Ch.74Rael’s Plan (3)

The morning sun rose as it always did.

Starting today and for about 4 days, my life was going to be a little special.

As the appointed time approached, Riano came toward me dressed in her usual cute outfit.

“Did you pack everything?”

“I checked everything yesterday. It’ll be fine.”

“Hmm—.”

Riano made a dissatisfied nasal sound and pouted her lips.

“So you’ll be spending the day with Lael, just the two of you?”

“Well, yeah.”

That was the plan.

Riano sighed deeply at my confident answer and moved a little closer.

Then she took my hand, placed it around her waist, stood slightly on her tiptoes, and offered her lips.

Those lips were no longer expressing dissatisfaction but were begging for a kiss.

Seeing this, I tilted my head slightly and leaned forward, and she naturally wrapped her arms around my neck.

Smooch—.

Our lips met, and along with the soft, elastic feeling came the bitterness of black tea.

And at the same time.

Knock knock—.

A small, cheerful knocking sound was heard.

Lael must have arrived.

I opened my eyes slightly, and my gaze met Riano’s, who had opened her eyes a moment later.

The fact that we’d opened our eyes meant we knew Lael had arrived…

She closed her eyes again and kissed me more passionately than before.

Her lips moved as if to devour mine, and I followed her movements.

As the atmosphere grew increasingly heated, Lael was waiting outside.

Knock knock knock—.

The knocking sound was heard again.

This time a little louder than before.

Thinking that I really needed to go now, I opened my eyes slightly, and my gaze met Riano’s.

And at that moment.

Something soft and squishy slipped between my lips and then quickly withdrew.

Smooch—.

With a sticky sucking sound, our lips parted, and Riano, her face completely flushed, stuck out her tongue slightly.

As if to show me what had just entered.

Honestly, I’d never dated before…

But I knew well what her actions meant, understanding how physical intimacy progresses.

One step.

She had taken one step further today.

And right before I was about to leave.

Was she teasing me?

Or telling me to look forward to more?

Either way, just that brief taste left me wanting more.

But if we continued, Lael was waiting outside.

With a deep sigh, I gave Riano a light kiss on her lips.

Even though it was disappointing, it was time to leave.

“I’m going now.”

“Okay, see you tomorrow.”

With her sending me off, I opened the back door and…

“Crow, good morning.”

There stood Lael in an outfit I had never seen before in my life.

A dress that looked expensive at first glance, a necklace that wasn’t flashy but suited her well, and earrings set with red gemstones.

Her red hair, which she usually kept tied up, had been styled with light waves, and she had even applied makeup.

I was so stunned by how different she looked from usual that I just stood there blankly.

Behind me, Riano peeked her head out.

“Wow… you look really pretty.”

“Ah, Riano.”

Hearing Riano’s mumbled comment, Lael approached us, and Riano quickly hid behind me.

Honestly, I couldn’t blame her for feeling intimidated.

That’s how beautiful Lael looked right now.

Lael didn’t seem to mind that Riano was hiding behind me.

“Riano, thank you for accepting this invitation. I’ve prepared many things, so please come and enjoy yourself comfortably.”

As Lael held her skirt and bowed her head slightly in greeting, Riano finally emerged hesitantly from behind me.

“R-Riano is too… just call me Riano.”

“Oh, shall I? Riano?”

“…Go quickly!”

Embarrassed at the thought of being friends, Riano pushed me out the door.

Finding her behavior cute, Lael and I burst into laughter at the same time.

Bang—.

The door closed firmly.

After all the commotion ended, we were left alone in the narrow alley.

“Nothing to say…?”

Lael asked carefully as she took my hand.

She probably wanted me to compliment her for dressing up.

“You look beautiful. The clothes suit you well.”

I answered without hesitation.

With complete sincerity, without a hint of falsehood.

I should have told her as soon as we met, but honestly, I was too surprised to speak.

I had expected her to dress up, but I didn’t know she would transform to that extent.

“Thank you…”

Despite my belated compliment, Lael smiled happily.

She raised her head and gently closed her eyes.

