“Kyle….”
“Yes?”
“But isn’t it a bit much to be like this…?”
“Is it?”
Well…
Even though we’re alone in the room and we have a somewhat casual relationship…
“Do you really have to hold me like this?”
“Yes.”
“….”
With that firm answer, I find myself speechless.
What should I say to Kyle to let him go…
It’s not that I feel uncomfortable.
It’s just…
“I… uh…”
Should I really say this?
No, even if I’m a guy, I feel embarrassed, so maybe I shouldn’t…
“Ha…”
Yeah, let’s just keep it to myself.
If I bring it up, the atmosphere will just get weird.
So I should stay quiet.
“…”
“What’s wrong?”
Kyle asks me why I’m like this.
But I can’t answer.
That sensation I feel on my backside…
“Ha…”
It’s definitely not because I dislike Kyle.
But this just…
This isn’t right, is it…?
“Sophia?”
“Ah!?”
Kyle’s voice suddenly comes right next to my ear.
I’m startled because he whispered right in my ear.
“What…”
“Why are you like this?”
“It’s nothing.”
“…?”
Does he not realize how close we are?
Is he really not aware that being this close means we’re touching?
Or does he think he wouldn’t feel it even if we are touching?
Or…
Does he not even realize he’s touching my backside…?
And the biggest issue is that Kyle is holding me like this in bed today too.
I can’t help but think strange thoughts.
That’s why I’m especially quiet around Kyle.
If I open my mouth, what if Kyle…
*gulp*
No, there’s no need to imagine that.
If Kyle wanted to do something, he would have done it much earlier.
If he could have, he would have probably found a way to pin me down right now…
*gulp*
While feeling Kyle’s heartbeat behind me, it’s as if I can actually hear it.
No, it must be that we’re so tightly pressed together that I can hear it.
“……”
So I spent my time trying my best to stay away from Kyle’s heartbeat and the sensation around my backside until we fell asleep.
*
The next day, we got back on the carriage again.
I’ve lost track of how many days it’s been.
I’m not the type to get car sick, but that doesn’t mean it’s comfortable.
“Ha…”
“We’ll arrive in just a few days, so please hang in there.”
“Ha…”
I let out a huge sigh.
It’s not just because the carriage is uncomfortable.
That feeling from yesterday still lingers…
“Ha…”
“Ugh…”
The princess was smirking while looking at me.
Having these thoughts about the princess could be considered disrespectful, but…
What can I do if it’s irritating…?
“Sophia, are you angry?”
“No, I’m not…”
“Huh?”
“…”
“Eh? Are you angry??”
“…”
Is the princess… angry with me?
Or is she just having fun teasing me?
“Whoa??”
“….”
Is this… the future of the Empire?
Amazing.
Kyle next to me wasn’t laughing or anything.
He was just watching me.
He often watches me, but it feels a bit more embarrassing now with him just staring.
“Kyle, stop looking.”
“Should I?”
“Yeah.”
Finally, Kyle turned his gaze away from me and looked out the window.
Is it strange that I’m relieved he didn’t look at the princess?
I don’t know.
“Sophia, I have something to say about dresses.”
“Yes?”
“Is there a dress you would like?”
“Um…”
A dress I want?
I don’t have anything at all.
I’ve never cared about dresses, so I wouldn’t know what to say.
“Um…”
What should I say?
It might feel a bit rude to say there isn’t anything, especially from the Empire’s princess.
I should probably say something.
But how?
“Hmm…”
I pretended to think while trying to come up with an excuse.
A dress…
I wasn’t getting any inspiration or anything.
I just thought a bit about what dresses I had worn before.
Could maid outfits count as dresses?
No, that doesn’t seem right, so I’ll pass on that.
So what actual dresses have I worn?
“Hmm…”
Ah, I remembered.
When Kyle and I went to a clothing store before, he bought one for me.
It was a bit revealing, so I felt really burdened and never wore it.
But I still kept it in my room.
“Let’s go with what Kyle wants.”
It’s probably Kyle’s taste, so that’s why he insisted I wear it.
Of course, I never wore it after that time.
“I’m not really a dress person, so I think it would be better for Kyle to decide.”
“Oh? Is that right?”
“Yes.”
Is this sufficient for an answer?
Looking at the princess’s expression, it seems she’s somewhat satisfied, and Kyle doesn’t seem to mind either.
Maybe?
Honestly, I couldn’t tell very well since I had covered my mouth with my hand.
Was that a smile, or did she dislike it?
“Kyle?”
“Yes.”
Kyle answered while still covering his mouth.
It’s slightly annoying, you know?
Why cover your mouth when you’re talking to me?
Can’t you just answer with your mouth visible?
“…. Hands down.”
“?”
“Why are you covering your mouth?”
“I don’t really have a reason.”
“….”
