Somehow, I became the private tutor for the eldest son of the Northern Duke’s Family, the Eristirol Family, in my late teens.
Despite not being a remarkable person, I ended up as the private tutor for the rather small and not-so-mighty eldest son of the Northern Duke’s Family, Eristirol.
Of course, after becoming a tutor, I taught him everything I could for several years.
Etiquette, dance, combat, speech.
In fact, I thought I had taught him just about everything he needed to learn.
The Eristirol Duke himself didn’t comment on my teaching either.
Anyway, why am I suddenly talking about this?
That’s because…
“Sophia, I love you.”
The little brat, the eldest son, is confessing to me now that he’s grown up.
After hearing Kyle’s words just now, I thought there was something wrong with my head.
I mean, how could I not think that?
I’m not the typical female lead of a cliché romantic comedy manga; I’m not some idiot who wouldn’t hear what was said right in front of me.
So, I clearly heard Kyle’s words a moment ago.
“I love you.”
This isn’t just some simple love.
It’s gotta be some deep, passionate kind of love, not some agape nonsense.
“…”
But why suddenly?
The very idea that Kyle liked me was strange.
With so many women around, how could he like me?
It felt like my brain had stopped, as if I couldn’t process it.
No, it definitely felt like it had stopped.
My mind is all jumbled right now.
“Young Master, just asking in case… but could it be that you see me as a woman…?”
“No, I love you as a woman.”
“…”
Okay, so there was a fleeting thought of ‘what if’ in my mind.
Even though I heard it correctly, I couldn’t help it.
The situation was just too confusing.
Kyle likes me?
Me?
If I were the female lead in a typical male-targeted romantic comedy, I would’ve definitely screamed something like:
“Wait, what?!”
Or maybe just:
“Huh?”
Something like that.
I wouldn’t make such foolish noises, but I’m pretty sure my expression mirrored that.
I usually think I hide my emotions well, but this was completely beyond my control.
“A few years ago, when I first met you, Sophia, I was just a clueless child. But as time went by and I spent more time with you, I realized I love you.”
“Young Master….”
The greatest reason for my current confusion is simple.
I don’t know how to respond to Kyle’s words.
Setting aside the fact that Kyle likes me… how am I supposed to answer?
I don’t know.
It’s my first-ever confession, especially from Kyle, so what in the world should I say?
“Uh… so…”
I must look incredibly foolish right now.
I can’t even formulate a proper response.
“Ha… I was just saying it to say it, you don’t have to answer right away. You won’t accept it right now anyway, will you?”
“….”
Kyle wasn’t wrong.
Even if I have feelings for Kyle, it’s not at the level of real romantic love.
To me, Kyle still feels like a younger brother.
“I just wanted to express my feelings to you, Sophia. And I also wanted to tell you to brace yourself.”
“…Huh?”
“I’m going to approach you properly from now on, so prepare yourself.”
“…Huh?”
“The problem is that you see me only as a younger brother. You should start seeing me as a man.”
“….”
B-Boy, do people usually just say that in front of someone?
Suddenly, he says something incredibly embarrassing right in front of my face.
Kyle and I were standing so close that I could hear each other’s breaths.
Hearing such things in such close proximity felt… odd.
*Thud… Thud…*
“Or, you could just accept this ring right now.”
“No way….”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“The jewel I asked for before was for me….”
“Yes.”
That was shocking.
I was dead sure he was preparing it to give to a princess!
Just casual banter while chatting with Kyle, saying I like rubies and that rings might cause misunderstandings, but…
Apparently, all those words mattered to Kyle.
“…….”
As proof, Kyle took out the most beautiful ruby ring from what I chose.
It felt like I got hit by a mana blast.
Really.
“I remember almost everything you said, Sophia. I wasn’t drawn to just any woman, it was only you who captivated me.”
“…….”
That statement from the lesson wasn’t meant to be understood that way.
I was just saying don’t get entangled with some loose woman and ruin your reputation.
But why is he interpreting it as something more?
“You’re blushing.”
“This is… just because I’m hot!”
