North x Northwest

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“Who was it?”

“Maxwell.”

“Where did you get hurt?”

“On my left shoulder, but it doesn’t hurt that much…”

“…”

Walking out of the alley with Ed, Lil flipped her head from side to side for no reason. When they rounded the corner, Ed gently wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Lil found it more comfortable to walk with her weight leaning on him since she was in pain.

“Not only did Maxwell show up all of a sudden, he also acted a little strange.”

“What do you mean?”

“Should I say it felt like he was being chased by something? He kept telling me to come back and that my brother would forgive me. He looked very anxious too. It seems like my brother planted something in Maxwell’s mind, but what could it be?”

“He went through all this effort to sneak out of the villa and find you just to say that?”

Lil shrugged her shoulders.

“My brother shows no hesitation when dealing with his subordinates. He’s probably giving everyone a hard time right now.”

Ed said cynically.

“If it’s Maxwell, wasn’t he the one who strangled you? What’s he up to now?”

“I’m sure it’s something related to my or your safety.”

“So that Maxwell guy knows what will happen to you if you come back, but recklessly harasses you to warn you about our safety?”

“I almost managed to squeeze it out of him, but that guard named Shail…”

“..?”

Lil unconsciously glanced at Ed, not exactly knowing why she sought his gaze.

“…suddenly popped out.”

“I see. Then I wonder if that guard named Shail displeased you in any way.”

“Not really. It isn’t his fault to be immature.”

“Really? If so, I’m glad…”

“…”

Not completely understanding what he was on about, Lil noticed Ed held her hand as they walked side by side. When Ed’s fingers, interlaced with Lil’s, tightened, Lil looked down at their locked hands and rubbed her thumb against Ed’s hand several times more.

Lil lifted her head again and looked at Ed’s face, but only his chin was visible from her point of view.

“But for some reason, I don’t really feel reassured.”

‘’..?”

Ed muttered while looking sideways.

“…When someone keeps staring at you, tells you you’re beautiful, fumbles whenever he’s around you, and even tries to hold you although you insist you’re okay…”

“…”

He took the hand he was holding and brought it to his lips.

“…I can’t help but feel unhappy about it.”

“…”

Ed rested his cheek on the back of Lil’s hand after briefly nuzzling his lips against it.

“I might’ve said that I’m glad, but if I’m being honest, I’m also unhappy. At the same time, I’m afraid you won’t like this attitude of mine, so I’ll just be unhappy alone.”

“…That’s… very considerate of you.”

Lil unlaced her fingers from his and moved them from his cheek to the back of his head and stroked him as if to tickle him. From her experience, she knew Ed liked it whenever she did this. True enough, he almost immediately let out an inaudible groan and wrinkled his brows.

Upon reaching the square, the passers-by glanced at them as they came out with a bunch of escorts. Levi, who was pacing in front of the carriage, approached in surprise. Her wide eyes alternated between Lil and Ed.

“What happened?”

“It was nothing. Just a hit on the shoulder.”

“Oh, then I guess you’ll have to go by carriage. What if you make a mistake while holding the reins?”

Of course, Lil could easily ride her horse with only one hand holding the reins, but Levi was her doctor. And since ancient times, the words of a doctor had to be respected as if they were the will of heaven.

Lil frowned in disappointment.

“To see the Great Trade Route from inside a carriage…”

“Well, if you don’t like it, you can ask Edgar for a ride.”

“..?”

“..!”

Lil’s eyebrows were brought together even more when she heard something she thought she’d never hear. Ed, on the other hand, had trouble controlling the smile that crept on his face and cleared his throat.

Finding their reactions amusing, Levi covered her mouth as she laughed.

“That’s the only way, right?”

***

The Great Trade Route consisted not only of the main road connecting Sesbron and the Roahn Territory on the Mondovi Peninsula, but also the Saint-Viève Canal, and several longitudinal roads linking the South to the North. In particular, the section of the main road that bypasses the Risch Mountains from the Mondovi Peninsula was paved along the coastal cliffs, and this coastal area was widely known to bear some of the most spectacular views in the empire this time of year.

