I opened my mouth in place of Kishian, who had been frozen for a long time.
"Do you not like it?"
Kishian, who had finally come to his senses at the question directed at him, twitched his lips.
I watched the movement of those lips nervously.
'Are you thinking of being sarcastic again?'
Normally, he wouldn't say anything negative about a woman who was going to be his wife wearing a dress, but that man had a chance of doing so.
In the first place, isn't he a man who doesn't treat his wife like a wife?
So I waited nervously for Kishian's answer.
Surprisingly, he didn't laugh.
Instead, he approached me without saying a word, making me even more nervous.
“Kishian?”
Kishian looked down at me, who was swallowing my saliva quietly, with slightly blurry eyes.
"Ribbon."
"...Yes?"
"I'll tie it up for you. Turn around."
Only then did I realize that my waist ribbon was still untied.
As I was about to tie it up, Kishian barged in without permission, so I still haven't been able to tie it up.
Since there was a ribbon at the back of my waist, it was difficult to tie it myself, so it would have been a good thing if someone else had tied it for me.
The maids were all out, as if they didn't want to disturb our time together, so there wasn't really anyone I could ask for favors.
However, the fact that the opponent is Kishian...
"Hurry."
As I was hesitating because I felt a little uneasy, Kishian urged me in a low voice.
After letting out a sigh. I slowly turned around.
"..."
As I was about to turn around, my heart started pounding for no reason.
He just turned around and said he would tie a ribbon for me.
His gaze was stinging as it touched my exposed nape.
I swallowed dryly again and muttered something.
"It's okay if you just tie it roughly. I just need to make sure it matches."
He didn't answer, which made my mouth dry out even more.
While tying the ribbon, Kishian didn't say a word.
He simply pulled and tied the white ribbon around my waist with a gentle hand.
That's why I could clearly sense his gentle and faint touch.
Only after he had pulled the tied ribbon taut one last time did he open his mouth.
"Isn't it too tight?"
"No, it's just right. Thank you for tying it up."
Finally, I was able to calm down.
I was so embarrassed that I almost suffocated while he was silent that I was grateful for anything he said.
So, I showed him the front view and tried to ask him for more details about the dress design.
But the moment I tried to turn around.
"...?"
Before I could react, a strong arm wrapped around my waist.
I, who was held still, reflexively grabbed Kisjian's arm.
I tried to pry it off, but the man's forearm was so strong that I couldn't even get a single finger in it.
“Kishian?”
I called out Kishian's name without being able to hide my embarrassment.
He usually acted like he didn't even want to look at my face.
But I was taken aback when he suddenly hugged my waist.
Are you complaining because the dress doesn't suit your taste?
Guessing so, I called him again.
"Kishian? Why are you doing that?"
Only after asking twice did Kishian's body flinch and move.
I could clearly sense him struggling behind me, as if he was looking for something to talk about.
While our bodies were squirming in discomfort from being so close together, Kishian opened his mouth.
"The nape of my neck..."
"Yes?"
"Don't you think it's too obvious?"
"... Yes?"
It was such an unexpected statement that I couldn't hide my momentary bewilderment and asked back.
I called you to look at dress designs, so why are you talking about the nape of my neck?
It was a moment when I was about to ask what he meant..
"I think it's too obvious."
A whisper like that came out of Kishian's teeth.
Normally, I would have just said, 'He's talking nonsense again.'
But now it's different.
His lips were too close.
He was whispering while hugging my waist from behind and keeping his lips close to the nape of my neck.
"If you expose your skin like this, won't you have sinister thoughts?"
"What, what are you talking about?"
"Your place is worthy of attention."
As he replied, he raised his hand and stroked my nape.
As the calloused fingertips characteristic of a swordsman brushed over my sensitive skin, my waist flinched involuntarily.
Just that small touch made it seem like every nerve in my body was on edge.
Hot breath settled on my skin, which had become so sensitive that it could even detect the slightest dust.
I, sensing something dangerous, struggled again to shake off the arm that was wrapping around me.
One thing that backfired was this.
The more the woman in his arms struggled, the stronger Kishian's arms became.
Without me knowing, he was persistently and forcefully pulling me into his arms.
"Who are you trying to show off by revealing yourself like this?"
"Revealing it... Is there a dress that doesn't reveal this much? I would have to tie up my entire body to not even reveal the nape of my neck."
"I'm not asking because I'm being picky. I'm just curious. I wonder if there's anyone you need to show off to."
"..."
A person who should look good. I, who had been just acting strangely until now, twisted my body with all my might as soon as I heard those words.
After barely escaping from Kishian's arms, I immediately turned around and pushed into his chest.
I glared fiercely at Kishian, who had been pushed back obediently.
"Are you going to talk about the Duke of Herssen again? Didn't I already say that he was just a relationship from the past?"
"As a husband, can't I be worried? That guy might start drooling again at my wedding."
Kishian roughly grabbed my arm, which had been pushing against his chest, and pulled me away.
My slender body was dragged weakly into his arms.
Finally, a cool voice settled in my ear.
"You might feel disgusted when you see such a well-dressed appearance. Isn't that so?"
The low, ringing voice made my whole body tense up again.
This time, with the sense of crisis constantly creeping in. I pushed Kishian away with all my might.
"I warn you, you'd better not treat me like a dirty woman again."
"..."
"The Duke of Herssen will never harbor any ill feelings toward me, and neither will I. I have no intention of dwelling on a relationship that has already passed."
I took a couple more steps back and then fired back.
"And this dress, even if you don't like it, you know I'll wear it anyway. There's no dress less revealing than this."
I didn't want to give up the dress I had carefully chosen with my maids.
Just because of a single word from Kishian. Just because of that ridiculous thought that I might harbor evil feelings toward the Duke of Herssen, whom I had never loved.
So I glared at Kishian with a firm resolve, but he did not answer.
The uncomfortable silence continued on for an infinite amount of time as he did not open his mouth.
"Don't you have to go and see work?"
In the end, I, who could no longer endure the silence, gave the order to leave first, and only then did Kissian take a step.
After leaving Elona behind, he went out into the hallway.
"..."
Kishian sighed and quietly poured out his complicated feelings.
He had made a promise to himself before coming here.
No matter how beautiful she is, he won't be moved.
It is obvious and natural that the new bride is beautiful.
So, he decided not to waver even if the woman who hurt him showed off her beauty.
That pledge quickly became meaningless.
The moment he saw the Grand Duchess draped in pure white, he could not stop the waves that rose and rippled in his heart.
He started walking, swearing at the body that had been burning for a short while.
Even if he poured cold water on him all day, it seemed like the heat wouldn't go down easily.
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