Chapter 58
Alferen muttered something cryptic under his breath as he clasped her hand.
“Let’s go. I’ll escort you.”
With that, Alferen returned to his usual affectionate brotherly demeanor and guided Rodellia along.
She stared fixedly at her small hand enveloped in his large one, then grumbled in a sulky tone.
“Don’t you trust your fake girlfriend at all?”
“As if I wouldn’t.”
“Was my comfort no help whatsoever?”
“Delly.”
At her complaining words, Alferen came to a halt.
The corridor was empty, not a single passerby in sight.
“I’ve already been comforted enough. I’m fine now. I was just being a bit spoiled because you take it all in stride.”
She gazed at him steadily, as if probing for the truth.
“You’re lying. You still need more comfort.”
If she wanted to pretend not to notice what he was hiding, that would be fine with him.
But seeing her with no intention of doing so made Alferen want to provoke her more and more.
“So, you’ll comfort me until I’m satisfied?”
It won’t be easy, you know?
Alferen looked at her with a sticky, lingering gaze.
If Rodellia could see every last detail of his inner thoughts, she’d probably be shocked and run away.
So, his words were meant as a plea not to push him too hard.
Yet, there was no sign of Rodellia’s momentum waning.
She put emphasis in her voice.
“As much as you want. If that’s what you desire, I could even hold you tight like a mother and pat your back.”
“Hahaha.”
Alferen kept laughing, as if something kept striking him as endlessly funny.
He seemed to mutter something like, ‘Look at that. Totally missing the point,’ but it was drowned out by the sound of the rain, so she couldn’t be sure.
“I’ve already received more than enough of this lady’s kindness. So, don’t pout.”
“Hmph. Fine, whatever?”
Before she knew it, they’d reached the carriage. Isaac and Sophia stood side by side.
“Take care on your way home.”
“Yes, I’ll come again.”
Rodellia bid her farewell and stepped into the carriage.
At that moment, Alferen stood by the door, gazing at her quietly.
Rodellia teased him playfully.
“Why? Having second thoughts now, Duke Ainluk? If you wish, I’m willing to step back out.”
The way she tapped his hand, which was gripping the door with his fingers, was impishly cute.
Alferen grabbed that hand firmly.
“If it’s just holding me like a mother and patting my back, I’ll have to pass, Delly.”
“I’m just worried you’ll start digging a hole in the ground again if you’re left alone.”
“If you’re by my side, things get complicated in a different way.”
Then, as if he had something to say, he leaned his upper body in deeply.
In response, Rodellia’s upper body tilted forward as well.
He whispered low.
“So, will you allow it?”
“Allow what?”
“Practice, I mean.”
“……”
“I’ll do my best until you’re satisfied.”
His voice, soft and swaying, tickled her ear.
Just moments ago, he’d seemed so melancholic.
Rodellia shot him a glare.
“You always aim for the moments when my resolve weakens, don’t you?”
“So, you hate it?”
“No, I don’t hate it. Do as you please. You’ll keep at it until I allow it anyway……”
Rodellia’s words weren’t even finished.
Chu.
Something soft touched her lips briefly and pulled away.
It was a light contact, like a butterfly landing and fluttering off, but the ripple effect was enormous.
“!!!”
Seeing her frozen in shock, Alferen smiled brightly.
“This is just a taste.”
“……”
“I’m grateful for your permission.”
He saluted elegantly, like a devout knight.
Rodellia’s gaze naturally drifted to Alferen’s lips.
Unfortunately, she’d just reapplied her rouge, so his lips had taken on a reddish tint as well.
That alone made her confront the fact that what had just happened was no dream but reality.
He slowly wiped the rouge from his lips with his thumb and said,
“Take care. My love.”
Thud. The door closed, and the carriage began to move.
Rodellia remained frozen in that position, unable to speak for a long while.
A moment later.
“Eeeek!”
