“Well then, leave the first steps to me, all right?”
“Ah… uh, okay…”
When I let go of his arm, Isaac visibly deflated, looking utterly dejected.
Had he truly been paying attention to what I said? Well, despite his distracted state, I was fairly sure he wouldn’t miss any of my words… probably.
The teary look in his eyes was one I’d seen before, and I could already guess what he was about to say.
“Linntia, a kiss.”
“No.”
My immediate rejection left him with a look that practically screamed “gasp!”
Before we enrolled in the academy, we had visited the duchy again. While admiring a favorite scenic spot, he suddenly stole a kiss from me.
Shocked, I had instinctively given him a light slap on the cheek.
It wasn’t hard—like a gentle cat paw swat—but Isaac, interpreting it as a rejection, crumpled in despair as though the world had ended.
I apologized profusely, explaining that it had simply startled me. After some negotiation, I forgave him on the condition that he would seek permission for any future kisses.
Currently, even kisses on the cheek are subject to permission.
Given Isaac’s unwavering devotion to me, I worry he might lose control if left unchecked. That’s why I’ve set rules for his love of physical closeness as well.
“Right now! I really! Want to kiss you, Linntia!”
Gone was the lethargic duke’s son—in his place was an insistent and passionate young man.
“No. But you may kiss my cheek.”
“I’ll kiss your cheek, but I want to kiss your lips too!”
How greedy can he be?
“I don’t even remember the sensation of our first kiss! I was too shocked from being slapped… I—I just want to recall what it felt like!”
Looking downcast and red-faced, he confessed his desire to kiss again to remember the feeling.
Sigh… bringing up that slap makes it hard to refuse.
“I want to kiss you now! Just once… please?”
Faced with his teary pleading, I reluctantly gave in.
“Just once, then.”
“Thank you! I love you, Linntia!”
Isaac grasped my shoulders and leaned in close, but I caught his face in my hands to stop him.
“...Linntia?”
His puzzled expression was adorable.
“Before we proceed, tell me—what’s your favorite kiss scene from a novel?”
“Huh? A kiss scene…? From a novel?”
Even as I held his face, he kept trying to lean closer, but my question made him pause to think.
“Or a theater performance will do.”
“Hmm… in novels, I’ve always wondered about the phrase ‘a sweet kiss.’ What does a kiss so enchanting feel like? As for performances, I think the best scenes are those where a kiss seals a happy ending amidst everyone’s blessings.”
“I see.”
“What about you, Linntia? Do you have an ideal kiss?”
His demeanor shifted, and he sat up straight, intrigued.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t even consider your thoughts back then. That’s why you slapped me, isn’t it?”
“No, no! You misunderstood—it was just a reflex!”
Seeing how serious he looked, I quickly denied his assumption.
I was merely startled! Can we please not bring up the slap anymore?
“Well then, let’s try a kiss so enchanting it makes you swoon.”
“Eh? How do we do that?!”
To make up for the surprise of our first kiss, recreating a “sweet kiss” seemed like the only way.
Though I wasn’t confident in pulling it off, I believed that if it was Isaac, someone I truly cared for, he might appreciate it.
Still holding his face gently, I drew him a little closer.
Isaac allowed himself to be guided, his gaze fixed on me with trust.
“For some time now, I’ve felt that calling us ‘fiancés’ doesn’t quite capture our bond. I couldn’t find the right words to describe it. But how about this: ‘dearest lovers.’”
“Linntia…”
“I love you, Isaac.”
That’s all there was to it.
We were simply dearest lovers.
That’s what our relationship felt like.
When I smiled deeply, Isaac blushed furiously, his eyes softening with joy.
Closing my eyes, I leaned in and gently pressed my lips to his.
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