Lewd Courtship - Chapter 30

“Princess.”
“…Yes?”
“Stop for a moment.”

Rachel halted just as she was about to take her second step. Killian wiped her damp leg with his own vest, then picked up her trousers and handed them to her.

“Put them on.”
“Uh…”
“I said, put them on. You have quite the knack for making me repeat myself.”

Rachel’s eyes twitched. A flicker of anger layered itself over her dazed mind.

She glared sideways at Killian. He was the very one who had left her so stunned. Even an apology wouldn’t have been enough, yet his words were downright insufferable.

Still, she had to get dressed, so Rachel snatched the trousers from him roughly. Fuming inwardly, she put them on. She also retied her loosened hair, which Killian had pulled free, regaining some semblance of dignity.

Now in a state where it wouldn’t matter if someone saw her, she deliberately furrowed her brows. She steadied her voice and called out to Killian.

“Your Majesty.”
“Why are you calling me?”

“……”
“Princess?”
“Ah—no, it’s nothing.”

Rachel had intended to lash out. But the expression on Killian’s face gave her pause—or more precisely, something in his eyes gave her pause.

Those usually frigid turquoise eyes held an unfamiliar softness, just for a fleeting moment. A warmth she wouldn’t have noticed if she hadn’t spent so many nights imagining them in the dark.

Did I imagine it?

Her body still hummed with residual heat, her mind still foggy enough that her memory might’ve played tricks on her.

Just to be sure, she stole another glance at him—only for their eyes to lock. This time, there was no trace of tenderness in Killian’s gaze. Only quiet scrutiny.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I… don’t know.”
“Don’t know what?”

Confusion flickered in Rachel’s eyes too. Faced with him like this, she couldn’t articulate anything coherent. When in doubt, she defaulted to rambling.

“I’m angry—but not that angry. I think I hate you—but also not that much. I feel… I don’t even know what I feel.”

“It feels good… That part is true.”
“…I have no idea what you’re saying. Are you feeling unwell?”
“No, I’m not sick. I don’t even know what I’m saying. I think I’m just saying that I dislike Your Majesty enough to be angry, but I still feel good. Something like that.”
“…How peculiar.”

Murmuring that she was peculiar, Killian let out a small laugh. Rachel’s eyes opened wide when she saw him.

From Rachel’s perspective, the curve at the corner of his lips didn’t look fake. She didn’t know why, but he was genuinely smiling.

She couldn’t believe she was seeing a smile from the cold-hearted Emperor. It was one of the most shocking moments of her life.

She even began to wonder if this man was the same person who had gotten angry just two days ago.

If he had smiled that prettily back then, she wouldn’t have flipped him off.

Maybe they could have grown closer.

…Maybe because he’s handsome, even his smile is pretty.

Feeling a bit regretful, Rachel closed her mouth.

In the meantime, Killian, having erased the smile from his face, walked toward his horse, which he had tied up.

Without a word, he prepared to mount. He untied the reins, calmed the horse, and climbed up. Then he extended his hand toward Rachel so she could get on.

Rachel quietly took his hand. Just like when they had entered the forest, the two of them rode together again.

In the stillness, only the snorting of the horse echoed through the quiet space.