The man stood at the end of the north wing, where it connected to the atrium.
The distance was great, but Tilia recognized him immediately. No, she would have recognized him even by his silhouette.
Because Ilex Davenport's figure was something she couldn't forget, no matter how hard she tried over the past three years.
The white sunlight streaming through the arched colonnade stopped at his waist. Thanks to this, Tilia could easily tell that his body was still perfectly proportioned and his blond hair remained dazzlingly shiny.
But not everything was as before.
His ascetic beauty remained, but she could see that his physique had become even more muscular compared to three years earlier. The jawline became sharper, and the eyes, like blue-gray gems, were noticeably deeper.
Everything was exactly as she imagined it would be three years later. In fact, he seemed even more handsome than she had dared to imagine.
As always, Tilia did not stop, continuing to walk towards her beautiful first love. "You're still beautiful." A soft smile spontaneously blossomed on her lips.
Sometimes she saw him in visions like this. On dark nights under the street lights. Outside the window, open for ventilation.
But never before had he appeared so clearly in the light of day, completely shrouded in light rather than darkness.
But Tilia did not doubt for a second that this was an illusion caused by her desire.
That's why she didn't stop, continuing to walk towards him. That's why she wasn't surprised. That's why she didn't wipe the smile off her face.
Because she knew that if she came too close, he would probably disappear.
She realized that something was wrong only when she noticed how intently he was looking at her - too clearly.
Had she ever been this close to a vision? Has he ever seemed so real?
Just as her expression began to change at the sight of the distinct figure that became more and more distinct as it approached, the illusion that stood motionless like a statue took a step forward.
The shadow moved. His long legs stepped towards her without the slightest hesitation.
Ilex's face was tense, as if he was furious. No, it wasn't anger. It wasn't nervousness. His face was distorted, as if he was having a hard time containing something that was boiling inside him.
Only then did Tilia understand where the breeze had come from, all this time playing with her hem.
The wind was blowing from the east where he stood.
Carrying a refreshing aroma. Familiar aroma. It blew from him to her.
The air carrying his scent touched her cheek and entered her nose. It surged through her sinuses and lungs, straight into her heart. As if her body had become a balloon, her entire being was filled with the air of her first love.
Unable to walk or think, frozen in place, she stood silently until he - not an illusion, not a shadow - crossed the time they had spent apart and ran to her.
And finally, Ilex Davenport appeared before her.
The moment their eyes met, time itself rewinded back. To the night three years ago when only they existed. To the cold air where they exchanged words in a foreign language.
Not believing her eyes, Tilia froze when a cold gloved hand touched her cheek. She could see the neat fan of his eyelashes up close, each one clearly visible.
His warmth, his smell - everything that came from his body was so bright that you could touch it.
-......!
Only then did Tilia realize that this was not a dream. That the person who was about to press his lips to hers was real.
- W-wait...!
Before their lips met, her insistent whisper made him stop.
He tilted his head slightly to avoid bumping noses, and their eyes met.
There was only her in his gray-blue eyes. Seeing herself captured in his pupils, Tilia felt as if time itself had stopped.
It's probably because she forgot how to breathe. There was no other way to explain the way her heart was pounding as if it was begging for oxygen, or how her face was so red it might burst.
The eye contact lasted forever. As her neck began to ache from the strain, Ilex slowly ran his gloved hand over her cheek, as if assessing something. Finally, he let out a weak sigh and stepped back.
Tilia stumbled back, like an animal escaping a trap. As she retreated, Ilex's feet twitched as if he wanted to follow her, but instead he clasped his hands behind his back and turned his head for a moment to look at the garden.
Where did that strong wind go? The heat building between them showed no sign of going away.
Tilia, who had been staring blankly at the ground for quite some time, finally raised her head after a while.
Ilex Davenport, still looking unreal, looked out at the garden. But it was easy to notice that bright flowers did not take up space in his eyes.
-...What brings you here?
Ha. Tilia immediately wanted to bite her tongue as soon as those words left her lips.
"What brings you here?" Not even “How are you?” or “Why did you just try to kiss me?” Her first words were to ask why he was here.
- Because of my mother.
Unfazed, Ilex slowly turned his head to meet Tilia's gaze and responded in a voice deeper than three years ago.
- We need to discuss family matters.
Oh. Only then did she remember the misfortunes of the Davenport family, which six months ago had filled not only the Acansis news sheets, but also the Ontario newspapers.
After the carriage carrying the Duke and his heir fell off a cliff, the Duchess of Davenport found temporary refuge with her family.
She forgot. Even after being bullied for imitating the royal accent of Ontaroa, she forgot that Ilex's mother was an Ontaroan princess.
While Tilia, who never thought she would meet Ilex Davenport here, hesitated whether to offer belated condolences, Ilex simply looked at her.
Unlike when he had previously stared blankly at the flowers, his gray-blue eyes now glowed with intensity.
- I heard the news. It's late, but I'm sure they went to a better place...
When Tilia looked up, choosing her words carefully, her gaze met his.
Ilex made no attempt to hide the fact that he was watching her. On the contrary, now that she raised her head, he stared at her even more intently, as if licking her eyes with his own.
This unbridled look filled Tilia's face with embarrassment. For the first time, her appearance, something she had never cared about in front of a man, suddenly mattered.
Of all the days, why today? She ran out without even combing her hair, and the stockings she had hastily put on slipped down slightly.
“If I had known that we would meet, no, I could never have imagined this, but at least if I had been dressed as usual...”
Shame she didn't know three years ago brought out one of her worst habits.
Ilex's eyes fell on her lips, which she was biting hard. When he saw the red flesh being squeezed between the white teeth, his Adam's apple twitched again.
- Well, it was nice to meet you. I hope everything will be fine.
Finally, having collected her thoughts, Tilia spoke in a deliberately collected voice. At her words, Ilex's face, which had been red-hot as he studied her, turned cold.
Tilia slipped past him without noticing how he swallowed his saliva.
“Why today?”
This thought occupied Tilia's mind as she hurried to the Royal Chancellery.
If only it were yesterday. Or if this hadn't been the day she'd been so stupidly late. Or at least if she wasn't delivering official documents right now.
Even though she knew it was pointless, she kept running through the “what ifs” in her head.
If there was no deadline for submitting documents. If only the department head who would scold her as soon as she returned had not been waiting for her. Then maybe she could tell Ilex one more thing. I would ask if he has time, if they can have lunch together.
But no matter how much she thought, she could not find a clear answer. She had no confidence.
The confidence to ask a man who now belonged to another woman for a minute of his time. Shameless to ask, as she could once, when she still knew nothing.
“...But now he has a fiancée, so why did he try to kiss me?”
Amidst the whirlpool of confused thoughts, a small irritation suddenly flared up, and Tilia frowned sharply.
And then she heard heavy footsteps behind her.
The moment she realized that Ilex Davenport was following her, the weight of his gaze hit her like a wave.
She could be sure that he was watching her.
With the same eyes that just a moment ago looked at her as if he wanted to devour her, he looked at her back.