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IBP 187
Epilogue 4
“......Coco, hello.”
A deep voice, unfamiliar and strange.
‘Who is it? And I’m wearing a shawl, so how did they recognize me?’
Moreover, there aren't many people who can call my name so comfortably.......
For some reason, my heart suddenly sank.
‘Who is it?’
I narrowed my eyes and slowly lifted my head.
Eventually, my gaze met the man's.
In that moment, my eyes widened in surprise.
His massive frame, angular jawline, and deep-set eyes were completely different from the boy Caligo I knew, from start to finish.
But how could I not recognize those eyes that became exceptionally tender whenever they looked at me?
“Caligo, is it really you......?”
“Yes, it’s me, Caligo.”
I had never considered the possibility that I might not recognize Caligo.
But the moment he gave a bright smile and confirmed it, I realized.
The image of Caligo I knew had stopped three years ago.
However, his fluffy blond hair had become a buzz cut, his build had grown sturdy, and his face had become that of a full-grown man.
So.......
“Caligo really came for me, for real.......”
As soon as I realized that fact, the tension in my body completely vanished.
“Is there no hug for your fiancé who has returned after three years?”
Only then did I stagger forward and plunge right into Caligo's embrace.
“I, I th-thought, C-Caligo was d-dead.......”
“What? Why would I be dead?”
“H-huuu....... There was a s-strange, strange article....... Jjek-jjeki t-told me, so I was relieved, but still.......”
“I’m sorry, Coco. I didn’t know there was a false report. If I had known, I would have found a way to reassure you through Jjek-jjeki.”
Since childhood, Caligo had always been particularly weak to my tears.
That was still true now.
I probably seemed unsightly, rambling and mumbling with my face buried in his chest.
But Caligo didn't ignore or turn away from me. He simply seemed flustered by my voice and comforted me, holding me tight.
“It’s okay. I didn’t die. I’ve come safely here in front of Coco.”
“Mm-hmm.......”
Only then was I finally at ease.
I barely stopped sobbing and continued speaking, my face still buried in his chest.
“B-but, I’m meeting Caligo for the first time in three years, and I don’t want to show you a hideous sight.”
“You can cry more. It’s okay.”
I shed a few more tears while held in Caligo's arms before finally lifting my head.
Even so, it was still difficult to look at Caligo's face. Then, I heard Caligo let out a low laugh above my head.
“Are you done crying?”
“Y-yes.......”
“Then, could you look into my eyes now?”
“.......”
I barely managed to lift my face and meet Caligo's gaze. Then, Caligo gripped my hand tightly.
“Then shall we go eat now? Coco, have you had lunch?”
“......Uh, eh? Uh....... No, I haven't.”
This is bad.
I ended up stuttering without realizing it.
......This had never happened before in front of Caligo.
‘But it feels like all my nerves are moving in the palm of my hand where I'm touching Caligo, so I can't concentrate.’
It wasn't the soft hand of the old Caligo. Now that my hand was touching a hand with rough calluses.......
It felt as if someone was scratching my heart with sandpaper.
My heart rate felt like it had increased to four times its usual speed.
But why am I suddenly acting like this?
* * *
Caligo invited me to the Rivera Grand Ducal family's capital residence.
The residence's head chef showed off his skills for the returning young Grand Duke. A vast array of sweet potato and chocolate-flavored desserts were spread across the marble table.
“I focused on sweet potatoes since Coco likes them.”
“......Caligo must still think I'm a little kid.”
When I complained a bit, Caligo laughed refreshingly.
“Haha...... No, Coco isn't a child. Hurry and eat, it'll get cold.”
At Caligo's urging, I picked up a fork.
However, even with all sorts of delicacies before me and despite being hungry, I had no appetite at all.
‘It's because I keep thinking about the feeling of Caligo's palm.’
Every time Caligo looks at me and laughs "haha," his voice is so low, like a cave, that it feels strange.
‘My heart is pounding so much that I feel like I'll get indigestion if I eat anything.......’
I glanced at Caligo. Then, Caligo tilted his head, looking at me curiously.
“Coco, why are you looking at me like that?”
“Eh?”
