Ch.65Love…? (3)

A kiss, an act of expressing mutual affection and a meeting of lips between lovers.

Despite the small area of contact, its significance is beyond words.

And right now, I was being asked to do just that.

A kiss with Lael…?

It’s not like I can’t do it.

Honestly, it would be a lie to say I don’t have feelings for her.

I’m a little curious to try it.

I wonder what it would feel like.

So what conclusion did I reach?

Better to do it and regret it than not do it and regret that instead.

“Miss Lael, are you sure about this?”

Since she loves me, she’ll obviously agree, so asking might be meaningless.

But I just wanted to ask one more time.

Somehow, it felt like it would put my mind at ease.

Like it might calm this nervous feeling a little.

And sure enough, she…

“Yes, I want to. Please, I really do.”

After emphasizing it several times, she gently closed her eyes.

Then she placed both hands on the front of the chair and leaned her upper body forward.

The position and posture seemed perfect for kissing.

Gulp—

The sound of swallowing echoed loudly in the silence that filled the professor’s office.

I placed one hand over hers that was supporting her body, and the other on her cheek.

Perhaps startled by the sudden touch, Lael’s body gave a big twitch.

Despite this, she kept her eyes comfortably closed.

‘She really wants to kiss.’

That much seemed certain.

As I leaned forward, our lips gradually drew closer.

Just before our lips met, I tilted my head slightly and continued forward.

‘This is strange.’

Our lips touched. Soft and moist, elastic and tender.

That’s all I felt, and yet.

My heart began to pound wildly, as if a storm were raging inside me.

Smooch—

A short but lovely suction sound was heard as our lips parted, and Lael slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyes, moist as if soaked in something, as if she had just emerged from being immersed in something, were radiating love.

Her hand, her emotions, caressed my cheek.

Lael’s hand was trembling slightly, perhaps from nervousness. But she held me firmly.

Smooch, smooch, smooch, smooch.

Only after four more consecutive kisses did we separate.

Up to that point, everything was fine.

Pouring out our emotions, yearning for each other.

The problem came after.

‘This is awkward.’

Once everything was over, an awkward silence began to hover between us.

I should say something.

Even thinking about it, I couldn’t figure out what to say.

It would almost be easier to just keep kissing until it was time for the lecture.

I want to ask others how they overcame this process that all couples must go through at least once.

Anyway, I can’t just stay silent like this.

“L-Lael.”

“Y-Yes! Did you call me?!”

When I called her, Lael answered with a startled jump.

Seeing her reaction, I couldn’t help but chuckle with relief that I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.

“Why, why are you laughing?”

“It’s just funny. The fact that neither of us can say a word.”

“How can I help being embarrassed?!”

“Says the person who kissed me four more times?”

“T-That’s…”

Lael hung her head low, and her cute ears peeking through her red hair were flushed red.

Honestly, I had expected maybe one more kiss.

She was that proactive in expressing her feelings.

I thought she wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

But who would have guessed she’d do it four more times…

We’re not even used to each other yet, and rushing like this led to this situation…

It was a bit too much.

Both the love and the expression.

Looking at the magical device on my wrist, there was barely any time left before the afternoon lecture.

Even without this, break time always passes quickly, but today it felt twice as fast.

“Miss Lael, it’s almost time for us to leave.”

At my words, she raised her head and met my eyes. Then she moved those small lips that had been kissing me repeatedly until just now.

“I understand. But, just one more thing. Could you give me just one more kiss?”

“A kiss, you mean?”

“Yes, that. Would that be okay…?”

Lael looked up at me with pleading eyes, and I squeezed my eyes shut.

I don’t know why she looks so cute today of all days.

Is it because we kissed?

As I organized my thoughts and opened my eyes.

Lael’s face was right in front of mine, and then, something soft touched my lips.

As if it were today’s last kiss, she kissed me a little longer and a little more stickily than before, then separated her lips with a smooch sound.

“I’ve kissed you five times. So you have to kiss me five times in the future too.”

“What kind of…”

I was about to say what nonsense is that, but Lael suddenly stood up. And then…

“I’ll go down first!”

She created a whirlwind and disappeared.

Did I make a mistake by kissing her…?

* * * * *

After finishing the afternoon lecture, Ludmila handed me a neatly folded piece of paper. It had the location of the party written on it.

Since I was quite familiar with the geography of the Royal Capital, I had a rough idea just by looking at what was written on the paper.

Now all that was left was to report to Riano.

As I opened the back door of the workshop, as if she had been waiting…

“You’re back?”

Riano rushed out to greet me.

“Yes, I’m back.”

“Then rest well now. You worked hard.”

“Um, the students are having a party today and I agreed to attend. Sorry, but it looks like you’ll have to eat dinner alone.”

After a moment of silence, she narrowed her brows.

“That’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped. Just drink moderately. And come back to sleep.”

I wasn’t in a position to need permission, but since we always had dinner together, I had to ask for her understanding.

Anyway, now that I had finished everything I needed to do before the party…

I started heading to the location written on the paper, seeing her off.

Following the main road for a while, then entering an alley, and from that alley into another alley…

Is this it?

In front of my eyes stood a massive building.

The kind of building nobles would typically live in.

If there was anything unusual about it, it would be the lack of elaborate decorations.

Well, it makes sense if it’s the home of a frugal noble.

Passing through the iron gate that looked like metal bars, crossing a short garden.

A wooden door with modest decorations appeared.

I wondered if this was the right place, but since this was definitely the place Ludmila had written down.

I lightly knocked on the door.

Then the door opened and…

“Mr. Crow, welcome.”

A middle-aged man in neat attire greeted me.

Judging by his clothes, he was probably a butler.

With so many nobles around, I wasn’t sure whose butler he was.

“Please follow me this way.”

Following his guidance, I opened the door to a room set up in one corner, and inside, the protagonists of today’s party were busy with various preparations.

They were so busy they didn’t even notice I had entered.

Thinking I might be in the way, I was about to wait outside the door when…

“Oh! Professor!”

Flan spotted me, ran over, and grabbed my wrist. Then she pulled me inside.

“Everyone, the professor is here!”

When Flan shouted loudly, everyone’s attention focused on me. They all rushed over and bowed their heads in greeting.

“Ah, yes. Please continue with what you were doing. Don’t mind me.”

Saying that, I was heading to a corner to avoid being a disturbance when.

Lael appeared from somewhere, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me along.

“Don’t just stand there alone, sit here.”

She pointed to an elegant chair with her finger.

Since sitting there seemed much better than standing or sitting on the floor, I decided to follow her suggestion.

As I sat in the chair, she smiled with satisfaction and resumed preparing for the party.

The students were all moving busily.

But aren’t party preparations usually done by servants? Even as I thought this, I realized that students couldn’t bring servants to the Academy, which made sense.

After a little more time passed, and delicious-looking food and drinks were placed on the table.

“Professor, we’re about to start now!”

Ludmila shouted loudly, and I awkwardly stood up.

By the time I reached the students, Denevan spoke.

“We will now have a toast from Professor Crow, who is in charge of our Black Magic course.”

“What? All of a sudden?”

If they had given me a heads-up, I would have prepared something.

But the expectation in the students’ eyes was too great to refuse, so I decided to do my best to come up with something.

“I’ll give a toast. First, as the Black Magic professor, I am honored to have met all of you. You are truly amazing. I can see your progress with my own eyes. Thank you for always listening to the lectures of this inadequate professor. I’m grateful.”

It was sincere without a single lie. And finally.

“Congratulations on completing the second semester evaluation. I haven’t prepared anything, but I hope you enjoy yourselves to the fullest!”

With that, the wild party began.