Chapter 45
“Madam, this is Celine. There is someone requesting to see you, what should I do?”
Unable to bear the awkward atmosphere, Reina hastily replied.
“I’ll go now.”
Reina, who headed to the door like an arrow, hesitated and turned back.
Knowing that she shouldn’t go back like this, but embarrassed, she wanted to quickly leave this place.
Reina, who couldn’t dare to make eye contact, moved her lips.
“Um…….”
To this, he said.
“It’s okay, so go ahead first.”
“……Yes.”
Reina left a dazed reply and hurriedly left the place.
* * *
As soon as Reina left the terrace, Kaiden stamped his foot and swallowed a scream.
‘I’m crazy. Completely crazy!’
He kissed her cheek without the other’s consent.
Kissing the back of the hand was something he often did as a sign of courtesy and respect, but the face was different.
It was a kiss with a lot of sexual meaning. It was an intimate part that one doesn’t allow others casually.
He was embarrassed by his own impulsive behavior.
He had never once wanted to touch or get close to a woman.
Reina kept bothering him, and before he knew it, he was staying by her side.
Moreover, only with Reina, he acted like an clumsy novice as if everything was first.
Just like now.
‘What was I thinking sending her off like that there.’
He should have said responsible words about his actions.
But when Reina was running away, he just encouraged her to go.
‘Was I originally such a cowardly and shameless guy?’
Recalling her disappearing with a face not knowing what to do, turning back at him last, self-loathing surged.
“Hah……. Why live?”
Kaiden ruffled his hair and caught his breath.
He felt like hiding if there was even a mouse hole.
Then suddenly hope rose.
‘Still, not avoiding it means she doesn’t dislike me?’
Even if it was a surprise with no time to avoid, there was enough time to refuse.
Nevertheless, not pushing away, maybe she wanted it too?
Of course, that hope didn’t last long.
Again, he screamed silently and blamed himself.
“Crazy bastard. What do you mean wanted. She probably froze in surprise. Even in this situation, is this all you can think?”
The more he wrestled with tumbling thoughts, the sensation of the cheek that touched his lips became clearer.
Reina’s flustered cheek was tinged with peach color, and her lips redder than that looked luscious.
If someone hadn’t intruded…… he couldn’t guarantee what would happen next.
Kaiden was disgusted with his own shallow patience.
As he clenched and opened his palm where warmth still remained, recalling her waist that was only a handful, a groan came out naturally.
Her body scent smelled of subtle flowers. The weight of her body leaning on him was light like down, making him want to carry her away.
Such a reaction to just one peck.
It was the moment he sighed deeply and lowered his gaze.
“Ah, crazy!”
He suddenly swore and banged his head against the wall himself.
Kaiden felt self-loathing at his surprisingly healthy physical change.
To bluff and say go first in this state.
He couldn’t return to the banquet hall like this.
If he did, it would be like advertising to everyone what happened on the terrace.
No, more than that, did she see it?
Is that why she ran away like that?
As various thoughts chained, it felt like the ground sank under his feet.
Recalling Reina leaving without even looking at him, his mood sank heavily.
Before he knew it, having imagined her despising him, he sighed.
He couldn’t return to the banquet hall calmly at all.
In the end, he couldn’t step out of the terrace until the banquet ended and Ben came to find him.
* * *
The next day, Reina was sitting demurely in the bedroom reception room, timed to when Kaiden would wake up.
Yesterday, she left the place like fleeing due to an unexpected incident, but she couldn’t delay anymore.
The fever starts at six in the afternoon.
Since there is still time, she could explain slowly.
In fact, she tossed and turned all night.
It was because the cheek peck Kaiden did kept coming to mind, making her toss all night.
Recalling yesterday’s event again, her face naturally heated up.
It was quite different from the goodnight kiss her brother gave when she was young.
At that moment, her heart pounded and her body stiffened.
As she was imagining up to the next.
“Sorry.”
Kaiden apologized, and she ended up running away.
‘I don’t know how to face him.’
It’s just a cheek peck.
It was a bit ridiculous that only she was so fidgety.
Perhaps Kaiden has already forgotten by now.
As she was gently touching her lips, just then, Kaiden, finished preparing, came out of the bedroom and faced Reina directly.
“Good morning.”
It was the moment Reina stood up gladly and waved her hand.
Bang-!
He closed the door.
“……?”
Clearly, he was coming out.
Thinking he left something inside, she waited quietly, but even after a while, the door didn’t open.
Reina, with a ‘no way’ thought, went to the door and knocked.
Knock knock.
There was no response from inside.
When she carefully opened the door, the bedroom was empty.
Only then realizing Kaiden had fled avoiding her, Reina gaped her mouth.
This was truly unexpected.
* * *
An untimely chill was lingering in the training ground.
It was because Kaiden, who came for the morning inspection, started one-on-one sparring with terrifying momentum.
The suddenly started sparring was close to a massacre.
Since originally he should return after just the inspection, Ben was equally flustered.
‘Is something wrong?’
Recalling his bad complexion last night, he thought he shouldn’t touch him today.
Then, one of the knights, Andy, complained to Ben.
He was the knight who was punished for mistakenly throwing a spear at Reina last time.
“Aide, please stop him? At this rate, we’ll all die.”
As his turn approached, Andy’s face turned green.
Since he was already marked once, it was even more terrifying.
Surely, a harsher sparring than others would occur.
Ben looked at him pitifully and patted his shoulder.
“Cheer up. Better to get whipped first.”
At the line-drawing action, Andy groaned.
“It would be good if Madam was here at times like this…….”
Recalling avoiding big punishment thanks to Madam then, her presence became desperately wanted.
Ben shook his head.
“Today, it will be hard to see Madam.”
“Well, yes. On a happy day, she won’t come to this smelly place.”
Andy touched the back of his head and sighed repeatedly.
After Reina almost got hurt last time, barricades were installed in the training ground rest area.
It was in preparation for if she comes again next time.
“By the way, why is the Duke here? At a time when it’s not enough to be with Madam, even initiating sparring that wasn’t there.”
As Andy grumbled, Ben shrugged as if saying ‘how would I know’.
Of course, he already guessed why the Duke was doing that.
‘Obviously because of Madam.’
The Duke pulled forward all schedules for the approaching Reina’s birthday.
Originally, today’s schedule was just the morning inspection.
But to go as far as creating work.
Anyone can see he’s avoiding Madam.
‘They need to reconcile quickly.’
Women become especially sensitive on special days.
If the Duke passes Reina’s birthday like this…….
“After all, I have to step in.”
As Ben was pondering, Andy spotted someone and was glad.
“Uh……! It’s Madam.”
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By Anna 💓
