Chapter 2 (2/2)

He felt complicated at the sight of the daughter of the person that turned the Imperial castle abuzz. When their eyes met, she smiled. Ruiyan sighed while looking at the curved eyes that seemed as though it was soaked in honey. Her shining eyes that stared at him like a chick, made him find it cute yet speechless at the same time. As Ruiyan had expected, the girl was just a child who had just stepped into high society.

“Young Lord?”

“Young Lady Agnes.”

She gave a smile like flowers were blooming when he called her. As he looked at the child, whose expressions were written all over her face, Ruiyan opened his mouth.

“As I’ve said before, it hasn’t been long since the Young Lady made her social debut. I’m afraid that because of me, the flower in the starting stages of blossoming would wither without blooming.”

He chose his words as carefully as he could, but the meaning behind his words was to stop chasing after him. Perhaps this little girl would understand from this. But when she smiled lightly when their eyes met, Ruiyan let out a sigh.

‘It seems that she didn’t understand.’

The girl’s thoughts were apparent. Unwilling to speak words that were unsuitable with his own mouth, Ruiyan’s forehead narrowed.

“I like you, Young Lord.”

Other than that… Does she even know what that means? Although his thoughts were slightly disrespectful, Ruiyan was at the limit of his patience. She continued to confess to him even though he acted cold and emotionless. Every day, when he made eye contact with her, the little girl would express her feelings.

“I don’t like you.”

He spat coldly and turned around. The red cheeks that hovered around disappeared from his view. As he continued walking with a faster pace, he could hear the footsteps of someone following behind.

“I like you, Young Lord.”

“…”

Ruiyan frowned. She was just a count’s daughter… If it wasn’t for the emperor’s excessive interest, he would have long since taken care of the child who kept bothering him. Perhaps the child had noticed his discomfort, so she remained silent. Ruiyan became satisfied with the quiet atmosphere, and began moving his feet. A uniformed man holding a bunch of documents ran towards him. Wondering if it was urgent, Ruiyan clicked his tongue at the fact that he was caught by the child and wasted time dealing with her.

“Do you like me?”

His hands stiffened as he opened the documents handed over by a man from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The man glanced at him and the little girl with a face of surprise. Ruiyan sighed, ignoring the man’s curious gaze.

“Do you like me?”

Ruiyan handed back the documents silently. The child often followed her father in and out of the Imperial Castle. Recently, while looking for a justification to keep the count in the capital, the emperor caught sight of her and made her the playmate of the crown prince, who was of the same age as her.

‘…So she’s that irresponsible?’

After dismissing the man, Ruiyan turned to leave. The cheeks filled with redness entered his eyes.

“Young Lady, I’ve told you repeatedly that I don’t like the Young Lady. I don’t even have a favourable impression of you.”

“…”

It was annoying that the child made judgements to her own liking. He had only let her be as he found it troublesome, but she just had to make him speak harshly. It was the first time that he spoke rudely towards another in such a short period of time. When he had finished revealing his true feelings and looked at the girl, the child lowered her head with a hurt expression at the sight of his eyes filled with irritation.

‘She won’t be chasing after me anymore,’ Ruiyan’s face eased.

As he turned around with a lighter mood to leave–

“I like you.”

The tender voice that resounded behind him angered him.

‘I should be more stern.’ Ruiyan looked back at the girl with a frown on his face.

Golden eyes filled with a strong determination entered his vision.

“So, I’m sorry. Sir Ruiyan.”

“Haa…”

He couldn’t do anything about her calling his name without his permission. He was rendered speechless at how things didn’t go the way he expected. Apparently when people go through something absurd, they can’t come to their senses. The girl confidently declared that she couldn’t give up because she liked him.

At the sight of this, Ruiyan was at a loss on what to say.