Chapter 2.1

‘Ugh, it’s very embarrassing. Even if we’re going to get married, you can’t just give a person a bath?!’

“Our Laure is really just like a little puppy.”

‘Aah… I look like a puppy to you. Is that why you gave me a bath, dressed me, and fed me?!’

‘I have a hand, too. Look, it’s not even a paw, it’s a hand. Callix?’

“Ah… we’re already here.”

As I stared at him, Calix peered out the window and muttered regretfully. Before we knew it, we had already arrived at our house, the Ecree Marquis.

Calix exited the carriage first and  assisted me with getting off the carriage.

He hugged me as he lifted me up from the door of the carriage, which almost made the servants-in-waiting die of embarrassment. ‘You, you’re too shameless, aren’t you? You know there are so many eyes watching!’

“Then take care on your way home, Calix.”

“Wait, Laure.”

I said farewell to him and was about to turn around, when Calix grabbed my hand.

‘What is it?’ As I looked up in doubt, he touched my cheek with his fingers. ‘Hmn?’

“Are you not forgetting something?”

“W-What…?”

“The right way to say good-bye between lovers.”

“…..?”

‘What kind of valediction? But I’ve already said my goodbye, right?’ I tilted my head and blinked my eyes.

Calix smiled slightly. ‘D-Don’t suddenly smile like that. My heart is going to drop.’

“N-Not…”

Not outside! I was about to say that but the rest of my words got caught in my throat.

In the blink of an eye, Calix’s lips overlapped with mine and he pressed down so hard that I thought my lips would fall off.

I looked up at Calix with a rubescent face. Calix chuckled, then smiled. It was a breathtakingly handsome smile.

“I hope you’ll say goodbye to me like this from now.”

“I, I beg your pardon?”

Embarrassed by his impudence, I couldn’t refute and just kept my mouth shut.

Calix  gently raised me up as he hugged me, then walked me to the main entrance.

“Then make sure to take a good rest today. Laure.”

Calix kissed me on the forehead. Then, he looked up at me with warm eyes that seemed to imply I was very lovely and adorable. I couldn’t bear it and my face heated up.

As if running away, I entered the house and leaned against the closed door  while taking a deep breath. My heart was beating erratically, causing my breathing to become ragged.

In my mind, I could see Calix’s handsome face, his golden hair, and his blue eyes  that resembled the autumn sky. I could even smell a subtle scent of him.

‘Haa, Calix. You’re really a devilish male lead of that novel.’ I sighed heavily.

11 years of trying not to fall in love with Calix. That long endeavor shouldn’t go in vain, like a bubble disappearing into nothing.

From now on, I should set boundaries and stay away from him. That’s the only way I can survive.

‘If you fall in love with Calix like this, you might become a real villain, just like the original Laure.’

I smiled sadly to myself. Calix is a very attractive man, but the person that should be beside him in the future was not me.

‘That’s why I have no choice but to expunge my feelings little by little.’

I’ve made up my mind.

Translator: Mae

Editor: Lys