Chapter 39
“Choice 1. Kiss on the lips.
Choice 2. Kiss on the eyes.
Choice 3. Kiss on the back of the hand.
Choice 4. Kiss on the forehead.”
Number 3. Let’s go with the most decent one.
“Huh?”
I took his hand and kissed the back of it. As I looked at him while doing it, I noticed his eyes were wet. Maybe because of his bright blue eyes, the redness and moisture around them were very noticeable.
“Hey!”
Then Clayton kissed my eyes.
“W-what is this?”
“You started it… so I’m just returning the favor.”
No sooner had he said that than he kissed my eyes again. Then he moved to my forehead, the bridge of my nose, my cheeks… and even rubbed his nose against mine. My heartbeat seemed deafening in my ears, and his lips were so close I could almost feel them touch.
Clayton’s breath tickled me. Our noses touched, and our lips were dangerously close. If either of us spoke, they’d probably meet instantly.
“Your Highness!”
“Damn it.”
“Pfft…!”
He looked frustrated, and it was so funny that I couldn’t help laughing.
“This isn’t over. Not like this.”
Then he grabbed my chin and kissed me.
He kissed me several times until our lips made a soft smack sound before letting go, and my face felt like it was on fire.
“Your Highness!”
“…Yeah.”
Verdin was running toward us.
“Two hours have passed already. Why didn’t you come?”
“That long?”
“Yes!”
After checking the accounts, it was revealed that Bellerophon, the chief manager, had embezzled funds.
What? This quest was this easy?
“Clayton, handle it yourself.”
“Embarrassing… I only showed my incompetence.”
“You kissed. That counts, so forget it.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
What a silly guy.
“I’ll be going back.”
“Wait, Gracie.”
“What?”
“Can I… come see you tomorrow?”
“No. You kidnapped me and ran off. Wait at least a day before coming.”
“Okay.”
Of course, I had encouraged it, but you were the one who ran off so excitedly.
“Quest! Dayrid Kingdom Citizens’ Favor Quest!
Choose one spy from the four suspects:
Choice 1. Rober
Choice 2. Bellerophon
Choice 3. Azelia
Choice 4. Mentros”
Without hesitation, I chose number 2 again.
“Warning! Are you sure you want to choose number 2?”
What’s this? A red warning window after so long.
Then the embezzler must be the spy. They probably sold information because of the money shortage.
I pressed 2 again.
“Quest failed! Penalty applied!”
“What?! Then what’s the right answer?”
“The perceived weight of your right arm is now 50kg!
▼ Time remaining until penalty removal: 23:58”
“Argh!”
I almost collapsed to the ground. My right arm felt as if someone was riding it—it was impossible to walk.
“Your Highness?”
“Crazy… what is this!”
Dragging it along, I barely managed to walk, and it felt like my back was going to snap.
“Cage event! That’s over! Give me the reward! The reward that removes the penalty!”
“Princess Your Highness?!”
“Your Highness, what’s wrong?”
“The Princess is curious about the outside of the cage, up to level IIII! (wailing storm)”
Damn it!
With Verdin’s help, I reached the castle gate, and Francis was waiting there with a scowl. His gaze was filled with clear resentment, and I felt guilty.
“I’m sorry, Sir Francis. Haha…”
I wanted to say, I’m being punished right now, so cut me some slack, but I couldn’t. My punishment and Francis being mad were separate matters.
“Your Highness…”
My arm hurt so much I was dragging it, and Verdin looked completely puzzled. Apparently, because it was “perceived weight,” only I felt the 50kg.
“Sir Francis.”
“I want to carry Your Highness too.”
Why is his focus on that? Normally, it would be, Why did you leave me behind? But now it was, Why did you leave me? I braced myself, but his question made me pause.
“Do you not want to?”
“No! I’d be delighted if Sir Francis carries me!”
I was already panicking over how to reach the main palace, so this was perfect. Good job, Francis! You really are a rescue dog. Yep.
“Carry me.”
Francis sat down, signaling me to climb onto his back, and I quickly got on. I couldn’t afford him to change his mind!
“Sir Francis.”
“Yes?”
“My arm really hurts.”
