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chapter 44
It was just a simple peck on the lips.
But considering that Teansis and I weren’t even dating, and I hadn’t asked for his permission, doing it unilaterally carried a very particular meaning.
Teansis’s handsome face was right in front of me. I could see his violet eyes trembling, consumed by an unidentifiable heat.
‘Am I… insane?’
Even if I had wanted to sit next to Teansis, this was too much. To steal a kiss without his consent!
It was truly an impulsive mistake, done without thinking. I quickly moved away from Teansis, stumbling over my words.
“Ah, well, what I mean is… first, I should apologize…”
“What are you trying to apologize for?”
Teansis’s expression changed. Earlier, he had been endlessly kind, but now he looked like molten lava ready to erupt.
Maybe it was because we had just kissed, but his presence exuded a strong masculinity.
Like a flower that carries poison, it was dangerous and alluring, making it impossible not to be drawn in.
“You have a bad habit, Lady. You set someone’s heart on fire and then pretend nothing happened.”
“Huh? When did I—”
“I don’t know what you intend to apologize for in this situation, but whatever it is, don’t do it. Apologizing won’t make what happened disappear.”
“B-but still…”
“Take responsibility.”
“Eh?”
With that, Teansis stepped closer. The more I leaned back, the narrower the space between us became.
If he lowered his head, our lips would almost touch.
“This is my first kiss.”
“Wha—?”
I looked up at him, surprised. I never expected someone so popular to have not experienced a first kiss yet.
My heart pounded.
I had stolen Teansis’s first kiss!
It felt like being the greatest thief on the continent—because I had taken Teansis’s first kiss.
It was a bittersweet glory for me, but at the same time, I felt guilty toward him.
“I-I really didn’t know. I thought a light kiss like this was something kids might do once or twice…”
I was trying to smooth things over, but his eyes grew sharper.
“Have you done this with anyone else?”
“Huh?”
“This kind of kiss, have you done it with someone else as a child?”
Slowly, Teansis leaned closer.
I swallowed hard. No matter how many times I saw him, his beauty was dangerously striking.
“Who? Other than me, who else have you kissed?”
His lips moved closer. His low whisper was intoxicating, almost making me confess childhood secrets I hadn’t thought of in years.
“This isn’t fair. How will you take responsibility?”
“I-I… how should I…?”
“This is too unfair. Should we do it again?”
“Eh? Do what…?”
“What you just did. It was too short.”
At the same moment, Teansis’s eyes curved into a mischievous smile. It felt like he was teasing me, yet the intensity in his gaze left me frozen.
I couldn’t even exhale properly as I stared at him.
Thump-thump-thump-thump!
My heart raced so loudly it felt like it would burst. I worried something might go wrong.
Just as his lips were about to touch mine—
‘Kuh! Let go! Let go…!’
I heard Ruru’s strained voice.
Startled, I reflexively glanced behind Teansis. He furrowed his brows slightly and released Ruru, who immediately ran into my arms.
‘Your Majesty, he was covering my mouth so I couldn’t speak!’
“…Huh?”
Teansis had been holding Ruru behind him all this time. I couldn’t imagine him preventing Ruru from interrupting our conversation.
When I looked at him questioningly, he acted as if he didn’t know anything.
‘That despicable man!’
Ruru trembled in anger, but I was still in shock. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. If Ruru hadn’t been there, what might have happened between Teansis and me?
My face heated at the thought.
I avoided Teansis’s eyes, and Ruru, staring at me in disbelief, asked bluntly:
‘Your Majesty, just to be clear… it seemed like you stole his lips first. Right?’
Her straightforward question made my face burn even more.
I couldn’t answer immediately, and Ruru stared at me in astonishment.
‘Really? Really? Do you like him? Since when?’
“I-I’ll tell you later… but you guessed right.”
I answered while sneaking a glance at Teansis. He couldn’t understand Ruru, but he could hear me. If I told Ruru I liked him, she might figure out the conversation.
Teansis looked at both of us quietly and said:
“I guess bringing that cat along wasn’t a good idea after all.”
His words treating Ruru as a nuisance made my face burn even hotter. I couldn’t help imagining what might have happened between Teansis and me if she hadn’t interfered.
Could it be that Teansis regretted being interrupted by Ruru?
My imagination ran wild, all in a very favorable direction.
Seeing me standing awkwardly from the kiss, Teansis suddenly reached out his hand.
I didn’t know what it meant, so I looked at him. He gazed at me warmly and said:
“I’m telling you in advance: don’t think you can run away without taking responsibility. I’m not letting you go yet. So stay with me a little longer.”
Teansis holding out his hand looked incredible.
Suddenly, I remembered dancing with him on the ship during the festival—a precious, happy memory I would treasure forever.
Without answering, I smiled faintly and took his hand.
I walked with Teansis along the landscaped paths of the Kamar Academy, leaving the old dormitory behind.
Since we were walking along a less crowded path, no one else was around.
I carried little Ruru in my arms. Teansis looked slightly displeased and said:
“Isn’t that heavy? Give her to me.”
