The senior seemed puzzled.
“Guilt...?”
"Yes."
Shish spoke as if they were going on a picnic.
“I suspect that His Excellency the Knight Commander did not do this on his own.”
“I agree with that opinion.”
"Beluga will definitely contact the tower from there. A messenger from His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."
“Beluga, my man, will either receive the message I sent or not, or he may receive the message and send it to the magic tower.”
"Yes. Since it's highly likely to be the latter, I suggest you press him strongly to meet the Knight Commander immediately. Make sure he reveals that the opponent is at the Tower of Magic."
“Guilt...?”
"Yes."
Shish spoke as if they were going on a picnic.
“I suspect that His Excellency the Knight Commander did not do this on his own.”
“I agree with that opinion.”
"Beluga will definitely contact the tower from there. A messenger from His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."
“Beluga, my man, will either receive the message I sent or not, or he may receive the message and send it to the magic tower.”
"Yes. Since it's highly likely to be the latter, I suggest you press him strongly to meet the Knight Commander immediately. Make sure he reveals that the opponent is at the Tower of Magic."
I knew Dietrich's personality well, so I could sense what Shish was trying to say.
“Or at least make him admit that he's not in the mansion.”
But the senior didn't seem to understand.
“You should act as if the Commander of the Knights is leaving his post with only a piece of paper saying he is resigning.”
"Aha."
Only after Shish added a word did the senior seem to understand and agree.
“And my father, who acted so insincerely, only found out too late that the Knight Commander had left irresponsibly?”
“You are clever, Your Highness.”
They seemed to be at odds before, but today they seem to be harmonious.
It feels like Shish is trying to accommodate my senior, who doesn't quite understand the situation.
“Even if he doesn’t come back right away, I don’t know what will happen in the future, so it would be better to leave him with an emotional burden.”
"Yes."
The senior who should have been against it immediately agreed.
“Then I should write a letter to the Knight Commander right away. Your Excellency...?”
“I must return to His Excellency the Knight Commander's office, as I have some business to attend to.”
“If the Prime Minister does the work of the Knight Commander, won’t that also reach the Knight Commander’s ears?”
“Because of that, I have a request to make of you, Your Highness.”
“Please speak.”
“I think it would be best if you could take on His Excellency’s duties as if you were the one who had no choice but to take charge of His Excellency’s work.”
The story was that it would look better if the Crown Prince did it rather than the Prime Minister.
“If Your Excellency could reduce the amount of work you give me, I think I could really do it.”
"All right."
Shish smiled awkwardly at my senior's attack, but I could tell that it wasn't his sincerity.
When they were fighting over me, I could clearly feel that they were being rude.
But now, since they have to work together, I guess he'll just pretend to bow down and go in.
“Then get up, Lady Hayley, we’ll go.”
“Yes, sir, no, Your Highness. Go carefully.”
The senior's formal speech was unfamiliar yet funny, so I laughed out loud without realizing it.
“Why are you laughing, why are you laughing?”
“Hahahaha!”
I ended up holding my stomach and laughing at the sight of my senior changing his speech from informal to formal.
“Why are you laughing?”
In the end, the senior spoke comfortably as if he had no choice.
“That’s funny. You flinch every time you tell me.”
"I can't help it. And you know how you always look at me when they talk to me, right?"
“I said so?”
"Yes."
The senior smiled and gently tapped my head as if knocking.
“You worked hard today. Get some rest.”
Shish was standing at the door, and the senior soon left the room.
The sun had set, and darkness had fallen outside, but the lights in the hallways and throughout the palace were on, brightening the air.
Regretting the sight of his red hair, drenched in the night, fading into the distance, I followed the two men through the well-tended gardens of Rose Palace to the palace gates.
The senior turned around and waved lightly, and I waved back. Shish glanced back, but he left without making a gesture.
The two soon disappeared from sight.
After standing there for quite some time, the maid approached.
“Miss, if you keep standing here, you’ll catch a cold.”
It wasn't that cold, so I knew I wouldn't get sick, but I obediently followed the maid's instructions and headed into the palace. The study seemed unusually spacious.
“It’s so lonely being alone.”
There was a time when I wanted to lie down in my room alone and spend time alone, but now that I'm left alone, I feel lonely.
Just like I always do when dealing with others.
Fortunately, I was so tired that I was able to fall asleep quickly.
***
I turned over to my side and saw someone there.
A gentle hand stroking my hair, a familiar embrace, my favorite scent.
I rolled my sleepy head and realized I was lying on my right side.
“Shish.”
