TLDOWN 28

CHAPTER 28..

Sweet

Rea, too, seemed unable to sleep. Wrapped in a shawl, she looked over at him.

“Can’t sleep?”

“A bit.”

Before he knew it, Rea had come closer and was now standing directly in front of him.

“Well, unlike the Duke’s mansion, this place is old and cramped…”

Though people said the mansion was old, it was nothing compared to this orphanage.

‘And considering he spent his childhood in the imperial palace, it must be so uncomfortable for him.’

It was only natural that the Duke couldn’t sleep well. But still—why had he come all this way, only to suffer?

Rea stared at him, a puzzled look in her eyes.

“But really, why did you come all the way here?”

“That’s…”

Akkia paused, thinking of how to answer. Then he mumbled something vaguely.

“…Heidern used to owe a debt to the Tren region. I just came to see if there was anything I could help with.”

For something made up on the spot, it sounded convincing enough. But Rea wasn’t so easily fooled.

“Then why not come as the Duke of Heidern? Why go through the trouble of—?”

“Because I have to be the sickly Duke.”

Ah. She had almost forgotten just how precarious his position was right now. The atmosphere, light only moments ago, turned heavy with unspoken thoughts.

Feeling guilty for bringing up a dark past, Rea quickly looked around to change the mood—anything for a lighter topic.

Then, her eyes landed on an old tree.

“Oh! That tree is still standing!”

With an exaggerated motion, she called for Akkia’s attention. On a small hill stood a large zelkova tree with a single old swing dangling from one of its branches.

Excited by the familiar sight, Rea dashed over.

Akkia naturally followed her and stood in front of the swing, silently staring at it. Strangely, his expression had grown darker than before.

Rea didn’t notice.

“I used to play on this swing all the time as a kid. The other kids and I would fight over who got to ride it.”

She gently toyed with the rope, as if reminiscing about simpler days.

“Did you like swings when you were little, Duke? Ah—maybe there weren’t any in the imperial palace.”

“There were… swings.”

This arrogant man on a swing?
Then again, he probably was a cute kid.

With a face that handsome, he must have been an adorable child.

“So you liked swinging too, then?”

Akkia didn’t answer. Rea’s innocent question had stirred up memories he wasn’t prepared for.

[Akkia.]

A gentle smile surfaced in his mind—an elegant woman with silver hair that shone like sunlight on a lake and serene sky-blue eyes.

He had loved it when his mother pushed him on the swing.

Unlike the suffocating lessons in the palace, swinging made him feel light—like he could fly.

So yes, he had loved swings… up until the moment his mother passed so abruptly.

“I…”

He frowned as memories he’d buried came rushing back. Just then, Rea grabbed his hand.

“Why are you just standing there? Come on, let’s swing! I’ll push you!”

“No, I—”

But before he could refuse, she’d already pulled him onto the swing.

“Here we go!”

She was treating him like a child—offering to push him, of all things. He let out a dry chuckle.

But then a cool night breeze swept through his hair, and before he knew it, his eyes had quietly closed.

That memory surfaced again.

The happiest, most radiant moment of his life.

A moment he knew, more than anyone, would never return.

‘Yeah… This feeling. It was like this, wasn’t it?’

He tried to relive it—his eyes closed, tracing the past.

The scent of grass brushing past his nose, the wind weaving through his skin—it all brought back the illusion of being a child who knew nothing of the world.

Soon, the swing slowed and came to a gentle stop.

“How was it? Fun, right?”

Rea sounded excited, as if she had been the one on the swing. Akkia leaned his head back.

“Huh? Duke?”

Rea bent down, peering at him.

– Swish.

Her deep pink hair fell forward, brushing lightly against his face. It was a different kind of tickle than the wind.

Had he ever seen her this close before?

Maybe only when she was asleep—but even then, not like this.

Was it the rush of freedom? Or a wave of nostalgia stirred up by the night? Whatever it was, Rea looked… unusually beautiful.

Her eyes, green as fresh leaves, sparkled under the moonlight like polished emeralds.

Pale skin, a high nose bridge, and lips tinged red like her hair.

His gaze settled on her lips.

[The older guys I work with said a woman’s lips are like warm peaches. Really soft, hot… and sweet.]

He suddenly wondered—

What would it feel like to touch those lips, as red as a ripe peach?

Would it really taste sweet, like biting into one?

