ITSND 12

Chapter 12

“M-My face…?”

Avoiding Theo’s teasing smile as best she could, Liriope answered.

A quiet chuckle escaped Theo’s lips.

His relaxed, calm laughter was unexpectedly pleasant to hear, and before she knew it, Liriope found herself speaking as though under a spell.

“Your laugh sounds really nice too.”

“Hmm?”

Theo let the sound linger as if he hadn’t expected that answer, then laughed softly again.

Perhaps it was his attitude that made all of Liriope’s tension melt away like snow.

Turning to face him completely, she continued with sparkling eyes.

“Actually… your body is nice too.”

“…My body?”

“Yes. You’re much more muscular than His Highness the Crown Prince, aren’t you? I prefer crazy chocolate abs like yours over those tall, skinny model physiques.”

Once she started talking, the words poured out without passing through any sort of mental filter.

The image of Theo’s abs that appeared in her imagination blended with the flawless physique sitting right in front of her, sending her thoughts racing far beyond reason.

As a result, Liriope’s mouth continued moving recklessly.

“And after coming here, I realized your hands are exactly my type too. I don’t like men’s hands when they’re just pale and delicate. But I don’t like them overly rough with veins bulging everywhere either. Yours are perfectly in between. They look really nice.”

Theo’s expression was gradually becoming stiffer and stiffer.

Unfortunately…

Liriope’s mouth showed no signs of stopping.

“And I’ve always had a thing for black hair, so— Ah.”

Fortunately…

Or perhaps unfortunately…

She finally stopped herself.

The instant she pointed at Theo’s black hair and their eyes met, she abruptly clamped her mouth shut.

She had enthusiastically blurted out everything that came to mind.

Just moments ago, she’d even called him “Theo” without adding any honorific.

And then she’d confessed to having a weakness for black-haired men.

She sounded completely insane.

Having absolutely no idea how to salvage the situation, Liriope rapidly blinked and bit her lower lip.

Theo stared at her in disbelief.

Then, after blinking a few times himself, he cleared his throat.

Almost defensively…

He folded his arms.

Both of his ears, sticking out just enough to be noticeable, had turned an unmistakable shade of red.

Liriope immediately realized he was embarrassed.

It was probably because of everything she’d said about his “chocolate abs.”

Or…

Maybe he’d mistaken her for some kind of pervert who had secretly seen his body somewhere.

Quickly, she rushed to explain.

“N-No, I haven’t actually seen your body, Theo. I just imagined it… imagined it.”

The moment she admitted she’d imagined it…

It somehow sounded even more perverted.

She bit her lip again.

Theo also seemed caught off guard by that confession.

He leaned farther back into the carriage seat, putting as much distance between them as possible.

His arms remained tightly crossed.

Seriously…

Her mouth always became impossible to control whenever she got excited.

“I-I’m not a pervert. Please don’t misunderstand. I’ve never seen you naked, and it’s not like I imagined you like… that…”

She did her best to explain in the smallest voice possible.

Yet…

The more she spoke…

The deeper she seemed to dig her own grave.

Still, she couldn’t think of any other excuse.

“So when I said I imagined it… I absolutely didn’t mean I was mentally taking your clothes off one piece at a time like some kind of—”

“Enough.”

Thankfully…

Theo cut off her increasingly ridiculous explanation.

“You don’t have to say any more.”

“Ah… okay.”

Liriope nodded immediately.

Her face felt so hot it might burst into flames.

She didn’t even need a mirror to know she’d turned as red as a tomato.

Theo, who still looked slightly flustered by everything she’d blurted out without thinking, rubbed one eyebrow with his index finger while looking out the carriage window.

For a brief moment…

An awkward silence filled the carriage.

“…Ahem.”

Theo was the first to break it.

He looked as though he wanted to say something, then cleared his throat once before speaking.

Liriope looked at him.

His dark eyes met hers directly.

“If you want to see it, you only have to ask.”

“…Huh?”

Liriope’s eyes widened slightly.

Theo scratched the end of one eyebrow with his index finger, wearing a somewhat troubled expression.

There was also the faintest trace of amusement hidden within it.

“You don’t have to resort to those perverted fantasies.”

“I can show it to you whenever you want.”

Liriope’s eyebrows shot upward immediately.

