The ride on horseback was pleasant. The sunlight fell through the leaves of the tall trees, and reflected finely on Heinleyâs hair. Every time Heinley smiled, he gave off a nature-like scent.
I loved the way his hair fluttered in the wind. Every time our gazes met, he would smile to the point where his eyes curved. In those moments, I felt a tingle in my heart as if I was being stroked caressed with a feather.
After a while, Heinley suddenly rode forward quickly on his own and said,
âHuh? Thereâs something over there, My Queen.â
I followed him despite being confused, but Heinley stopped his horse and smiled awkwardly.
âMy Queen, I can go alone.â
âDidnât you say there was something?â
I asked as I pulled out the bow I had on my back that I hadnât been able to use until now. Heinleyâs eyes widened and he waved his hands.
âItâs not that.â
â?â
âItâs just⌠that Iâd like to go alone right now. Itâs a gift I want to give My Queen.â
After he finished talking, Heinley rode quickly again, and asked me to follow him from a distance.
What had he seen?
Although it seemed strange to me, I did exactly as he asked. Just in case, I held the bow in my hands unstrained.
As I looked around unable to see Heinley, I suddenly heard a scream not far away. It wasnât a loud scream, but it was definitely Heinleyâs voice.
I turned my horse and headed in that direction in a hurry. Unexpectedly, Heinley was in a duel with a small, fluffy, little fox.
A duel? Should it be called a duel?
His horse was nowhere to be seen, and Heinley bared his teeth at the fox. Instead, the fox wagged his tail back and forth as if he were playing.
When I got off the horse, the fox came running towards me like a deer, and acted cute again. He was a very affectionate fox. When I scratched his chin, he made a peculiar sound and wagged his tail while smiling like Heinley.
It was cute⌠Heinley didnât like foxes? Why would he act that way with such a small, tame animal?
When I looked at him puzzled, Heinley shouted hurriedly.
âMy Queen, that fox is pretending to be tame right now!â
ââŚâ
âIâm serious, Itâs cute on the outside, but in reality itâs evil and wicked! Itâs dangerous!â
As I stroked the foxâs head, Heinleyâs voice gradually faded. When the fox approached Heinley docilely, he pretended to have suffered and said,
âMy Queen, you saved me. You are my savior.â
âI did nothing.â
âYour very presence helped me.â
It was suspicious. When I squinted slightly, Heinley suddenly grabbed one leg and said pretending to be in pain,
âOw, ow! I think I fractured my leg falling off the horse, My Queen.â
He fractured his leg falling off the horse? But he didnât have a scratch on the rest of his body? It was even more suspicious.
However, since Heinley put his hand to his forehead and muttered feebly, âI have a fever,â I first held him and helped him onto my horse.
âIt reminds me of the past. Although itâs not old enough a memory to call it that.â
Heinley whispered as he hugged me tightly from behind. His voice was pleasant to listen to, but I frowned because the body temperature I felt as our bodies came into contact kept bothering me.
He didnât seem to have a fever either.
***
âBut why did you fight that fox?â
McKenna clicked his tongue at Heinley, lying on a bed with a fake bandage and an unnecessary wet towel on his forehead.
Even in the eyes of the palace doctor, Heinley had no injury, despite the well-placed bandage.
Heinley responded in disgust.
âAs much as I waited, the only animals that showed up were foxes and squirrels. There was no point in fighting a squirrel, right?â
âUgh. Still, how could you fight that fox?â
âWhy ignore a fox?â
âIt all depends on the type of fox. Weâre talking about that cheerful little fox, right? That fox thatâs so cute that no one would let go? That fox who has a mind as big as Your Majestyâs?â
Heinley shut his mouth angrily. He was upset because the dramatic scene he had created didnât work at all. Besides, McKenna was speaking so inconsiderately that he wanted to press his lips together and shake them hard from side to side.
Noticing his expression, McKenna clicked his tongue and reluctantly encouraged him.
âStill, Her Majesty took care of you, right? She even praised your cute acting.â
âDonât point it out. Thatâs the problem, the praise!â
He acted desperate, but was immediately caught by the person who wanted him to love him. Inevitably he felt embarrassed.
Unable to bear the embarrassment, Heinley crawled under the covers. He looked like a turtle with his head hidden, so McKenna shook his head.
Just then, the door opened softly and McKenna turned his head. The one who opened the door and poked her head in slightly was Navier.
Navier raised an eyebrow at the lumpy blankets and silently mouthed, âHeinley?â
When McKenna smiled awkwardly and nodded, Navier cautiously entered the room. Then she looked coldly at Heinley, who was under the blankets.
Navierâs expression was so terrifying that McKenna discreetly stepped aside. He didnât want to be swept away by the storm.
***
Why is he so embarrassed after doing something so cute?
I looked at Heinley, who also looked cute wrapped in the blankets, and McKenna wisely hurried out.
Hearing the sound of the door closing, I sat up in the bed and leaned over the lumpy blankets.
âStop bothering, McKenna.â
At that moment, I heard a faint murmur under the blankets. Holding back a laugh, I leaned even closer, the body under the blankets twisted and I heard a sullen voice again.
âWhat nerve youâve got, McKenna. Stop it at once.â
At the moment I was about to say, âitâs meâ because of how cute he looked.
âYouâre heavy, so get off me.â
â!â
Heinley ârepeatedâ those words. Even though I got off him, Heinley still wouldnât get out from under the blankets, as if he really thought McKenna was the one who pushed on him.
Insolent eagle, heâd told me twice that I was heavy, did he really think I was heavy?
I once asked Heinley worriedly if I was heavy when I was on top of his body at night. At first, he replied, âYou are as light as a feather.â
But after repeatedly asking him to be honest because he was evidently lying, Heinley replied, âItâs just a pleasant feeling of presence,â pulled my body to his and hugged me.
Then I laid all over him, and he mumbled that he was fine incessantly.
I thought it was true. But⌠What? Youâre heavy, so get off me?!!