Chapter 90

“Sofia, would you like to try this?”

“Huh?”

I was walking around the capital with Kyle.

Since the dress only required occasional visits when the owner called, there was no need to go every day.

And although I came to the Imperial Palace as a guest… it was too overwhelming for me, so I came out like this.

“Gelato?”

“Yes, would you like some?”

“Sure.”

Kyle suddenly bought ice cream from a nearby ice cream shop.

Not just ice cream, but gelato made with milk.

“It’s delicious.”

It was a food I had eaten in my past life too.

It was known for being delicious, and I had tried it once to see if it was really that different from MOna, so I knew.

It’s incredibly smooth and delicious.

“What flavor did you get?”

“Grape.”

“Really?”

Mine was strawberry.

This is delicious, but I wondered how good Kyle’s would taste.

I was curious.

“Can I try yours?”

“Hmm…”

Kyle hesitated a bit.

Since he was tall, I didn’t even think about snatching it from him.

Since he was holding it around chest level, I absolutely couldn’t take it away…

This is all because I’m short.

If I were a man, I would have been at least 170cm tall.

I could have easily taken a bite if Kyle hadn’t raised it above his head.

“No.”

“What…”

I thought he would just quietly give it to me as usual.

I was rejected.

It might be a little sad…

“Do you want it that badly?”

“Yes.”

If the gelato I’m eating is this delicious, how much more delicious would Kyle’s grape flavor be?

“Then do one thing for me.”

“What?”

“A kiss.”

“…”

“We’ve already done it several times, right?”

“No…”

That’s true, but…

A kiss, for just a taste of ice cream…?

Isn’t that too unbalanced of a trade?

It would only be one bite anyway…?

“Forget it. I don’t want to try it anymore.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

What, am I supposed to kiss in broad daylight, on a street with many people passing by?

If we were to do that, it would be when we’re alone in a room.

Even if I do foolish things, I’m not that bad.

“Hmm…”

“What’s with the ‘hmm’? Let’s just keep walking.”

I urged Kyle to move as he suddenly stopped and stood still on the street.

Could he really be like this because I wouldn’t give him a kiss?

Surely not…

“Kyle?”

“Are you really not going to do it?”

“I’m not going to, so let’s go quickly, okay?”

Kyle suddenly stopped.

Really.

“…”

Is he really…?

“Are you not moving because I won’t kiss you…?”

“No, it’s not like that.”

What do you mean it’s not like that?

Anyone can see you’re not moving because I wouldn’t do it…

No, no matter what, a kiss on such a busy street is a bit too much.

It’s not like I’ve ever initiated a kiss…

He always initiated it first…

“Let’s go quickly…!”

I pushed Kyle from behind while speaking, but he didn’t budge at all.

How can his body be so firm and heavy?

He really doesn’t move at all.

“Damn…”

“Can’t you just do it once?”

“No! Absolutely not!”

What, do it in broad daylight!

Say something reasonable and I’ll listen…

How can I kiss you here?

“Let’s quickly go back to the palace, or somewhere else, anywhere!”

“I think it would be nice if you did it once.”

“Ha…”

I wonder what wind suddenly blew for him to want a kiss.

It’s obvious that the Imperial Princess probably said some nonsense again.

Most of Kyle’s strange behavior lately is because of the Imperial Princess.

“Ha…”

He’s standing completely still, not moving an inch.

Maybe… it would be easier to just do it once.

No, no.

No matter how much Kyle is bothering me, kissing like that is too feminine.

A kiss in a public place, anyone would find it strange.

“Let’s go… okay?”

“Sofia.”

“What.”

“We’ve done it several times already. Is it really that difficult to do it once?”

“Yes.”

It’s damn difficult.

No, it goes beyond being difficult.

“Is it because you dislike me?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Then why won’t you do it?”

“It’s… embarrassing…”

Not only is the act of kissing itself incredibly embarrassing, but to do it in broad daylight, on a street where many people are walking?

I would surely die of embarrassment.

My face would turn red, and I might not even be able to breathe properly…

“Embarrassing? To do it with me?”

“No, that’s not the issue…”

“Then why?”

“There are too many people around…”

“Really?”

Yes, really.

It seems like we’re just talking about this, but how many more times do I need to explain?

“Hah!?”

Suddenly Kyle grabbed my hand and started pulling me along.

Really suddenly.

“Where are we going?”

“Just follow me for now.”

“…?”

I continued to be pulled along with one hand held by Kyle.

I had no intention of resisting.

I couldn’t break free anyway.

With Kyle’s muscles that have become firm beyond comparison to the past thanks to lessons with Elin, and his height and broad shoulders unlike mine, I couldn’t escape from him.

Although I do foolish things occasionally, I’m not so foolish that I can’t realize this.

“…”

“Where are we going?”

I kept asking as I was being pulled along, but Kyle didn’t answer.

I could feel people’s gazes being drawn to us, but I didn’t react.

