Chapter 93

Kyle and I ended up setting rules.

Rules that we must absolutely follow while being temporary lovers.

Honestly, I can’t give a definite answer to the question of whether these will be properly followed, but it will probably be fine.

The first one was, as I said, to keep physical contact outside moderate, and if I say to do it later, to really postpone it until we return to the palace room or go somewhere else.

Additionally, to maintain an appropriate level of physical contact.

The second was not to use separate rooms, but to share a room again.

Oh, for reference, this was Kyle’s suggestion.

The third was not to burden each other with forceful demands.

This was added with even the Imperial Princess’s approval.

I guess I looked quite pitiful even to the Imperial Princess.

And the fourth was to praise each other or say nice things if we felt like we might fight, moving away from the current subject.

Honestly, I don’t know why we’re doing this.

Kyle said we should do it, so we added it…

“Is it useful?”

I’m not sure.

Well, the intention seems good, so it was added anyway.

And finally, if any of the above rules were broken, we would have to grant one wish to the other person.

Nothing too strange or inappropriate though.

Even though this is just a temporary relationship, it became more detailed than expected.

“Hmm…”

“Sofia, what are you thinking about so deeply?”

“Just, I have a lot on my mind.”

It was a relationship that started to find out whether I truly loved Kyle romantically or not.

If I hadn’t brought it up then, Kyle would probably still be making strange confessions to me, and I would be stressed listening to them.

“Is it okay to hold you like this?”

“Yeah.”

A back hug is fine.

I was okay with it since we’d done it several times.

It’s a bit hot though.

His body was warm to an amazing degree.

If this were a world with advanced science, they would definitely have conducted experiments on northern people’s bodies.

“Kyle, it’s a bit hot, could you open the window?”

How am I supposed to handle being hugged by such a hot body while already lying in bed?

Does he want me to get as hot as his body?

Of course, Kyle opened the window to let the breeze in and then hugged me again.

“Phew…”

I suppose it’s fortunate.

We didn’t fight so badly that our relationship couldn’t be repaired.

It was just a disagreement due to a minor incident.

“Sofia.”

“Yes?”

Kyle whispering in my ear while hugging me.

If we were outside, I would have told him not to, but this was a space we had to ourselves, so it was fine.

If he did this outside, it would be extremely embarrassing.

“Was it that burdensome?”

“Yes.”

It was fucking burdensome.

Even though I’m expressing it mildly, it was extremely burdensome.

Kyle didn’t say much after that.

I don’t know why, but despite not saying much, he kept hugging me from behind.

“Zz… zz……”

Before I knew it, Kyle had fallen asleep while holding me.

Kyle seems a bit different lately.

Is it because I’ve become closer to Kyle, or because we’re in a lover relationship?

I don’t know the exact reason.

I didn’t major in psychology, and I’m not extremely knowledgeable about human relationships.

Maybe it would be better to ask Louise or the Imperial Princess.

“Sigh…”

He’s so comfortable when sleeping.

Why does he make me tired lately when he’s awake?

“Sofia…”

Seeing him call my name in his sleep, I felt like maybe I was a bit too harsh.

Am I too soft?

That could be the case.

How I treat Louise and how I treat Kyle are completely different.

If Louise were hugging me, wouldn’t I have cursed?

Saying things like “You crazy bitch, fuck, what are you doing.”

“…”

I really would have.

Homosexuality is a bit… no?

Louise is a friend.

I mean, we don’t have that kind of relationship.

In that sense, the White family was indeed a strange family.

How can the heir of the family always be a lesbian?

Of course, when a man is the heir, he likes women.

“Hmm…”

Well, the current White heir seemed interested in Kyle…

“…”

If we really go to the ball, Kyle will certainly attract attention.

When he had his debutante, it was just about making his debut in society and informing the imperial family that Kyle had become an adult.

He didn’t actually dance or do anything more.

“Of course, I was drunk then, so I don’t remember well.”

This ball will probably be different.

Kyle will receive a lot of attention.

Really a lot.

“Ha…”

I’m already worried.

Whether Kyle will be criticized because of me.

Of course, there won’t be any big fools with the guts to directly insult Kyle, but I was still worried.

