, Grace, I look forward to you whatever it is that you do, and I’m curious. And sometimes it’s a bit embarrassing…”

“Embarrassing?”

He grinned, showing his teeth. Seeing his slightly teasing smile up close made Grace feel breathless.

“Because I think you’d look cute no matter what, it’s embarrassing to admit such thoughts.”

“…What?”

“For example, if you were picking your nose without me knowing…”

“Your Excellency!”

How could he say such a thing!

Grace’s eyes widened, and before she knew it, she playfully slapped his shoulder.

He feigned pain, not really hurt, scrunching up his face as he chuckled.

“Even if you were drooling in your sleep…”

“I don’t drool!”

“Well, you never know, Grace. It could happen if you’re really tired?”

“No! Never! Absolutely not!”

Grace said sternly, then realizing Lucas was teasing, she slapped his shoulder again.

Harder than before, more forcefully.

But Lucas just laughed. It seemed like a brush of fluff would hurt more than this, he implied.

“So what I’m saying is…”

“I don’t pick my nose, nor do I drool!”

“It doesn’t matter, Grace. Whether you pick your nose or drool.”

‘No! I don’t do those things!’

Grace glared at him with a flushed face.

‘How can you talk about picking noses or drooling?’

As she glared with clenched lips, Lucas, looking somewhat bemused by her reaction, suddenly kissed her cheek.

“……!”

‘…At this moment? Suddenly?’

She was dumbfounded, and her expression softened.

Meanwhile, his lips briefly touched her cheek again.

“So what I mean is, no matter what you do or how you appear— Even if you hate someone or are stubborn about something I don’t quite understand…”

His voice echoed right next to her ear.

Unconsciously, her waist tensed, and her shoulders shivered with the closeness of his deep voice.

“Grace, I think… I think there must be a reason if it’s you.”

Lucas’s lips grazed her heated earlobe.

The touch was so dizzying that she ended up grasping his shoulder, which she had been hitting hard just moments ago.

“Your stubborn gaze seems cute, and your straightforward lips appear so lovely…”

Their foreheads touched.

“…Even if I were to curse at Your Excellency?”

He chuckled and nodded.

“Even then.”

Just moments ago, those lips that teased her effortlessly turned her into the loveliest woman in the world.

“I haven’t experienced everything yet, but I think, no, I have a premonition…”

“……”

“That I will undoubtedly fall in love with you.”

…So, what was the question she had asked again?

Right… Why did he like her?

With his answer, he showed a heart too big to measure.

“Does that answer your question?”

“…Overwhelmingly so.”

“Even your bewildered look is lovely.”

…This man must be crazy.

Grace, with her cheeks burning, pushed away his face that had come too close.

“Are you always this affectionate?”

“Hardly.”

“…It seems like everyone from House Blacke is kind.”

“House Blacke, like the horse, goes all out in everything. When you can, you must do your best.”

“I see.”

“But Grace, may I ask the same question then?”

“What do you mean?”

“What about me did you fall for?”

“…What?”

“Perhaps it was love at first sight… When did you first see me? Is there perhaps a first meeting I am unaware of?”

What does that even mean?

Love at first sight? Why would he think that?

As she looked at him with a puzzled face, he tilted his chin up and smiled, trying to coax her,

“I’m really curious, Grace. Just what charm of mine have you fallen so deeply for?”

“Uh, um, what charm…?”

Certainly, Lucas Blacke was incredibly attractive.

His stunning appearance, solid physique, incalculable wealth, and a personality much kinder than it seemed on the surface.

All of these felt like his charms.

But they weren’t enough to be charmed at first sight…

As she struggled to respond, looking at him with wavering eyes, he playfully said,

“Don’t be shy, tell me, Grace. Hmm… as Jaime said, is it the face?”

‘No, um, the one who should be embarrassed isn’t me, but Your Excellency…’

Grace swallowed the teasing remark tickling her mouth.

She liked the expression on his face as he looked at her.

The hopeful blue eyes were a pleasant sight.

‘…Ha, hahaha.’

Yes. For now, let’s just say nothing.

Grace smiled and simply kept her mouth shut.