(220) Side Story; Precious and New (14)
Her finger, reached out without realizing it, brushed against Isaac's eye. As the tip of her finger traced the corner of his eye, Isaac seemed flustered, but he did not pull away.
Isabelle thought it was a relief that he didn't avoid it.
It was a face she often saw, but it was only now that she realized his eyelashes were very long. The thick, long lashes were light brown and shone like gold in the sunlight.
Isabelle recalled the moment she first met him.
She really didn't like him calling Ariana 'Princess Consort'. So whenever she picked a fight and said something, he would lower the corners of his eyebrows in embarrassment and mumble as if making an excuse.
That was cute and fun.
It was the same even now.
He was cute as he looked flustered by Isabelle's touch, but didn't try to avoid it, and as he parted his lips as if he had something to say before closing them again.
As she traced the fingers that had been running along the corner of his eye down his cheek, he tried to recall when he had started feeling this way.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
The rough voice came to mind.
An intense voice that he never thought Isaac would make.
"Why did you endure it when you were so badly injured?"
After the battle in the imperial capital ended.
As a member of the White family, Isabelle had to comfort and look after the wounded. Isabelle was clearly aware that such was the position of a royal blood relative.
Even if her bones were broken, taking care of the knights who risked their lives fighting for the King was her priority.
It was perfectly natural for Isabelle, but Isaac did not seem to think so.
"What are you going to do if a woman gets such a big scar on her body?"
She didn't realize it at the time because she was flustered, but she thinks her heart was pounding even at that moment.
Until now, there were not many men who treated Isabelle like a 'woman'. Even her own father, Fellowes, treated Isabelle like a son. While he doted on Ariana and protected her, he let Isabelle do whatever she wanted, and Isabelle didn't feel hurt by that in the slightest.
Isabelle had always thought that she was born that way.
She likes being free, she hates being treated like a woman, and she hates acting cautiously even more.
So even though the knights of Chase Castle would say, 'Miss, would you like to duel?' whenever they saw Isabelle, and even though the young nobles at the party would only say, 'Miss Isabelle, the fighting arena is being held in a few days; would you like to come with us?' and not ask her to dance.
She wasn't disappointed, nor did she dislike it.
So when Isaac mentioned women and expressed concern for the scar, her heart reacted.
Now, Isabelle's hand stopped at the corner of Isaac's mouth. Isabelle realized that Isaac was not breathing.
Thinking that he was indeed a cute guy, Isabelle opened her mouth.
"Are you worried about me?"
"Of course."
Suppressed voice.
"I'm worried."
"Why?"
"That is Miss Isabelle."
Isaac's eyes trembled. It was because Isabelle's finger, which had been resting at the corner of his mouth, had touched Isaac's lips.
Gulp, she could clearly see his Adam's apple moving.
Isabelle thought it was sexy.
She also thought, 'Right, this person is a man too.'
“Um... Miss Isabelle.”
“Shall we kiss?”
Isaac's eyes widened in surprise.
Isabelle was surprised by what she had said, but thought it would be fine.
"Let's kiss."
"Why...?"
"Because I wanted to."
She stretched out her arms and wrapped them around his neck. If he didn't like it, he would pull away. Thinking that, Isabelle pulled his neck closer.
He was drawn in without the slightest resistance. As hot breaths collided, lips met. His lips were warmer and softer than she had imagined. She pushed hers in between his naturally parted lips.
Her finger, reached out without realizing it, brushed against Isaac's eye. As the tip of her finger traced the corner of his eye, Isaac seemed flustered, but he did not pull away.
Isabelle thought it was a relief that he didn't avoid it.
It was a face she often saw, but it was only now that she realized his eyelashes were very long. The thick, long lashes were light brown and shone like gold in the sunlight.
Isabelle recalled the moment she first met him.
She really didn't like him calling Ariana 'Princess Consort'. So whenever she picked a fight and said something, he would lower the corners of his eyebrows in embarrassment and mumble as if making an excuse.
That was cute and fun.
It was the same even now.