It was better to keep my mouth shut than to react and draw more attention.

“I said, where are we going?”

Kyle continued walking through the streets while holding me with his warm hand.

After walking for a while, we entered an alley.

Unlike the completely open street, it was an alley where light didn’t penetrate well due to the surrounding buildings.

“Uh…”

I wonder why we came here.

Why suddenly into an alley…

“Ah.”

“Is this okay?”

“No, really?”

Did he really come all the way here just to get a kiss?

“Then why else would I have come into this alley?”

“Uh…”

That’s true.

Even I thought there was no particular reason to come here.

It was an impressive initiative in many ways.

“Ha…”

Does he want a kiss from me that badly?

It’s just lips touching after all.

“Do you really want it that much?”

“Yes.”

Looking into his eyes, he didn’t seem to be lying.

Rather, I could only feel 100% sincerity.

That’s how passionate it felt.

“Ha…”

I don’t know if I truly love Kyle romantically…

But we are lovers.

Even if it’s temporary, just a trial relationship…

“Because we’re lovers…”

Is it right that I should at least kiss him?

Kyle always initiated, and I only received his kisses…

Should I give him one for once…?

“…”

Ah, this is really too embarrassing…

Suddenly asking for a kiss, he’s definitely a strange one too.

“Just once…?”

“Yes.”

“Really just once, and I won’t do it again. Even if you ask for more, I absolutely won’t do it…!”

I earnestly implored Kyle.

I’ll really only do it once and that’s it.

Even if Kyle says something strange, I absolutely won’t do it again.

“So… close your eyes.”

I had absolutely no confidence to do it while looking into his eyes.

Kyle followed my words, closed his eyes, and bent down slightly.

To make it easier for me to kiss him.

“Ha…”

I didn’t hesitate or stall.

I had already agreed to do it, and it was obvious that Kyle would do something even stranger if I didn’t.

It was clearly better to just get it over with quickly.

Chu…

I pressed my lips against Kyle’s.

Until now, I had always been on the receiving end, so I didn’t know.

Initiating a kiss was different.

It was hard to express how.

“There, satisfied now?”

I spoke after removing my lips.

The kiss was already over.

“Whew…”

By the way, it was incredibly embarrassing.

Even though Kyle had his eyes closed, and it was an alley with no one around, it was too embarrassing.

“Okay, Kyle, let’s quickly go back—!?”

As I was about to turn around and speak, Kyle suddenly turned my body back and pulled me towards him.

It was so sudden that this time I couldn’t even react properly.

“Sofia.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Was that supposed to be a kiss?”

“Y-Yes…”

“Listen carefully. A kiss is not that weak, not just touching once.”

“Ah.”

And then a kiss touched my lips.

Just as Kyle said, it was completely different from the weak, one-touch kiss I had given.

Stronger intensity than any kiss so far, longer duration.

Despite the alley not being a particularly romantic environment, Kyle kissed me there for several minutes.

After the kiss ended, I was led back to the palace by Kyle’s hand, unable to properly gather my thoughts.

*

“…”

“Sofia?”

“Yes…”

“Why do you look so gloomy today?”

“…”

During dinner with the Imperial Princess.

I still couldn’t gather my thoughts because of what happened that afternoon.

How could a kiss…

“Is it because of Young Master Kyle again?”

“…”

How did she know?

I don’t think I’m the type whose expressions show easily.

Is there some mind-reading magic?

“It’s nothing…”

“Well, it’s obvious that the Young Master did something strange, and that’s why you’re like this.”

Does she really have a way to read minds…?

How can she know everything?

“But isn’t it good that Kyle suddenly had something come up and had to leave?”

“A little…?”

It’s not like I’m so happy that I could jump and fly around, but it’s just nice to be less embarrassed.

I’m not a bad person who would be that happy about Kyle’s absence.

“But… Sofia, I’m just asking in case…”

“Yes?”

“When making a dress according to Kyle’s taste, will you wear it even if it’s very revealing?”

“…”

“No, I didn’t mean to talk about that kind of thing…”

“What standard are we using to define ‘very revealing’…?”

“Uh…”

The standard for what counts as “very revealing” was important.

The Imperial Princess might be so pure that she thinks showing shoulders is too revealing, right?

“What if it’s a dress that shows cleavage and thighs?”

“…”

“And has the back exposed…”

“I would absolutely never wear such a dress. Never!”

I spoke almost shouting.

Fortunately, the Imperial Princess was considerate enough that we were truly dining alone, so there was no problem, but it’s definitely not non-existent.

“I apologize for saying this to Your Highness the Imperial Princess, but I will absolutely never wear such clothes. Never…!”

What am I, a prostitute? How could I wear such clothes?

I’m someone who only wears formal attire when working.

Even in daily life, I only wear miniskirts occasionally, and mostly wear pants or long skirts.

Absolutely!

No matter what happens!

Such a thing won’t happen.