"Yes."
As I hug him with a smile, he hugs me back.
“I guess I’m the only one who comes at night.”
Instead of answering, I nodded, and a gentle hand stroked his back.
“That's surprising. Since he gave my master this outfit, I'd assumed he came at least a few times already.”
It's a half-transparent, airy pajama made of a light material.
Wait, I'm lying down with Shish wearing those clothes? Even a dim light would be enough to see through it all?
I suddenly lost sleep.
As I slowly pulled back, Shish noticed it as if he was a ghost and tightened his arms around me.
“I haven’t seen you much lately, so it’s been hard. Where are you going? Yeah?”
“I’m not going.”
This time, for real.
Shish, who had been staring intently into my eyes, began to stroke my back with his fingers instead of questioning or answering.
Each vertebra, slowly, savoring it.
My fingers feel sensitive against the thin cloth, making it difficult to breathe.
Was my body always this sensitive? Or was it the pheromones coming from Shish's fingertips?
It's not like Shish has been like this for the past couple of days, but today I'm especially nervous and can't control my expression. Fortunately, it's dark, so he can't see well.
“You look so cute when you’re trembling, Master.”
Shish suddenly stopped touching me and laughed softly.
Why! Why don't you do more? You're good at something.
I pulled my thighs together for no reason.
As long fingers tickled my scalp, I felt my empty heart slowly fill up.
“You weren’t scared today, were you?”
I guess it means what happened during the day.
“I was a little scared. Just a little.”
Actually, I was really scared, but I kept it short because I was afraid that Shish would immediately threaten to kill Titiana and Yuno.
His red, black eyes stared intently at me, as if trying to gauge my sincerity. I deliberately opened my eyes wide and met his gaze.
I don't know what will happen in the future.
“Should we also keep alive those who threatened the master?”
Should I kill Titiana? I don't want to kill her and become the heroine again.
I only need Shish, so I don't mind if Titiana takes everyone else. No, I'd like her to take them with her.
“Should we let her live for now?”
So let's not send it right away.
"If you say 'for now', how long do I have to endure it? Tell me the deadline."
Huh? I feel like I've heard this request somewhere before.
Isn't that what he told him when I asked Shish to let me out of the house?
When I frown, Shish smiles brightly and gently caresses my cheek.
“Come on, tell me. Yes?”
“Nothing has been decided yet, so please tell me later.”
“Master, you told me to set a deadline, and yet you’re just getting away with it like this?”
“I wasn’t remembering wrong.”
“Yeah, I remember correctly. But are you being sarcastic now?”
Oh, I just said out loud what I was thinking.
“No? I was just admiring my own memory.”
“Haha, my lovely master. You have a good memory, are quick-witted, and are good at talking.”
Shish hummed as he spoke, but it sounded sarcastic, so I shrugged my shoulders.
“It’s a compliment, so why are you like that?”
“...Was that a compliment?”
"Then."
Shish kept pressing his lips to my forehead and taking them off with a smile on his face, as if he was in a good mood.
Ugh, it's hard to breathe, and the soles of my feet are itchy.
“Shish, do you like me?”
“How many times do I have to tell you, Master, before you are convinced of my heart?”
A voice, suddenly quiet, reached me with a light sigh. Then a large hand cupped my cheek.
“Don’t worry if it’s because of that damn woman.”
Just by breaking the mold of love at first sight, Shish has already become a character who deviates from the original story.
No, I was shaken because he been out of his role for a long time. This incident simply served as a catalyst for me to take a step forward.
“I will never go to that woman.”
The beautiful red eyes are filled with love.
“Because the only person I love is you, Master.”
My heart started pounding like crazy, so I lowered my head. Even though the night air obscured my face, I felt like my true feelings would be revealed.
What if Shish hears my heartbeat?
I glanced at him briefly, and it seemed like he hadn't noticed anything.
“Let’s go to sleep.”
Shish never forced his feelings on me or demanded answers from me. He insisted on what he wanted, relentlessly, as if trying to instill it in me.
Shish Milan, you have changed so much because of me.
I lowered my head even deeper, as if I was about to cry, and Shish stroked my head silently.
Should I say I like it or not?
The darkness obscured my face, so I thought about taking the opportunity to speak, but I wanted to convey my feelings properly.
As Shish said, I've always changed the subject, avoided it, and pretended not to know, so this time I'll be serious. I won't ignore it, but be direct.
So, after the complicated situation passes and I have some free time, I'll confess.
I really won't leave you, and I will live with you for the rest of my life.
I love you.
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