“Duke?”

Rea tilted her head, confused by his silence.

“Do you… like peaches?”

An impulsive question—just like what he was about to do.

“Peaches? Uh… yeah. I like them. But why?”

Akkia’s hand, once holding the rope, was now gently touching her cheek.

“Just wondering… about the taste.”

And with that, he pulled her face toward his.

He hadn’t seen her expression—his eyes were closed—but the heat from her skin told him enough.

Her face was probably as red as her hair.

It was brief, fleeting—just a soft brush of lips.

When Akkia opened his eyes, Rea’s were wide in shock.

“…Sweet.”

Theo had been right. A woman’s lips were sweet.

❀ ❀ ❀

“Haaah…”

Cleaning inside the orphanage, Rea sighed as if the world had collapsed. She had no idea how she made it back to her room that night.

The Duke’s sudden action had left her speechless—and she’d bolted like someone running for their life.

‘But wait, wasn’t he into men?!’

She had been so sure the Duke liked men that his kiss completely rattled her.

A light kiss, not quite enough to call it a proper one. Their lips had only touched for a fleeting moment, but the sensation was vivid—as if it had burned itself into her skin.

[Sweet.]

The soft voice he’d used to whisper that word echoed in her ears like a haunting refrain.

And—

– Thump, thump.

Her heart still raced like it had that night. She placed a hand over her chest.

Ever since then, her gaze had unconsciously followed him everywhere.

Like her mind couldn’t think of anything but the Duke.

“…Ugh. This is insane.”

She hated herself for it. She had no idea how to face him anymore.

She couldn’t even remember how she used to act around him before that happened.

Meanwhile, the Duke…

“Why does he look totally fine?!”

Sure, she’d been avoiding him, but still—shouldn’t he at least explain himself?

Since that night, he’d acted like nothing had happened, which only made her feel more wronged.

“Wait.”

Could it have been a mistake? Was he drunk? Did he not even remember?

No—there hadn’t been any alcohol in the orphanage, and he definitely didn’t smell like it that night.

She ruffled her hair in frustration.

“…Theo?”

Suddenly, Theo was standing in the doorway, silently watching her.

Had he been there long?

He looked more tired than usual, his expression shadowed.

“You okay? You don’t look so good.”

Worried, Rea walked over and gently patted his shoulder. Theo glanced at her, then moved his lips like he was about to say something.

“Hey… Rea…”

“Yeah?”

Something was definitely bothering him.

But like a goldfish opening and closing its mouth, he ended up shaking his head.

“No, it’s nothing…”

‘It’s definitely something.’

Feeling guilty for being so distracted lately, Rea pressed him gently.

Then, suddenly—Theo took both of her hands.

“…Rea. I hope… you’ll be happy.”

“Huh?”

Tears welled in his eyes. He covered his mouth and ran off, leaving Rea standing there stunned, like she was the tragic heroine of a farewell scene.

“…What the heck was that?”

Anyone watching would think he’d just been dumped.

So many people were acting strangely lately—it was enough to make her wonder if someone had laced the drinking water.

‘Theo, and the Duke… Actually, the Duke’s the weirdest of them all!’

There were so many strange things.

Why did he come to Tren out of nowhere?

Why was he pretending to be an assistant and helping out at the orphanage?

And why had he kissed her so suddenly?

She was seriously considering testing the water for contaminants when she felt another presence.

“So this is where you were.”

Akkia stood there, leaning lazily as he looked down at her.

“D-Duke?”

Caught off guard, Rea stammered. She had been running from him since that night—this was the first time they’d spoken face to face since.

“Hm. Your face is red.”

He tilted his head as if trying to gauge something.

“R-really? Maybe it’s just hot? Haha…”

Why am I stuttering like an idiot?

She tried to calm down, but her heart pounded and her face burned. Meanwhile, the Duke remained composed.

“That brat didn’t say anything weird to you, did he?”

“Huh?”

‘Wait… why bring up Theo all of a sudden?’

Confusion spread across Rea’s face.

Apparently convinced nothing had happened, Akkia’s expression relaxed.

“Well, if he didn’t, never mind.”

But—

‘Why is he so calm?’

The more composed he looked, the more frustrated she felt.

‘He’s the one who kissed me, so why am I the only one uncomfortable?!’

He, the one who started it, looked completely unaffected.

It was almost too unfair.