Chapter 144 – An Outing with Heart

“What the heck is that guy doing?”

“Shh!”

The moment Gain poked his head into the hallway, Fernet whisked him away.

Thanks to asking Fernet to keep watch for me, I was saved.

I’ve been pacing back and forth in front of Heart’s room for a while now.

Today was a rare day off, so I thought maybe we could do something like… a date.

Lily had told me too, “To confirm your feelings, you should go out just the two of you once.”

And once again, I raise my hand to knock, then stop.

“No good. I’ll end up reciting something weird in my head.”

I give up and turn on my heel. Behind me, the door clicks open.

“Marie?”

I whirl around with a smile. “If you have time today…” As I say it, I smack my hand into the wall.

I’m way too flustered.

Heart, who had only poked half his face out the door, chuckles and walks over to me. “Going out?”

“Yes. If you’d be so kind, how about we take a stroll through the royal capital together…”

He seems to get the idea. “I’ll get ready right away—wait for me in the living room,” he says, heading back inside.

I said it.

I said it, but… what do I do now?

Calm down. Calm down.

Staggering to the living room, Fernet opens the door for me.

He gives my back a push, sits me down on the sofa, and hands me a cup of tea.

That kindness just makes it hurt more.

Fernet’s mouth twists into an amused grin.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine. It’s fine.”

It’s great that he talked Gain into staying cooped up in his room, but now everything’s just embarrassing.

“…You really okay?”

“Somehow.”

At my desperate smile, Fernet can’t hold back his laughter and snorts. “Pfft.”

Might as well laugh it all out.

“Hehe. I get that you’re nervous, but you need to calm down a little.”

“If I could do that, I would…”

“You’re going to properly check your feelings, right?”

“Now that it’s actually happening, it feels impossible.”

“Hahaha. You’ll be fiiiine!”

Fernet spouts something carefree again. Popular guys have it easy, huh.

I wish he’d share some of that mysterious confidence. This is my first time with anything like this.

“Sorry to keep you.”

While all that’s going on, Heart walks in wearing his uniform.

Why the uniform?

“If it’s also guard duty, then we can be alone together, right?”

My confusion must have shown on my face—he answered right away.

True. That’s true, but…

“Hahaha.”

I realize in seconds that I can’t outmaneuver adults and give up on any sneaky little schemes.

“Shall we go then?”

Heart takes my hand and loops it around his arm.

Ehh…

Starting off with that is a pretty high bar…

I stare fixedly at our linked hands, and Heart chuckles. “Heh.”

Guh, on purpose.

Doing something like that to a total newbie… My HP’s already down by half.

“Shall we take a little stroll around the royal capital?”

To hide the damage, I nod with a forced smile.

Too tense to even speak, I keep staring at Heart’s profile, then look away every time our eyes meet.

Aaah. He must think I’m some weirdo. Even though I am.

“Hehe. Marie. Today, just walk with me without overthinking it.”

“Yes.”

Heart, looking a bit troubled, smiles. “What can I do to make you smile?”

My brain’s exploding with fantasies right now—it’s just exploding too much, that’s all.

“Just being together like this makes me happy.”

“Hahaha.”

I was the one who invited him, but Heart chats away, trying to entertain me.

How kind is he? He’s being so considerate, and here I am…

And yet, pathetic me couldn’t get a single word out—afraid my heart would leap right out of my mouth if I tried.

“Marie. Look up.”

When we reach Central Park, Heart casts wind magic toward the fountain.

A beautiful rainbow arches across the clear autumn sky.

Waa…

Haven’t properly looked at the sky in forever.

I gaze up and take a deep breath. Haa~ so soothing.

My face relaxes without me realizing.

“Rainbow!””Waa~””Pretty~””Amaaazing~”

The kids nearby are looking up happily too.

“Do it again~””The Holy Knight’s awesome~””Ah, it’s the Saintess~”

Before we knew it, we’d been surrounded by a horde of children.

Heart mutters “This is trouble,” looking flustered but smiling, and conjures another rainbow in the sky.

“Let’s go!”

Heart grabs my hand, and we dash through the park, leaving the rainbow-struck kids behind.

Maybe it’s the backlash from all that tension releasing, or maybe I’ve just snapped—but suddenly I’m having fun, laughing as I run alongside him.

“Haa. Think we’re safe once we get this far?”

“Haa, haa. Ahahaha. Yeah.”

I laughed so hard, everything just flew away.

Haa~. The refreshing breeze blows right through me—feels so good.

“Marie. Your hair…”

We stop in the crowd, and Heart gently brushes my wind-tousled hair back into place.

Gazed at by that serene smile, my HP is completely drained.

This feeling… I’m pretty sure I’m in love.

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