He seems like he definitely has some kind of intention, but…
If Kyle keeps playing dumb, what can I do?
I guess I’ll just let it go.
“Prince? Sophia says she can wear whatever you want for the dress. What do you think?”
“I think it’s not bad. I see it as a blessing.”
Really?
Just for a dress, is it a blessing?
“Then let’s discuss the dress, including the seamstress, among the three of us.”
“Yes.”
“…?”
So what do I do?
What am I supposed to do alone in the capital…?
“If I stay back, what will I do?”
“I mean…”
“I don’t know anyone in the capital… If you go off somewhere without me, I’ll really have nothing to do!”
“….”
What does it really mean for me to stay behind?
Since we all came together, I’d be left alone if they go off to work.
So what am I supposed to do?
“Huh?”
“….”
“Hurry up and answer.”
“Well… Let’s at least take our time planning.”
“Okay.”
It seemed like even Kyle thought it was a bit strange.
He changed his answer so quickly.
*
Before I knew it, time had passed and we were almost to Borusia.
Seriously.
The princess said it’s only about two days away, so we really must be close.
“Kyle.”
“Yes.”
“But you know…”
Honestly, thinking about this now feels kind of ridiculous.
I really don’t understand why it happened.
I’m already doing it, but I don’t get why Kyle isn’t.
Am I making him uncomfortable?
No, that can’t be it.
Someone you like shouldn’t be uncomfortable, right?
So why was he treating me like this until now?
“Why do you keep speaking formally to me?”
“Yes?”
“I mean, it feels weird, doesn’t it? You told me to speak casually, so I do, but…”
When we became temporary lovers, Kyle had always told me to change how I spoke.
So I did adjust my speech.
Lately, I’ve been speaking casually to Kyle.
It feels comfortable.
But something still feels off.
Even if we’re temporary lovers, we’re still lovers, yet I’m the only one speaking casually while Kyle doesn’t speak casually back.
Sure, he does sometimes, but it’s just occasionally.
“Am I making you uncomfortable?”
I asked seriously.
If it’s because I’m making him uncomfortable, then I could understand that.
But he’d never acted differently for years.
“Huh? Please answer quickly.”
I might have been a bit annoyed.
I wasn’t fully furious or anything, but I was a bit displeased.
I try to treat Kyle casually and like a lover, even if I haven’t figured out my feelings yet, but I’m making an effort.
“So why do you keep speaking formally?”
“….”
“Huh, Kyle~?”
Oh, by the way, I’m currently lying on the bed.
As always, it’s because of the princess causing this situation that we’re sharing a room.
Having shared a room for days, I’ve gotten used to it.
“Kyle~?”
Not getting an answer, I got on top of Kyle and called him.
I figured it would be uncomfortable for him to not respond while I’m on top of him.
Common sense tells you that if someone is on top of you, it’s uncomfortable, right?
“Hey.”
“….”
Kyle’s expression seemed to change.
What kind of expression is it?
By the way, I wish he’d answer quickly…
“Answer. Quickly.”
“Alright.”
Oh.
He spoke casually.
“So why didn’t you speak casually earlier?”
“If you wanted me to, you should have said so first.”
“Huh?”
I suddenly felt a wave of confusion wash over me.
Is it because I spoke casually?
“Sophia, if you wanted to hear me talk casually, you could have simply asked me before.”
“Ah…”
“Right?”
“U-uh, yeah…”
What should I say…?
Hearing him speak casually felt completely different.
I hadn’t really been casual before this…
But this felt different.
“Alright, is that enough?”
“…. Uh-huh…”
Suddenly my heart starts racing.
What’s going on?
My heart is pounding like crazy right now…
-Wham!!
“Hyah!?”
Suddenly, my body flipped over.
I had been on top of Kyle, and before I knew it, he moved, and I found myself staring at the ceiling.
“Huh?”
“Sophia.”
“Y-yes…?”
And there’s Kyle’s face, illuminated by the ceiling.
Seeing him up close, it was undeniable that he was handsome.
“Do you really want to be taken?”
“Yes!?”
“Why do you keep acting like this?”
“U-uh, me…?”
What have I done…?
I thought I hadn’t done anything strange…
What have I done wrong…?
“Ha…”
“Wh-why…?”
Kyle suddenly sighed.
Is something bothering him…?
“Tonight, I’ll sleep in a different room.”
“Okay…”
He said that and suddenly left the room.
I was left alone on the bed.
But I didn’t feel sorrowful or lonely, nor did I wish for Kyle to return.
-..!….!!…!!..!!!
My heart was racing wildly because of what had just happened.
“Do I really want to be taken…?”
How could he say that…?
I never knew Kyle would say something like that.
That’s why it shocked me even more, and my heart was racing uncontrollably.
“If I had answered that question weirdly…”
There was something that had been stuck in my mind for a while…
That…
I’ll…
-Thunk…
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