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The continuation and end of Kyle trying to cope and understand these new found feelings.
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Episode 167. About 10 months (44)
He lowered his head and gently kissed her open, full lips.
A shiver ran down his body.
He cautiously peered at her and found that she hadn’t moved away. He couldn't take his eyes off her sweet lips.
Just a little distance away.
‘It's still a dream...’
It’s a dream he couldn’t miss.
[This.]
Her face flushed, she looked up at him with a twinkle in her eyes that he’d never seen before. He couldn’t stand it any longer.
Afraid that she’d break if he held on too tightly, he carefully grabbed her by the back of her neck and pulled her in.
Kyle took a deep breath and captured her mouth in one go. He kissed her, took her soft lip, and gently sucked on it.
In response to his kiss, she tightly wrapped her arms around his neck.
Immediately, he exhaled hotly, and Tara’s lips captured his.
‘Unbelievable…’
Kyle panted as if he were an animal while a most primal shiver ran through his body.
[Ha…]
He parted his lips with difficulty and took another deep breath. If he didn’t do this, he had the illusion that the girl in front of him would eat him.
It was better than he thought, no, it was much better than he had ever thought.
[Your Highness?]
With her arms still around his neck, she looked up at him, sadly wondering why he stopped. When he saw her like that, he was able to confirm once more that he was dreaming.
[… Here you are.]
[Yes?]
She tilted her head.
[You’re like a fairy.]
According to him, Tara knew that now.
He laughed like crazy.
***
When he opened his eyes, Tara was nowhere to be seen. In the morning light, the ceiling of his bedroom was dimly revealed.
“Haha... Damn it...”
He placed his arm across his face and closed his eyes again. The figure that vividly re-appeared, the woman in his dream, did not easily disappear from his mind.
Due to his exhaustion, he thought he could sleep without thinking, but even in his dreams he was ambushed.
“Hey... I must be crazy.”
He turned his head and looked at the window. It was dawn.
“You left like that yesterday… Isn’t it foul to appear in my dreams?”
Kyle couldn’t lie down anymore and jumped up.
He was in a situation where he even needed a cold shower.
As the cold water poured over him, the leftover heat on his body disappeared and his hazy mind cleared.
He immediately got dressed and went down alone.
Now that his head was clear after his sleep, Kyle tried to reflect on yesterday’s situation.
But he couldn’t even understand yesterday’s situation until he went down the stairs. No, it was more accurate to say he couldn’t understand her.
‘Why the hell?’
Obviously, he was one of the most eligible men in the Empire.
He always took first place in all the rankings published by newspapers every year, and the 2nd Imperial Palace was overflowing with letters from all over the Empire.
The butler grunted every time he had to deal with them, and it was full of young women who managed to come up with all kinds of false reasons to meet him.
There were also numerous women who tried to catch his eye by acting coquettish at every Imperial Palace event, which he rarely attended.
Because of that history, he'd had no doubt that Tara would accept his confession.
Or rather, he thought she’d be shaken to some extent, even if she didn’t immediately accept it.
But Tara's attitude was firm.
Rather than continuing down the hall, Kyle stopped at some point. Then he took a few steps back.
As if possessed by something, he stood in front of a full-length mirror attached to one wall.
‘Maybe…?’
He quietly inspected himself. Always the same appearance. Nothing had changed.
“… Does she have bad eyesight?”
Kyle frowned slightly and pondered, having to deal with a difficult issue for the first time in a long time.
‘What's the problem? I'm not far from her ideal type…’
‘Is it possible that he’s better? No way…’
Kyle was facing his greatest challenge, but even then. He stood in front of the mirror for a while longer. Then, it struck him.
‘What am I doing!?’
Kyle furrowed his eyebrows. At the same time, he violently rubbed his head and turned his back towards the mirror because of the self-loathing that engulfed his entire body.
A very literal loss of control.
He clenched his teeth and uttered a harsh swear word.
“Crazy. Is this what I'm like now? Make up your mind, Kyle.”
For the first time in five years since entering the palace, Kyle did not resume his morning schedule. He scolded himself the entire time he was walking to his office, clenching his fists so hard his nails dug in.
***
As Kyle entered the office, Walter came in with various letters and reports.
Until there was a separate order, Walter was supposed to continue taking care of the first-class reports of the 2nd Imperial Palace.
It was half past eight, before Tara came to work.
"Is it a first-class matter?"
Seeing Kyle's stern face, Walter greeted him more rigidly than ever.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
‘Why is his face like that? Has something serious happened? If he went on a business trip, and something went wrong... No, no. If so, he would have told me.’
