Perhaps because of the candle in the room, the red eyes were deeper and brighter.

  "I think I’m going to be possessed……"

  My heart flowed through my lips without realizing it.

  "Be possessed."

  Maybe Perez is like that, too.

  "Please do that, Tia."

  Like craving, like seducing.

  Perez’s face, whispering like that, gradually approached.

  As we inhale and exhale his long breath, we were so close that the tip of our nose was itchy.

  But Perez didn’t move any more.

  But he just looked deep into me, as if he was trying to scoop something deep inside me.

  So I asked.

  "Are you greedy?"

  Oh, I think I’m drunk.

  I thought as soon as the words went out of my mouth.

  Otherwise, I can’t ask something like this.

  I could feel my head gradually coming back to its senses as if I was really possessed by Perez.

  I could tell at the same time.

  The fact that Perez, who is holding me now, is not drunk at all.

  But in time Perez’ voice was clearly from someone who was drunk.

  "I’m greedy of you."

  "Perez……"

  "Everything."

  I got goosebumps for a moment.

  It wasn’t a bad feeling.

  But if I stay like this, I think I’m going to be possessed, and I’m going to give him my soul.

  So I was just trying to turn my head.

  "Hey, hey, wait a minute."

  "Because I’m drunk right now. I think everything I’m saying is drunk crap, Tia."

  Lie.

  He’s not drunk at all.

  However, the gaze that did not fall from me for a second seemed so desperate that I had no choice but to nod my head.

  "I, Tia, I wish you were mine."

  He said so, while holding me in his arms so that I couldn’t move at all.

  "I hope your every smile, every kind touch, are all for me. Your pretty looks are all mine and I wish only me can see them."

  Every word seemed to be dripping with a deep desire for monopoly.

  "That’s why I’m angry."

  "Angry?"

  "The fact that you eat spicy food well, and that you become so cute when you drink alcohol. I didn’t know. Because someone else knew it first."

  "Such a trivial thing…… Even though I was a little unfamiliar with you today……"

  "It’s not trivial, Tia. Nothing about you is trivial."

  Perez said, rubbing his forehead against my hair.

  "I can’t be your first one."

  Startle.

  Whether he knew me a bit hard or not, Perez pulled my shoulder closer.

  Like a person who believes that I and himself can become one by doing so.

  "I can’t. Because you’re my everything."

  The face, which had been distant for a while, slowly approached me again.

  A kiss between us was now a common occurrence.

  Perez, who always liked to express his affection for me through actions rather than words.

  But this time it was different.

  I had a foreboding.

  Is it because we were pretending to be a newlywed couple?

  Or is it because of alcohol?

  Maybe it’s because of the scent of roses scattered all over the bed.

  ’Can I do this?’


  I asked myself.

  The answer came right away.

  ’It’s Perez, so it’s okay.’


  It was when I made up my mind to go closer to a guy who who was coming all alone.

  Seureureuk.

  Perez’ hair fluttered in a faint shadow with a small noise that may only be heard by us in this world.

  It was still unfamiliar, golden hair.

  Because black hair suits Perez better.

  It would have been nice if I hadn’t handed the hair dye out of curiosity.

  I just paused and thought so.

  That was all I swear to heaven.

  However.

  "……don’t overdo it."

  The guy who said so in a low voice snapped himself from me.

  And before I knew it, I was lying in bed, gently covered with a blanket.

  "I’ll sleep on the couch."

  "……uh?"

  "Good night, Tia."

  Perez, who kissed me heavily on my forehead, took a pillow and I stared blankly at his back, heading toward the sofa on the other side of the room.

  "This is……"

  Isn’t it?

  Why am I lying in bed?

  No, more than that, why am I lying alone?

  Weren’t we supposed to lie down together today?!

  I raised my body halfway and shouted so fiercely with my eyes, but the only thing that came back was the sound of him lying down on the sofa.

  At the same time, my heart was relieved by my feelings of weakness, and I also lay on my head.

  I haven’t been able to calm down yet, and I feel sad that I am beating alone.

  ’Shall we ask him to go on again?’


  I was worried about the sofa side, but it seemed that he had already fallen asleep without a sound.

  "……Whew."

  All right, let’s sleep.

  The body, which had been on the carriage all day, drinking, and even a little nervous earlier, happily accepted the rest.

  Feeling fast asleep, I thought.

  When I wake up tomorrow morning, I’ll have to talk to him.

  And I have to say this too.

  I think I like his natural black hair better.

  ***

  Listening to Tia’s breathing, Perez quietly opened his eyes and woke up.

  "Whoa."

  A weary sigh smeared on his large hand sweeping down his face.

  There was only black darkness in the room because the candle burned out a while ago, but for Perez, such a thing couldn’t get in the way.

