Episode 42

Ute laid out his plan in an exuberant, boyish tone.

I, on the other hand, had different thoughts.

"I intended to remain indoors within the mansion as much as possible since it’s a rare break."

"Ah..."

His meticulously groomed eyebrows sagged.

‘An angel, disappointed... an angel...’

I raised my hands and slapped my cheeks.

Smack!

"Sonnet! What are you doing—"

"Alright, let's go! Lazing about too much will only make me sick!"

---

The ambiance customary for New Year’s enveloped the surroundings.

Ute beamed radiantly, his gaze flitting about busily. His silver hair alternated between appearing white or ash-gray, contingent on the angle.

“This is the first time I’ve spent New Year’s feeling this happy.”

“…”

“I was always alone. Even when surrounded by others, I felt out of place. I’m grateful to spend this year differently.”

“…”

“Because you're here. ...Hmm, it feels weird to keep talking about myself. Don’t you have anything you want to say, Sonnet?”

“Can we...go a little slower?"

I exerted strength into my thigh and hoisted my other leg with difficulty.

A frigid breeze swirled between the pillars.

‘Why am I here in the first place?'

Ute, who had been striding ahead, ceased walking. I finally managed to catch my breath and adjusted my disheveled hair.

“Huff, huff, huff!”

Occasionally, a few individuals brushed past me on either side.

‘Everyone’s out of their minds.’

Why on earth are we doing right now?

Climbing the clock tower on a tranquil New Year's Day!

‘This is the tallest building in the capital!’

It’s all because Ute Velvet’s eyes are excessively captivating.

‘I heard that in the capital, they walk all the way to the top of the clock tower on New Year.'

If only his emerald eyes hadn’t confused me!

‘There’s nothing much to see from there anyway... It’s just empty space.'

‘Still. Everyone says they go.’

Ute slowed down as I requested. It wasn’t as strenuous as before, but my heart was still racing.

“Is this your first time climbing the clock tower?”

“Yeah. I’ve only ever been curious about it, and never actually went. What about you, Sonnet?”

“It’s my first time too.”

“Then it’s a first for both of us?”

His gentle eyes narrowed so much that his pupils were barely discernible.

I didn't go because I was busy and too lazy.

However, not having climbed it until now seemed like the perfect arrangement for today.

“I’m curious about something, though.”

“Hmm?”

“Why are we... walking when there’s an elevator?”

As I articulated this, a glass elevator smoothly ascended in the center.

Ute let out a laugh.

“You’re asking that after an hour?”

“I could manage until now.”

“And now?”

“What do you think...?”

Despite ascending the same height, Ute's Velvet’s breathing remained steady.

‘He’s not particularly robust.’

How can he continue so leisurely?

“Aren’t you tired?”

Ute shrugged as if he didn’t understand.

“The stairs are well-maintained, the height is consistent, and the steps are wide.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“It’s much better than the academy I graduated from.”

“You said you’re from the north, right?”

“Yeah, from the very end of the north.”

Ute gazed outside the tower.

Even halfway up, the other buildings appeared tiny.

“There, the slope from the dormitory to the main building is almost vertical.”

“At that angle, it’s not a slope, it’s a mountain.”

"Is that so?"

Standing on a step above me, he meticulously scrutinized my face.

“I thought you’d be fine since they say you have a good physique."

“Me?”

“Aren’t you? The other maids say so. I heard from the kitchen staff as well. They say you’re as energetic and can cover thee work of three people effortlessly."

“It’s true I’m strong. This is just... because of the environment.”

“Environment?”

“If we were underwater, this wouldn’t be so challenging.”

“You’re from the south, right? Near the sea?”

“Kind of.”

“Should I carry you?”

“What? No, um, huh?”

“I can carry you if it’s too much.”

Ute abruptly halted and bent his knees, offering his back.

How could I shamelessly mount that slender back—

‘Is it really slender?’

I roughly estimated the width of his shoulders with my eyes. His chest was broader than I had vaguely imagined.

But still—

“No, I’m not tired! This is easy!”

I couldn't tarnish an angel.

‘Furthermore, I have my pride as a woman!’