Because a common commoner with no name in society is suddenly appearing as the partner of a duke.

Maybe because he hasn’t become the head of the family yet, he doesn’t really feel like a duke, but Kyle was a proper member of noble society.

And of a very high rank.

“Ha…”

If Kyle were put on stage alone, everyone would praise him.

He’s handsome, tall, and has a good body.

And if you go into more details, there would be even more praise.

He comes from a good family and has a good personality.

Kyle has never said a harsh word to me.

“Well, he is a good man.”

Probably, even if it weren’t me, many women would like Kyle.

Even if it weren’t me…

Wouldn’t there be someone who matches Kyle better, who is more suitable for his rank…

“…”

Suddenly I felt bad.

Just a moment ago, I was comfortable being held by Kyle.

“If I had been born as a suitable noble…”

Would things have been a bit different?

For me, for Kyle.

I don’t know.

Since it never actually happened, it’s just a delusion under the name of “what if.”

*

After that, my relationship with Kyle improved somewhat.

Like before the argument.

“Kyle, where are we going today?”

“I wonder. Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”

“I can go anywhere you suggest.”

As long as it’s not some strange entertainment establishment…?

“Then, let’s go to a cafe together. We don’t have anything else to do, and we decided to make the other dress first anyway.”

“Okay.”

Oh, by the way, we got the owner’s understanding and decided to make a normal dress.

Of course, it was still black, but it was just a plain pretty dress with almost no exposure.

It’s a bit confusing that they’re also making that very revealing dress, but anyway, that’s what happened.

Slurp-

The sound was accompanied by hot coffee entering my mouth.

This was an advantage of becoming a woman and living this life.

How should I put it, the flavor was different from my past life.

Coffee, tea, I could drink things with truly deep flavors.

To be precise, given my background, this was natural, but anyway, that’s how it was.

“Kyle, try this.”

The cake was tastier than expected.

Of course, to have a proper business with a sign in the capital, it naturally had to be delicious, but it was indeed tasty.

And good things are better when shared.

“Aahn-“

It’s like feeding a baby, but it should be fine.

It’s not like this is the first or second time.

“Kyle, why does your expression look like that?”

We were comfortably sitting in the cafe passing time, but Kyle’s expression seemed worse than usual.

I wonder why?

Does he have something on his mind?

“… It’s nothing.”

What does he mean it’s nothing?

Even I can see it all over his face.

Unlike me, Kyle wasn’t good at hiding his expressions, so it was all visible.

What kind of worry is he hiding?

“Alright.”

I don’t know what it is, but it seems he doesn’t want to talk about it now.

I don’t intend to force him to tell me if he doesn’t want to.

“Tell me when you want to talk about it.”

I believe Kyle will do well.

He’s such a good guy.

He’s good at everything, adapts well, so he’ll handle it well on his own.

And time passed again.

One day, the Imperial Princess and Kyle went somewhere together for reasons related to sponsoring an orphanage, and Kyle and I went to the owner’s shop to see the newly made dress.

To be honest, the new dress looked pretty but ambiguous.

How should I put it…

Should I say it lacks stimulation?

Is it because I’ve already seen the revealing one?

It felt a bit bland.

Of course, it was much better compared to that revealing dress.

“Kyle, the ball is coming soon, right?”

“Yes.”

Yes, the ball was approaching.

I still have many worries, but it’s already too late.

If I were going to say no, I should have done something at Eristirol, but I didn’t.

And… although I had too many worries, I did have some expectations.

When would a commoner have the opportunity to attend a ball that only nobles attend?

I couldn’t help but have some expectations.

“Sigh… I’m already nervous…”

There was still some time left.

We still had to go to the domain where the ball was being held.

“Sofia, are you sure you’re okay with going?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

The option of not going has already disappeared.

“You wanted to go together so much, if I don’t go, I’d seem like a bad lover, right?”

If Kyle is happy, then I’m happy too.

It’s not that I dislike going to the ball, I was worried that I might negatively affect Kyle because of me.

Maybe nothing will happen when we go?

Though that probability seems low…

“Don’t worry. We’re lovers, after all?”

I said that while smiling at Kyle.

In any case, we’re lovers now.