The Princess is Getting Brazen

It was, in a word, a warm night.

Even on the way back to the lodgings, Kyle was still feeling dazed in many ways.

It wasn’t just because he had experienced the miracle of her liking him, something he hadn’t dared to dream of and shouldn’t have.

No, perhaps he had deliberately avoided looking at Sylvia directly.

In a corner of his mind, there had been a fleeting thought that maybe she had feelings for him.

If he didn’t feel anything while seeing her always treating only him specially and always being different to only him, he wouldn’t be a man.

However, the words she had said afterward were even more surprising.

Whenever he was ready, she would wait forever, so just answer her.

Even if it was just a word said to be considerate of him when he was feeling confused, that one warm word touched his heart so deeply that it was hard to control his emotions.

Perhaps that was why he didn’t let go of Sylvia’s hand, which he had taken first, possibly for the first time, and continued to walk.

Even if he answered her feelings after everything was settled, it would be a small bribe and a minimal sign of sincerity to ensure that her heart didn’t leave him until then.

“…*put*.”

Despite the rather chilly air outside, Sylvia noticed his inner thoughts as moisture gradually began to fill Kyle’s hand.

Seeing his stiff profile and the tension in his neck, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

He’s usually so stoic, but isn’t it cheating to show such a cute side only at times like this?

“Why, why is that? Suddenly laughing…”

Her laughter couldn’t have been unheard by Kyle, who was so close that their bodies were touching, so he asked the reason for her laughter with a visibly embarrassed expression, probably feeling a bit guilty.

Sylvia, as if she had no intention of hiding her smile now, looked up at Kyle and replied.

“Just because. Kyle is too cute.”

“…Vermillian would laugh in disbelief if he heard that.”

Kyle scratched his cheek with an awkward expression at the compliment he had never heard from his parents.

If Vermillian were here, he might have dismissed it as ‘Princess Eleanor must be very tired,’ like a dog barking.

Even that was only because the other person was Sylvia; if someone else had said it, he would have just pretended not to hear it and moved on.

In Kyle’s opinion, it was such an absurd story.

“At least, you’re cute in my eyes. Is this what they call being blinded by love?”

“Why are you asking me…”

But when Sylvia stubbornly expressed her feelings and asked, Kyle had to show his reluctance.

Whether it was true or not, the expression that she was blinded by love for him was so awkward that it was difficult to answer.

“*Puhuhu*, it’s the first time I’ve seen Kyle so nervous. How nervous are you that your hands are sweating even though the weather is like this?”

“Sorry. Should I let go now…”

“Aish, who told you to let go? Seriously, you’re such an oblivious man.”

She had only said it to tease him, but he took it that way.

Sylvia, with a stern expression, stopped him from pulling his hand away and now intertwined their fingers, firmly binding him.

“Kyle is always like that. When I want to hold hands a little longer, he tries to pull away, and when I hint that I want him to hug me a little tighter, he lets go of my arm instead… I thought you were doing it on purpose.”

“I really didn’t know. I’ll keep it in mind.”

While readily apologizing to Sylvia’s reproach, Kyle felt a little wronged.

Isn’t it stranger to think that holding hands and even hugging a woman you’re not dating would be well-received by the other person?

Even if it was unavoidable due to the atmosphere at the time, he thought there would be few men who would be confident about whether it was okay to continue doing that.

Sylvia, who had been watching him trying to rationalize that it wasn’t just his problem, sparkled her eyes like a beast that had spotted an opportunity and said.

“Ah, so that means it’s okay to hold hands like this every time from now on, right?”

“That’s a bit…”

“Are you saying you don’t like it, right now?”

“……”

Kyle became speechless at Sylvia’s suddenly cold attitude.

No, of course, he wouldn’t dislike it.

It was just that he was worried about the attention she would receive if they held hands all day outside.

Above all, Vermillian and Anise wouldn’t just stand by and watch.

They would definitely try to tease him, thinking this was their chance.

Was Sylvia okay with that situation?

“…No, I’m okay with it, but I’m worried about the attention around us.”

