EXTRA SIDE STORY 06
At those words, Arsène suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Unaware of this, Ivelina had been walking ahead and, noticing no one beside her, quickly turned around.
She tilted her head.
“Arsène? Why are you standing there?”
“…Did you say marriage?”
In an instant, Arsène strode forward.
His unusually serious expression made her flinch and instinctively take a step back.
Ivelina forced a smile, trying to mask her nerves.
“Hmm, you’re about the age to get married soon too.”
“Who am I supposed to marry?”
“Uh… another noble lady…?”
Her words trailed off naturally.
For some reason, she couldn’t meet Arsène’s eyes and looked away.
Since he had earned his knighthood, he had become the top candidate for marriage.
Once he became an adult, marriage proposals would pour in.
“Your Highness.”
“Hm…?”
Arsène gently grabbed her wrist.
The slow pressure of his thumb on her wrist sent shivers down her spine.
“Have you forgotten?”
“Forgot… what?”
Arsène stepped closer.
“Didn’t you say you’d take responsibility for me for life?”
“That was…”
“I’ve believed only in those words. So you must take responsibility for me for life.”
Ivelina’s pupils trembled violently.
“Yes… you getting married doesn’t mean I’m shirking responsibility.”
“Ah, that responsibility you promised me…”
“……”
“…Is to be by Your Highness’s side for life.”
“……”
Their faces were dangerously close.
Close enough that their lips could touch at any moment, and Ivelina hastily pushed against his chest.
Arsène paused, then stepped back obediently.
“I-I should get going… see you later.”
Ivelina, face burning bright red, hurried out of the garden.
Alone, Arsène’s expression shifted in a peculiar way.
Ivelina dashed into her room and slammed the door.
Her face was blazing red.
Her heart pounded violently, as if it might leap out of her chest.
“What… was that?”
She pressed her hand to her chest.
But instead of calming, her heartbeat raced even faster.
Even though she had no experience with romance, she understood what Arsène’s words implied.
“He wants to marry me…”
Of course, it could’ve meant he just wanted to stay friends.
But if she married, she would naturally leave the palace—and he couldn’t follow her.
So the only way for Arsène to be with her for life was marriage.
The thought of marriage made her tremble.
She couldn’t forget the look in his eyes from earlier.
His blue eyes had darkened, simmering with a dangerous intensity, like he could devour her at any moment.
She couldn’t stay there, feeling as though she might be captured and shackled at any second.
Biting her lips, she realized she hadn’t expected this.
Having grown up together, she had assumed he saw her only as a friend.
Yet he had harbored such feelings all along.
“Could it be… he’s felt that way since the moment he promised to take responsibility for me?”
She wondered how she would look at him from now on.
Until recently, she hadn’t been conscious of him, but after he revealed his feelings, she became intensely aware of him.
She avoided him whenever possible, claiming urgent matters to escape his presence.
It was unavoidable.
Just seeing him made her face flush, her heart race, and her words stumble.
Today, as always, she headed to the library to avoid him.
“Haah…”
Ivelina sighed and walked between the shelves.
She couldn’t avoid him forever.
Then, she heard approaching footsteps.
She didn’t even register who it was, staring blankly at the spines of the books.
The footsteps drew closer and eventually stopped beside her.
Ivelina stiffened.
The familiar scent made it impossible to turn her head.
“Your Highness.”
Arsène’s low voice spoke her name.
Ivelina didn’t look at him.
Her heart pounded so loudly it felt like he could hear it.
“Ivelina.”
“You…!”
When he spoke her name, she spun around sharply.
He had never called her by her name.
Even as a child, when told to call her by name because they were friends, he had stubbornly refused.
And now, suddenly, he did.
She turned to see Arsène with a faint smile.
“You’re finally looking at me.”
“……”
Ivelina averted her eyes, biting her lips.
“Why are you avoiding me?”
“…I’m not avoiding you.”
“Look at your recent behavior. Even a three-year-old could tell that Your Highness has been avoiding me.”
Embarrassment made her face bright red.
She felt unfair—he seemed unaffected, while she was all flustered.
