TMOWM~92

Chapter 92

When leaving the capital, there had been no time to take in the surroundings; everything had to be done stealthily.

At night, they often camped under strict security, and during the day, there wasn’t even time for bathroom breaks while traveling. But now, there was a completely different sense of leisure.

Moreover, there was no need for the secretive camping they had done to avoid people. They could stop at multiple towns and stay comfortably in inns. Of course, they always booked at least two rooms.

Hider stayed with the knights who came along, and I always had a room to myself.

“Lani, if you’re scared or uneasy, it’s fine to share a room with me.”

“I’m not fine with that. I’m not scared at all.”

Hider didn’t know that the one I needed to be wary of the most was myself.

In the town they were staying in today, a summer festival was in full swing. The heat seemed to be chased away by the fervor of the festival.

Since they had come into town anyway, they decided to check out the festival.

Yes, it was better to be somewhere crowded.

Hider offered me sugar-coated candy, the kind where sugar is melted, colored, and hardened. Because of the heat, the outer layer was sticky.

I took it and put it in my mouth.

“…Ugh.”

It was a taste that made me shiver involuntarily. It felt like sugar rushing through my body. Hider frowned as he spit out what he had tasted.

“You’re still picky, aren’t you, Master?”

“It’s not pickiness. I just think it’s impressive that you can eat this.”

Hider drank the beverage he had bought along.

“Still, isn’t it much better than the supplements you used to eat?”

Being in such a place together eased the tension. Past memories bubbled up. It might have been the delicious smells that tickled my nose and the laughter of people around.

“More than that… I first thought you came to kill me with poison.”

Hider curved his handsome lips gently. Multiple lights glimmered in his red eyes, like rubies streaked with gold. It was mesmerizing. I shook my head, trying to bring myself back to reality.

Focus.

[Just his gaze alone could captivate a man…]

Am I crazy? Get out of here. Now.

I frantically rubbed my status window, and luckily, the skill activation was canceled.

What on earth triggers this? I was just looking at Hider.

I exhaled deeply. It seemed like the status window wanted to play matchmaker. Maybe it was rebelling against my forceful cancellation, because a new notification appeared:

[Just his gaze alone can captivate a man Lv.3]
[Skill has been upgraded]

…Alright, just don’t make eye contact.

I fixed my gaze forward. At this rate, I might become a femme fatale in an instant. I could have all the men in the world kneel at my feet. Am I wishing for that?

While I was lost in thought, Hider spoke.

“Did Karte come while I was away? Is your departure related to that?”

I could feel Hider’s gaze from the side. Absolutely no eye contact.

“It’s not entirely unrelated.”

I had stepped aside for the heroine and Hider’s happy romance.

But where was the heroine? Was it canceled because Hider returned late? And without the heroine, what would happen to the corrupted World Tree?

So many questions, so many things I wanted to ask, yet there was nothing I could actually say. I couldn’t recklessly reveal spoilers from the original story. Hider surely knew that the source of corruption caused the outbreak, at least.

Suddenly, thoughts crowded my mind.

“What’s the other reason? The way I know you, you wouldn’t leave my side.”

“You’ve got the wrong idea, Master. I could leave anytime…”

At that moment, my cheek was grabbed.

Hider swiftly turned my head, and our eyes met squarely.

[Just his gaze alone can captivate a man Lv.3]

I hurriedly tried to close my eyes, but Hider spoke in a half-sigh.

“That can’t be true, Lani.”

He furrowed his brow slightly and came closer. Our breaths mingled.

My skill seemed to synchronize with him—Hider’s gaze became intoxicating. It wasn’t me seducing him with my gaze; it was Hider. Could he kiss me?!

[Lips that summon a kiss Lv.1]

I felt his eyes trace my lips.

I swallowed hard. The gaze of a man seeing a woman. I froze, eyes wide.

I’m a maid! And he is a future duke!

I should have shouted that out, yet strangely, my mouth wouldn’t open.

“You can’t leave me.”

Hider’s voice dropped even lower. His long eyelashes cast a seductive shadow. I swallowed hard again. It felt as if his gaze would set my lips on fire.

[Lips that summon a kiss Lv.2]

Why is it leveling up again? What’s the criteria?

“Ah… I won’t leave.”

More precisely, I couldn’t leave. At this rate, something might actually happen.

“I won’t, Master. So please… stop.”

I tried to push Hider away, but his fingers gently brushed against my lips.

Hider sighed softly.

“There’s a sweet scent on your lips.”

Well, I had just eaten that sugar candy. I bit down hard to stop the fiery sensation.

Hider added with a sigh, “I bet it tastes good.”

Aaah! I grabbed Hider’s shoulder and jumped back. Hider looked at me in surprise.

“M-Master hates sweets! It can’t possibly taste good! Really, it’s awful!”

This was all the status window’s doing. Hider was flirting with me!

Hider’s eyes squinted in laughter, enjoying the moment. When we returned to the capital, I’d be staying at Katierone.

Is this… okay?

Somehow, I felt like I wasn’t conquering him—it might be me who gets conquered.

Hider had truly become a man. A man capable of desiring a woman. My heart raced and my head felt dizzy.

Lani and Hider safely arrived at the Katierone townhouse.

News of their arrival drew the Katierone people out. Even Herden peeked through the office window.

“Welcome back, Master.”

Those words were accompanied by Lady Ruella’s gaze fixed on me.

I gave an awkward smile and bowed.

“Long time no see, Lady Ruella. How have you been?”

“…Yes. I’m glad you’re safe. I wish you had told us before leaving.”

As I smiled awkwardly, Hider gently pressed against my back, as if encouraging me.

I endured the ticklish touch, but then saw a face that shouldn’t be here.

Karte? What is that madman doing here?

In terms of madness, he was no less than the status window. I couldn’t forget the threatening look from the last time.

“Long time no see, Lani.”

Karte smiled widely.

“If I had known you’d leave, I wouldn’t have let you stay here. You probably came back to enforce your promise, right? Could it be…”

Karte’s gaze shifted to Hider.

“You didn’t come back for that half-baked guy. Now that you’re grown, you know who to choose, right?”

He reached toward me, as if to grab my wrist.

Then—

“Eek!”

The hand, muddy with soil, was blocked by a sickle. I screamed and stepped back.

“You should be more careful, Master. Seems like the lady doesn’t want it.”

The voice was tinged with a strange emotion. I turned to see the owner of the voice.

D-Dania?

Dania lowered her sickle with a cold expression.

“Do you want to get hit by a blind sickle?”

Karte glared at Dania. That wasn’t bluffing. Dania could have actually struck his hand with the sickle. I swallowed hard.

So this is what it means to turn dark…