“No. And her name is Ruru.”
We both knew Ruru wasn’t a simple cat, but a monster.
Teansis glanced at her nonchalantly.
“You even gave it a name?”
“Yes. Without a name, it’s hard to call her.”
“Don’t forget that just because she looks like a cat doesn’t mean she’s an ordinary pet.”
Teansis remained cautious about Ruru—or rather, the monster.
Ruru turned her head away, expressing her dislike for Teansis.
I looked between the two of them.
“Still, please call her by her name. I think I’ll need to leave Ruru with you for a while.”
Immediately, both of them looked at me with clear reluctance, as if they had an unspoken agreement.
“What’s the reason?”
‘No! I refuse!’
I patted Ruru gently and looked at Teansis with an embarrassed expression.
“If I take Ruru back to my dorm, the professor will find out. He knows her true identity, and it could be dangerous.”
Teansis reluctantly agreed, though he didn’t seem thrilled.
“Leaving her with me is fine. If it weren’t for you, I’d have kept her from the start. It’s just a bit inconvenient not being able to treat her carelessly.”
Ruru muttered back, undeterred.
‘Ha, anyone would think I’m being pampered.’
Despite their dislike for each other, they seemed to get along reasonably well. Ruru had grown a bit plumper, and seemed to be eating better.
“Since Ruru isn’t an ordinary cat, you’re the only one I can leave her with. I apologize, but please take care of her a little longer.”
“Like I said, leaving her with me isn’t a problem. But why you’re with the alchemy professor is what I don’t understand.”
Teansis’s voice dropped slightly.
I was momentarily speechless. From his perspective, it made sense to be curious. I was lying about not being Zer’s niece.
“….”
I couldn’t say anything. I didn’t want to lie further, nor could I tell the truth.
Ruru looked at me curiously but didn’t ask anything, perhaps noticing my dark expression.
Teansis looked at me and continued:
“Is there a reason you can’t tell me?”
“…Yes.”
His violet eyes flicked to the faint bruise on my neck from Nick. I subconsciously covered it with my hand.
“Are you being threatened by the professor? Are you really okay?”
I nodded quickly.
I didn’t want to worry him. The contract with Zer was my problem, and he couldn’t intervene.
“I’m fine. Today, the dresses were chosen by the maids of the Fredof Marquis. Since it’s my day to enter Kamar Academy, they were careful. Aren’t they pretty?”
Trying to show him I was okay, I babbled on. Then I heard a small, unexpected laugh.
Looking up, Teansis said softly:
“Beautiful.”
I didn’t expect such a response and froze.
He continued, calmly but earnestly:
“So beautiful, I was surprised. The maids of the Fredof family have an eye for detail, it seems.”
I blushed. I hadn’t expected to be complimented like that so directly.
“I don’t know what you’re hiding, but don’t forget my warning: the alchemy professor isn’t trustworthy. If you need help, tell me anytime. I’ll come to your aid, whenever, wherever.”
His words were more reassuring than anything.
I looked at Teansis with grateful eyes, feeling a warm, fluttering emotion in my chest.
“Thank you, Duke. That alone makes me so happy.”
My eyes stung, but I smiled brightly. Just hearing that from him was comforting.
Teansis looked at me, momentarily at a loss for words, then reached out and patted my head.
Somehow, his ears seemed slightly redder than before.
“Don’t smile like that around others.”
Valkanus Empire Royal Palace
An elderly woman with pale white hair, wearing a dazzling crown and sitting elegantly, was the Empress Dowager.
The power of the Empress Dowager, mother of the emperor, was immense. Much of the Valkanus Empire flowed according to her will.
Kaleska Blunt Valkanus.
The Empress Dowager, who wielded power equal to the emperor.
Penil, the chief maid of the Empress Dowager’s palace, approached cautiously. As the wife of the Dreshankar Marquis and a social powerhouse, she spoke carefully:
“Your Majesty, as instructed, I have investigated the recent situation regarding Marquis Fredof.”
Kaleska gave a silent glance.
The weight of her gaze was overwhelming, so Penil lowered her head and spoke clearly:
“It seems there were losses when a laboratory at Kamar Academy burned down recently. Additionally, the Marquis suddenly brought his niece, causing a stir in high society.”
“…Niece?”
“Yes. While Marquis Fredof wouldn’t make such claims without reason, my investigation revealed several suspicious points.”
“Hmm.”
Kaleska tapped the armrest of her chair—a habit when she was thinking.
“If the laboratory burned down, they should have reported to me immediately. Why didn’t they this time?”
Penil replied carefully:
“Shall we summon Marquis Fredof to the palace?”
Kaleska shook her head after a moment.
“No. For now, the experiment is more important. Send a note telling him to report the results when ready. He asked the Acruze family to send a monster to Kamar Academy, but if there’s no progress, it will be disappointing.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Penil bowed and quickly left to draft the letter.
Alone, Kaleska muttered with an unreadable expression:
“…We must complete the experiment to achieve the goals of the Valkanus Empire.”
