Chapter 7: Between Distance and Desire

The weather was nice. On a day like this, the best thing to do was skip lectures and play PUBG at a PC café. But in this world, there were no PC cafés, and his daily life consisted of being trapped behind a fancy fence, staring out the window.

Honestly, if it weren’t for Osh, Kebel might have already fallen into depression and spent days suffering alone.

“…Sigh.”

For the past few days, he had been feeling restless, like it was time to cause a little trouble. Resting his chin on his hand like someone deep in thought, Kebel pondered.

Since being transported here, he had never gone out to the village. Surely, just like where he used to live, this place would be full of delicious food and interesting sights.

Still, he didn’t want to whine like a child about wanting to go. Even if this body was that of a kid, he still had his pride as a man.

“Ugh…”

Furrowing his brows, Kebel groaned, then remembered that Osh would be arriving soon.

He hurried to the wardrobe and rummaged through it. Looking for something simple enough to pass as commoner clothing, he quickly changed into a plain outfit. There were about two hours left until the next lesson, enough time, if used well.

“This feels like it’ll be fun.”

Muttering to himself, Kebel paced around the window. After watching a couple of birds fly by, he spotted a carriage from the count’s estate approaching in the distance. As if waiting for that exact moment, he sprang out of his room like a coiled spring.

The carriage stopped in front of the duke’s residence. Kebel looked on expectantly, but instead of a guard escorting him, Osh opened the carriage door himself and stepped out.

Kebel’s expression darkened as his gaze shifted to the driver’s seat. A poorly dressed coachman noticed him and bowed respectfully. Even so, Osh was the heir of a count’s family, yet they didn’t even bother to dress the coachman properly? Kebel clenched his fists in frustration.

No matter how he thought about it, it made no sense. The renowned Sereban Count family didn’t even assign a single knight to escort him?

Kebel had never come out to greet Osh before, so he hadn’t realized, but the thought that Osh had been living like this all along made his anger boil.

“I could’ve just gone inside…”

“Osh, where’s your escort knight?”

“…Ah, it’s fine without one.”

“You think it’s fine at your age? What if you got attacked on the way here?!”

He hadn’t meant to snap. It just came out because he was upset, but his tone rose without him realizing. Flustered, he quickly apologized under his breath.

Watching him, Osh quietly closed the carriage door and nodded with a faint smile.

“Thank you for worrying about me. But… were you about to go somewhere?”

“Yeah. I was planning to go out… with you.”

“Did you get permission from the duke?”

“Nope.”

Kebel flashed a grin, showing his teeth. As if he had never been depressed, he casually slung an arm over Osh’s shoulders. It fit perfectly, like they were made to match. Kebel found it comforting, but Osh still seemed unaccustomed to the contact.

Startled, Osh stiffened. Kebel tightened his arm for a moment, then let go. The faint blush on Osh’s cheeks and his small, murmuring lips looked strangely cute. Suppressing the urge to tease him, Kebel bit the inside of his cheek to hold back a smile.

“…You shouldn’t do that.”

“What’s wrong with it? We’ll just take your carriage.”

“No. The carriage I came in… isn’t safe.”

‘And you came without an escort knowing that?!’

Kebel swallowed his rising frustration and looked around. If the problem was a lack of protection, he could fix that.

His gaze landed on a knight standing behind him at a distance, always present like a shadow. Kebel stared at him for a moment.

He realized he had never properly called the man by name before. Opening his mouth, he hesitated, then simply gestured for him to come over.

“Did you call for me?”

The knight approached instantly and spoke politely. His silver hair and dark eyes gleamed with readiness. Feeling oddly pressured by that intensity, Kebel smiled awkwardly.

“I’m planning to go out for a bit.”

“Yes. I will accompany you.”

The knight’s face lit up with happiness at being given a task. Embarrassed, Kebel cleared his throat.

“By the way… what was your name again?”

“Ah, Nicola Nasa Ida.”

“…What?”

Had he heard that right? Why did it sound like “Ni cola na sa ida”? Kebel asked again, but the knight repeated it firmly.

“Nicola Nasa Ida!”

Suppressing a laugh, Kebel bit his lip. It was rude to laugh at someone’s name, but he could barely hold it in.

“…I’ll just call you Ida.”

“Please do, young master.”

“Alright, Ida. Please guide us to the village square.”

“Yes! I will do my utmost!”

Ida’s enthusiasm was almost overwhelming. Kebel had always thought knights were cold and stoic, but maybe that had just been his prejudice.

As he stared too long, Osh stepped closer.

“Kebel, your eyes are sparkling.”

“No they’re not.”

“…Should I learn swordsmanship too?”

“No.”

Kebel cut him off immediately.

‘What would Osh even do with sword skills?!’

For some reason, Kebel felt a chill at his throat and turned toward the carriage.

Behind him, Osh looked down at his empty hand. Dark mana flickered faintly, but he quickly clenched his fist, making it vanish.

His lips twisted slightly, then returned to normal as he followed Kebel.

The carriage door opened, and Kebel climbed in. He extended his hand toward Osh.

To Kebel, it was just a casual gesture, Osh seemed small and pitiful. But in this world, offering a hand could be seen as a sign of romantic interest.

Realizing too late, Kebel quickly pulled his hand back.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean-”

“It’s fine.”

Osh shook his head and climbed in smoothly. As he reached to close the door, Kebel grabbed his wrist.

“Osh…”

Osh nodded. Only then did Kebel let go.

Inside, Osh sat as far away as possible, pressed against the wall. Seeing that distance, Kebel frowned.

He thought they had gotten closer, but maybe he was wrong.

Feeling oddly disappointed, Kebel leaned back and crossed his legs, then turned toward Osh.

“Are you going to stay that far away?”

“It’s more comfortable here…”

“That’s too far to talk. Come here.”

Tapping the seat beside him, Kebel gestured. Osh turned his head, and when their eyes met, Kebel flinched.

Why did he look like a trembling prey animal?

With a sigh, Kebel uncrossed his legs and smiled gently.

But instead, Osh quickly turned his head toward the window.

Feeling rejected, Kebel’s expression fell.

In the end, he gave in and slid closer.

“Are you still uncomfortable around me?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then why are you so stiff? I’m not going to eat you.”

“…”

“Is it because you’re not used to it? Then you should get used to it. Because from now on, I’m going to sit this close to you all the time.”

His words sounded clingy, but he didn’t care.

Osh was changing, little by little. And for some reason, that made Kebel feel strangely proud.