About Your Pride and My Prejudice

Side Story Chapter 19: Fairy

Side Story Episode 19: Fairy

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“……Did we already arrive?”

The carriage had stopped, and the surroundings were eerily quiet. As Melissa opened the curtain, the moonlight revealed a village in the forest, stretching out abundantly through the window.

Is this what a fairy-tale village, where forest fairies live, really looks like? The snow piled high on the ground, the lingering traces of sleep, and even the warm scent of the person beside her. Nothing in this carriage seemed close to reality.

“Goodness, how…….”

Just as Alan had imagined, Melissa placed her hands on the window sill and expressed her awe with disjointed words.

“To think such a beautiful place exists, I never imagined…….”

“…….”

Alan chuckled at her innocent admiration. For her, who had lovingly suggested they take this trip to distract from the peculiar visions seen in sleep and the troubles concerning Ian Leopold, it was a journey full of precious and beautiful moments that Alan wanted to cherish for a long time. There was no room for anxiety or distress. Instead, he thought of numerous expressions of love.

Thus, Melissa’s plan was perfectly executed. Even when they returned to the duchy, she would still be immersed in the lingering emotions of this trip. If this journey were a kind of business, she would be an excellent entrepreneur.

Amidst all this, the fact that it was Melissa, not Alan, who was overwhelmed with emotion upon reaching their destination provided an indescribable comfort.

“I knew you’d like it.”

As he affectionately patted her round head, Alan felt a deep, affectionate emotion welling up inside him. To return to a homeland he barely remembered, guided by a woman from another world, was something that could not be described with mere words of excitement.

“Then, how about the word ‘wonderful’?” He smiled faintly.

As he twisted the cold door handle, a chill night breeze rushed in. When Alan jumped down from the carriage, the crisp sound of crunching snow was clearly audible. Soon, Melissa, with a strangely tense expression, took his hand and carefully placed her foot on the pure white ground.

“Wow…!”

The galaxy filled with stars was reflected in her eyes.

“So, so….”

Before she could finish her sentence, Melissa walked ahead, crunching through the snow like a child. Her white breath scattered like fog. Such cold winters and snowy fields were rare in Runoa, so it seemed she was deeply moved.

“Be careful, Melissa.”

Realizing that they had finally arrived in the Kingdom of Sorne, especially at its northern edge, Alan followed her closely. The two sets of footprints cut through the distant night road and moved forward together.

“Yes, there is one room available, but….”

The innkeeper, a short and elderly man with a head full of white hair, looked at the gentleman before him with wide eyes as if seeing a ghost. He awkwardly added:

“However, it’s a bit of an old room. Would you like to stay?”

Given that no one in Sorne would be unaware of Leopold’s former reputation, the innkeeper’s attitude was not surprising. Even if he hadn’t recognized them, it was clear that the old man’s impression of the place did not match its shabby appearance.

But an old room? The inn itself looked worn and modest at a glance, so it was obvious what the condition of the so-called old room would be.

It was nearing midnight, and they had already visited two other places without finding a suitable place to stay. Moreover, despite wrapping her shoulders tightly in a thick shawl, Melissa’s lips were still trembling with cold.

They had heard it was a small village in the woods, but they hadn’t expected it to be this rural. What were they to do about the only available room in such a state?

“…Shall I carry your luggage?”

As the cautious question came back, Alan looked down at Melissa with a troubled expression.

“Melissa, is it okay to stay here?”

“Huh? Are you asking me?”

She looked surprised instead.

“Are you okay with this? Staying in such a place….”

In truth, he was not unfamiliar with staying in such rundown places. He had even experienced it relatively recently during a journey to prepare a birthday gift for his wife.

At that time, Melissa hadn’t even been by his side. Alan sighed softly as he recalled that torturous night. How insignificant he had felt without her.

“Of course, Melissa.”

“…….”

So, how could one complain about this night?

“Anywhere you are.”

At his soft and firm answer, Melissa started to say something but ended up biting her lips again. It felt like she was a snowman left on the roadside on a sunny day. Whenever their hearts perfectly aligned, she inevitably felt this way.

Even though it had been quite some time since she became Alan’s wife, there were moments when it was hard to believe. The fact that they loved each other so helplessly was still enough to make her want to cry just thinking about it.

Just as she was about to reply with “I feel the same way,” the elderly innkeeper picked up a candle from the table and approached them with slow steps. He then abruptly lifted the luggage placed at Melissa’s feet and gestured towards the old stairs.

“I’ll show you the way.”

Seeing the proud Alan about to say something harsh to the innkeeper, Melissa gently took his hand and led him.

“Let’s go, dear.”

However, Alan soon had to suppress his displeasure again. The old stairs, which hadn’t been cleaned in what must have been several months, and the thick black dust that filled the air awaited them. The handrails were coated with spider webs.

“……Ugh.”

Melissa, with her eyes tightly closed, clung to Alan as they walked. Naturally, Alan did not look in her direction.

“This way.”

