Chapter 86

“K-Kyle…”

“What.”

“Don’t you think this is a bit much…?”

“Is it?”

Yes…

Even though we’re alone in the room, and we’re sort of that kind of couple…

“Do you really need to hold me like this…?”

“Yes.”

“…”

When he gives such a definite answer, I have nothing to say.

What should I say to Kyle to make him let go…

It’s not that I’m feeling bad about it.

It’s just…

“Um…”

Is it okay to mention this?

No, even men can feel embarrassed, so maybe I shouldn’t say it…

“Ha…”

Yes, I shouldn’t bring it up.

If I do, it might just create an awkward atmosphere.

I’ll just keep quiet and stay still.

“…”

“What’s wrong?”

Kyle asks me what’s wrong.

But I can’t answer.

That thing I feel near my buttocks…

“Ha…”

It’s definitely not because I dislike Kyle.

But this…

This isn’t right, is it?

“Sofia?”

“Hah!?”

Suddenly Kyle’s voice comes right next to my ear.

He suddenly spoke right into my ear, so I was startled.

“What…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“…?”

Does he… not realize his own size?

Doesn’t he think that if he hugs me this tightly, it’s bound to touch?

Or does he think that even if it touches, I won’t really notice?

Or maybe…

Does he not know that it’s touching my buttocks…?

And the biggest problem is that the place where Kyle is holding me like this is again the bed today.

I can’t help but have strange thoughts.

That’s precisely why I’m not saying anything to Kyle.

If I say something, Kyle might…

“Gulp…”

No, there’s no need for unnecessary imagination.

If Kyle had such intentions, he would have done it earlier.

If he could have, Kyle would have somehow pushed me down by now and pinned me…

“…Gulp…”

That’s why.

I think I can hear Kyle’s heartbeat as he holds me from behind.

No, since we’re completely pressed together, I must be hearing it.

“……”

So I spent time trying my best to avoid contact with Kyle’s heartbeat and that… thing near my buttocks until I fell asleep.

*

And so the next day, we rode in the carriage again.

I don’t know how many days it’s been already.

I don’t get very carsick, so it wasn’t life-threatening, but it wasn’t comfortable either.

“Ha…”

“We’ll arrive in a few days, so don’t be like that.”

“Haaa…”

I’m sighing a lot.

The reason wasn’t just because the carriage was difficult.

That thing from yesterday…

“Haah…”

“Hmmm…”

The Imperial Princess was snickering while looking at me.

It might be disrespectful to think this about the Imperial Princess, but…

How can I not be annoyed…

“Sofia, are you angry?”

“No, I’m not…”

“Ehh?”

“…”

“Ehhhhhhhhh??”

“…”

Does the Imperial Princess… dislike me?

Or does she genuinely find teasing me amusing?

“Hoeeeeeeeh?”

“…”

Is this… the future of the empire?

Amazing.

Kyle beside me wasn’t laughing or doing anything.

He was just watching me.

He often watches me a lot, but…

It’s a bit embarrassing when he suddenly just stares like this.

“Kyle, stop staring.”

“Should I?”

“Yeah.”

Only then did Kyle take his eyes off me and turn to look out the window.

Is it strange that I’m relieved he didn’t turn his eyes to the Imperial Princess?

I don’t know.

“Sofia, I have something to say about the dress.”

“Yes?”

“Is there any particular dress you’d like?”

“Um…”

A dress I want?

I don’t have any.

I’ve never been particularly interested in dresses, so I don’t know what to say when asked.

“Um…”

How should I answer?

Still, it might be a bit impolite to say no when the Imperial Princess is asking.

I should figure out how to respond.

But how?

“Well…”

While pretending to think, I tried to come up with an excuse.

A dress…

Dress…

No inspiration came to mind.

I just tried to remember what dresses I’ve worn before.

Can a maid outfit be considered a dress?

That doesn’t seem right, so I’ll pass.

Then what actual dresses have I worn?

“Hmm…”

Ah, I remember.

There was one that Kyle bought me when we stopped at a clothing store before.

I never wore it because the exposure was enough to make it feel a bit lewd, but.

I still keep it in my room though.

“Let’s do what Kyle wants.”

That dress must have been Kyle’s taste too.

That’s probably why he insisted I wear it.

Of course, I never wore it after that.

“Since I’m not particularly interested in dresses… I think it would be better to do what Kyle wants rather than what I want.”

“Hmm? Is that so?”

“Yes.”

This should be enough of an answer, right?

Looking at the Imperial Princess’s expression, she seems somewhat satisfied, and Kyle doesn’t look displeased either.

Probably?

Actually, he’s covering his mouth with his hand now, so I can’t tell.

I don’t know if he’s smiling or if he dislikes it.

“Kyle?”

“Yes.”

Kyle still answered with his hand covering his mouth.

It was slightly displeasing in a traditional way.

He’s answering me, so why cover his mouth?

Can’t he just answer with his mouth showing?

“… Put your hand down.”

“?”