I gritted my teeth and made it to the pinnacle of the clock tower. As soon as we arrived, my jaw started to twitch.

“There are so many people...”

Ute surveyed the surroundings with a slightly weary expression.

“Because it's New Year’s. It's a superstition.”

“Right, it’s renowned.”

“Is there anything you want to ask for?"

“No.”

I thought he’d make a wish since he insisted on coming.

His gaze, sweeping over the view, was fresh and clear.

“What about you, Sonnet?”

“I don’t have one either.”

The place bustling with families, lovers, and friends.

‘So that’s why he wanted to come with a friend.’

I remained vigilant, trying not to get separated from Ute in the massive crowd.

“In the north, do you have any New Year’s traditions like making wishes?”

“We did. It was grand. People were invited to the main castle for banquets, and we made wishes on a big tree, not a clock tower.”

“Did you make wishes back then?”

“I...”

His tone was gentle but offered a clear signal.

I refrained from probing further and shifted the subject.

“Where I lived, it was simple. We just watched the sunrise and made New Year’s wishes.”

“What did you wish for?”

“Before I graduated, I wished to meet my father.”

“…”

“So I could claim child support.”

“Huh?”

“I wanted to extract every last penny from him.”

I didn’t know who he was, but if I found him, I planned to legally squeeze out every bit I could.

“I’ve given up now, though.”

“Why?”

“Mom doesn’t provide any hints. He must be alive, but...”

It was futile to squander energy on a practically non-existent presence in my life.

We progressed very slowly.

Suddenly, a rainbow of colors flashed before my eyes.

“There are so many ribbons tied here.”

“First time seeing it? People write their names and wishes inside and tie them.”

The ribbons tied to the railing fluttered in a rainbow of colors.

The railing covered in ribbons resembled a grand tapestry.

“We didn’t bring any ribbons.”

His white forehead furrowed regretfully.

At that moment, a lively voice rang out.

“Selling the finest ribbons made from Lodine fabric! You can also use beautiful golden ink!”

“Sonnet, wait a moment.”

“What? It’s just a rip-off...!”

...Too late.

Ute dashed to the vendor before I could stop him.

Several merchants raised their voices competitively.

“Want to inscribe your wish on the night sky?”

“Want to bring winter even in the summer?”

Ute lifted several ribbons and pulled out his wallet.

‘He’s purchasing that...’

Ribbons at five times the price you could get outside.

Well, for a tourist, that kind of expense is—

“No, you don’t need to buy mine...!”

Why are you smiling so prettily, you fool!

Before Ute could retrieve his wallet again, I swiftly ran over.

“I don’t need one, I truly don’t.”

“But it’s a pity.”

“No! Not at all! With that money, you could—”

“Lily?”

The one who called out a strange name was the merchant.

The middle-aged man with red hair and blue eyes was undoubtedly not someone I recognized.

“...Me?”

His sharp gaze darted between Ute and me.

‘Maybe he’s around Mom’s age?’

I stared blankly at the man I was seeing for the first time and grabbed Ute's wrist.

“Lily, it’s been so long. You haven’t changed at all.”

“No."

I simply turned on my heel and bolted.

They say never to get involved with shady characters like that.

“Wait. Sonnet, Sonnet?”

“Sorry. I’ll explain later—”

“Lily! Wait, Lily!”

“Ack! Why is he following us!”

Is it permissible for a merchant to abandon his stall like that?

I aimed for the elevator, but the long line thwarted my plan.

There was only one option left.

As I sprinted for the stairs, Ute almost collapsed with a groan.

“Ugh!”

“Why! What now!”

“Bugs! M-m-m-moth!! Five-legged, eek! What is that?”

“It’s an old building, of course, there are bugs! Let’s go, quickly!”

“I-I can’t... I’d rather live here forever than...”

I thought he was jesting, but Ute was dead serious.

Meanwhile, the swindler was closing in, three steps at a time. There was no time.

I squatted swiftly.

“Get on!”

“No, Sonnet, that’s—”

“Get on!”

“Y-Yes, ma’am...”

If Ute Velvet isn’t the male lead, was it not for his fear of bugs, rather than his brown hair?

I pondered this briefly and then dashed down the stairs.

---

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