Chapter 173
The sudden system message left me baffled.
“Was this Your Highness’s wish?”
“Yes. It was my decision.”
Even after answering, I found myself nervously studying his expression.
“I’m sorry for making you wait all this time. Since it’s not something you enjoy anyway, I thought this would be better.”
“Understood. However, tonight is unacceptable.”
“Unacceptable?”
“I cannot entrust Your Highness’s safety to Reno, who lacks experience. He may try another time.”
His tone was firm. The reasoning was typical of Isaac, but part of me wondered if he was being unnecessarily stubborn.
Besides, wasn’t it just about physical compatibility? It wasn’t like Isaac had been skilled from the start either.
At least, not from what I remembered. Lately, he’d grown more adept, but back when I first possessed this body, he’d relied purely on raw strength.
Reno had confidently claimed his physique wouldn’t fall short, so what was the difference? If properly guided this time, wouldn’t it work out?
“I appreciate your concern, but it’s fine. More importantly, I don’t want to force you into something you dislike.”
“I’ve never disliked it. If my demeanor gave that impression, I apologize.”
“Huh? There’s no need to apo— Wait, that’s not the point!”
I nearly got swept up in his pace.
“Regardless, it’s not something you do because you want to, right?”
It’s all just duty.
A bitter ache rose in my chest, and I lowered my head. No matter how much I told myself our relationship was purely out of obligation—no matter how much I’d accepted it for survival—the truth was, I’d enjoyed it too.
And whether it was physical intimacy or something else, there were moments it almost felt like we were lovers.
But then I’d remember the perpetually stagnant Affection stats, sober up, and end up hurt all over again.
I hated how pathetic I was, but what could I do? My heart kept clinging to him. If only I could distance myself physically—but even that wasn’t possible.
Of course, I didn’t blame Isaac. Resenting him was inevitable, but the one who’d foolishly hoped and gotten carried away was me.
“Does that matter?”
“Of course it—!”
I cut myself off mid-outburst. I wanted to say it mattered, but I couldn’t. That would contradict everything I’d done until now.
If it had truly mattered, I should’ve refused from the start, even if the system warned me I’d die.
“……It doesn’t matter.”
For some reason, it felt like claws were raking deep into my chest. How ridiculous. I’d steeled myself when I first met Isaac, even with Killis—I’d told myself I could do this…
“Your Highness’s safety is my duty. Thus, I must refuse this time.”
The expected answer. Yeah, I’d expected it, but—
“I’ll inform Reno myself.”
Why did this feel like shouting at a wall? A wall so immovable, no amount of pounding would break it.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Isaac turn. The door clicked shut behind him.
Only then did I let out a hollow laugh and lift my head.
“How stupid…….”
What was I even hoping for? I didn’t have the right to expect anything.
Yet, for some reason, my chest ached.
* * *
Isaac closed the bedroom door. From beyond it, he caught Nepheli’s soft murmur and paused.
“How stupid…….”
He didn’t know what she meant by those words. But it wasn’t something he needed to dwell on now. He had another matter to attend to.
At the end of the hallway stood Reno. Unlike Isaac, who’d washed and changed into a fresh uniform, Reno still wore his banquet attire.
“What was that about?”
Reno’s question came the moment they faced each other. He’d overheard the entire conversation in the bedroom. Ordinary people wouldn’t have, but these two were far from ordinary.
“What are you referring to?”
“Your actions. Your words. All of it.”
Isaac’s brow twitched slightly. All of it? A rather vague statement.
“Be specific.”
“Then—why did you stop it?”
“You’re not ready yet.”
“I know I’m lacking compared to you. But isn’t this excessive caution?”
Reno tilted his head. The sharpness in his expression clashed with his usual carefree smile.
“Are you… jealous?”
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