She probably wanted a reward for dressing up so prettily.

Her appearance, so different from usual, made my heart flutter a little.

Looking at her lips, which shone more seductively than usual, perhaps from some red substance she had applied, I bent down.

Since Lael was the shortest of the four, I had to lower myself a bit more than usual, and then I touched her soft, moist lips.

Come to think of it, didn’t Lael also play with her tongue last time…?

Thinking this, I was about to push my tongue in but stopped myself.

No matter what, it didn’t seem like appropriate behavior for a public place.

Besides, we hadn’t even started our trip yet, and it would only be troublesome if the atmosphere suddenly heated up.

Regrettably, I had to end it with a simple kiss.

As our lips parted and the brief kiss ended, Lael touched her lips as if disappointed.

Then, gathering herself…

“Well then, shall we depart now?”

She began to walk.

Until we left the alley and reached the main road where the carriage was waiting, Lael walked beside me without any physical contact.

I was puzzled by how different her behavior was from usual…

But soon I found the answer.

A large carriage with elaborate decorations.

A coachman holding the reins while fully armored.

And the emblem of the Duchy of Gideon attached to the carriage.

Lael had deliberately refrained from doing anything, probably worried that someone might overhear.

“Welcome back.”

When we arrived at the carriage, a female servant about Lael’s age greeted us with her hands neatly folded and her head bowed.

I sometimes forget, but at times like this, it’s clear she’s truly a duke’s daughter.

Especially…

“Let’s depart right away.”

When I see how natural her actions are in these situations, I can’t help but nod.

There’s a sense of dignity in every word and action.

The servant opened the carriage door, and Lael, who was in front of me, stepped aside.

With the path cleared, I naturally boarded the carriage first.

This too was part of her planned protocol.

Even a duke’s daughter must prioritize her teacher, or something like that…

Anyway, I don’t know much about these situations, so I just follow what she has written down.

After Lael boarded the carriage and took her seat, the door closed, and the carriage departed with a rattling sound.

The streets of the Royal Capital passed by outside the window.

As I stared blankly at the scene, Lael, who had been sitting across from me, moved to sit beside me.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“Not at all. This is the first time I’ve ridden in such a nice carriage.”

Especially the seats, which are beyond description.

They’re much softer than the sofas sold in high-end furniture stores.

“I’m glad.”

She said that and rested her head on my shoulder.

A fresh scent tickled my nose, and I unfolded the neatly arranged curtains to cover the windows.

According to her plan, it was just the two of us in the carriage, but just in case someone might see from outside.

As the incoming light diminished, the interior of the carriage darkened slightly.

A strange current flowed between her and me.

“Crow, thank you.”

“For what?”

I was taken aback by her sudden expression of gratitude.

I hadn’t done anything particularly deserving of thanks.

“It’s all my insistence. The three-night, four-day plan, inviting three people to join us on the second day, spending a night together. All of it.”

Certainly, as she said, there were some forceful aspects.

But it was my decision to go along with this plan, and…

Above all…

I wanted to do it.

I wanted to spend the night with Lael, rest at the beach for three nights and four days, and have fun with the five of us, including myself.

So there was no reason for her to thank me.

If anything, I should be the one…

“I should thank you too. For creating this opportunity.”

“Ah…really…”

Lael straightened up, looked at me, and held my cheeks with both hands.

“Sometimes I think about it. Is it okay to be this happy? Will it all fly away in an instant someday?”

I sometimes have such thoughts too.

A life without them by my side.

Of course, I would manage to live somehow.

But what’s certain is that it would be less enjoyable than now.

“Crow, you won’t go anywhere, right…? I don’t need anything else. I just need you. It’s okay if I can’t have you all to myself. So…”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll just stay right there.”

I cut off Lael’s anxious stream of words.

She nodded carefully, and…

I placed my lips over hers.

Her lips, which trembled slightly at first, soon calmed down.

Smooch—.

In the rattling carriage, our lips parted with a brief sucking sound.

Lael rested her head on my shoulder again.

“Crow, I really love you.”