The Great Wish - Chapter 9.4

Vol.2 Chapter 9 Part 4 

Levan silently glanced at Kuhn. He had just told him that he wouldn't be able to resign his post as the Silver King's aide immediately. 

"I understand." 

"...What?" 

"You said one month, right? Make sure to cleanly end it by then." 

"Yes, don't worry, sir." 

Levan exited the study and tilted his head. Kuhn's reaction had been unexpected. 

'I thought he was going to tell me to leave the Empire for a while.' 

If he resigned right away, he'd anger the Silver King. Having been marked by a member of the Imperial family, he'd have no choice but to run away. Levan had prepared many speeches in order to convince Kuhn otherwise. 

'My post as the Silver King's aide shouldn't interfere with the plans that Kuhn has. So why did he want me to resign?' 

He didn't know why Kuhn was interfering with this matter. 

The Raad family consisted of two groups. The leadership group and the group that followed. The leadership group was also split in two. Those that worked and those that prepared. 

Being Mason's successor, Levan was a part of the 'preparing group'. As long as they didn't do anything to harm the family, they were usually left to their own devices. Actually, it was usually encouraged. By gaining experience in a variety of fields, they would be able to gather more resources for the family to prosper. 

That's why Levan was able to do something as preposterous as take the national exam and become an administrator. 

'If it was going to be a problem... He would have said something before I even took the exam at all.' 

Something was strange. 

Kuhn sat in his seat and leaned back. When Levan had told him that 'he couldn't quit immediately because he was in charge of taking care of the Silver King's schedule', Kuhn had almost asked him about her schedule. 

'He must see her almost every day.' 

Since he was her aide. 

'How nice.' 

For the past month, he had been trying to figure out a way to see her, but to think that the rascal Levan had been seeing and talking to her every day. When Kuhn found out, he couldn't help but feel annoyed and frustrated. 

The Princess had told him not to visit her. He was unable to defy her wishes. Because she almost never came out to social functions, he didn't have a chance to see her at all. 

However, there was one way. She would soon receive her territories, and knowing her meticulous personality, she'd definitely come out to inspect them. 

'But when will that be?' 

Ten days from now? One month? Because there was no set date, he didn't have a clue. 

He stared blankly at the ceiling before suddenly getting out of his seat. He exited his study and walked down the hallway. He was heading down the stairs when he met Walter, who had been in the middle of carefully waxing the bannister. 

"Are you going out?" 

"Mm." 

"Are you entering the Palace? Then don't go alone and..." 

"No, I'm just going out for a stroll. I don't need dinner. I won't be out long." 

Kuhn had already answered all of Walter's nitpicky questions before he had a chance to say them out loud. His faithful butler seemed to nag him more and more as time went on. 

"Be back soon!" 

He didn't really have a set destination. He only came out because he felt suffocated. Just walking around without a set plan was a form of stress relief. 

He had come out just as the sun was setting, so it became dark pretty quickly. His eyes gleamed as they turned to the path leading eastward. His steps quickened as he made his way to a familiar man. 

"Sir Gilbert." 

"Oh, it's you." 

Kuhn glanced at the store Gilbert was about to enter. It was a shop selling high-end stationary and writing utensils. 

"Are you out here on an errand?" 

"No. I'm not on duty today, so I came out to take care of some personal business." 

A knight didn't seem to suit a place like the stationary store. If they had met outside an armory, that would have been a different story. 

"It looks like you collect quill pens." 

Gilbert laughed sheepishly. Collecting quill pens was a very expensive hobby. It was almost considered a waste of money for those that were incredibly passionate about it. 

Kuhn's lips curled upward. He had found a way to win Gilbert's favor. 

* * * 

Sienna was sitting at her desk in her office as she stared at an open book. A long time had passed since she had last turned a page. 

After her aide told her he wanted to resign, she found out that her mother had used her influence to replace the representative of the Ceremony Department. She had even seen how easily her mother and uncle lied to her face. It had been a tiring day. She was mentally exhausted. 

