87 – Memories of our first kiss (1)

After lightly strolling around the garden, we returned to Rebecca’s room.

– Miss? Young master? Why is your face like this…

Of course, on the way back, Dorothy was an unexpected ambush.

– I walked around the garden and it was hot.

– Really? You didn’t catch a cold, did you?

– No way. It’s really hot, so don’t worry.

Fortunately, innocent Dorothy let us go as if she didn’t notice anything.

– ······Hey, I have something to tell the Duchess.

– Dorothy?

– Nothing! It must have been hard, but hurry up and rest!

– ···.

The problem was that I wasn’t sure if he was really naive and let us go.

Well, that was already in the past.

Rebecca made her face look like she didn’t trust her maid at all.

“There’s no way Dorothy didn’t notice.”

“Do you have any special reason for thinking that way?”

“Of course. How much Dorothy likes romance novels.”

“…You mean a romance novel?”

“Yes. He likes it so much that he sometimes brings one to me to read.”

Um. It’s a romance novel

If it is true that Dorothy enjoys reading romance novels, it is correct to assume that the previous assumption is wrong.

There was no way someone with that kind of hobby would think it was because of a walk after seeing Rebecca and me.

Rebecca, who had not been able to stop her suspicious eyes until just now, was now putting on a look that would keep her from sleeping because of her worries.

“So, I mean. Dorothy must have noticed something happened in the garden.”

“Princess.”

“Why are you calling me all of a sudden?”

“Didn’t I tell you the other day. It doesn’t matter if other people notice.”

Although from my point of view, that worry didn’t come as a worry at all.

“Are you ashamed to let others know that I’m showing affection to the princess?”

“······No.”

“If the Princess thinks so too, then there is no need to worry.”

“I mean avoid it.”

“Yes?”

“It’s embarrassing to be found out by other people.”

“······You said just a few seconds ago that you are not ashamed.”

“・・・・・・Not that.”

Rebecca’s cheeks were already flushed as she shook her head to express her denial.

“It’s embarrassing to find out that your face gets hot after hearing me say that…”

“····.”

“I want to pretend that nothing is wrong in front of others, I want to pretend to be indifferent…”

What should I do when I turn red whenever I hear what you say?

Rebecca’s words didn’t follow, but it felt like she was vividly stuck in my ears.

I wasn’t stupid enough to not even notice that.

Because I didn’t know Rebecca to the extent that I couldn’t hear a word that didn’t connect like that.

Looking at Rebecca, who lowered her head to hide her flushed face, she slowly opened her mouth.

“······Is that so?”

“Yes. So, you should also exercise some restraint in front of others…”

“Then you don’t have to hide it from others.”

“·······Yes?”

Rebecca’s expression changed as if she was asking what nonsense she was talking about.

“Haven’t you experienced this a few times already? Showing a princess’s stupid reaction in front of others.”

“That’s what you…”

“Yes. I did. I kissed the back of the princess’s hand, or pretended to dance, walked over to her and made her hold me in my arms.”

“······Was it on purpose?”

Rebecca reacted right away, as if the situation at that time was quite unfair.

To be honest, I didn’t expect to react to those words, but it didn’t matter too much.

“Yes. I did it on purpose. I was curious about the lady’s reaction.”

“····.”

“I did it because I was curious about how people would react if they kissed me on the back of the hand or hugged me in front of others.”

At least I was proud of my actions.

Because it is my belief that you have to work hard in all areas to win.

“······ So, were you satisfied? I made a silly face then.”

Rebecca’s lips protruded as if slightly pouting.

I expressed that I was a bit upset, but in fact, I might have been quite upset.

What I just said to Rebecca sounds like I was using her fiancée’s feelings just to see her reaction.

“I was satisfied. Seeing the cute face of the person I like.”

“····.”

“I don’t know if he even felt happy. Originally, humans feel the greatest happiness when they see a lovely person they love.”

Hwaak-

Rebecca’s cheeks, which had already turned red just a moment ago, were now even redder, as if they would burn if touched.

And then, I quietly approached Rebecca and whispered.

“Like now. You’re making such a cute expression, isn’t it a waste to look at you?”

“······ Ugh.”

Of course, the back that Rebecca hit at that time was tingling until the next morning.

***

Morning at the Duchess of Valencia, peacefully chirping birds.

If it was the same as usual, it would have been time to swing the sword as usual, but today instead of swinging the sword, I was sitting on a chair in the gymnasium.

“Are you okay?”

“······Does this look okay?”

“So why are you messing around with our lady? Someone who knows better than anyone what happens if she gets caught wrongly.”

It’s strangely upsetting, but Hans was right.

It is true that I, her fiancée, know much better how strong my fiancée is than Hans, the duke’s knight.

I know that, but it’s true that I made fun of Rebecca.

I can’t see it now because it’s covered by my clothes, but the handprints that are clearly engraved on my back aren’t proof of that fact.

Hans said, raising the corners of his mouth slightly as if he looked good.

