Chapter 61

“Huff… Huff…”

What kind of sleep-talking was this kid doing?

For a moment, if it hadn’t been sleep-talking, I would have really misunderstood.

And he did it while holding me, which truly startled me in that moment.

Thump-thump.

I think this is the first time in my life I’ve been so surprised.

Maybe it’s because Kyle is holding me with his hot body, but it’s too warm.

That said, I couldn’t escape from Kyle’s embrace right now.

The difference in strength is too great.

“Hah…”

Thump-thump…

I must have been truly startled because my heart is still racing.

A confession from a man—I couldn’t help but be surprised.

In my past life, I never received a confession from a man; if anything, I would have received one from a woman.

On top of that, I hadn’t received one from a man in this life either, so I was even more surprised.

“Awawawawa…”

Even though it was just sleep-talking, I was really, really extremely shocked…

Especially since it wasn’t just anyone, but Kyle who suddenly said something tantamount to a confession.

“He definitely said before that there was someone he liked.”

Maybe it’s that person?

Of course, I don’t know because he never answers when asked.

“Hmm…”

Who could it be?

The person Kyle likes…

Elin? Louise?

Or maybe one of the three noble young ladies he met before?

I don’t know.

He doesn’t have that many relationships outside of me.

The closest people would be Elin or Louise…

Louise has nothing to do with that sort of thing…

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, he seemed to be reading some strange romance novels lately.

Could it be that he started reading that genre because of this person…?

It was a somewhat plausible prediction.

“Louise and Kyle as a couple…”

Well, just looking at appearances, Louise is pretty, so they would match well.

“…”

But something feels off, so let’s pass on that idea.

In a way, they’re teacher and student.

What a strange relationship that would be.

In that sense, Elin is out too.

Elin and Kyle are also in a teacher-student relationship.

“Then…”

Catherine and the other two…

But it was harder to think about the three noble ladies.

Catherine and Lily visited once, but there’s been no connection since then.

It would be more accurate to say that Louise and Elin have more of a connection.

“Hmm…”

“S… S…”

Unlike my inner turmoil, I continued thinking while being held by Kyle’s warm body as he slept comfortably.

But I couldn’t reach a conclusion.

I had no idea who Kyle said he liked.

The sleep-talking just now must have been directed at that person.

“I really don’t know who it could be.”

I can’t predict at all.

Somehow I ended up being held in Kyle’s arms, and though I was thinking about it, I had no clue who it could be.

I guess I’ll find out when Kyle sends me a wedding invitation.

Just because he likes someone now doesn’t mean he’ll definitely marry them, so there’s no need to think too much about it.

Rather, someone like Kyle might take multiple concubines.

In fact, among the nobility, there are families that take many concubines.

If Kyle likes several women, it seems I’ll have to attend many weddings.

“Huh…”

The thought of attending more than three weddings for a brother I know is both absurd and amusing.

In my past life, getting married again only happened after divorce.

Thump-thump…

I wonder if it’s because Kyle keeps holding me?

My heart kept pounding.

And really fast at that.

“Take a rest…”

It was beating like crazy.

I was already startled, and the heat was making it beat even faster.

Anyway, it took more than five hours for Kyle, who had fallen asleep drunk, to wake up.

Until then, my heart didn’t properly calm down.

“Whew…”

After Kyle woke up and apologized, I hastily accepted and finally made it to the bathroom.

“Wow…”

When I took off my clothes, they were soaked with sweat.

Literally.

“What kind of sweat…”

It was understandable.

I was lying in Kyle’s already heated warm room on the bed.

And that too, being held by Kyle for hours.

In this situation, it would be strange not to sweat.

And I did it all while wearing my formal attire.

“The shirt… I definitely can’t wear it tomorrow…”

This absolutely needed washing.

If not washed, my sweat smell would surely emanate from the clothes.

“Even Kyle would frown at this.”

Yeah, this is definitely not acceptable.

I’ll have to hand it over to a maid shortly.

“Huff…”

After taking off all my clothes and washing my body with water and soap, I entered the bath.

Resting in the bath, my heart finally seemed to calm down.

I don’t understand why my heart was pounding so much.

It doesn’t make sense.

It’s not like I’m a girl who becomes aware of love with a pounding heart at Kyle’s confession.