Even Lil, who rarely openly expresses admiration, let out an exclamation.

“Wow…”

Lil and Ed got off their horse and approached the cliff.

Admiring the white swells that crowded into the fjord, the rest of the procession also stopped and looked around like a bunch of tourists.

Waves flooded in and covered the earlier ones. The rocks that have been eroded over the years appeared smooth as if they had been carefully cut with a knife, and the waves’ delicate layers flowed gracefully along those rocks’ curved surfaces. Seawater calmly seeped into the bays with rocks and the narrow passageways of the fjord, before its white waves swelled up the rock wall and poured down again.

“Look over there.”

Ed, who was standing next to Lil, pointed his finger to a rock with an arch-like opening in the middle. It stood out even among the numerous strangely shaped rocks outside the fjord. The sea passed through the open middle of the strangely shaped stone as if casually entering and exiting an arched door.

“What’s that?”

“It’s called John’s Gate or some call it John’s Arch.”

“Who was John?”

“He was a famous tax collector, and according to the legends, he was extremely vicious.”

“So, why was it named after him?”

“Smuggling ships used to often come and go in this area particularly. However, whenever they got close to that arch, they were suddenly swept away by the current and shipwrecked. It was said that it was his way to punish ships that didn’t pay customs even after his death. That’s the story behind it.”

“Ah, then is this the forest where smugglers are said to hide?”

“That part of the forest is a little further east.”

Lil subconsciously looked east, but she couldn’t determine where such area of the forest would start yet. Lil soon followed Ed and settled down on a flat rock facing the sea. They both watched the waves beautifully shimmered by the midday sunlight.

“I presume one would want to rest in the afterlife, but why is he being put to work even after his death? Were his tariffs that harsh?”contemporary romance

“Who knows, it was more than a hundred years ago.”

Lil was handed a cup of boiled tea and snacks by a servant who suddenly appeared.

‘Looks like a bonfire has already been lit.’

When she glanced back, the group had already gathered in smaller groups and were having a quick meal. Their group found their spots at the edge of the main road, so from time to time, other people and wagons could be seen steadily moving on the road.

Lil took a bite of the warmed bread. It was soft and the fruit was fresh. After all, there were plenty of market stalls and inns run by merchant associations near the Great Trade Route, so there was no need to worry about sleeping on the streets or breaking open hardened bread or beef jerky.

Lil brushed her hair which had become dishevelled by the wind.

She then tried hard to focus on her food, but Ed’s persistent gaze kept distracting her. In the end, Lil had no choice but to say something.

“Do you keep looking at me like that to keep me from eating?”

“Of course not, just eat comfortably.”

Yet at the same time, Ed propped his chin up as if he wasn’t feeling any remorse. Lil grumpily shoved a large piece of bread into his mouth.

“You eat it yourself.”

“…”

“Your gaze makes it feel like my head’s getting pierced, so please stop.”

Lil nonetheless knew that her warning was of no use. Still, she pondered on this strange feeling that overcame her. Whenever Ed looked at her intently like that, it felt foreign. Even though he didn’t touch her or anything, something was itching Lil and worrying her for no reason. It would’ve been easier for her to simply reject him, but she couldn’t do that either.

Ed chewed on the piece of bread that was half sticking out of his mouth and swallowed it before he opened his mouth again.

“I can’t take my eyes off you especially when you blend into the wind like this.”

“…”

Ed grabbed her hair, which was fluttering in the wind, and brushed it behind her ear.

“It suits you very well. The sky… the wind… and you right now.”

Lil felt Ed’s palm cupping her cheek. Soon, her lips were lightly caressed by his thumb before falling off. Sunlight passed over Ed’s face as he opened his slightly closed eyes, creating a soft glow that spread across his forehead and cheeks while his green eyes sparkled beautifully towards Lil. Like a man feeling sorry for something, Ed then rested his forehead against hers and playfully rubbed the tip of her nose.

Every time the hard bridge of Ed’s nose brushed against Lil’s, her heart tightened…

– – – – –

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