'No, what are you saying all of a sudden?'

I was not yet mentally prepared for what to answer.

I had even forgotten the conversations we had before all at once.

"Hey, it was just a kiss."

But because it was so sudden, I was already instinctively sinking myself deeper.

"What does that mean?"

Before long, my body was completely buried in the chair.

"Are you trying to pretend you don't know?"

Ian slowly approached me.

"If you can't remember, wouldn't it be normal to start shouting if it were you?"

His long shadow came over me first.

It was not difficult to dodge quickly as it was, but strangely, my body stiffened.

"Did you forget?"

Ian came quite close and then stopped slowly.

"I am the person who has been watching you most consistently in this world."

Even though he hadn't touched a single fingertip of mine yet, it felt like electricity went up through my body. He whispered from a distance where even his eyelashes could be counted.

"You still don't remember?"

Of course I remember. I remembered it all the time, but it came to mind in more detail just now.

Even then, being so close, conscious of each other's tense bodies, our breaths mixed...

'...Stop thinking! Why are you reminiscing at this moment!'

But it was an atmosphere that I had no choice but to recall. For his eyes were also nailed to my lips as if he was thinking about that time too, without even trying to hide his deep desire.

'If you're going to make that kind of expression, you shouldn't have a celibate face in general.'

I felt somewhat embarrassed.

'Just like anyone else...'

Actually, when we kissed yesterday, he was like a different person.

I thought he would kiss like a polite gentleman, but then he kissed me like an animal...

'Oh, stop thinking, Annabelle Rainfield!'

Unconsciously, my nervous hand gripped the hem of my skirt.

It was then.

I couldn't see because the curtains were closed, but I could hear the voices of people passing by the garden.

"There was no room for it at the entrance of the annex."

"So they decided to put it in the garden."

"Right. With all this, the garden will be full tonight."

"I know... Everyone in the capital seems to be sending gifts."

The servants of the Duke of Wade were moving things while buzzing.

Of course, it was obvious that it all had a similar message of support.

「Annabelle ♡ Robert, don't give up on love!」

「Don't be discouraged by your status, we are supporting you from behind!」

「I sincerely support the love between Miss Annabel and Prince Robert.」

Ian's breathing could be heard as he drew closer.

The servants slowly moved away while chatting, but I swallowed dry saliva because of Ian's presence nearby.

After a moment of silence, Ian spoke in a low voice.

"It must have been a lie to say that you couldn't remember it in the first place, seeing that you couldn't answer me."

It was not a lie, but a momentary hesitation. However, Ian had unnecessarily high standards for honesty.

"You are not good at lying."

'You're sharp. You know me well.'

"But I'm not good at interrogation either."

'I see what you are doing now.'

If he didn't have the talent for interrogation, he wouldn't have been able to lead the Knights of Wade so recklessly.

"Well, even if you remember somehow."

Ian spoke slowly. However, unlike his relaxed tone of voice, his voice was as if he had suppressed a lot of desire.

There was still no contact between us. Still, it felt like my whole body was on fire.

"I thought you would avoid it like this."

I had nothing to say. I remained silent, unable to even widen the distance.

"Actually, I've been aware of you avoiding it all this time."

I should ask more questions, but his tone sounded like he knew everything.

"Even though it confuses my mind, I won't pressure you about it."

'He's like a ghost...'

"I can wait for your heart slowly. You can put up with my heart forever."

'At this time, he is still an exemplary lover...'

"But you can't leave what happened yesterday in the dust. I don't want that."

'But a guy who doesn't even avoid it...'

I could have scolded him for the confession really impulsively.

Suddenly, I realized that the atmosphere around us was strange.

A bird chirped in the distance, and there was only one place he looked at in the room.

I felt from his gaze that he wanted me, but I was still, even though I could avoid him.

With vivid memories of last night and reminiscing over and over again...

He then spoke in a cold voice.

"Besides, the common people of all capital cities are cheering for you and the Prince."

"Well... Still, it's better than you and I having a scandal. Wouldn't it be better to be crazy in front of me than to go crazy in front of everyone?"

I muttered shyly.

"Or else everyone would think you're really crazy."

"It doesn't matter. Rather, I wish for it."

Ian answered without hesitation, but I shook my head helplessly.

"When it happens, you will change your mind."

The name Ian Wade was like a sanctuary in the capital.

1st place in overwhelming swordsmanship, a reputation with no flaws, and a righteous disposition that punishes black magic even without much benefit.

No wonder Robert's approval rating would rise as soon as rumors spread that Ian was on his side.

It was a given that his name was being engulfed in gossip.

"Well."

He spoke slowly and then added with a smirk.

"No matter what rumors circulate, it would be better than the current situation."

From afar, 'Annabelle! I support your love with the Prince!' A shout was heard. His expression grew colder and colder, and a cold sweat was running down my back.

"Hey!"

I screamed at the obscene words that came out from him without blinking his eyes, but Ian responded without losing his composure.

"What? It's not like it didn't happen."

And I was forced to admit it.

"Yeah, that's right. That was great..."

"I am not lying then. And..."

There was no need to agree with Ian's upright honesty.

As I swallowed dry saliva, he looked straight into my eyes and whispered.

"I think you were swept away by the atmosphere and kissed me, but I wasn't."

Every time Ian whispered, his breath tickled my lips.

"I've been wanting that moment for quite some time, and I've been imagining it... I still can't get my mind off it." (pr/n: OHHHHH MYYYYY GODDDDD SKDJJFJC)

My whole body heated up to the point that I flinched at the sweet yet hazy tone.

"I'm not the kind of person who can kiss someone who doesn't have a heart. You should know best."

Looking at Ian's burning eyes, I stopped breathing for a moment.

'Maybe, maybe... Is Ian flirting with me now? Are you really trying to flirt with me now?'

I had never even imagined that Ian would seduce anyone.

'Ah, no, even if he is a good schoolboy with everything but a sense of humor, even his seduction skills resembles the Duke of Wade, I would be at the wedding hall soon.'

There was a time when I couldn't even answer this shocking fact.

Ian casually changed his tone and spoke.

"And thirdly, I have something my mother wants me to tell you."

Leslie had something to say to me. I quickly woke up. Even if no one knew about it, I had to listen intently to Leslie's words.

At a time when I didn't know I needed love and attention, she was the one who reached out to me without hesitation. Even though it was not intentional, she was a benefactor who allowed me to get acquainted with my biological parents.

Besides, she was the only proper teacher in my life.

"My mother is a little sick right now."

"What?"

I was startled and my eyes widened.

"Where and how? How bad is it? Since when? Are you serious?"

Ian spoke without answering my pouring questions.

"When I visited her in the morning, I said I was going to an annex, so she asked me to ask you for a favor."

"What does she need?"

When I heard that Leslie was sick, I felt impatient and anxious.

It would hurt so much if something like 'I want to see your face one last time' comes out...

"Oscar has the day off today, but she desperately wants to eat a special gingerbread cookie."

"...What?"

"If another chef makes it, it won't taste the same."

Ian continued with an expressionless expression.

"Anyway, since there is no class today, you will go visit her."

"..."

I was wrong. Leslie was a person who was always serious about eating even if she had everything.

"My mother sometimes has a sore leg that she had injured before and can't move for days, and now is that time for her."

"Uh...okay. I'll get her a gingerbread cookie and go visit her right away..."

"You."

Before I could even finish my words, Ian smiled and said.

"Huh?"

"You, Annabelle Rainfield, from the bottom of my heart."

In response to Ian's words without hesitation, I felt my ears burning red.