He was cute as he looked flustered by Isabelle's touch, but didn't try to avoid it, and as he parted his lips as if he had something to say before closing them again.
As she traced the fingers that had been running along the corner of his eye down his cheek, he tried to recall when he had started feeling this way.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
The rough voice came to mind.
An intense voice that he never thought Isaac would make.
"Why did you endure it when you were so badly injured?"
After the battle in the imperial capital ended.
As a member of the White family, Isabelle had to comfort and look after the wounded. Isabelle was clearly aware that such was the position of a royal blood relative.
Even if her bones were broken, taking care of the knights who risked their lives fighting for the King was her priority.
It was perfectly natural for Isabelle, but Isaac did not seem to think so.
"What are you going to do if a woman gets such a big scar on her body?"
She didn't realize it at the time because she was flustered, but she thinks her heart was pounding even at that moment.
Until now, there were not many men who treated Isabelle like a 'woman'. Even her own father, Fellowes, treated Isabelle like a son. While he doted on Ariana and protected her, he let Isabelle do whatever she wanted, and Isabelle didn't feel hurt by that in the slightest.
Isabelle had always thought that she was born that way.
She likes being free, she hates being treated like a woman, and she hates acting cautiously even more.
So even though the knights of Chase Castle would say, 'Miss, would you like to duel?' whenever they saw Isabelle, and even though the young nobles at the party would only say, 'Miss Isabelle, the fighting arena is being held in a few days; would you like to come with us?' and not ask her to dance.
She wasn't disappointed, nor did she dislike it.
So when Isaac mentioned women and expressed concern for the scar, her heart reacted.
Now, Isabelle's hand stopped at the corner of Isaac's mouth. Isabelle realized that Isaac was not breathing.
Thinking that he was indeed a cute guy, Isabelle opened her mouth.
"Are you worried about me?"
"Of course."
Suppressed voice.
"I'm worried."
"Why?"
"That is Miss Isabelle."
Isaac's eyes trembled. It was because Isabelle's finger, which had been resting at the corner of his mouth, had touched Isaac's lips.
Gulp, she could clearly see his Adam's apple moving.
Isabelle thought it was sexy.
She also thought, 'Right, this person is a man too.'
“Um... Miss Isabelle.”
“Shall we kiss?”
Isaac's eyes widened in surprise.
Isabelle was surprised by what she had said, but thought it would be fine.
"Let's kiss."
"Why...?"
"Because I wanted to."
She stretched out her arms and wrapped them around his neck. If he didn't like it, he would pull away. Thinking that, Isabelle pulled his neck closer.
He was drawn in without the slightest resistance. As hot breaths collided, lips met. His lips were warmer and softer than she had imagined. She pushed hers in between his naturally parted lips.
They mingled.
Now she could clearly tell that the sensation in her heart was pounding. Thump, thump, thump—the violently beating heart was loud.
Isabelle finally pulled her lips away and gazed intently at his eyes close by. A heat she had never seen before was spreading within his pupils.
“Isaac, I...”
The words, 'I guess I like you quite a bit,' were swallowed by his lips.
This time, a kiss more intense than before followed. He firmly held the back of Isabelle's head to hold her still and kissed her somewhat hastily.
With his other hand, he wrapped his arms around Isabelle's waist and held her close so she could not escape from him.
A strange heat spread through their pressed bodies. Isabelle's heart pounded rapidly, stirring up an indescribable sensation.
The shiver that started at her lips spread to the tips of her toes. The strength drained from her legs, but he held on tight so she didn't fall.
It felt as if her brain was melting from the hot kiss. His scent took over Isabelle and mingled with her.
Ending a kiss that felt both very long and very short, he pressed his forehead against Isabelle's. For a while, they remained frozen like that, their rough breaths mingling.
Isaac said, keeping that same posture.
"I love you, Isabelle."
Her heart stopped pounding.
For quite a long time.
After Isabelle left, Ariana also stepped away from reading for a while. It seemed she had been cooped up in her room for too long.
'It was a great novel.'