The room they were shown to was at the end of the floor. Despite being called an old room, it was surprisingly clean, contrary to their fears. It seemed the innkeeper had mistaken them for high-ranking nobles—though in the Principality, they were merely the Count and Countess of Elsinore—which led to the small incident.

After Alan politely declined the elderly innkeeper’s offer for a late meal, they were finally left alone. Melissa threw her tired body onto the bed. The candle on the bedside table trembled slightly from the commotion.

In the meantime, Alan lit the cold hearth. Warm light soon filled the dim room. After scrutinizing the long sofa in front of the fireplace with a stern look, Alan finally settled onto it.

He patted the space next to him and then spoke.

“Come here, Melissa.”

As if his words were a magic spell, Melissa, roused from her fatigue, moved towards him like a bird. She arrived at the place where she belonged. Her steps were light, almost like a dance.

Finally, feeling at ease beside him, she wrapped herself in his embrace and mumbled with a muffled voice.

“I’m so tired; I want to smell you.”

“…….”

Alan loosely wrapped one arm around Melissa’s waist, as she nestled against him like a small animal. He rested his cheek on her soft brown hair and whispered in a slightly weary tone.

“Isn’t it amazing? We’re in Sourne’s Whitewood.”

“It is amazing. Amazing and cozy… Every moment is precious. Even now.”

Melissa, holding him tightly and inhaling his comforting scent, added softly.

“…It feels like a dream. That we crossed the sea together.”

“I feel the same.”

He kissed her lightly on the forehead and continued.

“It was fun.”

“Yes! It was so much fun.”

She, who had kissed his collarbone like a baby bird, gazed down at the golden rays shimmering on Alan’s bony hand. Suddenly, she remembered the fireworks from earlier.

“The deck dance was fun too, Alan. I’ve added another happy memory. Cat…”

Alan cleared his throat lightly and changed the subject.

“That day, I thought I had met a lost fairy. Your story was right.”

“W-what’s that supposed to mean!”

A white, round fist lightly tapped Alan’s solid chest.

“It’s thanks to Madame Conte’s dress. Anyone would look like an angel wearing it.”

“Well, I don’t think so.”

“Oh, speaking of which, remember the day we first danced…”

He murmured, gently caressing Melissa’s round chest.

“Victory anniversary?”

“I was so embarrassed about my shabby self back then. I got to dance with you, someone I had dreamed of, but the dress was so old and worn. I really wanted to cry…”

“….”

There was not a trace of a smile on his upturned face. Alan, who used to smile gracefully whenever she babbled alone, was different now.

Just as she was about to feel this unfamiliar emotion, he slowly cupped Melissa’s cheek and looked into her eyes.

“I didn’t see any of that.”

“Pfft.”

Suddenly, a watercolor-like smile spread across Melissa’s face. Even though he wasn’t very skilled at offering natural comfort, he was endearing. Surely, he didn’t really believe that she would take such nonsense seriously?

Still, appreciating his effort, Melissa gave him a quick kiss on the lips and smiled brightly.

“It’s okay, it’s all in the past.”

“No, Melissa. I really didn’t see any of that.”

Alan’s insistence was unexpected and left her a bit flustered.

At that moment, she noticed his cool cheek gradually flushing a faint color under the flickering light.

“I didn’t even have time to notice the dress. At first, I had to look into your eyes, then I had to focus on your lips.”

“…. Huh?”

Suddenly, a gentle pressure pressed down on Melissa’s body. She found herself half-lying on the sofa, her eyes wide in surprise.

“And your neck, your chest were so…”

Alan, looking up, had a strange expression on his face—both happy and somewhat pained.

“… Hah.”

Then, he buried his face in Melissa’s chest.

“Alan! Take off your clothes—”

“Just let me stay like this for a moment. Just a moment.”

“….”

She felt his chest rise and fall slowly as he took deep breaths against her. Alan seemed to sink slowly, like submerging in water. Melissa blinked quietly, feeling the heavy weight of his body and an indescribable, emotional warmth.

“I was afraid of revealing my true feelings, so I masked my emotions… I acted like a fool.”

His breath against her chest tickled, causing Melissa to shiver.

“And you married me…”

He sighed deeply, sounding as if he had found a dramatic sense of relief.

“I only need you, I mean it.”

“….”

“I love you, Melissa. I love you…”

Like the dying embers of a fire, his voice grew fainter and fainter. Melissa, holding back her tears, gently stroked Alan’s hair, which seemed like it had brought the night sky with it.

Soon, his breathing became as peaceful as a midday lakeside. He had spent the entire journey carefully looking after me. Alan, who couldn’t relax even in the carriage for fear that his wife might wake up, had fallen asleep as soundly as a child.

The hearth fire crackled softly from time to time, glowing faintly, and transparent tears shimmered on Melissa’s eyelashes. She closed her eyes, thinking wistfully that she wished time would stop just like this.

And then countless stars appeared. Even with her eyes closed, the blinking brilliance seemed almost blinding.

If love had a shape, perhaps it would look like this. In that infinitely brilliant darkness, Melissa smiled silently.

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