Chapter 239

Side Story 1 – Chapter 18

* * *

“Oh, about what happened today during the day…”

“I’m fine!”

Evan immediately interrupted her, waving his hands frantically.

“I-I’m really fine, Miss.”

“There’s no way you’re fine. You had…that expression on your face.”

“…”

“I’m sorry.”

Loretta gently released his hand and fidgeted with the blankets spread around them.

Evan lowered his head, offering no response.

“You see…it’s like this.”

When the silence stretched on, Loretta spoke again, hesitant.

“The reason I was with His Majesty today is because he…uh, Evan?”

Just as she was about to explain.

Evan, who had been sitting quietly next to her, quickly pulled her in and held her in his arms.

“I’m sorry, Miss. I just can’t…”

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his breath ragged.

“…I can’t bear to hear it.”

“It’s really not something you need to misunderstand. Nothing happened, really.”

“I know. You’re an honorable lady. But I…”

He shook his head as if in self-reproach.

“Why do I have such wicked thoughts every time I see you with another man?”

“Wicked…thoughts?”

Despite Loretta’s question, he didn’t explain what those thoughts were.

Instead, he simply held her tighter.

“…Evan.”

Loretta quietly tilted her head up to look at him.

“Your mana is leaking.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“That means you’re holding something back again.”

“W-well, not necessarily.”

“But it seems you have something you want to tell me. If you don’t, I’ll be so worried that I won’t be able to sleep for days.”

“You’re exaggerating, Miss.”

“Exaggerating? You know how much I like you, don’t you?”

“Ha…”

He turned his head slightly, probably embarrassed that their faces were so close. But he didn’t release her from his embrace.

“I like you more, Miss.”

“Okay. So what kind of wicked thoughts are you having?”

“That’s…”

He hesitated, then finally whispered, his gaze fixed on Loretta’s blue eyes.

“I want to monopolize you.”

“…”

“I wish no one else knew about you.”

He moved his hand to grasp Loretta’s, which was holding a blanket. He gently caressed the inside of her wrist with his long fingers.

“This softness…I wish I was the only one who knew about it.”

The chill that had lingered on Loretta’s fingertips was replaced by Evan’s warmth.

“The one who brings warmth to you.”

“…”

“It would be nice if I was the only one who knew this scent…That’s what I think.”

He bit his lip, a pained expression on his face.

“I’m sorry. It’s a bit…terrible, isn’t it?”

“Not at all.”

“You don’t have to comfort me.”

“It’s not comfort. If that’s terrible, then I’m also a terrible person.”

“What? What?”

Loretta snuggled closer to him, leaning her head fully against his shoulder, and smiled mischievously.

“Do you know how upset I was when you cut your hair before going to the Imperial Palace when we were kids?”

“Uh, why?”

“I was a bit angry because I thought everyone would see your handsome face and pretty eyes.”

“I-I’m not…handsome. Well, anyway, we were just kids then.”

“But I still think it would be nice if Evan only liked me.”

“That’s completely natural.”

“It would make me so upset if you danced intimately with another lady.”

“I will never do anything to upset you again.”

“More than anything, I want you to always think of me.”

Then, Loretta shook her head slightly and rephrased her words honestly.

“Make yourself think only of me, Evan.”

“I…already am.”

He answered, bowing his head. His lips brushed against her hair.

“So please don’t call my possessiveness terrible.”

“…”

“Because I’m all yours anyway, Evan.”

Perhaps because their bodies were so close, Loretta could easily feel him flinch, and she giggled.

“What should I do if you react like that?”@@novelbin@@

“You can’t say things like that here!”

“Here?”

When Loretta looked up at him questioningly, he quickly moved his face away, embarrassed.

“We’re alone, Miss. It’s d-dangerous. Especially because I’m…trying so hard to control myself right now.”

“But even if it’s dangerous…”

Loretta recalled the list of Evan’s fantasies he had confessed earlier.

Holding hands all day.

Touching her hair and smelling her scent.

Touching her face.

“…Wouldn’t it be alright to do that much? We’re adults.”

She felt Evan stiffen.

Loretta realized once again that he was truly pure-hearted.

There was no need for him to be so flustered and nervous about just touching her face.

“You’re not going to do it?”

“D-don’t tease me, Miss. How could I possibly…!”

“But if it’s not you, Evan, I can’t do it with anyone else.”

“Neither can I…if it’s not you, Miss. But…not now! Not in such a…shabby place…”

“But you said you cherished this room so much that you didn’t want to move, even though it’s small.”

Loretta tilted her head up, closing her eyes slightly, as if to say, ‘Go ahead, you can touch my face now.’

“Hngh…”

Evan’s flustered groan made her struggle to contain her laughter.

“Miss.”

He whispered softly, then gently caressed her cheek with his hand.

“You’re…so beautiful. Truly.”

Evan let out a small sigh of admiration and cupped her face with his entire palm.

Loretta’s head naturally tilted up towards him.

Suddenly, she felt a soft touch against her lips. A light peck.

“…!”

When Loretta’s eyes flew open in surprise, Evan blushed.

“I’m sorry! I-I thought it was okay…since you said…”

“Of, of course it’s okay! That’s right!”

Loretta was equally flustered, and she stammered, repeating the same words over and over.

“It’s just…I didn’t know you wanted to kiss me, Evan.”

“I always wanted to! I like…everything about you, so…”

“…”

“Ah, I-I didn’t mean to imply I have any ulterior motives, Miss! I mean…!”

As Evan panicked, Loretta gently wrapped her arms around his neck, lifted her chin, and met his lips.

“Actually, I wanted to kiss you too.”

She smiled, slowly parting her lips. Evan’s frozen expression was somehow adorable.

“I’m s-sorry…Miss.”

He apologized in a slightly hoarse voice, and Loretta tilted her head.

“For what?”

“I…lied.”

“…Lied?”

The moment she finished her question, she felt his arms tighten around her waist, pulling her even closer.

Their bodies pressed together, leaving no space between them.

He tilted his head and kissed her again. This time, it was different – urgent and desperate, pouring out all the desire he had held back.

When their lips finally parted, he whispered, his breath hot against her skin.

“I’ve been…harboring them.”

As if he couldn’t bear even a moment’s separation, he brushed his lips against hers again, finishing his confession.

“…Sinister thoughts.”

Loretta couldn’t respond. She simply gasped for breath, which she had forgotten during their kiss.

“So…please forgive me, Miss.”

He kissed her again.

He seemed to have regained some composure, and this time, their breaths mingled slowly, each kiss lingering.

By now, the clouds had cleared, revealing the moon and stars everyone had been waiting for.

Those who had been hoping for a meteor shower under the dim sky were rewarded for their patience, making wishes upon the swiftly falling starlight.

However, the young lovers who awaited the stars high in the Magic Tower, closer to the heavens than anyone else, saw none of this beautiful sight.

“…I never intended to show you the meteor shower from the beginning, Miss.”

Evan confessed as he kissed her through her hair, and Loretta smiled.

“It’s alright, I don’t have any wishes anymore.”

She turned her head and lightly brushed her lips against his cheek.

“They’ve…already come true.”

His lips touched her ear. Evan whispered something, and Loretta nodded, murmuring, “Yes, mine too.”

And inevitably, they kissed again.

Side Story 1 Fin.