Lavi’s eyes widened when she saw pink hair.

Akkad, whose expression had hardened while locking eyes with Rose, lowered the corners of his eyes when he made eye contact with Lavi and returned to his usual harmless expression.

“Lavi, it’s been a while.”

“… so, you’re aware that it’s been a while, then?”

Lavi’s answer was delivered sullenly.

He’d said ‘It’s been a while’ in such a nonchalant tone. She couldn’t even remember when she last received a reply from him.

Lavi looked at Akkad and tried to say something, but was a little flustered by how much he had changed.

‘I think he’s about the same height as Allen… or is he taller?’

His thin voice became huskier, and his body…

‘Why did he grow so big? It seems to have become rather good.’

He’s only fifteen now, and Lavi immediately understood how her Akkad was able to go to war at the age of sixteen.

His appearance as he transitioned from a child to a boy was so destructive that it was scary to imagine what he would look like when he became a full-fledged adult.

‘I’m sorry Akkad. I think you’re prettier than Lady Salome.’

Akkad smiled, revealing his dimples, and his eyes curved into the shape of crescent moons. His pink hair was wet from the thickening rain.

At that time, she simultaneously felt something dripping down her nose and heard her brother’s panicked voice calling out to her.

“La, Lavi!! Nosebleed!!”

Werner hurried over and took out a handkerchief.

Lavi held her nose and let out a small sigh. What kind of embarrassing thing was happening to her in front of Rose?

“Oh no. You’d better go inside and get some rest.”

Rose’s voice sounded worried.

Akkad took off one of his gloves and gently reached for the hand that wasn’t holding the handkerchief.

Lavi sucked in a long breath at the sudden rush of sensation.

“Okay, then I’ll go in first. Please make yourself at home, sister!”

Lavi hurriedly called out to Rose as Akkad headed straight to the main building.

“Have you been getting nosebleeds often these days?” 

“Are you curious?”

Lavi’s expression was full of discontentment as Akkad carried her to her room. She was happy to see him for the first time in a long time, and surprised that he didn’t seem to be having any trouble carrying her. But if they were almost at eye level when she was cradled in his arms like this, how much of a height difference was there between them now? Lavi cursed harshly at the growth plate in her head.

No words were exchanged between them the rest of the way to her room.

At the same time as the sound of the door closing, Lavi started writhing as if telling him to put her down.

Akkad set Lavi down with a distant look on his face.

Lavi pushed Akkad’s shoulder and frowned. Akkad, who was sitting on the table, opened his eyes wide and looked at Lavi. His face looked like he had no idea why she was doing that.

“Without a word!” 

“Huh?”

“I was so surprised. I haven’t seen hide nor hair of you for who knows how long. Huh?”¹

Lavi roughly ran a hand through her hair and sighed. 

Then she placed her hands on either side of Akkad and trapped him in her arms. Though, because of the height difference, it looked like she was looking up at him instead of looking down.

Lavi’s eyebrows sharply rose.

“You seem to be doing very well, huh? You didn’t even write to me?”

How could that be?

He grew taller and his body grew stronger.

Seeing that he had grown so much faster than his peers, she wondered if he was doing well or if this was a little abnormal.

Lavi continued in a stream of consciousness, reaching out and tugging Akkad’s hair. Akkad didn’t even bother saying he was in pain, but as he got closer to Lavi, he moved his upper body back and widened the distance between them.

“Are you avoiding me now?”

“Oh, no. That’s not it. Too close ….”

“You’re just going to show up like that?”

Lavi stood up on the chair with her knees and looked at Akkad with a fierce spirit.

“Disgraceful!”

Lavi moved closer than Akkad had leaned back. Her long blonde hair spilled over the top of Akkad as he practically lay down on the table. The corners of Akkad’s eyes turned red in an instant. Lavi smiled with satisfaction upon seeing the downturned and moist silver-gray eyes. Looking at this expression, it was just like the Akkad she knew.

“Hey, I guess you have something to say?”