Each volume is quite substantial, so she has only read four so far, but she has gained vast knowledge. Very insightful and alluring knowledge.
Ariana got up from the sofa, struggling to shake off the lewd and dazzling images that still filled her mind. She rang the bell to call the maid and asked her to prepare a bath.
While waiting for the water to fill, she organized the books scattered around the room and put them on the bookshelf. When she placed the 'Count Series' with its white covers on the shelf, it looked like an excellent collection of books.
Soon, the maid announced that she had finished filling the water.
"You don't have to serve me. I'll call you when I'm finished, so go rest."
"Yes, Princess."
After the maids left, Ariana went into the bathroom and undressed herself.
She still hadn't gotten used to having maids attend to her bath. So, Ariana had never once been bathed by maids.
Several oranges and leaves were floating in a large marble bathtub filled with warm water. Ariana enjoyed bathing in a bathtub with fruit or leaves floating on it.
It was a luxury unimaginable in her previous life.
Ariana soaked in the bathtub and closed her eyes. She hadn't been getting proper sleep lately because she was reading. As she lay enveloped in warm water, a heavy wave of fatigue washed over her.
'I shouldn't fall asleep.'
Even though she thought it would be a big problem if she fell asleep in the bathtub, she didn't want to get out of the warm water. Ariana was dozing off with her right arm resting on the edge of the tub when she suddenly opened her eyes at the sensation of her body sliding down.
'That was close.'
The water was still warm. She was reluctant to leave, but it felt like staying any longer would become truly dangerous. She absolutely could not let herself fall asleep in the bath, drown, and call everyone into the bathroom.
Ariana got out of the bathtub, roughly dried herself, and put on a bathrobe. As she stepped out of the bathroom, drying her wet hair with a clean towel, she heard a languid voice.
"Hi, Rian."
Startled, she dropped the towel she was holding. The man caught it before it hit the floor, narrowed his eyes, and smiled.
"It’s really hard to meet."
“Sei... when did you arrive?”
"Just now."
"You snuck in again?"
“That’s impossible. I formally asked Geor to meet you, and I came after getting permission from my grandfather and father as well.”
"I couldn't believe it."
Unless it was Geor, there was no way her father and grandfather would have willingly let Cyrus into Ariana's room.
As if noticing Ariana's suspicion, Cyrus said
“Since you have been staying indoors and even skipping meals, I suppose the two of them must have been desperate, grasping at straws. Though it is a bit much to treat the Emperor of a nation like a straw.”
Only then did she realize the reason why the two of them had given their permission, and she blushed.
'Did I really not go out that far?'
Come to think of it, Isaac, who had come to visit Isabelle earlier, had looked at her face and worried that she might be sick. Just as she was fumbling around, wondering if her face looked that haggard, Cyrus approached, holding a towel.
"Your hair is very wet."
"Give me the towel."
"I'll do it for you."
“I can do it, Cyrus.”
"I'll do it for you."
Cyrus stubbornly clutched the towel. Ariana had no choice but to go and sit in front of the dressing table.
Cyrus stood behind her and covered Ariana's head with a towel. The careful and delicate movements of his hands through the towel brought drowsiness back.
"What were you doing, just staying in your room?"
Cyrus's question brought her back to her senses.
“Just a bit. I’ve been busy. The lady has a lot of work to do in the room.”
“For example?”
“Read a book or.”
“Reading. That’s good.”
For some reason, it felt like there was a hint of laughter in Cyrus's voice. It must be her imagination.
"What book were you reading that you didn't even realize how much time had passed?"
"Just in various ways."
“In various ways?”
“I have read a book that imparts very useful knowledge, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, since you are clever and have a strong desire for knowledge, that must be why. It is a very good attitude.”
"What have you been doing all this time?"
"I also gained various useful pieces of knowledge."
"Really? What did you do?"
Ariana tilted her head back and looked up at Cyrus. Cyrus removed the towel, smiled, and bent over.
His lips pressed gently against Ariana's forehead.
"I read books, too."