She clamped both hands over her mouth to stifle the scream bursting out and banged her head against the window.
Then, catching sight of her reflection in the window, she let out a silent wail.
Her face was flushed bright red from just a simple peck.
Unlike the brief provocation, the lingering aftertaste of that teaser kiss was long-lasting.
* * *
The next day.
The sunshine was brilliant, as if questioning when the rain had ever fallen.
In contrast, I, whose face had halved in size overnight, wearily boarded the elevator.
‘Take care, my love.’
I’d tossed and turned all night, fiddling with my lips.
Even knowing it was all an act in front of the servants, my foolishly racing heart was ridiculous.
Was it even reasonable to expect immunity to that face in the first place?
And then, that touch on my lips.
‘He rejects the offer to stay together, yet dares to steal just a kiss and run?’
The sweet whisper that followed was more than enough to rob me of my peaceful sleep.
As the memory of the teaser kiss resurfaced, Rodellia slammed her head against the elevator wall.
“Oh dear me! Miss, why are you suddenly self-harming like that!”
Startled, Mei jumped in and blocked her head with her palm.
“If you’re going to do it, do it when Mei’s not around! Then it’s not Mei’s fault!”
Sometimes, that girl is just too infuriating.
Still, thanks to Mei, my brooding thoughts lightened a bit.
“Sigh, you wouldn’t understand, Mei. Why I’m like this.”
“Well, Mei doesn’t know for sure, but seeing how Miss has been touching her lips nonstop since last night, Mei can only guess that maybe you had your first kiss or something.”
“That wasn’t a kiss yet! It was just… lips touching!”
“Oh my, how innocent. Duke Ainluk must have it rough. If our miss gets this flustered over a peck.”
“But it was my first time on the lips!”
Yes, the lips are sacred ground.
Even my family, Adrian, never kissed me on the lips!
“Hmm, but you’re lovers, aren’t you? Isn’t it a bit much to make such a fuss over a simple peck? At this rate, if it gets to a deep kiss, won’t our miss just faint away?”
“Ughhh.”
I couldn’t muster any retort and just shuddered all over.
It was humiliating enough to have unintentionally fallen for Mei’s provocation and let slip about the kiss.
“Keep it a secret from Adrian.”
“Oh my, empty-handed?”
Mei grinned slyly and made a circle with her thumb and forefinger.
“Since when did you become so money-obsessed?”
“Well, maybe since I received that ruby ring.”
Mei smiled sweetly as she politely pocketed the tip I’d handed her.
By the time I’d endured Mei’s teasing, we’d arrived at the Magia hideout.
Having lost both my lips and my money, I trudged toward the sofa.
That’s when I spotted something.
“Huh?”
On the table, neatly placed inside a glass case, was a single rosary.
It looked incredibly worn and old, yet it strangely drew the eye.
Just then, Sierra spotted me and greeted me warmly.
“Perfect timing! I was just wanting to get your opinion on the treasured items list and the booth setup.”
“Are you putting this up for auction too?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s a bit worn, but it’s a magic item imbued with blessings.”
Ah, so that’s why it caught my eye so oddly.
If it was imbued with blessing magic, it was quite a valuable piece.
“Then wouldn’t it be better for you to keep it, Sierra? Magic enhancement items are pretty expensive, aren’t they?”
“Ah, but it’s not for mage use.”
“Not for mage use?”
“To be precise, it’s an item that assists summoning magic or divine magic. I originally bought it to germinate a Fairy Bloom, but I only found out later that mages can’t use it?”
Sierra started grumbling again about how she’d been tricked.
I fiddled with the rosary.
“If it’s for summoning magic, then summoners could use it, right?”
“Probably? Well, I got duped into buying it, but I plan to be honest about it at the auction. Priests or devout believers might take an interest……”
Is that so?
For me, who’d been striking out these past few days, this was as good as good news.
“Could you sell this to me instead?”
