INWY~110

Chapter 110

The dim light seeped into the bedroom, faint but familiar. It was a time, a presence, she knew well. Yet neither of them spoke.

When a weight settled onto the bed, Riena slowly turned to face the opposite direction. Her eyes, now accustomed to the darkness, swept over his face, briefly caught in surprise.

Dante squinted, trying to assess the situation. But Riena had no intention of explaining herself. Instead, she lifted her arm, wrapping it gently around the waist of the man sitting against the headboard.

A small shiver traveled through his body, relayed plainly through the touch of her skin.

“…What are you doing?”

Finally, it was Dante who spoke. His low, late-night voice settled in her ear.

“Riena.”

Still, she remained silent. He furrowed his brow a little tighter, as if urging her to respond.

The silence stretched. Slowly, Dante extended a hand toward her forehead. When the warm palm finally retreated, Riena pressed her lips together, the feeling inside her stirring uneasily. She could not mistake what motivated this action.

After a deliberate pause, Riena spoke.

“Is this… not allowed?”

His golden eyes were fixed entirely on her, full of puzzled curiosity.

“…No.”

That was all. A terse affirmation. Yet despite his words, he released her hands from his waist. Riena’s arms hovered briefly in midair, uncertain. Quick to react, Dante shifted slightly, taking her hands in his and pulling her closer—an invitation to embrace, like before.

This time, Riena gladly wrapped her arms around him, this time reaching across his back.

He mirrored her action, gently enclosing her back and head, the sharp yet soft scent of lavender and bitter herbs filling her senses.

Riena relaxed fully into him, silent, letting herself be held. No conversation passed between them. Her face buried against his chest, she could not see his expression, but it didn’t matter.

She listened to the deep, resonant beat of his heart, a sound so dominant that she could barely hear her own.

She must seem strange to him—this sudden shift in behavior, so abrupt and unexpected.

Riena murmured, almost against her will:

“Tomorrow…”

A single, clipped word, yet it carried her entire attention to him.

“We’ll walk in the garden… in the sunlight, as we promised.”

Slowly, her words drifted, staccato and deliberate. To Dante, it might have sounded like she was murmuring in her sleep.

She said no more, waiting quietly for his response. At first, she expected a brief answer, but none came.

Then, feeling him hold her a little tighter, she realized he had agreed. Her gaze cooled, steady and calm.

When had they grown to understand each other without words? She despised it. It was awful. Even now, she felt punished for having loved him so recklessly.

She bit her lip, forcing herself to focus elsewhere, drawing her attention to the lavender scent brushing against her nose. Its gentle comfort, said to aid sleep, flowed into her senses. Slowly, she closed her eyes, her arms holding him tightly until her breaths slowed.

Her silent protest had ended.

***

Beneath the dazzling morning sunlight, Dante looked upon Riena, radiant as ever. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t surprised by her sudden change in demeanor the previous night.

The warmth had arrived before he could adapt, and he had reacted like a fool, all screws loose.

He continued to watch her inhaling the scent of flowers. Warmth spread through his gaze as he observed her. The corners of his lips lifted. Did she think herself a butterfly chasing flowers?

Dante stood quietly behind her, hands clasped behind his back. His posture hardly suggested someone accompanying another on a leisurely walk.

Still… he whispered her name under his breath.

“Riena.”

“Yes?”

Her wide eyes met his, cheeks flushed by the sun, a soft, bright smile upon her face. Her response, so different from the silence of recent days, was almost like the girl he remembered from long ago.

Dante felt words fail him. He merely nodded at her, unable to voice more. What she thought with that small head, he could not know—but he reveled in this fleeting moment of her whims.

He brushed his tongue along his teeth, moving slowly to her side. With a teasing tone, he murmured:

“We were supposed to walk together. Yet here you are, buzzing alone. Are you a bee here to gather honey?”

“You’ve never walked in the garden, have you? To see the flowers, to smell the scents… this is what a walk feels like.”

Riena’s nose crinkled slightly at being called a bee, snapping a sharp retort.

Dante chuckled.

“Perhaps… you’re right.”

A faint smile spread across her face as her gaze returned to the flowers.

Picking up a small piece of cake with her fork, Riena’s face remained cheerful, bright with laughter.

“Why are you smiling so much, you frivolous thing?”

“Because I like it.”

Dante’s hand twitched slightly as he held his coffee cup. Slowly, he met her gaze.

“What’s so good?”

“The walk in the garden was lovely in the sunlight. Brunch was delicious. And this dessert… it’s sweet and wonderful. There’s so much I like… I can’t even answer what’s best.”

Dante nodded, understanding. He could see through the false casualness, the attempt to appear unaffected, the smile meant to conceal deeper feelings.

He tilted his head slightly, pondering her motives. Perhaps she wanted something—but listening to her words, the gentle chatter, it was music to his ears, like birdsong.

Dante sipped his coffee, surveying the day. The weather was perfect—not oppressively hot, not blindingly clear. A gentle breeze from the sea carried the faint scent of summer flowers, brushing softly against their hair.

And here she was, taking bites of cake, radiating light as if she herself were a bloom basking in sunlight.

Dante almost laughed at the thought, imagining her a little bee among flowers.

“…Then should I hold you?”

“What?”

His breath caught at the unexpected suggestion.

“You seemed comfortable last night. You said people feel more stable when held. So… if it’s okay, shall I hold you again?”

“Do you think that’s what I want?”

Dante let out a small laugh of disbelief. He was genuinely caught off guard.

“If not, I can do something else you desire.”

Riena understood him quickly now, reflecting his words back at him, but she hadn’t expected to use it like this.

Dante drew a long breath, blinking slowly. He understood one thing for certain—whatever schemes this woman had, they were not just about going home.

“Well… that’s not bad. But if you’re willing, something else might suit better.”

“Tell me.”

Riena nodded solemnly, ready to accept whatever he proposed. Dante almost laughed aloud, but controlled himself, curling his lips into a restrained smile as he spoke.