Akkad glanced at Lavi, then stretched out his hand to grab a handful of her hair.

“Your hair….”

“What?”

“It’s grown really long. It’s pretty.”

“Are you trying to gloss over things by saying things like that?”

Lavi reached out and tugged Akkad’s hair hard. Akkad was just holding Lavi’s hair, but Lavi was pulling with intent to hurt.

Akkad’s eyes narrowed.

“Is that what you should say?”

As Akkad lowered his eyes slightly, a shadow appeared under his pink eyelashes.

Was this a honeytrap? Lavi, who was angry, tried her best not to be swayed.

Full, red lips trembled, and a small voice was heard.

“I’m sorry, Lavi. I missed you.”

Lavi’s, who saw Akkad looking at her again as he finished speaking, couldn’t hide her flustered shock.

How could he say ‘I missed you’ with a face like that! 

She was expecting to hear an excuse or a reason for not replying to her letters, but it was an unexpected attack.

‘This kid is going to get into real trouble.’

She had already been worried, but now she was even moreso. When he was young, she felt weak when he cried because he was just cute and pretty, but now it seemed dangerous in a different way. What on earth would happen when he became an adult?

She couldn’t get used to the appearance of her friend who had grown up so much.

Lavi pushed herself up and grumbled.

“Please give me some notice, friend.”

Lavi clicked her tongue as she looked at Akkad, who looked clueless. Then, she noticed that his hair and shoulders were wet, probably because it had rained quite a bit. She thought she should at least bring him a towel, but then she felt something trickle down from her nose.

“Huh? Warning? Oh, Lavi, your nose is bleeding again!”

Akkad hurriedly raised one hand and pulled the tip of the glove he was wearing with his teeth. As he brought his body closer and bit on the end of his glove, Lavi started to tremble… and felt something more flowing down her nose.

Lavi frowned and raised her hand to push away Akkad’s chest as he approached her.

“…?”

She definitely pushed with all her might, but he didn’t budge. There was no reaction from Akkad, so much so that one wondered if she had put in any effort at all.

But… this solid thing that touched her palm was her friend’s?

“Lavi! On both sides…!”

Akkad was surprised to see her nose bleeding, so he took a handkerchief out of his pocket and held it under Lavi’s nose.

Lavi’s body lifted up and her position swapped with Akkad. Akkad placed one hand on the table and finished removing the glove from his hand. Lavi hoped he wasn’t copying her behavior exactly from earlier. 

The hand that took off the glove grabbed her hand and she couldn’t even shake it off. Was this revenge on her for nagging him and pulling his hair as soon as he arrived? It was revenge that used beauty to cause nosebleeds. 

Seeing the way Akkad was whimpering like a puppy caught in the rain, she didn’t really think that was the case.

“Huh? You can control it now?”

Even though they held hands, the energy she’d been waiting for did not flow in right away.

Akkad nodded, and a moment later, a refreshing energy began to flow into Lavi. It was as if her body was absorbing all of Akkad’s energy in one giant form.

Lavi gasped and sucked in a breath. 

She hadn’t felt this strong of a rush of energy earlier in the garden, though she’d been distracted.  But this time, she felt a tingling sensation, as if electricity was passing through their clasped hands.

Akkad lowered his gaze and added hastily, “I’m sorry. So far,  I can only control it to this extent.”

“This extent?”

 “Well. Now, I can only use it when I want to, but I can’t control the amount.”

Was it possible to control the amount?

“But isn’t it controlled according to the intensity of physical contact?” 

“Huh? That’s the maximum difference.”

Akkad blushed and looked away.

If he could control the amount, he could improve a little. Lavi raised the corners of her mouth proudly, thinking that she had a great friend after all.

‘Hmm, why is he like that?’

Akkad suddenly seemed unwilling to make eye contact with her, as if he was embarrassed.

Lavi continued speaking, gently lifting Akkad’s chin with the hand that wasn’t being held.