“I hear you even got kicked out of the lady’s room because of it this time.”

“How else do you know that?”

“Did you think that I, the duke’s knight, would not know about our duchy?”

“····.”

This also sucks, but Hans was right.

– Get out of my room right now!

Rebecca’s voice, which resonated as soon as she slapped me on the back yesterday, was still unforgettable.

Her face was red as if she had heard the most embarrassing words in the world.

“······It was cute. That expression.”

“Ugh. I’m sorry to say this, but it’s really disgusting. Young master.”

“Hans. That’s because you don’t have a lover.”

“····.”

With just one sentence, Hans, who had been chattering loudly next to her, became quiet, and then lightly stood up from her seat.

“Where are you going? Aren’t you here for training?”

“What kind of training. I came out to get some fresh air until my fiancé calms down.”

“I don’t think it’s been solved yet when I thought.”

“····.”

“As I said the other day, Prince Albert needs a bit of restraint.”

“······Really?”

Subtly, it was similar to what Rebecca had said.

That’s why I can’t just pass by Hans’s words, who usually talk about useless things.

“······I think it’s because of the mood that you feel like you just thought a little strangely, right?”

“Of course. I’m not you, so there’s no way I’m thinking strange things.”

“····.”

Just check this out.

Even though no words came out of Hans’ mouth, it felt like the meaning was conveyed.

Like the last time Rebecca. Maybe I have the ability to see through emotions at this level.

“······That look. I’m a guest myself.”

“Young master, can you manage your expression in this situation?”

“Of course not.”

“As expected, Young master is amazing. I think I understand why you were kicked out by my lady.”

“····.”

Although I provoked him first, it didn’t feel good to be turned around in front of me.

······Is Mikhail always living in this kind of daily life? Next time we meet, I’ll do better.

As I was in trouble with a promise I couldn’t keep, Hans next to me asked another question.

“By the way, where did you sleep yesterday? As far as I know, Young master originally slept in the lady’s room.”

“······In the drawing room.”

“The drawing room? Did the Duchess guide you?”

“No, Dorothy. Of course the Duchess ordered it.”

As if they weren’t called the best aristocratic family in the empire for nothing, the duke’s drawing room was very comfortable.

It only made me sad that this was the place she had arrived after being kicked out of her fiancée.

“Isn’t that normal? I know you two have a good relationship, but actually, you haven’t even had a wedding yet.”

“······That’s right.”

“Besides, I understand that Young master hasn’t even had a coming-of-age ceremony yet.”

“But well, it doesn’t really matter. I sleep on a blanket on the floor anyway.”

“·······Yes?”

“Hmm? Why?”

“Did I just hear you right?”

Hans reacted as if he heard something he couldn’t hear.

“You’ve stayed at the duke’s mansion so many times, but you always slept on the floor?”

“······Why is that?”

“Prince Albert······················································································································································· I’m a person who has never been in a relationship yet, so you won’t be able to trust us…”

“······What?”

For a moment, I wondered if I had heard it wrong.

I wonder if Hans felt this way when he heard that I had been sleeping on the floor before.

“Is there a problem with my sexual function?”

“Yes. Seriously.”

“Do you seriously think there won’t be?”

“Yes. If it wasn’t for that, there’s no way you’ve been sleeping on the floor until now.”

“····.”

“Do you two have skinship? No, how far did you go in the first place?”

“Why are you so excited all of a sudden? Try calming down.”

“How can you calm down! My lady’s fiancé may have sexual problems!”

“····.”

“First kiss, when was your first kiss?”

Hans shook me hard and questioned me, as if something like that should never happen.

I knew the Valencian Knights’ loyalty was high, but I never thought it would be this much.

“······First kiss.”

I was lost in thought for a while, ignoring Hans who was making all kinds of fuss next to me.

If it’s a first kiss…

It was the first time I spent the night in Rebecca’s room. Rebecca, who was drunk at the time, thought it was her dream and kissed me.

“Isn’t that enough? It was the first day I went to sleep at the duke’s mansion.”

“······Do you remember it in such detail?”

“I want you to know.”

“No, well. That’s true, but it’s kind of perverted.”

“····.”

Really, what is this guy talking about to his future master’s fiancé?

Aron, who became my swordsmanship teacher because he didn’t want to work, said the same thing. It would not be a vague imagination to think that among the knights I became close to, there seemed to be no top.

While I was swearing hundreds of times inside, Hans, who had been thinking for a while, brought out his words as if he was at least fortunate.

“Anyway, that’s good. I was really worried.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. Fortunately, Young master told me that the day we kissed for the first time was the day we slept here, so I was relieved.”

“······Should we say that it is fortunate that the misunderstanding has been resolved?”

“Of course.”

It was a question session that happened out of the blue, but I thought it ended well in its own way.

“······What?”

“Lady?”

“······Princess?”

Until one day I found Rebecca standing next to us with a black and red parasol.

“When was the first time you kissed someone…?”

“····.”

At that time, it would not have been a mistake to feel that something was wrong.