She opened the lower drawer of her desk and took out a large sealed envelope. The tea leaves that had been stored with this envelope was no longer there. 

Evita had given her this envelope on her second visit to the Palace. It was the information Sienna had requested on the leader of the mercenary group Kaligo. 

'What do I want to do with this?' 

She didn't open it or throw it away. Instead, she kept it in her lower drawer as if it were a precious treasure. 

The mercenary group Kaligo was a great threat. Although she didn't know much about them, she could already tell that they were a formidable organization. 

'What if...' 

If Kuhn was the leader, then she'd have to seriously think about the meaning behind his allegiance to the Iron King. Dian had introduced him as an acquaintance. But in reality, he would be an important ally. 

Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door followed by a voice. 

"Your Highness, this is Gilbert." 

Sienna placed the envelope back in the drawer. She nodded to a lady-in-waiting nearby. The lady-in-waiting opened the door. 

What could it be? It was quite late, and Gilbert wasn't even on duty today. 

When Sienna saw a black-haired man enter behind Gilbert, her eyes shook. The moment she saw him, she knew the answer to her question. 

She realized why she hadn't been able to check the contents of that envelope. She had been afraid that the information would reveal Kuhn to be the leader of Kaligo.  

She didn't want to be on guard around him or become suspicious of him. She wanted to trust him. She wanted to trust that man. 

"Your Highness, please forgive me for asking for an audience at this time." 

"It's fine. What is it?" 

Sienna deliberately ignored Kuhn's presence. She was overwhelmed at the realization of her true feelings. 

"Sir Jeno had an urgent message to relay to you, so I accompanied him here. He told me he wouldn't be able to see you if you didn't call for him, so he asked for my help." 

Sienna chuckled. 

Jeno? Who was that? 

"Your Highness, if I've made a mistake, then..." 

"If you don't have any other business with me, Sir Gilbert, you may leave." 

"Yes, Your Highness." 

After Gilbert left, Sienna gave an order to her lady-in-waiting. 

"You may leave as well. Don't come in until I call for you." 

The lady-in-waiting nodded and left the room. Maybe she should have switched out her ladies-in-waiting a long time ago. These new ladies-in-waiting didn't say a word whenever Sienna gave them an order and merely obeyed. It wasn't that the previous ladies-in-waiting were rude or impertinent. They were just different in subtle ways. 

The two of them were the only ones left in the office. The office only contained a desk and a few bookshelves. It wasn't that spacious. Kuhn turned his head and gazed at Sienna, who was sitting at her desk. 

"Are you angry that I came here of my own accord?" 

Sienna didn't reply. 

Kuhn slightly frowned. Her gaze was sharp. He felt as if the tips of her sharp eyes were poking his heart. 

When he met Gilbert, he didn't expect things to end up like this. After winning Gilbert over by promising him a rare quill pen, he asked him for a favor on impulse. If Gilbert had refused, he would have given up, but Gilbert had gladly agreed. A chance to see her was too tempting to turn down. 

Kuhn slowly walked over to her. Sienna remained sitting behind her desk. He brought one knee to the floor and looked up at her. 

The two of them looked into each other's eyes. Kuhn was worried she'd turn her head away, but thankfully, her golden eyes weren't cold. 

"I told you not to come." 

"Yes, ma'am." 

"The Palace isn't a place you can enter whenever you please." 

"Yes, ma'am." 

"Why are you smiling?" 

"Because I feel like I can finally breathe." 

It was okay if she didn't welcome him with open arms. Just as he said, Kuhn felt as if his airways had finally opened up. Seeing the man chuckling, Sienna couldn't help but laugh as well. 

"Isn't this too forceful to be called a 'coincidental meeting'?" 

"It's because I don't have the skills to drag out a person who is always stuck inside the Palace." 

"Is that so?" 

"That is so." 

"And here I was thinking about how you confidently told me that we'd meet, but I didn't see any trace of you. But now that I think about it, if I don't leave the Palace, there are no opportunities for you to see me." 

"So what you're saying is... You were waiting for me?" 

