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Chapter 22
“So that’s why. Aren’t you surprised?”
“I’ll be surprised after I hear the whole story. So? Did you pack your bags to go back to the Duke of Pond’s estate?”
“What are you talking about! Absolutely not!”
Go back—back where, exactly? I practically jumped in place.
“Father came to take me back again. So I was going to leave for a while to avoid him. That’s the only way I can stay out of his reach.”
But now that I thought about it, it really was an impulsive decision. Once my thoughts settled, I stood up with a smile.
“Come to think of it, I don’t actually need to go far away. Maybe I’ll just make a place to hide here in Faustine?”
If I hid in a tunnel or something, Father wouldn’t be able to find me anyway.
“Yeah. That’s better. Let’s hurry up and find somewhere to hide.”
Maybe because Kamin was listening so calmly, I started to feel oddly impatient. He was much more composed than I expected—so much so that I wondered, Is he really listening to me properly?
In any case, I had no intention of burdening Kamin. As I stood up and tried to pass him to leave, he rose as well.
“Wait.”
Just as I hurried to open the door, Kamin’s arm braced against it. Since I tend to rush whenever I latch onto an idea, I tilted my head and looked at him.
“Can’t we talk while moving, Kamin? I don’t know when Father might come back. We need to find a hiding place first.”
“You don’t need to hide.”
“What?”
I turned to Kamin with a puzzled expression. Wait—was this a wall slam?
Is a wall slam supposed to make your heart flutter? Or is this just adrenaline because I feel like I’m being chased?
I couldn’t tell whether my heart was racing because I liked this or because the situation itself was overwhelming. To make matters worse, Kamin moved closer, and his distinctive scent—like a deep forest—washed over me.
Oh no. My heart is really being put through the wringer today.
At this rate, I felt like my heart might actually give out.
“Riena.”
Kamin called my name. His low, gentle voice made my ears tingle.
“You still haven’t answered my confession.”
“C-confession? I mean, I can only answer that after the issue with my father is resolved—”
“I’ll protect you.”
The voice that flowed from his apricot-colored lips was deep and steady. My ears buzzed as I covered them with my hands and looked up at him.
Wow. That’s the kind of sweet voice that makes you nod without thinking.
But I couldn’t do that. I wanted to put some distance between us and talk properly, but his firm arms had me completely trapped—there was no escaping.
In the end, I swallowed hard and forced an awkward smile.
“M-my father is a duke, you know? No matter how strong you are, Kamin, there’s nothing you can do if he comes for me.”
“There are still many things I haven’t told you.”
“Huh?”
Things he hadn’t told me?
Wasn’t he just the grandson of the old lady who’s the lord of Faustine?
I blinked at his unexpected words.
I wanted to grab him and demand an explanation right away, but as Kamin continued speaking in a calm, gentle tone, I forgot even how to breathe.
“But you don’t need to worry. No matter what your father does, I’ll protect you. So don’t think about anything else—just look at me, and answer.”
Wait… no way.
It felt like I could hear my heart pounding out loud. I bit my lip tightly.
Kamin’s pale blue eyes gazed at me tenderly as he spoke.
“Go out with me—with marriage as the end goal.”
“What—! C-cough!”
I was so flustered that I started coughing.
Two proposals in one day already!
Oh my god! He’s serious!
Weren’t we just rivals over Rui-Rui—one trying to take him, the other trying not to lose him? When did things turn into this?
“Cough! Cough!”
My coughing wouldn’t stop from sheer shock. As my body shook, a rough palm touched my lips. Then a soft voice whispered right by my ear.
“Slowly.”
“…!!”
This time, I was so startled I nearly hiccupped. The blue eyes facing me curved gently.
“Cute.”
I pushed against his chest, which was way too close.
“W-wait, Kamin.”
And then I regretted it. Even through a single layer of shirt, his body heat felt far too real.
“Ugh.”
Kamin misunderstood my involuntary sound, and his eyes sharpened.
“…Is that why you’re hesitating?”
“W-what?”
“Have you still not forgotten that man?”
“Huh? No—”
“If you want, I’ll bring you his head.”
What kind of insane thing was that to say?!