“Why are you covering your mouth?”

“No particular reason.”

“…”

There seemed to be a clear intention…

But if Kyle feigns ignorance like that, there’s nothing I can do.

I’ll just have to accept it.

“Young Master? Sofia says we should do the dress as you wish, what do you think?”

“That’s not bad. I’m grateful.”

Is that so?

Is it worth being grateful for just a dress?

“Then let’s discuss the dress together, the three of us including the tailor.”

“Yes.”

“…?”

Then what am I supposed to do?

What am I supposed to do by myself in the capital…?

“Kyle, then what am I supposed to do?”

“Sofia is…”

“I don’t know anyone in the capital…? If you go somewhere too, what am I really supposed to do?”

“…”

I really don’t know what they want me to do alone in the capital.

We all went together, but if they go off to work without me, I’ll be alone.

Then what am I supposed to do?

“Hmm?”

“…”

“Answer quickly.”

“Well… let’s take our time planning.”

“Okay.”

It seems Kyle also thought something was strange.

Seeing how quickly he changed his words.

*

Before we knew it, time passed again and we were not far from Borussia.

Really.

The Imperial Princess said only about two days were left, so it must be really close.

“Kyle.”

“Yes.”

“By the way…”

Honestly, thinking about it now, it feels a bit ridiculous.

I don’t understand why it’s like this.

I’m already doing it, but Kyle isn’t, and I don’t understand why.

Is it because I make him uncomfortable?

No, that can’t be it.

There’s no reason to be uncomfortable around someone you like.

Then why has he been treating me like this all along?

“Why do you always use formal speech with me?”

“Pardon?”

“No, it’s just strange. You told me to use informal speech with you, so I do.”

When we became temporary lovers, Kyle told me to change my speech pattern from the formal way I always spoke to him.

So I changed it.

These days I’ve been consistently speaking to Kyle informally.

It’s comfortable.

But something’s strange.

Even though we’re temporary lovers, we’re still lovers, but only I speak informally, while Kyle still doesn’t speak informally to me.

Of course, he does it occasionally, but that’s just occasionally.

“Am I uncomfortable for you?”

I brought it up because I was genuinely concerned.

If it’s because I make him uncomfortable, I’d understand.

But he hasn’t been like this for years.

“Hmm? Answer me quickly.”

I might be a little angry.

Not completely furious or anything like that, but a bit annoyed.

I’m trying to treat Kyle comfortably and like a lover.

Even though I haven’t properly made up my mind yet and don’t know the situation, I’m still trying.

“Why do you keep using formal speech with me?”

“…”

“Hmm? Kyle~?”

By the way, I’m currently lying on the bed.

As always, because of the Imperial Princess’s forceful insistence, we were sharing a room, so it was natural.

We’d been sharing a room for several days now, so I’d gotten used to it.

“Kyle~?”

I climbed on top of Kyle, who wasn’t answering, and called him.

I did it only because I thought he might answer if he felt uncomfortable like this.

Logically, if someone is on top of you, it’s uncomfortable, right?

“Hey.”

“…”

Kyle’s expression was changing somewhat.

What kind of expression is it?

Anyway, I wish he would answer quickly…

“Answer. Quickly.”

“Fine.”

Oh.

Informal speech.

“So why didn’t you keep using informal speech?”

“You should have asked first.”

“Huh…?”

It felt like my brain stopped for a moment.

Is it because he’s speaking informally?

“Sofia, if you wanted to hear me speak informally, you should have said so first, like you just did.”

“Ah…”

“Right?”

“Y-yeah…”

How should I put it…

It feels completely different when he speaks informally.

It’s not like he never used informal speech before, but…

This is different.

“So, is that enough now?”

“…Y-yeah…”

Suddenly my heart is pounding.

What is this?

Something is making my heart race…

Flip!!

“Huek!?”

Suddenly my body was flipped over.

I had been sitting on top of Kyle, but suddenly he moved, and somehow before I knew it, all I could see was the ceiling.

“Huh?”

“Sofia.”

“Y-yes…?”

And Kyle’s face appeared, blocking the ceiling.

Looking at him up close, I couldn’t help but think how handsome he was.

“Do you really want to get fucked?”

“What!?”

“Why do you keep doing that.”

“M-me…?”

What did I do…?

I don’t think I did anything strange…

What did I do wrong…

“Ha…”

“W-what’s wrong…?”

Kyle suddenly sighs.

Is he uncomfortable somewhere…?

“I’ll sleep in a different room tonight.”

“O-okay…”

After saying that, Kyle suddenly left the room.

So I was left alone on the bed.

However, I didn’t immediately feel sad, lonely, or wish for Kyle to come back.

..!….!!…!!..!!!

My heart was beating like crazy because of what just happened.

“Asking if I want to get fucked…”

How could…

I never thought Kyle would say such a thing…

That’s why I was even more surprised, and my heart is beating like crazy.

“If I had answered strangely there…”

That thing that’s been in my mind lately…

With that…

Kyung…