…I told you it wasn’t a perverted fantasy, you idiot.

By the time she’d spent what felt like forever insisting she’d never imagined Theo naked like some kind of pervert…

They had arrived in the bustling shopping district.

Theo stepped down from the carriage first and, with perfect manners, extended his hand toward her.

The same man who had irritated her the entire carriage ride by insisting it was perfectly normal for everyone to imagine dirty things…

Suddenly became the perfect gentleman whenever it came time to escort a lady.

Taking his hand, Liriope climbed down from the carriage.

The unfamiliar scenery immediately widened her eyes.

The commercial district of this fantasy world looked almost exactly like the bustling streets she’d seen illustrated in webtoons.

Rows upon rows of shops lined both sides of the street.

People hurried busily past one another.

Commoner children darted between them, laughing and playing.

Despite seeing it for the first time…

It somehow felt strangely familiar.

“Do you know where it is?”

Standing beside her while surveying the surroundings, Theo asked.

Liriope shook her head.

“I don’t know the exact location. I just know it’s next to… that general store?”

“Do you know how many general stores there are around here?”

“There was a potion shop across from it.”

“The Battle Gear District?”

“Ah… I think that’s it.”

“You’re buying tea leaves in the Battle Gear District?”

Theo looked at her in confusion.

Liriope looked back up at him.

Since he was nearly two heads taller than she was, she had to tilt her head back quite a bit.

“Well… it isn’t something they normally sell. It’s kind of like… a bakery owner secretly selling fish on one corner of the bread display.”

Theo nodded once.

Then he started walking.

Liriope quickly followed.

“You know where we’re going?”

“If it’s the Battle Gear District, I know it well.”

“Ah.”

She nodded in understanding.

Just then…

“Ripe.”

Theo called her nickname.

At the same moment, he grabbed her arm and pulled her against his chest.

In an instant…

Liriope found herself practically wrapped in Theo’s embrace.

Her eyes flew open in shock.

A carriage sped past right beside her.

“Are you alright?”

Theo looked down at her.

For some reason, Liriope’s heart pounded so violently it felt ready to leap out of her chest.

Instead of answering…

She simply nodded.

All she’d done was lean against Theo for a moment.

So why was her heart pounding loudly enough to make her ears ring?

Was it because his chest was much firmer than she’d imagined?

Because of the faint scent coming from him?

Or because of the warmth of his body against hers?

Whatever the reason…

Her heart felt as though it might actually explode.

“Ripe… are you really alright?”

D-Don’t call me that, you idiot.

My heart already feels like it’s going to burst.

You’re only making it worse.

Feeling as though she might actually stop breathing, Liriope hurriedly stepped out of Theo’s arms and inhaled desperately.

“Ripe?”

Theo kept calling her by that ridiculous nickname without the slightest awareness.

Unable to take it anymore, Liriope hurried straight ahead without looking back.

Theo followed after her, continuing to call her.

“Are you really alright? Did I scare you?”

Liriope shook her head vigorously and walked even faster.

After walking for a while…

Theo, who had been following her with concern, suddenly grabbed her arm.

Naturally, she turned back toward him.

“Not that way.”

“…Ah.”

Liriope glanced toward the road she’d been heading down and let out a tiny gasp.

Theo looked down at her with a curious expression.

His gaze felt strangely intense.

But Liriope couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes.

She simply stared at the street she’d nearly wandered into while he still held her arm.

Apparently finding her behavior suspicious…

Theo tilted his head.

Instinctively, Liriope turned toward him.

Their eyes met immediately.

“Ripe.”

“…Yes?”

“Your face is red.”

Instantly…

Liriope covered both cheeks with her hands.

“I-I’m just startled! That’s all!”

Theo chuckled quietly.

“You’re not imagining strange things just because I held you for a moment, are you?”

I told you I’m not imagining anything weird!

She desperately resisted the urge to shout.

Instead, she simply glared up at him.

Theo straightened his tilted head and murmured thoughtfully,

“If that’s the case…”

“It almost makes me believe what you said.”

“…W-What do you mean?”

Curiosity overcoming her embarrassment, Liriope lowered her hands from her cheeks.

Theo’s lips curved into a beautiful smile.

“That you really do like me.”