Afraid he might actually do something terrible, I hurriedly waved both hands.
“N-no! There’s no need for that. I wouldn’t even know where to put it.”
At that, Kamin’s eyes narrowed again with a smile.
“True. No need to look at something so filthy. Riena only needs to look at me.”
Since when were you like this?!
Unsealed Flirting Machine Kamin was terrifyingly powerful. Not a single word went to waste.
It feels like I’m being tempted by a monster.
He’d tear my heart to shreds and then steal it away.
So flustered, my mind filled with all kinds of wild thoughts. Somehow, Kamin interpreted that as well—and his eyes gleamed dangerously.
“Then I really should bring that bastard’s head—”
Bring what head?! Do you think a human head is a cucumber or a watermelon?!
I squeezed my eyes shut and shouted.
I meant to stop Kamin—but what came out of my mouth was something completely different.
“I want to date you!! I want to go out with you too!”
Kamin’s eyes widened.
My heart pounded wildly, my face burned with heat—it felt like I might explode.
There were problems everywhere. David suddenly wanted me, Father wanted to grab me and feed me straight to David, and I didn’t know what Kamin really was—but there was no way Father would leave him alone.
But my heart is pointing this way. I love Kamin!
Love belongs to the brave.
And now was the time to be brave.
***
A sudden bang startled Liz, Kamin’s younger sister, who had left the communication device on.
—Oh my, you startled me! If I collapse, it’s your fault, brother.
“I’ll process it as an industrial accident.”
—Could you not talk like a corrupt businessman?
Without even looking at Liz, Kamin dropped heavily into his seat and buried his face in his palms.
He’d been gone all day, then suddenly showed up and acted like that. It was like he was protesting, begging someone to ask what was wrong.
But I don’t have time for that! I’ve got piles of pending matters!
Even with teleport zones letting them move back and forth, Liz was currently handling a large portion of Kamin’s workload.
She sighed inwardly.
Ah… I wish Susan would help me.
Liz thought of Susan, the twin imperial princess. It wasn’t that Susan did nothing—but her personality simply wasn’t suited for paperwork.
I should’ve sent Susan to retrieve the Ego Sword instead. No—that’s the symbol of the emperor, not something to be taken lightly. This was the best choice, Liz.
The delay in recovering the Ego Sword had been unexpected, but that only showed how important it was.
Instead of complaining, Liz decided to put Kamin to work.
—Brother? Instead of that, could you handle today’s tasks? There are a lot of issues that require your input.
“……”
No response. Liz pushed her glasses back on her nose and pressed on.
—Brother? You were gone all day. You even left Sir Ancre behind. Do you know how worried I was? So hurry up and start approving documents!
“……”
Still nothing. It felt like if she didn’t push now, he’d never answer.
Finally, Liz sighed heavily and ran a hand through her hair.
He really is a handful.
Before going to Faustine for the Ego Sword, he’d been diligent and never messed around once.
But lately, something’s really off.
Still, what could she do? She’d just have to coax him along. With forced generosity, Liz asked:
—Fine. Go on. What happened?
“…So, you see.”
Kamin finally spoke, as if he’d been waiting. Annoying—but Liz held back. She’d expected something trivial, like complaining that today’s tea-time scones tasted different.
What came out of her brother’s mouth, however, was like a bolt from the blue.
“I found a woman I want to marry.”
—What?! What did you just say?!
Liz doubted her ears. A woman? A woman?
Liz prided herself on knowing her brother better than anyone in the world.
And the Kamin she knew was someone who would marry whoever his subordinates recommended out of necessity and live a bland, lukewarm life.
But a woman?!
—It’s really a woman, right? Not a cat?
“You can’t marry a cat.”
—You never know. If His Majesty ordered you to seat a cat as empress, everyone might just accept it.
That was how little interest Kamin had in women. If even a trace of romantic instinct remained, he wouldn’t have trampled so mercilessly over countless handkerchiefs.
—Are you serious? Really, truly serious?
“Yes.”
—You didn’t let your feelings get ahead of you and cause an incident, did you?
“My feelings got ahead of me, so I’m thinking of locking up her father first.”
—What?! What are you talking about?!
The more she heard, the less Liz understood what was going on.
