Chapter 22
‘That kiss… let’s not think about it. It wasn’t even a real kiss.’
Kasselard had merely licked her lips. It was strange that it hadn’t felt repulsive, but in any case, it was an accident that happened during guiding.
Ephinia debated whether to wait inside Kasselard’s office, then decided to wait outside it instead. It seemed like it might look strange for her to be alone inside an empty office.
“His Highness is coming.”
An attendant hurried over and whispered. Ephinia, who had been sitting on a chair placed along one side of the corridor, hastily stood up and straightened her clothes.
As she glanced over, Kasselard was approaching with his entourage. His face was full of displeasure, and when she saw the mischief filling those clear blue eyes, Ephinia was momentarily taken aback.
“Why did you come?”
“I greet Your Highness, the Empire’s small sun… I came to guide you.”
As she hurriedly offered her greeting and added that, Kasselard impulsively tossed out a remark.
“You didn’t come to touch my thing?”
Startled, Ephinia cast her gaze around. His entourage. That is, the secretary, attendants, and guard knights all seemed to be pretending they hadn’t heard anything.
“D-Don’t say such strange things!”
“Strange things.”
Kasselard snorted and passed by her, stopping in front of his office. The office door was already flung wide open by the attendants waiting there.
He turned his body and looked at Ephinia, whose face was flushed bright red. Her clear skin was heated just right, making him want to touch it.
‘Damn it.’
How did a woman who had only worked as a maid in a viscount’s household end up with such good skin?
Of course, he knew the reason.
Since there had been plans to make her the Crown Princess, people would have been assigned to care for her skin with all their effort. They would have attached mages and even priestesses, erased every scar, and made her hands delicate as well. He had heard there were such spells.
“What are you doing? Come in.”
He tried to think it was because of guiding, regardless of his own desires. He was on the verge of rampage, and guiding with her had truly been sweet. Not sweet in a sensory sense, but sweet in that it was a good opportunity from his standpoint.
Seeing Ephinia straighten her posture and approach with a relieved expression, Kasselard felt an urge to be petty for no reason.
“I’m not done being angry.”
He lowered his head slightly and said this to her as she approached. When Ephinia seemed tense and took a step back as their eyes met, he took two steps forward.
“Why… What is it?”
“You didn’t let you kiss me, did you. I’m not letting it go.”
At his mention of what had happened then, it was as if flames burst across Ephinia’s face. Seeing her redden, Kasselard let out an amused laugh.
“You’re really red.”
Kasselard realized too late.
Seeing Kasselard laugh genuinely, Ephinia blankly looked up at his face for a moment. Without much thought, he placed a hand on her cheek and brushed his thumb over the heated skin.
‘Th-these people…’
Around them, everyone was very discreetly pretending not to see, with faces that said Hmm~ Understood! Even the secretaries, attendants, and guard knights seemed relieved, and Kasselard’s face twisted.
“What are you all laughing at! Get out!!”
The entourage hastily retreated, and as Ephinia shrank at the Crown Prince’s sudden shout, her wrist was grabbed. Kasselard realized his chest was pounding, and his cheeks were coloring.
“Not you. You have to come in. Didn’t you say you were going to guide me?”
Turning his body and gripping Ephinia’s wrist as he entered the office, Kasselard was denying it countless times in his mind.
This was because of guiding. It wasn’t because this woman looked pretty. He stole glances at Ephinia’s face as she followed him inside.
‘Why are you following so obediently again? Do you have any idea what I might do?’
Of course, he wouldn’t do anything, but having so little wariness was a problem. She was his one and only Guide, wasn’t that dangerous?
“Close it. Don’t let anyone in until I give permission.”
At Kasselard’s words to the attendants, the office door closed. Ephinia knew it had to be that way for guiding, and yet for some reason she felt a sense of danger.
‘It feels like I’ve stepped into some kind of quagmire I won’t be able to escape…’
As she hurriedly turned her head toward the door, the office door shut.
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