Besides, there’s no reason for my heart to pound at a man’s confession, right?

Right, it was just because I was surprised.

It’s not just any man, it’s Kyle.

Kyle, whom I’ve known since he was 12, whom I’ve raised.

There’s no way I would have those feelings for Kyle.

And there’s no way Kyle would have those feelings for me.

“It doesn’t make sense…”

Kyle and I have a family-like tight relationship.

“Miss Sofia, is tomorrow okay for you?”

“Why do you ask?”

A few days have passed since Kyle’s return.

Though days have passed, nothing particularly changed.

Even though there was something as grand as the heir succession ceremony, the family head was currently handling the affairs.

Kyle’s status has officially changed from young lord to duke.

The imperial family will probably send some gift soon.

Not that it has anything to do with me.

Ah, it would be nice if there was something like that.

It would be interesting if they sent a princess as a gift.

Anyway, Kyle suddenly asked me a question while we were walking in the corridor.

“The promise we made before. You remember, don’t you?”

“Ah, you mean that.”

Of course I remember.

How much I worried about Kyle that day, how could I forget what happened?

“Yes, so I was thinking we could go tomorrow.”

Tomorrow?

Since I always followed Kyle’s schedule, there wasn’t a problem.

For now.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Then, is it okay if we go together tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

Judging by the way he was talking, it seemed he had already made preparations.

Reservations for restaurants and such.

That’s probably why he mentioned tomorrow.

In this situation, backing out would only ruin Kyle’s plans.

Since I had time to spare anyway, I decided to go.

“Then let’s leave together tomorrow morning. Dress warmly.”

“Yes.”

Even without him saying so, I would have dressed warmly.

It’s still winter, after all.

Still, it was nice that he was concerned about me.

But what should I wear?

Now that I have more clothes than before, it’s difficult to choose in a different way.

“Hmm…”

After finishing work, I looked at my wardrobe alone, thinking.

What clothes to wear.

I wasn’t keen on wearing a dress since I had worn one before.

There were many pants that were different from the formal pants I usually wore.

There were tight-fitting pants and ones that weren’t.

“Pants…”

I don’t know.

They are at least warm clothes.

I usually wore warm pants when going outside.

But should I wear such pants on a day like tomorrow?

“Skirt…”

I had worn them a few times, but they were still uncomfortable clothes.

Not as much as the dress Kyle bought for me before, but I still found them somewhat uncomfortable.

The air flowing between my legs, and because my hips are wide, sometimes my underwear shows when I wear short skirts, which I dislike.

Anyway, honestly, I didn’t want to wear one.

However, this was a promise I made with Kyle.

So I thought it might be courteous to wear prettier clothes this time.

I also thought that since Kyle is no longer a child but a duke, I should wear clothes that match his status to some extent.

“Nnngh…”

Should I wear such clothes just this once?

Before, Kyle said, even if it was just flattery, that skirts suited me well.

The short skirt Kyle put on me then was definitely not okay, but…

“This kind might be okay…”

Since I’ll be wearing the coat Kyle gave me on top as usual, it shouldn’t be bad.

Long skirts and coats go surprisingly well together.

Even though I don’t wear skirts often, I was somewhat familiar with fashion.

It was something they taught at the boarding school too.

“Young master, how is it…?”

Anyway, the next morning arrived.

Kyle was wearing a nice suit that gave the same impression as my usual attire.

When we usually went downstairs, we dressed somewhat more like commoners, but not today.

“You look beautiful…”

“Do I…?”

If that’s how he sees it, then I’m glad.

I chose clothes to look as pretty as possible for Kyle.

Inside the coat, I wore a knit sweater to keep my body warm, and a long skirt below.

Seeing that Kyle said it was okay, it doesn’t seem bad.

“Shall we go now then?”

“If that’s what the young master wishes.”

Kyle and I were currently inside the castle.

Since there was no reason to meet outside, we naturally met inside.

“Then let’s go outside for now.”

“Yes.”

I followed behind Kyle, walking, and thus we went outside.

“…”

“…”

And for some reason, a carriage was coming to the castle gate.

A carriage lavishly decorated in purple.

Looking at it, I had only one thought.

Kyle probably wasn’t thinking much differently from me.

Oh fuck.