Chapter 55
How Far Can Affection Go?
“Y-Your Highness! What’s wrong? Are… you cold? Shall I close the window for you?”
“Ah, no. It’s just… this time there’s an insect… ahem… I really despise insects…”
“Oh my, I see. Rather than trying to get rid of it, you prefer to avoid it… Your Highness, you truly have such a delicate nature. Hohoho.”
“Ahem, I appreciate you saying that.”
“No, Your Highness. Though this is the first time I’ve met you, the praise I’ve heard about you beforehand seems justified… You are truly… so elegant, so handsome…”
“Miss Morientes, what do you think of a loveless arranged marriage?”
Diego, tired of the cliché compliments, cut Alicia off and asked bluntly.
‘Marriage? Oh my! He’s talking about marriage the moment we meet! Could it be that he already likes me? Am I going to become a princess? Oh no, what do I do!’
“Your Highness, in marriages between families, priorities often outweigh love. My family is prepared to dedicate everything for the royal house. Moreover, as husband and wife… living together, closeness may even cultivate love where there was none before…”
“Huh, I see.”
‘Did you hear that, Ximena? Even a young lady like her doesn’t reject a royal marriage for family advantage, talking about love like a naive child! So why!’
Diego clenched the arms of his chair and furrowed his brows.
“Your Highness, may I ask you something?”
“Ahem. Of course. Ask me anything, Miss Morientes.”
“Do you have a particular type of woman you’re drawn to? In looks… personality…?”
“Hmm… I suppose not particularly… but in appearance… somewhat curvaceous…”
Upon hearing “curvaceous,” Alicia suddenly straightened her back and subtly pushed her chest forward.
“While having a small face… but large eyes…”
She puckered her lips slightly, making her cheeks slimmer, and widened her eyes.
“Personality… very gentle… modest…”
She clasped her hands demurely, turned slightly to the side, lowered her gaze shyly, and tried to smile,
“…though perhaps… someone a bit daring, with a rough side… could also be attractive…”
‘Wha—! Daring… rough?’
Clang!
“Your Highness!!”
“W-What is it!”
Suddenly, Alicia climbed across the table, lunged at Diego, and pressed her head against his chest.
“Ah! Honestly, the moment I saw Your Highness, I thought my heart would stop! I am now yours! I am your woman! Ahhh, take me as you please!”
“Has this woman lost her mind! How dare she—”
“Kyaaah!”
Diego roughly pushed Alicia off onto the floor.
Bang!
“What’s going on here?!”
“Your Majesty!”
“E-Empress!”
The Empress, who had stepped aside expecting the two to have some private conversation, froze in shock at Alicia’s scream and burst into the room.
“Diego, what on earth are you doing?!”
“Your Majesty! This prim and proper young lady? Where on earth did you find such a vulgar woman? Not even an hour after meeting me, she lunges at the man claiming me as hers!”
“What did you say? Alicia! Is that true?”
Sob! “Your Majesty… it’s… it’s…”
Thrown to the floor, Alicia could only whimper without explaining.
“Even the famed enchantress Princess Silvester wasn’t this outrageous! This is truly unbelievable! Miss Morientes! If you value your family’s reputation, you’d better make sure I never see you again! I shall be leaving now, Your Majesty!”
“No, Diego! Child! Your Highness!”
Bang!
“Sob! I’ve committed an unforgivable sin, Your Majesty. Please forgive me. I, I… sob…”
“Ugh! Someone, take this girl away!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Here’s some warm tea. Please, take your time talking.”
Sophia placed tea cups on the table for Ximena and Kylian and quietly stepped aside.
‘Hmm? This scent…’
Kylian picked up a cup with a familiar aroma, sipped, and smiled pleasantly.
“Isn’t this chaga mushroom tea?”
“Yes… I heard that the Marquis… no, that you like it…”
“Huh, news travels fast.”
“Yes… the world is quick, isn’t it? Haha.”
“Hehe… though late, having tea like this, I suppose today’s date ends perfectly as you said?”
“Oh? Now that you mention it… yes, I suppose it does.”
Ximena blinked in surprise at him while drinking her tea.
Kylian looked at her softly and asked,
“Ximena, I haven’t heard your answer to my proposal yet.”
“Ah… well, Kyl. I was quite shocked. Why are you suddenly asking for an engagement? Our ‘contract’ was supposed to prevent a scandal and stop the prince’s proposal. This… is just too much.”