“Speak.”
Feeling particularly nervous, Walter swallowed and started reporting.
“Kezak's arrows from the Earl of Eckwood and the Marquis of Crimson have been determined to have had nothing to do with an assassination attempt at the Hunting Contest. Here is the report.”
Upon receiving the report from Walter, Kyle signed the bottom of the paper and closed it.
“As you said, Count Eckwood and Marquis Crimson are banned from entering the Capital and Palaces for one year. Each family has made an agreement to reduce the number of knights they own by a third. And this is a letter sent by the two families saying they’ll join you.”
Kyle's expression was openly filled with anger.
[Please find the person who dared to frame our two families. We will never forget the grace that saved two families from falling into hell. We look forward to the time when we will be with you in His Highness’ history.
Count Eckwood and Marquis Crimson, faithful servants of the Empire.]
The aristocratic Count Eckwood and Marquis Crimson, who had stepped back from central politics, had also reached out to join Kyle.
"Would you like to write a reply, Your Highness?"
Writing a reply meant that he’d be allied with both families.
“Those who are driven into a corner hold out their hands to even the slightest warmth, but when the crisis disappears, they start to weigh their profits and losses.”
“That means…?”
“The letter they sent me now is just bait, telling me to destroy their enemies instead of themselves. So, this is not their true intention.”
“Ah... Then, shall I tell them that there’s no reply?”
“Just send them a letter. If they follow the agreement carefully, access to the Capital and Palaces will be given after a year.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Are you still investigating Tom Gary, Hans Button, and Bradley Hound?”
Walter's eyes widened, he couldn't remember who they were.
Not only because of that, but also because the Second Prince didn’t just have one or two things to deal with and still remembered. Even Walter heard the names and couldn’t recall it right away.
“Close contacts to the Third Prince.”
“Ah…! All other investigations have been completed, but the regional survey not yet. Still, we decided to post the report by next Friday.”
The regional survey referred to a face-to-face survey conducted by visiting the region where each family was located.
Getting to know everyone who knew the family, gathering information face-to-face.
It was a job that took some time.
“Yes, I see.”
“The handover to the Second Assistant is going smoothly. After spending a few days with her, I could understand why Nick praised her so much. She works meticulously and efficiently. Besides, her processing speed is also fast. A very rare young girl…!”
“Walter.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Did I ask about the Second Assistant?”
Walter scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly.
“Ah! I'm sorry. Haha. I guess I'm starting to act like Nick too, Your Highness. Haha. Goodbye!”
Walter bowed in embarrassment and immediately left the office.
Seeing Walter like that, Kyle grimaced once more and muttered.
“… Everyone is crazy.”
***
When Tara arrived at the Second Prince’s Palace 10 minutes before work started, the Palace was so crowded it was almost insane.
The Elias mansion was always crowded with people, so I was used to this kind of situation to some extent, but it was the first time I saw it at the 2nd Prince's Palace, so I was quite embarrassed.
What was going on?
I was in a bewildered state. As I entered the hall, I ran into Walter, who was leaving the office looking for documents.
“What happened, Commander?”
"Ah. Second Assistant. But what's wrong?"
“There’s suddenly a lot of people.”
Walter looked around at my words, said, “Ah...” and laughed.
In one day, three officers from the Military and the Ministry of Security were gathered. A few magistrates from the palace also formed a group, and quite a few visitors were waiting in the reception room.
“He’s been away for the Hunting Contest for a while. And, as soon as he returned home, he went on a business trip again. Moreover, these days, there’s a lot of chaos in every newspaper, because of the Talent Training System and all. That's why nobles come here with many excuses."
He was also a very busy person.
That person, yesterday again... Ah! Just remember it all ended yesterday! So, stop!
"Ah, yes, but don’t the aides start at 9 o'clock?"
“The aides go to work at 9 o’clock. However, in the Second Prince's Palace, it’s been quite some time since His Highness personally started working early, so it’s natural that his subordinates follow him. It’s not compulsory.”
Damn. I was dead.
“...”
Seeing my grimace, Walter smiled and tapped my shoulder.
"You have to start by 9 o'clock. Everyone starts earlier voluntarily.”
"Yes, Commander."
However, my crumpled face did not smooth over easily.
It was because I had an ominous feeling that my future self might be like them, although I didn’t know it.
Alright. I just had to work until that incident happened.
9 months ahead. I should just wait 9 months. Only 9 months, right?