“What book?”
“Do you want to know?”
“Hmm... a little?”
Cyrus supported Ariana's back to help her sit up straight. Ariana's face was reflected in the vanity mirror.
Coming out of the bath with flushed cheeks, wet hair, and her neck and shoulders exposed above her robe, Ariana realized only then that she was dressed too disheveledly.
“Wait, let me change my clothes...”
Cyrus gently pressed down on Ariana's shoulders as she tried to stand up, keeping her seated. Then, he bent down and rested his chin on her shoulder.
Cyrus's eyes, as seen through the mirror, were shining mischievously.
“Sei?”
Instead of answering, he lightly bit Ariana's ear. At the same time, his hand slipped inside her gown. At the strange sight clearly visible in the mirror, Ariana held her breath.
His lips teasing her ear, and the free movement of his hands inside the gown, came into clear view. He, too, was observing his own movements and Ariana's expression through the mirror.
His red eyes did not leave the mirror, as if determined to imprint every expression and movement of Ariana. Trapped in those eyes, Ariana accepted the intense sensations pouring down upon her.
Feeling ashamed and embarrassed, Ariana was overwhelmed by an even greater heat. She tried to pull away from the mirror, but she could not overcome the force pressing down on her every time.
Ariana clearly saw her face crumbling. Her toes curled at the sight of herself moaning with wet eyes, wearing an expression she had never seen before.
Now she could clearly tell that the sensation in her heart was pounding. Thump, thump, thump—the violently beating heart was loud.
Isabelle finally pulled her lips away and gazed intently at his eyes close by. A heat she had never seen before was spreading within his pupils.
“Isaac, I...”
The words, 'I guess I like you quite a bit,' were swallowed by his lips.
This time, a kiss more intense than before followed. He firmly held the back of Isabelle's head to hold her still and kissed her somewhat hastily.
With his other hand, he wrapped his arms around Isabelle's waist and held her close so she could not escape from him.
A strange heat spread through their pressed bodies. Isabelle's heart pounded rapidly, stirring up an indescribable sensation.
The shiver that started at her lips spread to the tips of her toes. The strength drained from her legs, but he held on tight so she didn't fall.
It felt as if her brain was melting from the hot kiss. His scent took over Isabelle and mingled with her.
Ending a kiss that felt both very long and very short, he pressed his forehead against Isabelle's. For a while, they remained frozen like that, their rough breaths mingling.
Isaac said, keeping that same posture.
"I love you, Isabelle."
Her heart stopped pounding.
For quite a long time.
***
After Isabelle left, Ariana also stepped away from reading for a while. It seemed she had been cooped up in her room for too long.
'It was a great novel.'
Each volume is quite substantial, so she has only read four so far, but she has gained vast knowledge. Very insightful and alluring knowledge.
Ariana got up from the sofa, struggling to shake off the lewd and dazzling images that still filled her mind. She rang the bell to call the maid and asked her to prepare a bath.
While waiting for the water to fill, she organized the books scattered around the room and put them on the bookshelf. When she placed the 'Count Series' with its white covers on the shelf, it looked like an excellent collection of books.
Soon, the maid announced that she had finished filling the water.
"You don't have to serve me. I'll call you when I'm finished, so go rest."
"Yes, Princess."
After the maids left, Ariana went into the bathroom and undressed herself.
She still hadn't gotten used to having maids attend to her bath. So, Ariana had never once been bathed by maids.
Several oranges and leaves were floating in a large marble bathtub filled with warm water. Ariana enjoyed bathing in a bathtub with fruit or leaves floating on it.
It was a luxury unimaginable in her previous life.
Ariana soaked in the bathtub and closed her eyes. She hadn't been getting proper sleep lately because she was reading. As she lay enveloped in warm water, a heavy wave of fatigue washed over her.
'I shouldn't fall asleep.'
Even though she thought it would be a big problem if she fell asleep in the bathtub, she didn't want to get out of the warm water. Ariana was dozing off with her right arm resting on the edge of the tub when she suddenly opened her eyes at the sensation of her body sliding down.