My heart beat even louder. Unable to bear it any longer, I bolted upright.
“......I-I'm going to go to my sister now! I-I have to go eat sweet potato cake.”
“......There are sweet potatoes here too?”
“I-I prefer the ones my sister makes.”
Even as I said it, wasn't this too much of a non-sequitur......?
Caligo also asked, looking at me with a puzzled expression.
“Then could you wait a moment? The head chef of our capital residence is also great at making sweet potato cake.......”
No.
I can't stay still in front of Caligo any longer. I keep becoming too conscious of him.
Clutching the area around my neck that was turning a burning red, I muttered.
“T-then let's see each other again next time. Goodbye for now, Caligo!”
* * *
......That day, Coco returned home.
Caligo had already sent a messenger to the Ardos capital residence stating that 'Coco was unable to eat.'
Thanks to that, numerous chefs prepared delicious meals in anticipation of Coco's return.
A mealtime with the family.
The kitchen staff who prepared the delicious food, the family members who wanted to see Coco's happy reaction to the food, and even the animal friends who simply liked Coco.
Everyone gathered in the dining room in small groups, looking at Coco with sparkling eyes. They felt happiness every time they saw Coco eating sweet potatoes.
However.......
Today's Coco was somehow different.
“Coco, why, why are you getting up? There's still a whole cake of sweet potato cake left!”
“......I have no appetite.”
It was an unprecedented situation.
However, Coco wasn't the only one shocked by this literally 'unprecedented situation.'
Immediately, Lucy, the head chef of the Duke Ardos household, went into emergency mode.
“We must prepare even more delicious food. Understood?”
“Y-yes. By your command......!”
“She'll surely eat tomorrow's breakfast. Because it's this Lucy's handmade sweet potato soup......!”
Coco had eaten this handmade sweet potato soup even when she felt like she was dying from a stomachache.
But.
This time was different.
Coco skipped breakfast, lunch, and dinner the next day.
And from the moment Coco skipped her meals, a level of terror akin to war descended upon the Duke Ardos household.
* * *
Caligo, completely unaware of all these facts, was fretting.
He let out deep sighs while looking at the capital residence.
‘My brother said he was returning to the capital.’
But more than the joy of meeting his brother after a long time, the reality that he had lost contact with Coco bothered him more.
Caligo sank into the sofa with a sigh.
Amius, the spirit beast, strolled over to Caligo's side.
[Caligo, long time no see.]
“You've been well, Amius?”
[Of course]
He chuckled and groomed the fur on top of Amius's head.
Even so, his heart was quite complicated.
As if noticing Caligo's feelings faster than anyone else, Amius rubbed its head against his hand and asked.
[Hard? Face not good.]
“Yeah, it's a bit hard.”
[Why?]
“I think Coco doesn't like me much anymore.”
“.......”
“Did I, by any chance, become very ugly? Am I not good enough? She doesn't look at my face much, and even when she does, she quickly turns her head away.”
[No way.]
Caligo possessed a beauty that shone like the sun. He had been a pretty boy in his childhood, but now that he had grown, he was essentially a handsome man who overwhelmed those around him.
[You look good?]
When Amius said that, Caligo muttered to himself with a slightly relaxed face.
“......Then why?”
[......Awkward?]
“......To be honest, I didn't know she would find me this unfamiliar.”
[Maybe. In that case, go next to her.]
“Huh?”
[Hold hand too. Must do. I know well.]
Caligo read the words Amius had written with a confused expression.
It seemed the spirit beast had more romantic experience than he did.
“Amius, when on earth did you.......”
[Amius, popular tiger.]
“......No, I-I mean, was that so? But that's not what's important right now.......”
Caligo looked down at the words Amius had written with a bewildered gaze.
He didn't know if Amius's words were correct or not.
But Amius wrote again, as if to emphasize.
[I know well.]
“.......”
Amius puffed up its fur as if to add credibility to its words.
[Amius, quite? Strong and smart.]
......Caligo was a pure young man who had never even tried dating.
Though suspicious, he had no choice but to listen to Amius.
“Exactly what should I do?”
Soon, Amius's front paw began to draw flamboyant letters.
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