I can’t see my reflection since there’s no mirror, but it must be because I’m too warm.
I’m wearing heavy clothes, and being inside makes me feel even hotter.
I’m not some random girl who would blush due to Kyle!
“Yeah, let’s stick with that.”
Kyle said that while putting the ring back into his pocket.
For some reason, my eyes kept following that ring.
“Anyway, I genuinely said that out of concern for you, Young Master. I never tried to seduce you or anything like that.”
I spoke to Kyle in the most serious tone.
I’m not some seductress!
I usually dress impeccably for formal occasions and don’t do anything weird; there’s no use in trying to seduce him.
Kyle was just saying silly things because he’s young.
“Well… you’ll understand someday.”
“Not at all! I’ve never seduced you! You just took it wrongly because you’re young.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… let’s go with that. First, let’s return to the castle.”
“….”
Kyle said that and stepped outside the shrine.
For now, I followed him out of the shrine and stood in front of the carriage.
“…You don’t have to do that.”
“Why?”
“Ha… Young Master, why are you pretending not to know?”
Kyle stood in front of the carriage, waiting for me to approach.
What he was going to do was all too obvious.
“If I do this, there’s no way you’ll like me, so it’s fine, right?”
“Well….”
I guess that makes sense.
But I could see right through his intentions; it was infuriating.
It was too obvious that he thought just by holding hands, I’d suddenly fall for him.
I mean, I’m not some random girl; I’ve lived more than 20 years without suddenly changing my perception like that.
“Get in quick. We need to go have dinner.”
“…Yes.”
So, I got back in the carriage under Kyle’s escort.
When I came here, I didn’t feel anything, but on the way back, everything felt different.
It was all because Kyle said those unnecessary things.
Kyle confessed to me out of the blue.
“Ha….”
I still don’t understand how this situation makes sense.
For Kyle to suddenly say that he likes me is just absurd.
There’s no reason for him to like me.
Why?
There are so many girls around him!
“Ha….”
“Stop sighing. What are you worrying about? Just accept the confession and be done with it.”
“Young Master, I feel dizzy. Let’s stop.”
“Haha.”
Kyle keeps laughing, as if he finds it amusing.
Honestly, I can’t adjust to this.
It seems like Kyle’s changed so much from his usual self.
He used to be the serious and kind younger brother…
Now he’s acting weird around me.
Every time we meet, he looks at me strangely, and…
Something about it all just feels off.
“Do you know?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Remember when you got hurt the other day? I struggled so much during that time.”
“Ugh!!”
Now that you mention it, that did happen.
When I hurt my leg, I relied on Kyle heavily.
I thought he genuinely wanted to help me out of the goodness of his heart.
Helping a hurt older sister, that kind of vibe.
“Ha….”
“When you suddenly asked me to help wash you, that was seriously tough.”
“….”
“Would you normally ask that of a guy, even if you’re close? Back then, I thought you were trying to seduce me.”
“That was….”
I did that just because I thought of him as a younger brother.
Plus, I never imagined he would look at me that way.
It was absolutely not seduction; I am not a harlot!
If holding hands and making eye contact makes someone fall in love, that’s way too easy.
I would never be like that.
“It was because I never thought you would see me that way, so don’t worry; it won’t happen again.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Well, if we get married later, we could wash together.”
“….”
What the hell.
Why the sudden change in him?!
Kyle, who never even cracked a joke before, keeps playing around with me.
It feels like he’s getting a kick out of my reactions.
Before I knew it, the carriage had entered the castle gates.
And, just like when I first got in, I was also escorted by Kyle when I got back out.
“…”
This weird atmosphere is driving me mad.
No, strictly speaking, it’s only driving me crazy.
Kyle acts as if nothing’s wrong!
Am I the only one feeling uncomfortable in this situation?!
Is it normal to act so nonchalantly after a confession has gone weirdly sideways like this?!
Of course, I’ve never confessed or received a confession…
Ah, well, that’s wrong; I just received one now.
Anyway, this situation, totally chaotic for me, made no sense.
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