“Why the attention? Wouldn’t it be grateful if they saw us as lovers? It’s like stamping a seal that Kyle is mine.”

“Uh, um…”

Does it work that way?

Kyle gave up trying to persuade her with her extremely positive logic.

Well, if Sylvia likes it, there’s no reason why he can’t hold her hand.

“Ah, and from now on, you have to hug me at least once a day like before, okay?”

“……”

Just as he was thinking that and nodding, the hurdle rose.

Kyle momentarily mistook whether he had answered Sylvia’s confession earlier.

That’s how natural her requests and whining were, and it took him quite a while to regain his senses from being stunned.

“Sylvia. It’s embarrassing to say it myself, but we’re not lovers yet…”

If her heart hadn’t changed when everything was over, it would be as good as a foregone conclusion.

Still, Kyle said with a slight worry since they hadn’t officially started dating yet.

Sylvia’s answer to this was extremely cheerful.

“You can do that much even if we’re not lovers. It’s not like Kyle ever said he hates me.”

“Is that so…?”

Kyle tilted his head, wondering if his values were strange, as she said it so casually.

It was rare for him to be so easily swayed by someone’s words.

Rather than Sylvia’s eloquence being so brilliant, it should be seen that Kyle is just weak to Sylvia.

Anyway, after concluding that he would hug her at least once a day as she wished, it was the moment when he arrived at the lodgings with a tired gait.

“You’re both finally here?”

“It took quite a while. Anise couldn’t stand it anymore and was about to go into the kitchen to prepare dinner in advance.”

Vermillian and Anise, who were coming down from the second floor, found the two and looked relieved.

They hadn’t come for a while, so they thought dinner was ruined, but fortunately, they arrived within the time somehow.

Even if they started cooking now, it wouldn’t be too late.

At least it could be a late-night snack level.

“Sorry. The conversation got quite long.”

“If I had known this would happen, I would have told you two to eat without worrying about us.”

“No. It’s more delicious when we eat together. Of course, I can’t guarantee the taste.”

Anise reassured the two who were apologizing and clenched her fists.

Eating alone with Vermillian would be fun, but still, it’s always more enjoyable to have as many people as possible at the table.

Anise, who had lost her parents and lived alone since childhood, had only recently begun to feel that joy again, so it was even more so.

“More than that, you two are holding hands very tightly. Did something good happen?”

Meanwhile, Vermillian gave a sly smile after seeing Kyle and Sylvia, who always maintained a slight distance in front of them, holding hands with their fingers intertwined for the first time in a while.

It was an expression that didn’t suit the golden-haired nobleman, but Kyle somehow felt that it was very Vermillian-like.

At the same time, he felt a little guilty because it was what he was most worried about.

But Sylvia, one of the parties involved, was very calm.

“*Huhu*, it’s a secret. They say that couples sometimes have their own secrets on trips.”

“Oh, that’s definitely true. I lacked consideration.”

Kyle was so dumbfounded by her composed response.

How can she get through the situation so smoothly?

If this is a talent, it’s a talent.

Vermillian, blocked by the wall called Sylvia, went into the kitchen with Anise, and the two were left standing alone.

“Kyle, Kyle.”

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, Sylvia grabbed his sleeve and desperately called out to him like a child calling for their parents, and he lowered his gaze.

Then he could find her with a mischievous smile.

“I couldn’t say it earlier, but be careful?”

“Careful of what?”

Was she telling him to be careful in the upcoming battle?

Kyle expressed his doubts because her attitude was too playful for that, and Sylvia gestured for him to come closer and whispered in his ear.

“If you make me wait too long, I might not be able to hold back either. Even if I attack you at night, it’s Kyle’s fault, okay?”

“…!”

Kyle’s face turned red at the tickling sensation in his ear and the outrageous words that he never thought would come out of her mouth.

Sylvia smiled at his satisfied reaction and turned her back.

Kyle, who was staring at her back, soon gave a bitter smile and rubbed his forehead as if he had been tricked.

He felt like the four letters ‘Operation Success’ were written on her back.