She avoided his eyes for a moment. Kuhn didn't miss this strange reaction. 

"Your Highness." 

Kuhn grasped her face with both hands before she could turn it away. 

"Sienna." 

She frowned, but she didn't look displeased. 

"I missed you." 

He wasn't sure how to express his true feelings without revealing too much. This was the best he could do and the most honest he could be. He felt as if his heart were being squeezed inside his chest. His chest seemed to thump against his chest, and the pain made him grit his teeth. 

"I missed you so much that I could barely think. I couldn't take it anymore and recklessly came here to see you. Do my actions displease you?" 

'Please.' 

He earnestly thought to himself. 

'Show me just a little bit of your heart.' 

"...I don't know. I..." 

Kuhn was disappointed, but he was filled with hope as he waited for her next words. 

"I don't know what it means to miss someone. I wondered about you, and seeing you again feels good. And..." 

Sienna hesitated. Kuhn urged her to continue. 

"And?" 

"There's something I'd like you to do for me." 

"Me? What is it?" 

"Get up." 

Kuhn obediently stood up. 

"Take one step back." 

Kuhn took a step back. Sienna got up from her seat and approached him. She stood right in front of him and lifted her head. He was large. If a large man like this stood by her side, she felt like she'd feel safe. 

'I want him.' 

Sienna stretched out her arms and embraced him. She clasped her hands around his back and pressed her face against his chest. 

"Sienna...?" 

Sienna held back her laughter. Because she hadn't said anything about him calling her name earlier, this man continued to omit her title when he called out to her. Give this man an inch, and he'd take a mile. Would 'tenacious' be the right word to describe him? Seeing this side of him was quite entertaining. 

"Hug me." 

His arms enclosed around Sienna. 

"Tighter." 

His arms hugged her tighter to him. The pressure felt good. Although it felt restrictive, it wasn't unpleasant. 

His embrace was sturdy but soft. He felt warm. Did all hugs feel this way? She didn't have a previous experience to compare this to. She had never wanted to touch someone like this before. 

"Did something happen?" 

Kuhn realized that Sienna wanted to be consoled. 

"Yeah." 

If Kuhn had asked her what had happened, Sienna had no intention of telling him. 

Although today had been a difficult day, this was something she had to do alone. She didn't want to whine. What she needed was a moment of rest. Because Kuhn didn't ask her anything, Sienna felt even better. 

"I'm fine now." 

Sienna lightly pressed against him and pushed him away. 

As Kuhn loosened his arms, he quickly lowered his head to kiss her. However, Sienna was quicker and turned her head away. Then she pressed up to him and quickly placed a light kiss on his surprised lips. 

Feeling a mixture of joy and defeat, Kuhn's expression looked strange. Sienna burst out laughing. She turned around and sat back down in her chair. She picked up her open book. 

"You may leave." 

"...You're really cruel." 

Kuhn approached her. She repeated herself and told him to leave again. Her behavior was making him nervous. 

"It's late." 

Kuhn walked up to the front of the desk. He put both hands down on the surface and leaned his body until he was hovering over her. 

"If you tell me to leave like this, then I'm going to take it as an invitation to come again." 

Pretending to read her book, Sienna lifted her head. 

"Don't be unreasonable." 

"When do you receive your territories?" 

"I'm not sure." 

"You'll probably come out to inspect your territories yourself, right?" 

"Why do you ask?" 

"Won't you need a guard?" 

As soon as he said this, Sienna burst out laughing. 

"All right." 

"...What?" 

"It won't be difficult to add one more guard to my entourage." 

Sienna thought he'd be glad to hear it, but he merely gazed back at her. 

"Isn't that what you wanted?" 

"It was." 

Kuhn let out a soft laugh. He stretched out his hand and took Sienna's left hand. He pulled it towards him and pressed his lips onto the back of her hand. 

"But you must remember that I am not actually your guard." 

"Of course... I know that." 

"That's a relief." 

After Kuhn left the study, Sienna stared dazedly at her left hand. She could still feel the pressure of his lips on the back of her hand. Right above the fourth finger.