It felt like it might snap. The weight made me lean forward, so I held tightly with my left arm while letting my right arm hang loosely. But the problem was, the swinging felt like it was pressing down with 50kg.
“Does it hurt?”
“It feels like 50kg on my right arm.”
“I won’t let that stop me from being mad.”
“Seriously…”
But his tone had softened slightly, so I wondered if he was calming down a bit.
“Why did you go out?”
“I went to see Clayton’s ongoing project. Lately, I’ve been doing things to educate the citizens of Dayrid Kingdom, right?”
“….”
“They’re rebuilding the dam of the Ver River.”
“I see.”
He returned to his usual indifferent tone. Verdin, following behind, didn’t speak, and Francis, not looking burdened, walked at a brisk pace.
“Sir Francis.”
“Yes?”
“Walk a little slower. I want to be carried a bit longer.”
“….”
If I didn’t, I felt like I might die. How will I survive the day?
I opened the time window again, just in case.
“Time remaining until penalty removal: 22:01”
“Damn it.”
“Huh?”
“I dunno.”
Feeling frustrated, I hugged Francis tighter. Somehow, this was too easy. But can they really confuse people like this?
Also, I was anxious to return quickly so Francis wouldn’t be punished.
It looked like he wasn’t punished after all.
“Did your father scold you?”
“….”
Scratch that. He must have been punished.
“Oh… what punishment did he give?”
“I’m not sure.”
His voice suddenly sounded glum. Normally, this wouldn’t be a harsh punishment, but from Francis’s perspective, he was forced into being my escort. Since I ran off on my own, he must have been angry.
If I were Francis, seeing Princess Gracie, I might have… well, I couldn’t hit her, but maybe scold her verbally. Internally, at least.
“Are you sorry to me?”
“…Yes.”
“Then later…”
He started to say something but stopped. I didn’t know what he wanted to ask, but I worried it might be another strange request.
“Later, please let me receive the reward.”
“Ah… that… forget about it…”
If I asked him to forget, would he? While I hesitated, he stopped.
“You can’t forget! Bring the alcohol, definitely.”
“Yes.”
My reply sounded cheerful.
I figured Francis couldn’t really refuse anyway. No matter how much he liked my sister, he wouldn’t want to do anything with me. He’d probably regain his senses when the time comes. Right now, he thinks it’s okay because it doesn’t feel real.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
“Your arm really hurts. You’ve been moving strangely since earlier.”
“I said it hurts…”
He seemed to tremble a little, as if smiling. There was a faint freesia scent again, and it felt strange. I was getting used to it, and strangely, I didn’t hate it. What if I start to get used to the scent of the man who might go to my sister?
“Sir Francis.”
“Yes?”
“Change your perfume.”
“Why?”
“I feel like I’ll get used to this scent.”
He paused, then spoke again.
“Then I won’t change it.”
“Why not?”
“Because Your Highness wants me to get used to it.”
Right, I shouldn’t just change it as I like.
As Francis resumed walking, we neared the main palace, and in the distance, I saw Joshua with bright blonde hair and emerald-green eyes.
“Joshua?”
“Master!”
“Why aren’t you inside? It’s cold.”
“I wanted to have dinner with Master.”
Damn, with my arm like this, how am I supposed to eat?
“Uh…”
But I couldn’t refuse, because it would waste the rumors I had carefully spread about sparing Joshua.
I had turned the entire annex upside down because of that.
“Is it too bold a request?”
His expression changed, looking upset, and I couldn’t refuse. Maybe I’m really weak toward Joshua.
“Alright. I had something to say anyway, so this works out.”
He smiled brightly, his eyes curved in a cheerful way, and it looked really nice.
Yeah, my arm feels like it’s going to die from the weight, but I can eat with my left hand. If I really can’t, I’ll just ask to be fed! I’ve even vomited water before! No shame in that.
“Quest! Dinner with Joshua Dayrid!
▼ Enter Princess Gracie’s room to start the quest.
Reward: The duration to make a wish to Joshua Dayrid is extended by one week.”
Wait, it had an expiration date? What a thief!
“Instead, let’s go to my room where you’re staying!”