“But is it necessary to adjust the amount? Wouldn’t that be a lot of work for you?”

“Huh…? No, not really.”

Even though Akkad raised his chin, he kept his gaze down.

“Akkad.”

“Huh?”

“You have to talk face to face.”

It had been so long and she was glad to see him, and she was also getting used to Akkad’s changed appearance.

Akkad blinked slowly and then lifted his eyelids towards her.

“So, if it’s not that, then what is it?”

Encouraging him to continue where he had left off, Lavi moved the finger that was holding Akkad’s chin and tapped him on the cheek. Although it was not as soft and plump as before, the body temperature was still slightly higher than hers.

“Well. I heard it’s hard for the person receiving the energy if it isn’t controlled.”

“Well, it was a bit like that just now.”

Lavi nodded, agreeing with what he said. It definitely felt like she was out of breath, and the hand that was touching his was tingling, so it was difficult. But apart from that, she could feel her body’s condition steadily improving. 

“I’m sorry.”

“No. I’m fine now. I’m perfectly fine.”

She wondered how long it had been since she felt energy overflowing into every corner of her body, and she was so moved that she felt like she was going to cry.

And once again, she realized that she had the body of a sunfish. 

It left a bitter taste in her mouth to realize that to others, her current physical condition would be considered quite poor.

Lavi sighed softly, shaking off the gloomy thoughts.

“Thank you.”

She felt like she had enough strength to go for a run, so it seemed like enough. Lavi let go of Akkad’s hand and slid down from the table. Then grabbed a dry towel and gestured to Akkad.

Akkad sat on the chair, blinked, and obediently placed his head in Lavi’s hands.

As she wiped his hair, Lavi scolded him. 

“You don’t know how scary getting a cold is. Where if anything goes wrong, you’ll die.”

“Huh?”

Akkad tilted his head at the abrupt words, but soon looked up in understanding. He watched Lavi, wondering if she was really that unwell.

Lavi shook her head and moved her hands diligently.

Normally, it would have been something she wouldn’t have dared to do because her arms would get sore, but now she was able to do it because she had so much strength.

“You don’t have to worry about something like that anymore.”

Akkad, who was quietly thinking about something, said while gripping Lavi’s hand, which was holding a towel.

“Something like that?”

“Yes. Because I’m here.”

It seemed like he was telling her not to be afraid of things like colds.

“Oh, so you’ll be staying in the capital now?”

“Yes.”

Lavi breathed a sigh of relief at Akkad’s answer. Then, even if she wasn’t as full of energy as she is now, she would be able to maintain a similar physical condition.

“I’ll have the maid bring you some clothes to change into.”

Lavi placed the towel aside and patted the damp shoulders of his shirt.

Akkad, who was smiling, frowned as he saw Lavi humming to herself as if she was in a good mood.

“Lavi, what is this, here?”

“Huh?”

Lavi turned her gaze to Akkad, who was holding her arm, with a puzzled look on her face.

It was just a bruise from a bump, but it was something she’d written about in a letter she sent a while ago.

“Oh, this. Didn’t you read the letter?”

“Letter?”

“Huh? Why are you reacting like that?”

It was a reaction that wouldn’t have been possible if he’d read the letter she’d sent not long ago. So, it wasn’t that he read the letter and didn’t reply, it meant he didn’t even read it at all?

In her most recent letter, she’d asked many important questions, such as when he saw his uncle or cousin.

Lavi, who raised the corners of her mouth with a cool expression, grabbed Akkad’s collar.

“If you’d read the letter I sent you, you would know why.”

“Oh, I did get it but…I haven’t read it yet. More than that, Lavi, outside …”

“Why?”

There was a knock on the door, but Lavi didn’t hear it.  She cut off Akkad’s words and asked pointedly.

“You didn’t read it?”

Her hand tightened on his collar.

“No. There was an accident on the way, so I didn’t get the letter until the time when I was leaving the territory … So, I received several months’ worth at once …”

Akkad avoided eye contact and spoke in a hushed voice.