  Especially when he was with Tia, his five senses became sensitive to the usual times.

  Like a starving creature trying to suck in the sweet scent, breath, and even the sound of laughter.

  Perez slowly stood up, staring into the air with dim eyes for a moment.

  Without hesitation, his footsteps towards the bed where she was lying were silent, like a beast hunting through the darkness.

  Just a few steps from where she was lying, Tia was asleep.

  Like being in the safest place in the world, defenselessly.

  Perez slowly climbed onto the bed.

  But she fell asleep without feeling any signs.

  He reached out slowly.

  The shadow of the black hand created by the moonlight that was finally cast over his body.

  He doesn’t even know how to be ashamed.

  So the black hand trace back to her asleep without hesitation.

  But in the end, the only thing he dared to reach was the red rose petals attached to her coveted hair.

  It’s always been like that.

  She was a bright shining person, so his black self just lingered nearby.

  While affirming that the precious things will be buried in black, he feels ugly jealousy of the things she is sharing her light with.

  "Hmm……"

  On top of her comfortable face, who fell asleep deeply, her image a little while ago overlapped and he paused.

  Even though it was a while, the beautiful green eyes that passed by, might be looked like they were looking at someone else.

  Feeling squeezed inside the chest, Perez quietly frowned.

  ’If only I could turn back the time.’


  Given such an opportunity, he will, without hesitation, turn to the time when he opened the door of a room decorated with roses.

  Perez swept over his cumbersome hair.

  Regret came.

  He wasn’t really drunk. He revealed his dark innermost thoughts.

  And collapsed with his impatience, frightened Tia.

  Tomorrow morning, she will sober from the liquor, recalling her memories and he was afraid that she would hate himself.

  If she doesn’t smile at him any more, if she don’t share the warmth.

  Perez, who painfully buried his face on his knee, moved his hand away from the bed.

  His fingertips trembled, trying not to grasp the small, soft hands felt over the bed sheets.

  His eyes, which she praised for being ruby-like, were dried with the color of the blood.

  "I’m sorry."

  The low word he barely took out was scattered in the dark room.

  ***

  "I’m Kent, the soldier of Sushou. I’ll check your ID."

  I gave my two ID cards to a soldier with a mustache.

  "Mr. Chaser Gloa and Mrs. Larita Gloa. Why did you come to Sushou estate?"

  "I’m here to take the Eastern ferry from Chesail."

  "……another guest of Chesail."

  Sushou’s soldier frowned and muttered, as if he was displeased.

  Arcadia, a small town in Sushou that borders the Lombardi estate, was located on the way from Lombardi to Chesail.

  However, the atmosphere felt through the skin was quite different.

  Unlike Lombardi estate, where people and carriages travel relatively freely, Arcadia, where troops were deployed, was under intense tension.

  As if you were looking for someone.

  "You won’t even stay long because Chesail is your destination. All right, go in."

  The soldier, who returned the ID cards with an insincere touch, said, banging the side of the carriage.

  At the moment, Perez’ cool eyes turned toward it, but soon the carriage departed and only silence remained.

  "Ehmm."

  I coughed uncomfortable and fixed my gaze outside the window.

  Our journey has been in this state for the second day since we were misfired while trying to perform a retreat.

  There were several simple conversations, but only that, an uncomfortable stillness flowed.

  After confirming that the carriage entered the crowded area, I glanced at Perez.

  The guy who squeezed his chin at an angle was looking out the window on the opposite side of me.

  What on earth is he thinking?

  In this case, the personality of a guy who doesn’t reveal his heart is really uncomfortable.

  ’No, of course you must have been hurt.’


  In fact, I thought I could know Perez’s heart even if I didn’t ask.

  He expressed his feelings so honestly, because it would have seemed that I was reluctant, whether it was a misunderstanding or not.

  And he probably isn’t angry with me, considering his usual personality.

  He would rather be digging alone that he did what I hate.

  It was a flow of thoughts that could be roughly guessed just by sitting so far away from me.

  ’I can’t because I’m uncomfortable.’


  I made up my mind as I got off the carriage in front of the hostel I reserved.

  "Perez, can I talk to you for a minute……"

  It was when I turned him around while saying that.

  "Sir Herox?"

  A faint voice was heard from behind.

  "Sir Herox…… is that right?"

  ’Herox’ was a pseudonym that Perez often used.

  He doesn’t have to use it now, but he used to use it often when he was in academy.

  I slowly turned to the side where the voice came from.

  There stood an innocent-looking woman with long brown hair tied neatly.

  It was clear that the redness on both her cheeks or hands held eagerly together in front of the chest meant.

  The woman, standing next to Perez, approached him one step closer and said with big green eyes.

  "I’m Lydia! Sir Herox, do you remember me……?"

  Wow. Explain this properly, really.