She whirled around and glared at him.
“Why are you fine?”
“…Huh?”
“Why am I the only one bothered? You don’t seem to care at all!”
Ivelina panted in frustration.
Arsène had a rare, dumbfounded expression.
“What do you mean?”
“Ever since that day, whenever I see you, my heart goes crazy! It races, my face turns red! But you? Nothing!”
Arsène stepped closer and grasped her wrist.
It had been weeks since they’d touched.
Ivelina swallowed nervously and hesitated backward.
“Am I… bothering you?”
“Y-you’re speaking so… casually—”
“Answer me. Am I bothering you?”
She bit her lips and nodded.
Arsène lowered his head, bringing his face close, and whispered.
“I love you, Your Highness.”
“Ugh…”
“I’ve loved you from the very first moment I saw you.”
Ivelina’s face turned crimson.
She couldn’t understand how he could say that so calmly.
Arsène seemed to notice her thoughts and smirked.
“Do I look unaffected to you?”
“…Yes.”
“Not at all.”
He grabbed her other hand and placed it over his chest.
She could feel his heartbeat thundering through him.
Ivelina stared, mouth agape.
“My heart beats like this every time I see you.”
“……”
“I love you.”
It felt like a spell.
Or perhaps he was speaking all the words he had been holding back at once.
“I love you sincerely.”
“……”
“If the man you love exists, I would kill him for you.”
The chilling words made Ivelina flinch.
“That’s a crime!”
“Then you simply must not be that man.”
She gave a bitter laugh at his confident words.
“Your Highness.”
“Why?”
Ivelina pouted.
“May I kiss you?”
“…What?”
Her mouth fell open.
His eyes were dark and intense.
She swallowed nervously.
“I want to kiss you now.”
“You… you just say such things so casually…!”
“Perhaps… not casually, exactly.”
Arsène slowly leaned closer.
“Push me away if you dislike it.”
“…I don’t.”
She couldn’t dislike it.
It was her first kiss—she was just nervous.
Ivelina squeezed her eyes shut.
Arsène didn’t hesitate and kissed her.
Their tongues tangled.
The kiss was rough and stormy, leaving Ivelina breathless.
“J-just… a little… gentler…”
At her words, Arsène pulled back and kissed her again.
This time, gentle and soft, like savoring candy.
The kiss lingered for a long while.
Only when Ivelina’s mind grew hazy did Arsène finally pull away.
He smiled, like a satisfied beast.
Ivelina exhaled sharply, glaring at him.
“I love you.”
“……”
“I love you, Your Highness.”
“Ah, fine! Stop saying it!”
Ivelina shouted, pushed him away, and strode off.
He followed quickly, not wanting to lose her.
From then on, they naturally became a couple.
Arsène, as if making up for lost time, kissed her whenever he could.
Ivelina enjoyed it too, but if they continued, she feared her lips would be ruined.
If she told him to stop, he would reluctantly agree, eyebrows drooping, looking pitiful.
Her heart softened, and she would kiss him first, saying “just for today.”
Eventually, Ivelina came of age, and Arsène naturally became her royal guard.
Years later, Arsène proposed.
Ivelina accepted without hesitation, and the palace erupted in surprise.
No one could oppose her.
She confidently received marriage approval and wed Arsène.
The kiss at their wedding marked the end of her dream.
Ivelina slowly blinked awake.
“It feels like I had a very long dream…”
Yet she couldn’t remember the details.
It wasn’t a nightmare.
As she shifted slightly, Arsène woke naturally and held her.
“Awake?”
“Yes. I feel like I had a long dream, but I can’t recall it now.”
“A bad dream?”
“No, I don’t remember, but it must have been a good one.”
Ivelina smiled.
“Good thing it wasn’t a nightmare.”
“We woke up earlier than usual, yet I don’t feel tired. Perhaps it’s because of the dream?”
“Maybe so.”
She sat up, and Arsène followed.
Then, as naturally as ever, he kissed her lips.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, Arsène.”
And so began another day, happily.
EXTRA SIDE STORY END…………………………………………