“How does that make sense?”

It didn’t make sense to not receive letters exchanged between families for months.

At Lavi’s urging, Akkad hesitantly opened his mouth.

“Actually, my cousin was kind of up to some mischief… I’ve received all of the letters you wrote, and I’ll read them when I get home. I’m sorry.”

“What? That bastard…!”

“I’ve said it clearly so you could understand, you don’t need to be concerned with him.” ²

Did she really hear that right? As she narrowed her eyes, trying to determine whether Akkad’s words were true, she heard Allen’s voice and a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

“Miss. The young master would like to know when you will have dinner….”

Allen, who entered the room, trailed off when he saw Lavi and Akkad. Akkad’s face was red as he was being held by Lavi. Allen faltered in the doorway, as if he was debating whether to go out.

“I have to save Akkad….”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

“Dinner?”

Lavi turned to say something more to Allen, but her eyes widened at the feel of a touch on her lips.

She fumbled with the collar of the shirt as she tried to pull away, but lost her footing and her body tilted forward. 

“…?”

And as her body leaned, something touched her lips.

It was Akkad’s lips.

Damn that body of hers. 

As soon as those full, soft lips made contact, she felt Akkad’s body stiffen so quickly she could almost hear it crack.

“Ah…”

“Hmm?”

“…oh my.”

One could hear Allen’s gasp, and Lavi’s questioning voice. Akkad’s crying voice echoed throughout the room.

Lavi rolled her eyes, took a step back, and looked at Akkad. She could see that he was covering the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. His reddened eyes were scrunched up as if pained, and there were tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

“Oh, my mistake.”

As if those words were wrong, his pink eyelashes began to clump up with tears. As Lavi reached out to wipe away the tears from his eyes, Akkad trembled and leaned back.

Seeing a pure and beautiful boy crying made her feel like a great sinner.

Lavi spoke in a slightly shaky voice and scratched her cheek.

“No, I didn’t do it on purpose. Why are you crying ? Don’t cry.”

Allen gave Akkad a pitying look. He apologized in his heart on behalf of the young lady who was completely lacking in sensitivity. Allen shook his head as he watched the young lady raise her eyebrows and sweep a hand through her hair.

“I’m sorry. Or should I do it one more time ? Then we could treat it as a take-back?”

‘Lady, I don’t think that’s a good idea.’

Allen swallowed the words he was unable to get out. He rubbed a hand over his face while looking at the tearful lamb wearing a hurt expression.

After Lavi murmured something about how nice it would be to have soft lips, the room went silent.

She heard Allen leave the room, and the silence continued to hang in the room.

Lavi glanced over at Akkad searchingly. She felt sorry for flustering him so much. Every inch of the skin exposed outside of Akkad’s clothes was red.

There was no way he could go to war looking like that!  

Of course, her first thought was to save the Duke and Duchess Enoch.

Lavi kept her lips pressed together in a tight line of nervousness that gripped her at the mere thought, and then she spoke.

“Akkad. Have you learned anything about your uncle?”

Akkad paused for a moment due to the sudden outburst before answering.

“Yes. I know.” 

“Really?”

Could it be that there was some kind of sign?

“My uncle is very greedy. My father knows that too. Is that why you asked?”

Akkad added that he heard a similar warning from her brother Werner last year. 

Lavi thought he was just looking into it on his own, but it looked like he also gave hints to Duke Enoch’s family. Lavi tilted her head as she thought about saying thank you to her brother.

However, didn’t it seem like Akkad knew what she was talking about even before he heard it from her brother Werner? 

In that case, he would’ve already known about it in the original work as well, and it could have been that they were harmed even though they had prepared.

The war, which was currently in a cease-fire, would soon begin again.

That meant that Akkad’s uncle was about to make his move.

“Akkad, you have to be careful. Now that you’re in the capital, someone greedy might try to do something, yeah?”

“My father said he’d been warned, so it’ll be okay.”

