“Amelie Garnier.”
He called Amelie’s name in a low voice. His face, bathed in a golden sunset, shone as if ringed with a halo.
“We still haven’t spoken of exactly what happened, have we?”
As he closed the distance, approaching with a grin like a mischievous boy, her body stiffened completely. Amelie found herself holding her breath.
“Because of you, I’m in quite a bind.”
His glittering blond hair swayed gently in the wind, and deep green eyes met her gaze affectionately, leaving no room to escape.
She was standing on a tightrope.
If she didn’t pull herself together, she might helplessly tumble into the arms of that impish young marquis.
The only sounds were the waves crashing below the cliff and seagulls crying in the distance. All around was so still, it seemed as if only the two of them existed in the world.
“Why did you do that earlier? I’m terribly curious.”
His smooth voice tickled her ears. She ducked her head, barely hiding her flustered expression, but she couldn’t conceal her neck and earlobes burning hot enough to burst.
“Did it truly mean nothing?”
Olivier smiled brightly and tilted his head toward her. Amelie pressed her lips together and remained silent.
“Tell me, Amelie.”
One step closer. He narrowed the gap once more. Though his face was clearly smiling with affection, her breath caught in her throat as if being strangled.
“I—”
Everything was too fast. The surging emotions felt so hasty, so frightening. Weren’t there those whose entire remaining lives were shaken to the core by a seasonal folly?
For example, someone like Amelie herself.
“I’m honestly curious. Why did the haughty Amelie Garnier lose her mind and touch my body?”
With his hands thrust into his pockets, standing askew, he tilted his head further and whispered low.
“…….”
A subtle current flowed between them, one that felt as though it might burst with the brush of a fingertip. If she simply raised her head now, their faces would be less than a handspan apart. Breath, gaze, even the smallest movement—all of it scraped irritatingly at her nerves. Tension…….
At the edge of that dizzying cliff, Amelie barely managed to hold onto her heart. She deliberately spoke in a firm voice, leaving no room for doubt.
“It meant nothing. I must have been possessed by something.”
Leaving that stiff answer behind, Amelie quickly retreated a few paces. Believing that her impulse and his were not of equal weight.
To Amelie, Olivier seemed all too adept, and his calm demeanor aroused a sense of rejection. She couldn’t possibly become a moth foolishly burning its wings for a fickle young lord, could she?
There must be no more mistakes. Absolutely. Never again.
“I thought you felt the same thing I did.”
He whispered low, as if tempting her.
Reach out just a little more, grab his sleeve—his calm face seemed to coil around her with such suggestions. How about closing your eyes, pretending ignorance, pretending innocence? Let’s roll about in sweet hell…….
“No. It’s nothing.”
As if waking from a reverie, Amelie shook her head violently.
“I’ve been with you constantly these past few days, so I made a mistake without realizing it. I have no serious feelings whatsoever, so please don’t concern yourself.”
As if to convey her firm resolve, she stepped back once more, and a light scoffing laugh was heard.
“Is that so.”
A clean answer returned. A smooth acquiescence.
“…….”
Amelie turned her gaze as far away as possible to avoid meeting his eyes. Only after stating her intentions clearly did her tension finally ease. The hand that had been clutching her hat tightly the entire time was numb and tingling.
This should be enough.
To the right of the cliff where they stood, the sun hung upon the horizon, pouring out its final light with all its might. The scenery of brilliant golden waves embroidering the sea was beautiful to the point of sorrow.
A beautiful moment is but an instant. Amelie once again recalled the maxim of life she had already repeated tens, hundreds of times since meeting him.
“But.”
Before Olivier opened his mouth again…….
“It held no meaning, no emotion. Anyway, what you’re saying is that you wanted to touch my body?”
Amelie turned her head with a slightly flustered expression. In that brief time, the sun had completely set and hidden its traces.
“That makes it an even bigger problem, doesn’t it?”
A languid laugh dispersed.
“It seems I’ll be put to the test all summer long now, Amelie. Because of you.”
The cool blue twilight of evening seized the world in an instant. It was now the hour of Olivier Dampierre.
It was the beginning of a tempting evening.