“I understand. Which is why it’s necessary. Just wandering through crowded places has its limits. If we engage officially and hold a ceremony, Prince Diego will have no choice but to give up. And if he rejects the royal proposal and returns to me, your loyalty will improve your reputation even more.”
“But… that only benefits me. It’s too much for you. And what if…”
“What if… you fall in love? Is that your worry?”
‘Of course. Even in the original, after using the staircase incident as an excuse to engage, Ximena’s obsession grows because of Ines, eventually leading to a breakup… Still, engagement and breakup aren’t child’s play…’
“…Yes. I don’t think this is necessary to that extent…”
“If you fall in love, I will step aside cleanly. I will never use this engagement to bind you. I swear on my name and title that this engagement is not for your family’s wealth or military power.”
“Kyl…”
Ximena was speechless, staring at him with his unwavering, serious eyes.
“Also, this wish doesn’t endanger your life, nor is it humiliating, like writing your name with your… behind in public. You promised not to argue about such things, didn’t you?”
“Ah, no, why bring up my behind in the middle of a serious discussion? That was a joke, not an actual wish example.”
“Hmm… really? I had already considered it as my second wish.”
Kylian pretended to be serious, teasing.
“R-Really? Covering my behind in ink?”
Pfft! He burst out laughing at Ximena’s horrified expression.
Muttering, Ximena said,
“See? A bit… perverted…”
“Oh! Again!”
“Ah! Sorry.”
“Ahem. Then, I shall take it as your consent and leave.”
“Wait! Hold on!”
Ximena grabbed his sleeve as he rose, and he took her hand and gently kissed it, smiling.
“You have no choice in this. You should have thought carefully before setting conditions.”
“What if… I want to stop the contract relationship? After all, it was my idea, and honestly, it’s selfish…”
“Useless. As they say, no second thoughts with one word.”
“Eh? But… well…”
Kylian furrowed his brows seriously.
“It’s too late. The contract cannot be broken. Besides, I’ve spent the day acting affectionately with you in public; if you change your attitude now, how will people see me?”
“Really… are you okay with being tied up like this? My reputation could suffer, and relations with the royal house could worsen.”
“‘Tied up,’ huh… interesting phrasing. Hmph, don’t worry about me. I might even be rumored as the gallant man who took responsibility for the woman who fell down the stairs and broke her nose.”
“Eh? Kyl! Really!”
When Ximena raised a hand to hit Kylian’s chest, he caught it, slowly placed both hands on her neck, and embraced her waist.
“Uh… K-Kyl…”
“I’m curious: how far can affection go in a contract relationship?”
“…Aff-Affection?”
“Yes.”
Kylian hugged her waist and looked down with a teasing gaze.
“Well… enough to appear as lovers. Linking arms, holding hands…”
“Isn’t that common even when escorting someone? Would they really believe we’re lovers?”
“…I suppose? Then… ah! Matching outfits!”
“Hmm?”
“We wear the same clothes! Many couples do that.”
“The same clothes… you mean… I wear a dress?”
“Oops, right. Then how about I wear the same clothes as you?”
“Then… we’d just look like knights. Everyone dresses the same.”
“…True. Then… how can we really look like lovers?”
Seeing Ximena excited and then quickly sulking, Kylian chuckled.
“For example, this.”
Smooch!
He lifted her chin and lightly kissed her forehead.
“Is this allowed?”
“K-Kyl…”
Ximena’s face flushed in embarrassment.
“Hmm?”
‘Yeah… a forehead kiss… I do that with Mari too.’
“…Yes. That’s fine.”
“And this?”
Smooch!
This time, he kissed her cheek lightly.
“Kyl!”
Her eyes widened in shock.
“Why so surprised? You don’t do this with lovers?”
“No, but… we’re not real… just pretending…”
“Then all the more reason to do it properly. Do you think deceiving others is easy?”
‘…Of course, I’ve acted in undercover investigations before, but… this much?’
“You’re easily distracted. Much practice is needed.”
He pretended to be serious, frowning.
“Practice?”
“Yes. I put in this effort for your reputation, yet you can’t immerse yourself, showing so little sincerity.”
“Y-Yes… sorry…”
Ximena looked down shyly.
“The Beast Hunting Tournament is about to start. Before the tournament, the palace will hold another banquet to sponsor events. You must practice beforehand to act convincingly in front of nobles, especially Prince Diego.”
