Crack.
Noticing the sound of someone stepping on a twig, Tinaria suddenly lifted her head, blinked her eyes surprised by the person there and then stood up to bow in a panic.
“What are you doing in such a place?”
“Eh…, I was reading a book. There is a library room near the room prepared for me, so I borrowed it, however… Is it all right?”
“I don’t specially mind about books. … I thought you were doing something like a secret meeting with someone since you went to such a secluded place.”
Saying it in a truly cynical way, Tinaria had a sorrowful smile on her face.
“It is close to my room, so I naturally headed here. Why is Keithfalt here?”
“I sometimes use this arbor for a break.”
“Well, is that so. Then I will return to my room, please have a good rest. …Err, I guess your work is hard, please don’t force yourself too much and take care of your body.”
Keithfalt called Tinaria at once as she was about to leave immediately after saying her words of respects.
“Wait!”
“Yes…?”
Keithfalt, who hadn’t thought about anything to say to Tinaria who was tilting her head out of curiosity, immediately remembered what Lionel said this morning.
“His Majesty and my mother in law will be back in one month. At this occasion, they will hold a garden party, also the Crown Princess must attend.”
“Y, yes. Understood.”
“After that…, if you don’t stir trouble, you may exceptionally read your book here…”
Keithfalt told so to Tinaria who was uneasy about the garden party. Perhaps it was out of guilt for having let her sleep on the sofa the day of their marriage. Besides, if it was too troublesome, he could move to another place.
Tinaria didn’t understand immediately what he said, but gradually understanding its meaning, her cheeks got a rosy color as she was shyly delighted.
“Thank you… very much.”
Tinaria sat down on the root of the tree, and Keithfalt rolled the doc.u.ments in the arbor. Time pa.s.sed by with the sound of the turning pages, wrapping up the two people in a gentle atmosphere.
The sight of this gentle quietness, reached the point where it repeated frequently as the new year’s sunlight watched over.