CH 165

‘Why did I do that?’

As Helios reflected on his actions, he could only sigh. He couldn’t understand why he did it. In retrospect, he knew how silly he had been.

It was very clear from his younger siblings’ faces that they were just egging him on.

That’s why he didn’t have any intention of accepting the suggestion and giving Sera a ride.

So, why did he cut in between Jean and Sera? Why did he carry her up the horse without even giving her time to answer?

He was unusually baffled by his own behavior. He’s not being himself.

“Your Majesty?”

However, the small voice in front of him made him stop that line of thought.

Because the woman sitting so close in front of him now was much more important than figuring out the reason behind his impulsive decision.

At just one glance, it’s clear that Sera was very frightened and uncomfortable about everything.

“Miss Popo, are you feeling very scared?”

He glanced down, staring at Sera’s back being curled up like that. He felt apologetic, thinking that he was the one who forced her into this situation.

“Yes… I’m afraid that I will fall. Every time the horse moves, my body tilts!”

Sera then closed her eyes shut and stopped speaking. She couldn’t keep herself composed.

Whenever her body shook, she could feel Helios’s solid chest behind her, but then whenever the horse would gallop, she’d just get so scared.

“Is the place where Her Highness Rosé lost her pin still a l-long distance away?”

Clutching the front of the saddle very tightly, Sera uttered the question with great difficulty.

“No, we’re here now.”

Feeling apologetic towards her, Helios urged the horse to a stop.

Surprised by the halted horse, Sera’s body stiffened again. Really, Helios was regretting his impulsive decision to bring her here.

Dismounting from the horse first, Helios reached for Sera.

Sera hesitated as she looked down at him, as if it was not easy for her to come down from the horse.

Helios smiled quietly because it was far from her usual confident appearance—honestly, she looked quite adorable.

“Are you going to stay on top of the horse?”

“N…No, sire.”

Sera shook her head.

“I’ll carry you down, so if you step here slowly…!”

Helios was holding the horse’s reins with one hand, then supporting Sera with the other hand. But then, Sera lost her balance for a moment.

As she couldn’t control her actions for a moment, she instinctively tried to reach out to grab something. And inevitably, she jumped into Helios’ arms.

He was a little surprised, but Helios readily hugged Sera tightly, not allowing her to fall.

She used all the strength in her arms to cling to Helios’ neck. But on the other hand, all Helios could think about was how her soft body was too light and too small—and he was reminded of their dance during the last ball.

“Miss Popo.”

Helios whispered, hugging Sera, who still hadn’t let go of him.

“Huh? Your Majesty?”

Out of her senses for a moment, Sera didn’t know why he called her name, and so she replied this way. She let out a sigh of relief after she was finally down from the horse.

“It’s alright now.”

He gently set Sera down on the grass.

When her feet touched the ground, Sera belatedly realized what happened just now, and her eyes went wide with surprise.

Shame, embarrassment—all mixed up in her expression.

Sera’s mouth opened and closed, as if there was something she wanted to say. However, she lowered her head first because she didn’t know what to do.

“Your Majesty! I’m so sorry! I got ahead of myself because I wanted to dismount the horse right away, but I’ve committed a grave act of discourtesy to you!”

Helios tried to say that there was no problem at all, but Sera repeatedly apologized and hesitated.

She looked like a child who’s been caught doing something wrong.

“Miss Popo, you keep taking steps backward. Where are you going?”

He reached out to her, urging her to come closer.

“I…I just want to hurry up and find what Her Highness Rosé has lost!”

Sera shouted and started looking around. She was already five steps away from him by now.

He wanted to ask why she was so scared of horses, and he also wanted to apologize to her. However, he couldn’t easily approach her.

Because, strangely enough, Helios had been feeling dazed since earlier—ever since he caught Sera in his arms a while ago.

And, his heartbeat was uncontrollable right now.

* * *

‘Crazy. Seriously.’

Sera quickly shook her head as she recalled the moment that she had hugged Helios so tightly.

Her first priority right now was to find Rosé’s pin, but why couldn’t she find any traces of it?

And, if she allowed her mind to wander for even just a moment, a barrage of other thoughts would pop up.

His firm arms around her waist. Her cheek on his neck as she clung to him tightly.

She felt so shocked about the great act of discourtesy that she had shown in front of the emperor. However, when the shock of that incident passed, these were the thoughts that remained in Sera’s mind.

Sera snuck a sidelong glance at Helios, who was also looking for Rosé’s pin like her.

With the way he was acting, it’s as if nothing happened just now.

Ah, did he feel her gaze on him? Helios raised his head and met Sera’s eyes.

“I believe it’s better if we return now.”

“O-Oh? Already, sire?”

As their eyes met, Sera blinked dazedly.

“It looks like it’s going to rain. I felt a raindrop falling on me just now.”

Helios murmured, looking up at the sky.

Sera also held out her hand and looked up at the downcast sky. As soon as Helios finished saying that, thick raindrops fell on her palm.

“Yes, just as Your Majesty said, it would be best to return now. But what about Her Highness’ pin?”

“I’ll explain to Rosé. And we can ask some of the attendants to look for it later.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sera said that she understood, but then Rosé’s face suddenly crossed her mind.

Now that she thought of it, she couldn’t remember Her Highness Rosé ever wearing a hairpin today.

Sera was sure that she had tied Rosé’s braided hair with a red ribbon earlier, and she couldn’t remember ever putting a green gemstone pin on her hair.

“Was Her Highness Rosé wearing a pin today?”

Realizing that just now, Sera asked.

“But isn’t that why she said she lost it on the way…”

‘Or maybe not?’ Helios trailed off when he tried to justify it that way. Without saying anything for a moment, his thoughts continued down the same path as Sera’s.

Soon afterwards, he let out a sigh that was both dejected and amused.

“Ah… Rosé, really…”

Helios laughed helplessly.

“Somehow, it’s like that… right?”

Sera burst into laughter at the same time, confirming that they’re thinking of the same thing.