As Helios reflected on his actions, he could only sigh. He couldnât understand why he did it. In retrospect, he knew how silly he had been.
It was very clear from his younger siblingsâ faces that they were just egging him on.
Thatâs why he didnât have any intention of accepting the suggestion and giving Sera a ride.
So, why did he cut in between Jean and Sera? Why did he carry her up the horse without even giving her time to answer?
He was unusually baffled by his own behavior. Heâs not being himself.
However, the small voice in front of him made him stop that line of thought.
Because the woman sitting so close in front of him now was much more important than figuring out the reason behind his impulsive decision.
At just one glance, itâs clear that Sera was very frightened and uncomfortable about everything.
âMiss Popo, are you feeling very scared?â
He glanced down, staring at Seraâs back being curled up like that. He felt apologetic, thinking that he was the one who forced her into this situation.
âYes⊠Iâm afraid that I will fall. Every time the horse moves, my body tilts!â
Sera then closed her eyes shut and stopped speaking. She couldnât keep herself composed.
Whenever her body shook, she could feel Heliosâs solid chest behind her, but then whenever the horse would gallop, sheâd just get so scared.
âIs the place where Her Highness RosĂ© lost her pin still a l-long distance away?â
Clutching the front of the saddle very tightly, Sera uttered the question with great difficulty.
âNo, weâre here now.â
Feeling apologetic towards her, Helios urged the horse to a stop.
Surprised by the halted horse, Seraâs body stiffened again. Really, Helios was regretting his impulsive decision to bring her here.
Dismounting from the horse first, Helios reached for Sera.
Sera hesitated as she looked down at him, as if it was not easy for her to come down from the horse.
Helios smiled quietly because it was far from her usual confident appearanceâhonestly, she looked quite adorable.
âAre you going to stay on top of the horse?â
âIâll carry you down, so if you step here slowlyâŠ!â
Helios was holding the horseâs reins with one hand, then supporting Sera with the other hand. But then, Sera lost her balance for a moment.
As she couldnât control her actions for a moment, she instinctively tried to reach out to grab something. And inevitably, she jumped into Heliosâ arms.
He was a little surprised, but Helios readily hugged Sera tightly, not allowing her to fall.
She used all the strength in her arms to cling to Heliosâ neck. But on the other hand, all Helios could think about was how her soft body was too light and too smallâand he was reminded of their dance during the last ball.
Helios whispered, hugging Sera, who still hadnât let go of him.
Out of her senses for a moment, Sera didnât know why he called her name, and so she replied this way. She let out a sigh of relief after she was finally down from the horse.
âItâs alright now.â
He gently set Sera down on the grass.
When her feet touched the ground, Sera belatedly realized what happened just now, and her eyes went wide with surprise.
Shame, embarrassmentâall mixed up in her expression.
Seraâs mouth opened and closed, as if there was something she wanted to say. However, she lowered her head first because she didnât know what to do.
âYour Majesty! Iâm so sorry! I got ahead of myself because I wanted to dismount the horse right away, but Iâve committed a grave act of discourtesy to you!â
Helios tried to say that there was no problem at all, but Sera repeatedly apologized and hesitated.
She looked like a child whoâs been caught doing something wrong.
âMiss Popo, you keep taking steps backward. Where are you going?â
He reached out to her, urging her to come closer.
âIâŠI just want to hurry up and find what Her Highness RosĂ© has lost!â
Sera shouted and started looking around. She was already five steps away from him by now.
He wanted to ask why she was so scared of horses, and he also wanted to apologize to her. However, he couldnât easily approach her.
Because, strangely enough, Helios had been feeling dazed since earlierâever since he caught Sera in his arms a while ago.
And, his heartbeat was uncontrollable right now.
Sera quickly shook her head as she recalled the moment that she had hugged Helios so tightly.
Her first priority right now was to find RosĂ©âs pin, but why couldnât she find any traces of it?
And, if she allowed her mind to wander for even just a moment, a barrage of other thoughts would pop up.
His firm arms around her waist. Her cheek on his neck as she clung to him tightly.
She felt so shocked about the great act of discourtesy that she had shown in front of the emperor. However, when the shock of that incident passed, these were the thoughts that remained in Seraâs mind.
Sera snuck a sidelong glance at Helios, who was also looking for RosĂ©âs pin like her.
With the way he was acting, itâs as if nothing happened just now.
Ah, did he feel her gaze on him? Helios raised his head and met Seraâs eyes.
âI believe itâs better if we return now.â
âO-Oh? Already, sire?â
As their eyes met, Sera blinked dazedly.
âIt looks like itâs going to rain. I felt a raindrop falling on me just now.â
Helios murmured, looking up at the sky.
Sera also held out her hand and looked up at the downcast sky. As soon as Helios finished saying that, thick raindrops fell on her palm.
âYes, just as Your Majesty said, it would be best to return now. But what about Her Highnessâ pin?â
âIâll explain to RosĂ©. And we can ask some of the attendants to look for it later.â
Sera said that she understood, but then RosĂ©âs face suddenly crossed her mind.
Now that she thought of it, she couldnât remember Her Highness RosĂ© ever wearing a hairpin today.
Sera was sure that she had tied RosĂ©âs braided hair with a red ribbon earlier, and she couldnât remember ever putting a green gemstone pin on her hair.
âWas Her Highness RosĂ© wearing a pin today?â
Realizing that just now, Sera asked.
âBut isnât that why she said she lost it on the wayâŠâ
âOr maybe not?â Helios trailed off when he tried to justify it that way. Without saying anything for a moment, his thoughts continued down the same path as Seraâs.
Soon afterwards, he let out a sigh that was both dejected and amused.
âAh⊠RosĂ©, reallyâŠâ
Helios laughed helplessly.
âSomehow, itâs like that⊠right?â
Sera burst into laughter at the same time, confirming that theyâre thinking of the same thing.