The Great Wish Volume 1 Chapter 3 part5

Chapter 3: Entwined Destiny
'Just what is he?'

When she first met him, he was a knight. He said that he was a mercenary, but a commoner attending a duke's party as a guest? A duke would never give out an invitation to just anyone.

As he naturally began to lead their dance, Sienna noticed how proficient his dancing skills were. He definitely learned it properly. Was he originally a member of the aristocracy? Why would a noble become a mercenary? No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't piece it together.

"You saw me back there, didn't you?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"As I was passing by in my carriage, I saw you. You saw me as well, didn't you?"

"Do you know who I am?"

Sienna's eyes widened.

"It's only our first meeting, but your words sound pretty informal."

Sienna glared as Kuhn nonchalantly changed the subject. For a second, she had almost fallen for his lie. However, when she saw that he merely laughed and looked straight back into her glaring eyes, she knew that it was him.

'There is no way there can be two men who are this rude.'

"It doesn't look like you're enjoying the masquerade, Princess."

And there was no way she wouldn't be able to recognize this voice. His pronunciation was very good. He may have partly been born with it, but she felt that it was a result of persistent speech lessons. The more she thought about it, the more she doubted his identity.

"It's boring."

As she answered indifferently, Sienna furrowed her brows. She realized a moment too late that he had openly called her 'Princess'.

"You are mocking me."

"Mocking you? There's no way I'd do that."

"You said you were meeting me for the first time, so how did you recognize me?"

"Because the news of the Princess's attendance has spread far and wide. Everyone here knows it."

"When I mouthed your name earlier, you acted as if you recognized it."

"I did?"

"Kuhn. That's your name."

"I wonder..."

Sienna was unhappy with the way he kept trying to change the subject. However, it wasn't unpleasant. It was actually kind of fun. He was completely different from the people who were normally around her. She couldn't tell what he would say next. If I say this, what will this man say in return? She was beginning to anticipate it.

"Why are you bored? Isn't it better than the parties in the Palace?"

"They're all the same. Everyone says the same things."

"Like what?"

"Their loyalty to the Empire. My praises."

"I can see how the former topic can be a bit boring, but I don't understand the problem with the latter. Isn't it nice to hear people praise you?"

"If you keep hearing facts, it becomes boring."

Kuhn almost burst out laughing but managed to suppress it by pressing his lips. Their praises were facts? After hearing these words, one could only nod when it came from the Princess.

As they continued this conversation, the minuet came to an end. Sienna felt as if the minuet felt shorter than usual.

"Follow me."

Kuhn was at a loss as he stared at Sienna's back as she walked away.

'I don't know why I keep doing these crazy things.'

He only planned on watching her from afar.

When he heard the rumors about Joseph and the Princess's impending marriage, Kuhn felt uncomfortable. When he saw Joseph ask for the Princess's first dance, his stomach twisted and, before he knew it, he had intervened.

However, Kuhn didn't recognize the more obvious inconsistency in his behavior. He didn't like attending the aristocracy's social events.

He only attended social events for two reasons. Either he absolutely had to attend or he attended in order to obtain information. This was the first time he had accepted an invitation to a party that wasn't for either of those reasons.

Kuhn let out a sigh and followed behind the Princess. As Joseph approached her for the second dance, she ignored him and continued to walk away as Joseph stood there awkwardly. Kuhn met Joseph's eyes as he passed by and laughed.

He continued to snicker as Joseph glared murderously at him. Watching the crowd separate in front of Sienna, Kuhn felt that it was an impressive sight.

Sienna was looking for a quiet place to talk, but wherever she went, there was a crowd of people.

Just in time, an adequate place caught her eye. One half of a curtain was covering a balcony while the other half was tied up. As she went out onto the balcony, she untied the curtain. Kuhn stopped as he hesitated.

A masquerade was a typical decadent social event. Things seemed demure now because it was still early. As the night got deeper, it would completely change.

The balcony half-hidden by curtains was obviously a spot for a secret rendezvous. If one untied the curtain, it was a sign to the others that something indecent was going on inside. Kuhn didn't think the Princess knew about this sordid practice.

He hesitated before entering through the curtains. Thanks to the bright lamp hanging above them, the balcony didn't give off a secret atmosphere.

"Take it off."

"...Excuse me?"

"Your mask."

Sienna was already approaching Kuhn. She reached out her hand to take the mask off his face. Kuhn stepped back and quickly dodged her.

"This is a masquerade. The rules..."

She pretended not to hear him and tried again. Kuhn skillfully dodged her as he walked around the balcony. As he quickly changed directions, Sienna's hand only met the air.

Sienna was panting. Whenever she met this man, she always lost all of her composure. It was frustrating. She angrily ripped off her own mask and threw it down.

Even though he already knew what she looked like, Kuhn caught his breath. A tingling sensation started traveling up from his toes up to the top of his head. As the Princess came up to him and grabbed his mask, he was unable to move.

Having successfully taken off his mask, Sienna felt a sense of triumph. Seeing his familiar face, she laughed haughtily.

"Is this still our first meeting?"

Kuhn suddenly grabbed Sienna's wrist as she held on to his mask. Sienna startled.

How dare he? How dare he touch her without her permission? However, she was unable to say these words out loud. She was unable to move under his intense gaze. Something was burning within his dark eyes. Additionally, something was throbbing inside her chest as well.

She merely stood and looked up at him. He raised his hand and touched her face. He carefully brushed his fingertip against her cheek before completely caressing her cheek with his big hand.

"Aren't you going to tell me I'm being impertinent?"

His low voice sounded raspy... as if he was trying to suppress something.

Sienna's lips twitched. She couldn't speak, almost as if her throat had closed up.

Kuhn's thumb began to slowly rub her lower lip.

Chapter end