“Kyle, why are you staring like that?”
“Just feels like something’s off about you today.”
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
What could possibly be strange about me? I feel completely normal.
“Why can’t you look me in the eye these days?”
“Huh?”
“You’re avoiding eye contact right now.”
“Um… maybe that’s just your imagination?”
Of course, it’s not just imagination. There’s only one reason why I’m acting like this.
Since the last time I took a bath with Kyle, it’s been weird to see him.
I mean, really weird.
Every time I see him, my heart races, and I don’t know how to react.
Even now, when our eyes met for a moment, it felt super weird. I don’t even know why this is happening. I keep thinking about Kyle’s… that part.
“Sophia, are you feeling unwell?”
“Oh, no way! I’m totally fine! Look, I can get up and move around like this, right?”
“Well, we’re in the carriage, so please sit down.”
“Oh, okay.”
So I sat back down as Kyle suggested.
Yeah, if I tumble around in the carriage and fall, it could really hurt.
It wouldn’t be as bad as last time, but I definitely wouldn’t be able to walk properly for a while again.
“Kyle, can you grab my coat in a bit?”
“That’s easy enough. But are you feeling cold?”
“Umm… a little?”
It’s not cold enough to freeze me to death or anything. Just a bit chilly.
But it makes sense since we’re getting closer to the north.
That meant we were not far from arriving at Eristirol.
The temperature was bound to drop.
“Got it. I’ll grab it as soon as we stop.”
“Thanks.”
Right now, the carriage was moving fast, so it couldn’t be helped.
It wasn’t urgent, so stopping now would be a waste.
When the horses take a breather later, that should be enough time.
“Still… it is a little chilly.”
What should I do about this slight discomfort?
“Umm….”
Suddenly, a great idea came to me. I just need to get my body warm.
Well, there was a perfect solution for that which I’ve happily used a lot lately and was confident in its performance.
“Kyle, hug me.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said I’m cold, so I want a hug.”
“….”
“Come on, hurry~”
Isn’t this a bit too smart of me? I’m already so used to hugging Kyle.
Since we share a room and I give him back hugs every night, how could I not be accustomed to this?
It’s already been almost a month of this.
Of course, once we arrive at Eristirol, we’ll go back to separate rooms, but for now, it’s like this.
And since Kyle’s body is so warm, can’t I just use him as a hot pack?
Kyle would be happy with some skinship, and I could get warm.
It’s a win-win for both of us.
“Kyle?”
“Fine… okay.”
Kyle only came to sit next to me after I called out again.
By the way, is it just me, or do Kyle’s shoulders look broader lately?
That doesn’t really matter right now, though.
“O….”
When Kyle hugged me, it felt really warm.
I thought if I stayed like this for an hour, I might get too hot.
“It’s warm.”
I never understood this.
How are the northern people, who are still human, so different from me?
Why does it feel so good and warm?
If they could develop technology based on their characteristics to create hot packs, they would sell like crazy.
Meanwhile, being this close to him made my heart race, as usual.
“Are you feeling better now?”
“Yeah, it’s less chilly.”
Honestly speaking, I felt like I could nap right here.
That’s how warm hugging Kyle felt.
“Sophia.”
“Huh?”
“I like you.”
It’s been a while since I heard something like that.
When he first confessed, it felt like I heard it all day.
Lately, I haven’t heard it that much.
“Really….”
I said it while nestled in Kyle’s arms.
Maybe it’s just a bit warm, but I’m feeling sleepy.
Even though I had plenty of sleep, why do I feel drowsy?
Do the northern people have some kind of magic?
“Kyle, do you really like me that much?”
“Yes.”
“Heh… I’m so used to hearing it now, it doesn’t even matter~”
Actually, it does matter. It’s a line that makes my heart race no matter how many times I hear it.
Even if I tease Kyle saying it’s no big deal, how can I remain unfazed when a good-looking guy like him says that?
Even if Kyle were saying this to a princess, I’m sure he’d make her heart race too.
“So then, what if I say it like this, even closer?”
“Ah!?”
Kyle suddenly whispers.
I was startled, and my already racing heart started pounding even faster.
“Just kidding! Just kidding!”
“Really?”
“Yes, so please don’t make it like that.”
