An Early Engagement - Chapter 22
“They’re cute.”
The low voice was close.
“Rabbits are… all cute.”
“Not the rabbits.”
“……?”
“You.”
At that moment, Shirley’s face turned even redder than the carrot she was holding.
“What… are you saying all of a sudden?”
“Why? You’ve always been cute.”
Cute, pretty, lovely.
These were words Damian always had on his lips when it came to her.
But after everything that had happened between them, it felt both strange and foolish for Damian to say such things so casually.
Do you really like me that much?
Shirley almost blurted it out.
“I’m sorry about what happened last time, Shirley. You were really shocked, weren’t you?”
“…Huh?”
Caught off guard by the sudden mention of that incident, Shirley stammered like a broken record.
“I was too ashamed to come see you. I was afraid you’d chase me away.”
“……”
Damian’s long eyelashes drooped sadly, making him look like a delicate deer.
To think he was afraid of being chased away with a face like that.
Feeling slightly flustered, Shirley quickly turned her head and pretended to stroke the back of a rabbit munching on a carrot.
“Shirley.”
*Thud.*
“……”
Shirley looked down at Damian’s head resting on her shoulder. He had awkwardly contorted his large frame just to place his head there, and she almost burst out laughing.
His bright golden hair shimmered beautifully under the sunlight. It was so glossy and smooth that she had once, without thinking, reached out to touch it when they first met.
Just like that day.
*Swoosh.*
Shirley gently ran her fingers through Damian’s hair.
Feeling her touch, Damian lifted his head and met her eyes.
“I was starting to get jealous of the rabbits,” Damian said, watching Shirley as she continued to pat a rabbit’s back with one hand.
“They get your attention, your gaze, your touch.”
“……”
“I thought I might be less than a rabbit to you.”
Damian’s words struck a chord deep in Shirley’s chest.
It was she who hadn’t reached out to Damian first. After all, she was the one who had kissed another man.
“Damian, that thing back then… it was just an accident…” She mustered the courage to speak, but Damian gently bumped his forehead against hers.
“Give me a carrot too, Shirley.”
“……”
His slightly lowered eyes gleamed temptingly. His clear, smiling face, as if he had already forgotten everything that had happened, was refreshing enough to make her forget the summer heat entirely.
“Hmm?”
He leaned his face closer. It was obvious what kind of “carrot” he wanted without even asking.
Shirley couldn’t bring herself to refuse Damian’s peace offering.
*Mwah.*
In the end, she gave in and pressed her lips to his approaching face, bringing their long-standing conflict to an end.
***
“See? I told you it wouldn’t take long,” the Duchess of Lafez said with a knowing smile, glancing at the Duchess of Elpart.
“Really, this quickly?”
The Duchess of Elpart looked back and forth between her son and Shirley, her expression one of surprise.
The two women stood side by side by the window, watching their children in the garden as if nothing had ever happened. Shirley was holding a rabbit while Damian stood beside her, both surrounded by rabbits hopping around them. Shirley was busy feeding them carrots she had brought over.
“Raising rabbits was such a good idea. Damian is really thoughtful, isn’t he?”
“Shirley has always had a soft spot for cute things,” the Duchess of Lafez said with a shrug, smiling at her friend.
“Shirley’s birthday is coming up soon. I wonder what kind of perfect gift he’ll come up with this time… He understands my daughter’s heart better than I do, her own mother.”
“I’m sure it’ll be something Shirley will love.”
“Oh my, what is it? Now I’m even more curious!”
“It’s a secret. If you find out first, it won’t be as fun, right?”
“By the way, I thought this fight would last a bit longer. How boring.”
“Well, now that they’ve made up, how about we proceed with the wedding as planned, right after Shirley’s birthday?”
“Anne, you’re so impatient.”
The Duchess of Lafez playfully slapped her friend’s arm.
“It’s not me who’s impatient, it’s my son…” The Duchess of Elpart sighed as she glanced out the window.
“Look at how much he adores Shirley.”
“It’s a good thing Shirley loves Damian too,” the Duchess of Lafez remarked. The Duchess of Elpart shook her head.
“That boy is a bit peculiar. It’s like he’s known since he was in the womb that they were meant to be.”
“It’s all Damian’s fault for spoiling Shirley. He lets her get away with everything, so she’s grown up a bit spoiled. Well, in the end, Damian will have the hardest time. I’m not to blame, right?”
The Duchess of Elpart laughed at her friend’s playful gesture of raising her hands.
“Even though he’s my son, I have to admit, he’s too soft on Shirley.”
chocolattes
truly. damian lets her get away with everything which is why she treats him like this. im happy that they’ve reconciled, but they didn’t actually resolve anything. they didn’t talk at all about their issues, thus making it all seem hollow. 😔