The Taste of Marshmallows
In her previous life, there had been several times when she had been eating dessert alone and offered some to him.
But he had never once put it in his mouth.
It had been a little embarrassing to have the desire to share something delicious with him ignored, but since it was simply a matter of taste, she couldn’t force him.
So the fact that he had brought marshmallows every night meant it was entirely for her. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Though she didn’t know why it had to be marshmallows in particular.
While Blair was sleeping to recover her strength, Herdin seemed busy finding the mastermind behind the kidnapping and returned late every night.
Whenever Blair, who had fallen asleep early, briefly opened her eyes late at night in her half-asleep state, he was always lying beside her.
Along with the fireplace that never went out.
And when she woke in the morning, he was already gone.
Because of that, it had been about a week since Blair had properly seen Herdin.
‘Is he waiting for my body to recover?’
Of course, he wasn’t the kind of heartless person who would embrace someone sick just to satisfy his desires, so part of his behavior must have come from pity toward her condition.
But…
That didn’t mean his waiting contained no desire at all.
If that were the case, she had been leaving him empty-handed every night by falling asleep early.
Fortunately, her body had recovered a lot today.
Blair approached the drawer where she had placed the geography book she had borrowed earlier that day, planning to read it while waiting for him.
Then her gaze shifted absentmindedly, and she saw the view from the balcony.
Beyond the balcony’s large glass window, something white was fluttering softly through the air.
‘…Snow?’
It couldn’t possibly be snow in spring.
Looking closer, she realized it was scattered cherry blossom petals.
The day before the hunting tournament the buds had looked ready to burst open at any moment, but while she had been busy recovering, they had already bloomed.
Blair walked toward the glass window of the balcony.
Cherry blossom petals drifted through the spring breeze as if dancing in the moonlight.
Like winter snow.
Blair stared blankly at the scene.
“…It’s pretty.”
The faint smile on Blair’s face soon faded as her eyes grew heavy.
When the cherry blossoms fall and the world becomes filled with lush greenery—
Will Herdin begin to hate me again like he did in the past?
Or perhaps not, since in this life I promised from the start that I would cooperate with him to uncover the truth.
But either way, the ending had already been decided.
Once I have Asiel, I will leave his side as promised from the beginning.
Before he comes to hate me.
While Blair was gazing at the fleeting scenery and reflecting on her plans for the near future, the door behind her opened.
Hearing the sound, Blair turned.
Herdin had just entered the room, and when he saw her awake he paused.
“You’re awake today.”
He walked to the table and set down what he had brought.
It was a bowl of marshmallows.
“How is your condition?”
“I’m fine.
But what is this?”
“Marshmallows.”
“No, I mean…
Why did you bring them?”
Herdin picked up the small candle in a nearby lamp and the lighter beside the fireplace.
“Have you ever eaten roasted marshmallows?”
“…No.
Never.”
Roasted marshmallows cool quickly.
Because of that, Blair—who was afraid of fire—had always eaten cold marshmallows or marshmallows floating in cocoa.
Even before the accident, the imperial palace had plenty of desserts, so there had been no reason to specifically try roasted marshmallows.
“Sit down.”
Herdin sat first and tapped the seat beside him.
Blair sat beside him almost unconsciously.
“Today we’ll roast marshmallows over a candle.”
Blair blinked at the sudden statement and looked at him.
“You said you wanted to overcome your fear of fire.”
Only then did she remember telling him before the hunting tournament that she wanted to overcome her fear of fire.
“Lady Loreline suggested starting with a candle.”
Of course, overcoming a phobia would not be easy.
But avoiding it entirely would never make it disappear.
Slowly increasing exposure to the source of trauma would allow her to grow accustomed to it.
Herdin pulled Blair’s chair closer with one hand.
Though it looked heavy, the chair slid lightly toward him.
“If it feels too difficult, tell me now.”
Blair looked back and forth between Herdin and the small candle in front of her before nodding with quiet determination.
“I think I’ll be alright.”
Herdin skillfully lit the lighter and ignited the candle.
Blair stared at the flame with tense eyes.
Just looking at the fire made a fear rise inside her that the candle might fall and set the tablecloth ablaze.
It felt as though the flames would grow and burn everything in the room.
“Ugh…”
Even though it was only imagination, sweat formed in her palms and her breathing quickened.
Just like the time she had been trapped in flames and couldn’t breathe properly.
