Chapter 27

“Thank you for offering it for free, but isn’t this a sword a fraud and you’re trying to sell it to me as a real one.”

How cunningly meticulous. Citrina’s gaze was sharp. The boss jumped, feeling it unfair.

“Ah, it’s not a scam! That’s not even a magic sword. That is really expensive… ”

“Really? Then, thank you.”

Citrina relaxed her shoulders. Its color black was still pretty.

The owner handed her two swords in sheaths. When the swords were handed over, she turned around.

“Ah!”

“Yes? Is there anything else… ”

The owner looked like he was about to cry.

“Can we have one in a gift wrap?”

“No…”

The owner’s lips chattered to a halt

That was why Desian, who was standing beside her, handed it to him carelessly.

“Of course you can. Hahaha, my shop also specializes in packaging. You came just at the right place.”

Citrina nodded vigorously as she heard trembling from the owner’s voice.

After coming out from the store, she said briskly.

“I’m pretty lucky today. To get my sword and buy Aron a gift for free.”

“Congratulations, Rina.”

She tried not to be too happy. She can’t help comparing it to Desian’s calm voice.

“That was nice. Next stop… ”

But there is no way to hide her joy. Citrina walked through the shopping street singing a song.

Now, she needed to buy Desian’s gift:

While walking down the alley, her steps stopped. Fragrances were placed on the shelves inside a huge and colorful boutique. Several bottles of perfume sparkled under the colorful lights.

A huge building that says Mellock Boutique.

“I found it, your gift.”

As Desian listened, his neck shook greatly.

“…Gift?”

“Yes! Let’s go.”

Citrina laughed broadly, not hiding her excitement.

As soon as they entered the boutique, she saw the perfume stand. The clerk who could help with the perfumes seemed to have been away for a short while or wasn’t here, so they could comfortably look around.

She was standing in front of a shelf that was twice as tall as her, she was in a bind.

‘Where is the intense yet drowsy, indifferent yet refined scent?’

Even thinking about it, she laughed inside.

When she worked as a jewelry designer in her previous life, she often saw clients who wanted simple yet colorful designs. She used to swear everyday while working because of such customers, but that kind of customer is now herself.

“What are you thinking about?”

She heard Desian’s voice behind her. He was waiting for her, about half a distance away.

“Mm. I’m thinking of a perfume that suits you well. The forest scent is not good.”

Without looking at him, Citrina said as if she was singing. She heard laughter from behind.

‘Not mandarin scent nor citrus scent. Un, what is this?’

Other than that, everything from the top shelf to the bottom were labeled. However, nothing was written on the bottle of this perfume. Her curiosity was ignited.

‘It’s open, so I can smell it, but… I don’t think there’s any scented paper. Can I spray it directly on Desian? No, what if it’s a bad smell?’

She came up with a trick after pondering for a while.

‘I just need to sprinkle it on my wrist and see what it smells like.’

It was killing two birds with one stone to teach him how to spray perfume.

She looked around. There was still no sign of the clerk returning.

Citrina approached the full-length mirror next to the stand, holding a bottle of perfume in her hand.

“I’m curious about this perfume’s scent, so I’m going to spray it.”

Desian walked slowly one step away behind her back. She saw him through the mirror.

“Okay.”

“Del, listen carefully. Perfume once on one ear.”

*Chick* There was a sound, and a sweet scent spread over her right side.

“Spray it once on the wrists.”

*Chik.*

She sprayed the perfume over her wrist once more.

Citrina glanced at Desian in the mirror. His expression became weird.

“What do you think? Does it smell okay?”

The scent was in the air. Through the mirror, she saw Desian standing behind her. He had no sign of trying to smell it.

Citrina decided to turn her back and show him her wrist.

But before she could do it, he slowly lowered his head.

Slowly, little by little.

“… it’s sweet, Rina”

A little slower, his face came down to her neckline. The tip of his nose rubbed against the nape of her neck. Citrina’s body stilled. He slowly got up and laughed in a low voice.

***

They came back to the duke’s residence. It’s probably thanks to Desian that she’s not very tired even after walking around for a long time.

Thinking so, Citrina sat in the parlor without undressing.

She should probably tell him in advance about leaving.

“Del, I have something to tell you.”

“Yes?”

“Well…”

Receiving Desian’s straight gaze, Citrina swallowed.

“Strange. Even if you’re here, I don’t think you’re by my side.”

Desian touched Citrina’s hair. He touched her delicately as if he was dealing with a glass that could easily break.

“It doesn’t seem sweet even though it’s touching.”

Desian’s hand slowly and carefully scattered her hair. The way he looked at it, it’s as if it was holy, like Citrina’s ordinary brown hair could be the most beautiful thing in the world.

Briefly glancing at Desian’s hand, she lowered her eyes.

Now is the time.

But why won’t her mouth open?

Citrina quietly handed him the bottle of perfume she had packed earlier.

“This is my share?”

“Yes. It’s your gift. And…”

Citrina looked at Desian. In her memory, she didn’t see him doing heinous deeds. Her heart felt at ease.

Now, Desian can be happy too.

Citrina opened her mouth again.

“I’m thinking of leaving the duke’s residence soon. This is a goodbye gift for you.”

“… .. Leaving?”

Desian didn’t look at the perfume he said was sweet. Instead of a languid look, a sharp gaze looked at her. Desian’s voice lowered.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

A murky voice and a piercing glance.

Somehow, she felt suffocated.

He seems to have been a sweet and lethargic man, but his eyes shook horribly.

Citrina also knew he had a crush on her. So, he’s not familiar with the first heartbreak.

Thinking of soothing him, she bit her lips.

“I want to make my own story now, too. I have something I want to do.”

She didn’t say she wanted to do that from the beginning. Desian’s gaze looked like it would break anytime soon. It was strange.

In a relationship that was just a friend, is it possible to have such eyes?

“Isn’t this perfect?”

“… Del.”

“If you want more… ”

“…”

“Whatever it is, I can give it.”

A short silence followed.

Is Citrina tempted by those words? Naturally. The Duke of Pietro, Desian Pietro’s might can support her.

But Citrina knows that she needs to fulfill her own ambitions and dreams.

“Del, I am very grateful, but I want to do it on my own. And you will have a friend other than me, you might easily forget me then.”

Listening to her, Desian thought, she’s saying that without knowing the span of his heart.

But he couldn’t stop her. Right now, in Ctirina’s eyes, he felt the dazzling aspiration he saw for the first time.

“And I’ve always thought about it. Not only me, but you also need a new life. Not Del, not me, not a duke, but a new, sweet world.”

“Not you?” he said, as if referring to an unfamiliar proposition.

“Rina, I’m not stupid. It’s just an excuse.”

Desian smiled beautifully after saying that.

He doesn’t need anything else.

From the moment he first looked into Citrina’s eyes, everything was clear.

What he wants is Citrina and the indifference, aspiration, kindness in her eyes… And everything else.

‘I can’t just let her get away… I can’t.’

He concealed his deep heart and moistened his lips with his tongue.

With that thought, Desian’s fingers slowly touched her eyelashes. Citrina’s vision was slightly obscured.

“Rina, you have no idea.”

*Tok.*

Her eyebrows fluttered like a butterfly on Desian’s hand.

He felt a tickling sensation in his fingertips and the feeling of being connected with her.

Even though her gaze did not reach him, desire still wriggles deep in his stomach.

“I don’t need another world.”

Instead of simply saying it as I want you, he just expressed it like this.

My world ended up being you.

So it’s all over now.

But he didn’t say that.

Not yet.

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