Published: August 1, 2025
“Eh...?”
I couldn’t understand what she was saying.
“No... I just came to say... goodbye...”
Her gaze didn’t change. It was certain and undeniable, and I couldn’t think of any way to escape. I spread my hands and gave a lopsided smile.
“Th-that's right. Norman... I was thinking of asking Norman to do some work.”
“Grandpa Norman is still in the hospital. The eye surgery went well, but he’s still under observation. I told you before, didn’t I?”
“Ah, I see... then I’ll ask you. Um...”
I spoke before thinking it through.
“Right — a ring. We haven’t prepared a ring for the wedding yet. They sell them at the workshop, right? Since it’s just for the ceremony, a simple gold band without any stones is fine. Just sell me one of those. The size should be about the same as yours?”
I took Anastasia’s hand and said this. Her small, delicate fingers were slender and looked no different from those of a ten-year-old.
Anastasia frowned and compared my face with her own fingers. It wasn’t the scrutinizing gaze of a craftsman inspecting something, but a somewhat displeased half-lidded look. She slapped my hand as if brushing away a bug and said firmly,
“No.”
“Huh?”
“I said I won’t sell it to you. For a gift to your wife, try somewhere else... Is that all you wanted? Then, bye.”
Before I could even say “Ah,” she turned her back and ran off. I tried to chase after her, but before I could, I instinctively grabbed her by the wrist behind her.
After grabbing her, I tried to come up with an excuse but couldn’t think of any, so I stopped.
Anastasia was surprised, wide-eyed, and turned to look at me. There was no reason to hold her back — after all, what did she expect me to do?
I sensed she wanted me to confess my weakness. She probably wanted to comfort me, encourage me, and see me off. Maybe she would consult with Cyrus and the others to hold a grand farewell party for me.
But no, Anastasia, I must not let myself be spoiled. My mask is tattered and about to crumble. I might say something beyond what you expect.
The plate’s shape would collapse and break.
“—Ah... Anastasia. If I were to...”
Through the cracks that had formed, something spilled out.
“...If, for example, I were to throw away my engagement to the princess, my responsibilities as a royal... and discard my entire royal status...”
Anastasia’s gaze urged me to continue.
“Lose the title of knight commander, forget the name Ruifeng, and lose everything — becoming just an empty shell of a man.”
“Become?”
She asked impatiently.
“If that happened, what would you want me to do?”
Suddenly, Anastasia’s cheek was wet. Water fell from my soaked hair. She didn’t blink once. Even when I wiped the drops falling from her chin, she didn’t pull away.
I brushed her short hair aside with my fingers, letting it pass by her ear and cupping the back of her head with my hand.
Even when my thumb brushed her lips, this person — she didn’t run away.
“At that time, come... with me.”
She smiled faintly. I didn’t understand the meaning and there was no reply. She just closed her eyes.
Her lemon-yellow eyelashes cast shadows on her white cheeks.
Drawn in as if by gravity, I pressed my lips to hers.
It was the sweetest, shortest kiss I knew — thin as a skin, barely touching. It didn’t share warmth or moisture, and I didn’t even crush her soft flesh before parting. Even then, Anastasia still kept her eyes closed, as if waiting for more... I pulled away.
“—Hey, thanks a lot, Anastasia! What a wonderful farewell gift!”
“Huh?”
Anastasia opened her eyes. By then, I had already taken a few steps back, spreading my arms and showing a beaming smile.
“...Ruifeng?”
“Thank you for the treat! Well then, I’ll be going now. I’m busy, you know, since all the women in the kingdom are lined up to see me. Only a few days until I marry Princess Flaria, so I have to give each of them a kiss.”
Anastasia’s face, which had been blank, darkened rapidly. I grinned even more foolishly.