Lavi couldn’t be satisfied with that. She worried that even with the warning, there could still be an accident but she didn’t know how to explain it.

“Still, be careful. Huh? They might hit the carriage or something …”

“Okay. I’ll be careful. Don’t worry.”

Also, didn’t the ducal family of Enoch only allow those with healing abilities to succeed to the title? The sudden question that came to her took root. Of course, since the ability was a secret, it wasn’t known to the public, but the emperor must know it.

Why did the emperor not stop Akkad from participating in the war even though he knew about it?

Did his uncle have the ability to capture the emperor’s heart? Or was it something else? 

She wondered if there was another mastermind behind Akkad’s uncle. Once she started, there was no end to her doubts.

However, if there really was something else, the risk might not be eliminated simply by preventing the carriage accident. It occurred to her that Akkad could become the target.

“Akkad. By any chance … does that cousin of yours have the same abilities as you?”

“Why are you curious about that?” It was a strangely sharp tone. Akkad opened his mouth with a stern expression. “That’s something you don’t need to know, Lavi.”

Lavi had no answer to Akkad’s attitude of drawing a line. Maybe it seemed like she was meddling in his household affairs and felt offended? Or did it have to do with his cousin? He might be embarrassed to have a witness see him being bullied. Lavi struggled to figure out what the hell was wrong.

It wasn’t something she needed to know?

Was she asking for no reason?

She became angry due to the growing disappointment.

‘I’ve been worried about you since the day I remembered the carriage accident. You know?’

Lavi tugged on Akkad’s shirt collar. At the close distance, the tips of their noses touched. Either way, Lavi continued speaking with a vicious edge.

“It’s because I”m worried. They’re your parents, but they’re like parents to me as well. And I’m afraid that if your cousin has the same ability, you’ll be in danger too. If something like that happened to me, wouldn’t you care? Right?”

“No. That’s not what I meant ….”

“Phew – then what is it? Tell me. Is it because it’s your family’s business?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that”

Lavi added after watching his lips curl and close several times.

“I won’t ask you anything anymore. If nothing happens, it’s okay.”

If he didn’t want to talk, what was the point in prying?

But then, when she thought about it, she remembered that he’d always reacted sensitively whenever she brought up his cousin.

Lavi gently pulled Akkad’s cheeks, who looked sullen. After a few tugs, she withdrew her hand, adding that she would only let it slide this once.

“Lavi.” 

“Huh?”

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t ask, so….”

Lavi tilted her head as if she couldn’t understand what he was saying.

Akkad’s face became redder by the second.

“You said earlier that you wouldn’t ask anything anymore.”

“You said I didn’t need to know? That’s why I said I wouldn’t ask.”

“… Okay, I understand.”

Contrary to his answer that he understood, Akkad was avoiding meeting her eyes, even when she tried again. Lavi pondered Akkad’s words, wondering why he was like this, and then blurted out whatever came to mind.

“Shall I ask?”

“… Yes.”

“Except about your cousin?”

“… I’ll answer that too.”

Lavi chuckled and touched Akkad’s hair.

“Okay. I’ll ask again later if I feel like it.”

Akkad nodded, half-lowering his eyes.

“But why is your face so red? Is it because you got rained on earlier?”

Lavi tilted her head as she touched Akkad’s forehead.

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T/N: Uuuugh confession I hate the accidental kiss trope, though it being the guy who gets weepy lamb about it happening is an okay twist on its usual usage I guess. Lavi starting to curse like a sailor the minute she thinks someone is being mean to Akkad and Allen’s deadpan background to their disaster romcom almost makes up for it though IMO XD

1. Lavi says  그동안 코빼기도 안 보이더니. Which best I can tell literally means something like “I haven’t even be able to see your nose” but is an idiom for someone being so busy they’re absent, so, used a localized equivalent. ↩︎
2. Not sure on this exchange, exactly. Akkad says “내가 충분히 알아듣게 말했으니까, 너까지 신경 쓰지 않아도 돼.” ↩︎

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