That was too much stress.
After all, right now, being completely held like this while he says stuff like that is just too risky.
“Oh….”
Kyle stopped whispering in my ear, but the effect of what just happened lingered.
Seriously, this is unfair!?
How can someone be so handsome, tall, and have a nice voice?
If it were me in my past life, I would’ve surely hated him.
But now, since I’m not even into guys, there’s really no reason to dislike him.
“…Kyle.”
“What is it?”
I spoke while still cuddled up to him.
Not just cuddled up; I was fully in his embrace.
But wouldn’t this be uncomfortable for Kyle’s back?
Given our slight height difference, it’s bound to twist his back.
I’ve heard men value their backs….
“Should I sit on your lap instead?”
That should be more comfortable for Kyle.
I don’t mind either way, but Kyle, who’s holding me warm, would definitely prefer that.
“…”
“Huh? Isn’t your back uncomfortable? Am I wrong?”
“No, I’m fine like this…”
“Come on, don’t be humble!”
I broke free from Kyle’s embrace and sat on him.
Kyle sighed a bit, but this is definitely better for him.
If he feels uncomfortable after I asked, then I’d only feel uncomfortable too.
“There, isn’t it better like this?”
I turned my head slightly back to Kyle.
Kyle was resting his forehead in his palm.
?
“Kyle?”
“Sigh….”
“Why the sudden sigh?”
“Oh, nothing. Just thinking how Sophia doesn’t think things through.”
“What? All of a sudden!?”
“In any case, hugging is fine, right?”
“Yup.”
Kyle wrapped his arms around me again from behind.
Now that we changed positions, it felt way more comfortable.
The carriage seat wasn’t hard or anything, but somehow being like this felt really calming.
My heart was still racing, but I felt that comfort.
“Hehe.”
“Haah….”
Staying curled up with Kyle, we remained that way until we stopped midway.
After he got my coat, we sat apart like usual, but still, the warmth from clothes and body felt fundamentally different.
I seriously needed to figure out how to magically replicate the characteristics of the northern people into hot packs.
*
“Wow… it’s cold….”
After a while of arriving at Eristirol, I felt that familiar biting cold.
It was a chill that I could never get used to.
While other places were warming up for spring, it wasn’t happening here at all.
“Kyle, let’s hurry inside… I’m freezing.”
“Hang on a moment.”
“Okay.”
Oh, just so you know, we’re outside now.
More precisely, at the castle gates.
It looked just like when the Duke returned to the castle, with servants and knights standing in a row.
Having seen even more intense scenes, I was okay with it, but it was still a burden.
The way people were looking at me felt different than when I first arrived at the Imperial Palace.
“…Kyle, why are people staring at me like that?”
When I arrived at the Imperial Palace, the focus was on the princess and Kyle, not me.
Of course, it made sense.
I hadn’t even revealed my name yet and wasn’t dressed in any fancy clothes.
But now it was different.
For some reason, certain servants and knights were looking at me.
I even moved a little away from Kyle, and their eyes shifted to me instantly.
Seriously, what’s going on?
“People have started to suspect.”
“Huh?”
“Who will be the lady of Eristirol.”
“…”
Ah, no way.
Is that what I think it is?
“Wait a second.”
We’ve barely been dating for a month in Eristirol… right?
And we haven’t really been official since that ball, have we?
But already they’re thinking like that?
“Come on, don’t you think that’s too far-fetched?”
“Sophia might not realize it, but you’re surprisingly famous around here.”
“Eh?”
“I’m famous? Me?”
“That’s right. You’ve been well-known ever since you started working.”
“Really? Me?”
I mean, how can I be famous? I was just a private tutor.
“Ha-ha… but you weren’t just a private tutor.”
“Then what was I?”
“You were a super cute private tutor.”
No, but that doesn’t automatically make me illustrious, does it?
Besides, I haven’t even been out that much.
I’ve only gone out when Kyle invited me, or when I showed noble guests around.
Back then, I didn’t notice this kind of gaze at all.
“Just deal with it. Eventually, you’ll have a lot more eyes on you.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Of course you will! Think of how many people will be at the wedding!”
“W-What….”
A wedding.
We aren’t even officially dating yet…
Conversations about weddings should come after we’re a couple!
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