Yet she couldn’t look away from the candle.
If she looked away, she feared the flame might grow huge and swallow her when she wasn’t looking.
At that moment, a large hand covered Blair’s eyes.
At the same time, a quiet voice spoke gently.
“You need to close your eyes and open them again.”
Blair slowly closed her eyes as he instructed.
But even with her eyes closed, the image lingered.
Her trembling hands reached up and grasped the large hand gently covering her face.
Gradually, the overwhelming fear subsided.
Because in this moment, she was not alone.
“Breathe slowly too.”
Blair steadied her breathing, faithfully following his voice.
“When you open your eyes, do the same thing.”
Herdin removed his hand from her eyes.
Blair slowly opened them and faced the candle again.
When her breathing began to quicken once more, Herdin spoke again without blocking her view.
“Eyes.”
Blair followed what he had told her earlier step by step.
Blinking and taking a deep breath.
“Now we’ll roast the marshmallow.”
He picked up a marshmallow on a stick and held it near the candle flame.
As he slowly rotated it near the flame, the surface began to turn golden brown.
Blair felt the anxiety rise again, but she remembered Herdin’s words and squeezed her eyes shut before opening them again.
Herdin extinguished the candle, let the marshmallow cool briefly, and held it out to Blair.
“Eat.”
After hesitating for a moment, Blair placed the marshmallow into her mouth.
The warm, sweet marshmallow melted inside her mouth.
Cold marshmallows had always been good, but freshly roasted marshmallows tasted even better.
The fear that had been in Blair’s eyes moments earlier faded, replaced with a lively brightness as she chewed.
Just one roasted marshmallow, and she made that kind of expression.
Watching her, Herdin’s gaze softened slightly.
At that moment, Blair turned to him and their eyes met.
“It’s soft… and sweet.”
“Try it yourself this time.”
Herdin handed her another marshmallow and lit the candle again.
Blair looked a little frightened, but she nodded without hesitation.
But the moment she held the marshmallow near the flame, her hand began trembling again.
Her breathing also started to quicken.
At that moment, Herdin’s hand covered Blair’s.
Their right hands overlapped, pulling her halfway into his embrace.
Blair froze in surprise as his voice fell softly above her head.
“It’s alright.”
As if by magic, the trembling stopped the moment his hand touched hers.
Holding Blair’s hand, Herdin helped her roast the marshmallow.
Blair stared blankly at the marshmallow she had roasted herself after much struggle.
“Well done.”
Herdin lifted his right arm and lightly patted her head before releasing her from his embrace.
Then he extinguished the candle.
Blair held out the marshmallow in her hand toward Herdin.
“Aren’t you going to eat one?”
But as always, he shook his head.
“I don’t particularly like them.”
So the marshmallow she had roasted also became Blair’s.
When she bit into it, the soft sweetness spread through her mouth.
As she savored the taste, she suddenly felt his gaze and turned her head.
Their eyes met.
Blair blinked, and Herdin chuckled softly.
“Is it that delicious?”
The gentle light in his gaze—so different from usual—made her chest tighten.
It was a feeling far too familiar.
At the same time, she realized something.
‘I’m once again… loving this person.’
Even after disappointment, hatred, and pushing him away, even after taking the long way around, it always returned to love.
“…Ah.”
The emotion she suddenly realized rose uncontrollably and fell as tears.
Seeing Blair suddenly cry, Herdin’s expression hardened.
“Do you want to stop?”
“No, no.
I’m alright.”
Blair hurriedly shook her head.
But once the tears began, they would not stop.
Just like her feelings.
Herdin stared at her with tense eyes before letting out a quiet sigh and wiping away her tears.
“Then why are you crying?”
Feeling her heart pounding at his touch, Blair looked at him blankly.
Crying in this situation would surely seem strange.
She needed to say something, but she couldn’t think of a suitable excuse.
Her lips parted slightly before she finally said something that sounded ridiculous even to herself.
“It’s… too delicious.”
“Hah?”
Herdin let out a disbelieving laugh.
Blair smiled brightly on purpose so he wouldn’t notice her true feelings.
“I want another one.”
Her heart throbbed painfully as it beat for him.
Like a wound that never hurt before suddenly aching once you become aware of it.
Even so, she decided to ignore that feeling and simply smile today.
Because the marshmallow in her mouth was sweet enough to make her forget everything else for this moment