Chapter 98

“…..why should I…..”

“Of course! Whether you decide to have a mere bird open her heart up to you or not, Your Highness just needs to win the bet.”

As I saw the look on his face that went beyond reluctance and demanded patience, I made the goal of our bet clear.

When Rashid’s stiff expression finally softened, I reached out with both hands.

“Now, it isn’t a difficult task.”

“….”

Right before his hand touched my outstretched hands, though he seemed like he was about to grab my hands, he stopped. When he suddenly touched his sheath with his other hand, I was momentarily flustered, but I didn’t show it.

Fortunately, his red eyes came back to mine as if returning to its rightful place.

“Yes. And next, you do this….”

I began rolling my hands fumbling for empty air into waves. I smiled, knowing that though I knew he would never follow me, he would also never back down.

“If that child feels scared, she wouldn’t even come over here. You only need to lower her guard. Would you be alright if we end this without confirming who would win?

“……”

This wouldn’t be enough for a blind and deaf man like him, huh.

While I was at it, I swept my fingertips up against my cheek pointedly.

“…..Like this. Easy, right?”

“…..”

Now, please follow along with Miss Sullivan’s demonstration.

Since he was staring intently at me, he did seem to be listening to me, but being at the end of such a blatant stare was also a bit embarrassing. Though I told him calmly a few times, his eyes were still only fixed on my cheek.

“Don’t press, but…. Just ghost your hand over, like this…..”

“……”

“Hm, would this be too hard for Your Highness?”

“Nonsense.”

“Then that’s good.”

His sudden anger was no surprise to me now.

As if I’d been waiting, I spread my arm out gracefully and greeted the arrogant guest who came up the hill.

“Now, shall we try that for real?”

***

‘….Is this some kind of ceremony?’

A definite line appeared between Rashid’s eyebrows, who had been wondering how far this witch would go. Though all she had done was touch her own cheek, his cheek stung as if she had really chanted a spell on him.

“……”

He had already noticed that she was vaguely trying to provoke him.

But even if she did, she had nothing to lose.

Even without Peyton’s reports, if it had anything to do with this woman, her situations were glaringly obvious.

Really, nothing more than a shell of a ‘lazily brought in’ Duchess.

Though she was suspicious beyond just being strange, and her identity was still covered in secrets, she was nothing more and nothing less than that. That was why she’d been caught by him with nary a penny and doing something as ridiculous as this now.

Except for the fact that her obvious taunting laughs really weren’t funny, he had nothing to lose.

Whatever she did, whatever gestures she made, and…. whatever expression she made.

“I think that’s enough…..”

“Quickly. Please?”

“……”

It seemed he was touching his sword many times today.

Rashid looked at Catherine, standing there with her hands on her knees and self-deprecation mixed into her smile. The amount of tension he was putting into the corners of his lips felt unfamiliar, even to him.*

*T/N: HE’S TRYING NOT TO SMILE HAHAHA

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“Hoooo.”

Just when he was thinking he’d be able to bear it like this, the problem became more than just the person.

What in the world is that.

Behind Catherine’s skirt, a random goose was backing away.

“…..That thing.”

Didn’t it just make eye contact with me.

Unless his mind had turned strange because he’d been around the witch for too long—no. That was the only explanation. Because this was the first time he had ever even heard of a goose stepping back from something.

“Catherine, that thing just clearly….”

“Your Highness, don’t you remember?”

“…..”

Like this.

Glancing sideways at the goose, Catherine first nodded her head like she was extending her courtesy to it.

As expected of a witch, the way she slightly bent her knees was as graceful as a picture and just as captivating.

“…..”

Then, surprisingly, the awkwardly frozen goose approached him.

To think there wasn’t a single normal bird at this nuisance of a lake.

He didn’t like the way it waddled closer to him while limping on one leg.

‘If this is how you live, then at least raise a proper animal or something.’

Pressing a bent finger above his eyebrow, Rashid swallowed a deep sigh.

Even now, the lady may not be talking with her mouth, but she was gesturing towards the goose with her two hands held together humbly, to the point of being almost subservient. That too made him upset.

“That’s going a bit too far. If anything, I can rather get a new….”

“Your. Highness.”

“…..”

As clearly as she spoke, the movements of her bright red lips cutting up her words became more distinct.

Closing his eyes shut, Rashid supported his temples. When he reopened his eyes, the goose was bowed down at his ankle.

“…..it’s dea—”

“Your Highness.”

Please, just please!