Chapter 15
“The scenario is that we meet and fall in love at first sight. It’s destiny.”
Herace disappeared, then reappeared wearing a small crown and draped in a red cloak. Just like before, he leaned his face out the window.
“Oh, woodcutter. What brings you alone to this secluded forest?”
Acting. This was acting. I had to immerse myself completely in the situation.
Let’s say the woodcutter is about twenty-eight. He works out for his job, works out as a hobby, works out every day, and if he doesn’t work out, he’d die. He’s built that well—
“Woodcutter? Are you perhaps a ghost? If not, then why don’t you answer?”
“N-no, not at all. I just happened to wander into this forest, and I just happened to walk around, and I just happened to end up here. And by chance, I just happened to be a woodcutter.”
“Then it must be fate that brought you here by such chance.”
Herace’s voice, low and rich, returned to normal at the end. That natural acting of his forced me to stop my logical thoughts. It only distracted me from immersing into my character.
“Yes, it seems like destiny. A fated coincidence.”
“To think you believe so too—it makes me feel like I could fly.”
“As a human, flying is impossible, but I do agree with the figurative expression. I also—”
I leaned against the window frame, rising high on my tiptoes. For some reason, it felt like it needed to be secret, so I whispered,
“In this setting, what’s your name?”
“You can still call me Herace.”
“That kind of breaks the immersion, doesn’t it?”
“My choice. I don’t like hearing another man’s name come out of my girlfriend’s mouth.”
I froze for a moment. When a fairy-tale-like man says something like a prince from a storybook, it kills any sense of reality.
“I… see. Then please call me Sera. It’s easier to immerse when the role has a name.”
“Alright. Sera.”
I stepped back to get a better look at Herace, but he suddenly leapt up onto the window frame and sat comfortably. The timing was perfect: sunlight and breeze blended together, casting a pure radiance over him.
“To have a fateful encounter with such a beautiful woodcutter as you… it hardly feels real. That’s why I want to make a request—won’t you stay?”
“No. I must refuse.”
I firmly waved a hand, frowning. A suspicious man in a suspicious forest making a suspicious proposal—of course, anyone sane would refuse.
Otherwise, what if I got kidnapped?
Herace pressed his lips together, as if stifling laughter. He let out a strange exclamation, hunched over dramatically, and then his honeyed voice spilled softly by my ear.
“Is this supposed to be a love story, or do you plan to turn it into a thriller?”
“Ah, I’ll keep that in mind from now on.”
Right, this was supposed to be practice for our story. If I wanted to improve my reactions, I needed focus—absolute focus.
“I can’t quite tell if this is real, but… with you, I suddenly feel… a natural, fated pull.”
“Do you? Then perhaps it’s because we’ve already met before.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t recall such a memory. And since I don’t even feel any awareness that my memory has been tampered with, maybe it wasn’t really a meeting. Perhaps you just saw me alone, Herace.”
I quickly added,
“Still, even you seeing me that day must have been fate. That’s why I’m feeling this ‘fated pull’ now.”
Perfect line. I beamed, proud of myself.
“Is that so.”
Herace lowered his gaze, voice softening as though recalling something.
But it lasted only a moment. He soon smirked again and carried the dialogue with playful ease.
“If you believe that, then it must be true. It’s fine. Just seeing you by my side makes me happy enough.”
“…Is that really enough?”
Silence followed. Herace tapped his chin and murmured,
“…Yes.”
“Then does that mean this play is over now?”
I couldn’t hold back. I wanted to end this acting and discuss the contract. For that, I needed to get back to Filena.
Just as I tried to add more, pfft—Herace burst into laughter. He shook with it, nearly losing his balance.
“Herace!”
Still laughing, he tumbled forward. A loud thud! came as he crashed into the bushes below.
“Herace, are you alive?”
I leaned out in alarm. His face looked peaceful, as though he were asleep—until his lips twitched and his laughter returned, filling the air.
“Ah, seriously.”
“Good thing you’re alive. You didn’t break a bone, or hit your head, or… no discomfort anywhere?”
“‘Good thing I’m alive,’ really…”
Herace clamped a hand over his mouth, then slowly opened his eyes. His face shifted into something mischievous.
That smile—I’d already learned it by now. Teasing yet tender, playful yet warm.
“Sorry, it feels like I’m the only one happy here.”
Before I could grasp his meaning, he suddenly tugged me down. Off balance, I collapsed, ending up with my head resting on his arm.
Was this still acting, or not? As I wavered, Herace brushed the thought aside and changed the subject.
“Isn’t the sky beautiful, Filena?”
Though it was bright day, his voice was languid, as if it were night. When I turned to look at him, he gently turned my face back up.
“Won’t you look at the sky, Filena?”
But I was still “Sera,” wasn’t I? The thought crossed my mind, but instead I asked,
“Why?”
“So that I can look at you without restraint.”
If letting him look freely meant this play would soon end, then fine. That would satisfy his fun. Relenting, I turned my gaze upward.
“Just five minutes.”
“Alright. Five minutes.”
Wouldn’t he worry about how I’d count them? I was about to kindly explain when instinctively I straightened my turning head.
He said to keep looking at the sky.
The sky was blue. Clouds swelled large as they veiled the sunlight. It was early summer, not too hot, not too humid.
“Herace, I’ll be timing the five minutes using my pocket watch. I’ll count all 300 seconds.”
“Alright, count all 300 seconds, Filena.”
“Yes, I will.”
“Though, I’d like them to pass as slowly as possible.”
But 300 seconds couldn’t slow down. I swallowed my reply, forcing my body—which kept wanting to turn toward him—back into place.
After finishing my sky-gazing, I finally noticed no one was inside the locked room. While I was flustered, Herace reassured me, leaping easily back through the window.
Such strength to jump from that height—his power clearly exceeded any normal human standard.
“Come in.”
“Excuse me.”
I quickly walked in and, with his permission, sat on the sofa. The villa wasn’t large by noble standards, but it was cozy.
It had everything—kitchen, living room, bedroom, even a bathroom. As I carefully observed the space, Herace spoke in a gentle tone.
“Maybe because I was born a commoner, I find independence more comfortable.”
“I see.”
“Was that too vague? My first home was an orphanage. That time feels far away now, though.”
“I understand. That’s why you don’t keep any servants here.”
“As I said, it’s also a secret. This place is precious to me.”
Herace returned with two teacups and sat across from me. He pushed one toward me, telling me to let it cool before drinking.
“This is my own space. A space no one else knows.”
It was fragrant lemon tea—my favorite. Smiling faintly, I took a sip.
“My own space… that I’m showing only to you.”
A place where secrets could be kept. It was perfect for discussing the contract.
Alright then. Let’s begin.
“Let’s talk about the contract between Herace Gray and Filena Light.”
