Home/Please Don't Have Ulterior Motives in a Contract Romance/ch67

Episode 67

Surely this man isn't upset because I gave him the same pattern as Leonid's ribbon.

Seeing his face, I couldn't help but laugh.

"Since I'd already made one, it was easier to do the same pattern. There's no special meaning."

"Please don't make one for him next time."

"Oh, well... I won't."

At Cael's firm response, I stopped laughing and nodded.

"Then I'll head to the palace. You should rest a little longer."

"Ah... yes."

"You must have been startled today—you've been through a lot."

"I should be the one thanking you for protecting me."

"Well then... Ah!"

"?"

Cael, who had been getting up to leave, paused.

Wondering if he had something else to say, I turned to look at him.

"If you fall asleep like this, you might have nightmares. I thought it might be better to change the mood before I go."

"...Pardon?"

"Well, it's also something I wanted to try at least once."

"...What do you mean?"

I tilted my head, unable to understand his ambiguous words.

"May I give you a goodnight kiss? Since it's the first time, I thought I should ask permission first."

"A k... kiss!?"

"Actually, I'd been waiting for an opportunity on the boat."

Cael raised one corner of his mouth, lifted his hand, and approached my face.

His long index finger came right before my nose, and I stared at it intently.

Swish—

His finger gently pressed against my closed lips, lightly touching them.

And I couldn't mistake what that meant.

Feeling his finger, I didn't know how to react and stayed still. Then his voice reached my ear.

"You didn't know I'd been staring at your lips the whole time, did you?"

"...!"

His bright smile was dazzling.

Like a flower luring with sweet honey and fragrance, his captivating face made me squeeze my eyes shut.

Whoosh—!

Heat rushed to my face.

This was too much.

I ended up covering my face with both hands, lying back on the bed, and moving away from him.

"No, Lord Cael? We're contract lovers, aren't we?"

I asked him in a tearful voice through my covered hands. Cael's calm voice followed.

"Well, there's nothing in the contract saying we can't."

"But..."

He was right—there was no such clause in the contract.

"In fact, there is a clause stating that if necessary, we should behave as lovers in front of others."

Yes, there was such a clause, and we'd discussed doing physical affection as well.

But I pointed out that this was my room, with no audience.

"This is my room, with no audience, isn't it?"

"Hence my regret. If we'd been on the boat, I could have kissed you."

"Ah!"

At his genuinely regretful tone, I let out an involuntary shriek.

Then I heard his laughter above my face.

"Hehe. Rielle."

"......"

"I'll stop here for today."

"...?"

"I'll be going now."

"...Ah."

Thinking he meant to stop here, I lowered my hands from my face.

I thought I should at least say goodbye since he was leaving—but then, right in front of my nose, his face was there, smiling playfully at me.

"Huh?!"

Before I could react, his lips drew closer to my face.

Was he really going to kiss me?

My heart pounded, but I flinched in surprise.

"...Heh."

"...!"

Smack—

His lips touched my forehead with a soft sound and then left.

"!!"

"Then, have sweet dreams."

As if he had no more regrets, Cael stepped back from the bed, turned, and headed for the door.

Until the door closed behind him, I remained frozen like a stone.

Slowly, my stiff body relaxed, and my brain started working again, replaying the kiss.

Cael had definitely intended to kiss my lips.

But when I stiffened, he must have thought I was scared and changed course to my forehead.

"Cra... crazy!"

I touched the spot on my forehead where his lips had been and flailed as if having a fit.

My face was bright red.

Why does this man do such mischievous things to toy with my heart?

And why do I feel regret for missing the chance?

After a while of tossing and turning with many thoughts, I recalled what Cael had said at first.

A change of mood.

He'd said that before asking permission for a goodnight kiss.

And sure enough, thanks to him, I didn't think of the terrifying lake incident at all.

---

The next morning.

I woke up startled by a dream, throwing off the blanket and sitting bolt upright.

As I calmed down and got out of bed, sudden body aches hit me like muscle pain, making me frown.

I hadn't done any strenuous exercise—why did I hurt?

The question was soon answered.

Angel brought me an oil with herbs to ease muscle pain, saying Cael had sent it.

She explained that my body had tensed up from the previous day's incident, and it made sense.

I had to go to the palace that afternoon, so I received a massage from Angel, ate, and got ready.

Cael had already gone to the palace, so I rode with Oren in the carriage.

After transforming into a man inside the carriage, I arrived at the palace and headed to the main building's drawing room.

Inside, three people were already gathered.

Leonid, Cael, and the Chancellor had serious expressions, as if discussing something important.

"Hello."

"Welcome."

"Are you alright? You must have been quite shaken."

At my greeting, the Chancellor relaxed his frown and returned the greeting.

Leonid also turned his head, checking on me with a worried gaze.

"I'm fine, aside from some muscle aches from the tension."

To show I was okay, I clenched my fists and smiled. Leonid nodded in relief.

"Today, I'll just go over the upcoming schedule. Listen to it, then head back to the mansion and rest."

"Yes."

"In two weeks, there will be a banquet. It's one of the three annual investiture ceremonies, where provincial nobles come to officially greet the king when their head of house changes.

Since there will also be debut ceremonies for young ladies entering society, most nobles in the country will gather. I think Jamila should appear that day."

"Hmm. So you're saying I should act like Jamila?"

At the Chancellor's words, I recalled the mention of the ladies' society debut and asked.

Understanding my question, the Chancellor smiled and nodded.

"We'd like you to make a grand entrance."

"That makes sense. Will the Grand Duchess sisters also be there?"

"They're apparently sharpening their claws~"

Oren answered from behind.

"I see."

"Hmm. We'll need to make some plans."

Since it would be our first meeting, they probably wouldn't act rashly, but it was best to be fully prepared.

Then a thought struck me, and I asked Leonid.

"I have a question. Could I also host a tea party?"

I remembered that in romance fantasies, tea parties were a staple for rivalry among young ladies.

"I think it might be good to invite some decent young ladies and the Grand Duchess sisters to this banquet. My pride might take a hit if I invite them, but they'd probably attend at least once out of necessity."

As I explained with a scheming look, Leonid and the Chancellor nodded.

"That's a good approach."

"I won't attend the banquet then."

"...What?"

Cael announced to Leonid.

"Why? Well, you don't usually attend anyway, so I can't say much, but..."

"If I attend alone, it will only raise suspicion."

"Ah! That's true."

Come to think of it, since there's only one of me, if I attend the palace banquet as Jamila, I can't also play Cael's lover.

As Cael said, it would be suspicious if he showed up alone at the debut of the noble ladies. Everyone except Cael nodded.

While we were discussing various things, someone knocked at the door. Oren went out, then returned and called Cael.

"Your Grace. An urgent message has arrived from the mansion."

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