'That was close.'
The water was still warm. She was reluctant to leave, but it felt like staying any longer would become truly dangerous. She absolutely could not let herself fall asleep in the bath, drown, and call everyone into the bathroom.
Ariana got out of the bathtub, roughly dried herself, and put on a bathrobe. As she stepped out of the bathroom, drying her wet hair with a clean towel, she heard a languid voice.
"Hi, Rian."
Startled, she dropped the towel she was holding. The man caught it before it hit the floor, narrowed his eyes, and smiled.
"It’s really hard to meet."
“Sei... when did you arrive?”
"Just now."
"You snuck in again?"
“That’s impossible. I formally asked Geor to meet you, and I came after getting permission from my grandfather and father as well.”
"I couldn't believe it."
Unless it was Geor, there was no way her father and grandfather would have willingly let Cyrus into Ariana's room.
As if noticing Ariana's suspicion, Cyrus said
“Since you have been staying indoors and even skipping meals, I suppose the two of them must have been desperate, grasping at straws. Though it is a bit much to treat the Emperor of a nation like a straw.”
Only then did she realize the reason why the two of them had given their permission, and she blushed.
'Did I really not go out that far?'
Come to think of it, Isaac, who had come to visit Isabelle earlier, had looked at her face and worried that she might be sick. Just as she was fumbling around, wondering if her face looked that haggard, Cyrus approached, holding a towel.
"Your hair is very wet."
"Give me the towel."
"I'll do it for you."
“I can do it, Cyrus.”
"I'll do it for you."
Cyrus stubbornly clutched the towel. Ariana had no choice but to go and sit in front of the dressing table.
Cyrus stood behind her and covered Ariana's head with a towel. The careful and delicate movements of his hands through the towel brought drowsiness back.
"What were you doing, just staying in your room?"
Cyrus's question brought her back to her senses.
“Just a bit. I’ve been busy. The lady has a lot of work to do in the room.”
“For example?”
“Read a book or.”
“Reading. That’s good.”
For some reason, it felt like there was a hint of laughter in Cyrus's voice. It must be her imagination.
"What book were you reading that you didn't even realize how much time had passed?"
"Just in various ways."
“In various ways?”
“I have read a book that imparts very useful knowledge, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, since you are clever and have a strong desire for knowledge, that must be why. It is a very good attitude.”
"What have you been doing all this time?"
"I also gained various useful pieces of knowledge."
"Really? What did you do?"
Ariana tilted her head back and looked up at Cyrus. Cyrus removed the towel, smiled, and bent over.
His lips pressed gently against Ariana's forehead.
"I read books, too."
“What book?”
“Do you want to know?”
“Hmm... a little?”
Cyrus supported Ariana's back to help her sit up straight. Ariana's face was reflected in the vanity mirror.
Coming out of the bath with flushed cheeks, wet hair, and her neck and shoulders exposed above her robe, Ariana realized only then that she was dressed too disheveledly.
“Wait, let me change my clothes...”
Cyrus gently pressed down on Ariana's shoulders as she tried to stand up, keeping her seated. Then, he bent down and rested his chin on her shoulder.
Cyrus's eyes, as seen through the mirror, were shining mischievously.
“Sei?”
Instead of answering, he lightly bit Ariana's ear. At the same time, his hand slipped inside her gown. At the strange sight clearly visible in the mirror, Ariana held her breath.
His lips teasing her ear, and the free movement of his hands inside the gown, came into clear view. He, too, was observing his own movements and Ariana's expression through the mirror.
His red eyes did not leave the mirror, as if determined to imprint every expression and movement of Ariana. Trapped in those eyes, Ariana accepted the intense sensations pouring down upon her.
Feeling ashamed and embarrassed, Ariana was overwhelmed by an even greater heat. She tried to pull away from the mirror, but she could not overcome the force pressing down on her every time.
Ariana clearly saw her face crumbling. Her toes curled at the sight of herself moaning with wet eyes, wearing an expression she had never seen before.
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