Chapter 104
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------
Chapter 104
Dale clamped his mouth shut with the resolve that he wouldn't eat anything until he heard my answer.
His golden eyes gleamed with unusual brilliance, whether from the morning sunlight or something else.
My heart began to race strangely. Why did it feel so ticklish?
I needed to calm myself first.
I placed my hand over my chest and took a slow, deep breath. Dale's sorrowful expression kept appearing before my eyes, threatening to sweep me away entirely.
"Dale, you said you loved me."
"I do."
He raised his eyebrows with firm conviction.
"It's not a lie."
"I'm not doubting you. I know it too."
I soothed him calmly, and his agitated chest gradually settled.
I explained myself to Dale slowly.
"Even though being involved with me could make your life incredibly difficult, you're still willing?"
"I'm prepared for it."
"Not just for days or weeks, but for years—and there's even a possibility that your life could be in danger?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Alright. I understand."
When I grasped Dale's shoulders, his eyes widened and his expression brightened.
"Then I'm even more certain now. Let's end this marriage."
"Why..."
Dale's eyes reddened as if he were about to cry. His bright golden eyes glistened with tears as he gazed at me.
His pained, furrowed eyes looked wounded and aching.
"Why am I not allowed?"
"Dale, I'll explain from now on. Listen carefully."
"..."
As I whispered while caressing him, Dale nodded quietly. He stared intently at the spot where my palm touched him.
I hadn't realized it before, but Dale's emotions showed far more openly than I'd expected.
I felt my rapidly beating heart gradually recover its rhythm.
"Listen, Dale. Our relationship can't be sustained by marriage alone. Do you understand what I mean?"
"...I'm not sure I follow."
Dale looked at me with confusion, his eyelids lowered.
"If it's not marriage, I don't know how else I can see you."
"You know, there's something ordinary people do."
"What is that?"
Dale seemed genuinely clueless. Rather than failing to consider alternatives, he appeared anxious, as if he could only see one path forward.
Have you really never been on a date before?
Was that room really your sister's?
Dale tilted his handsome face toward me.
"If you teach me, I will study it."
"Just a normal romance."
I laughed while patting his shoulder. At the same moment, Dale's golden eyes widened as if he'd been burned by fire.
His face flushed red, and he stared at me without easily opening his mouth.
Like a devout believer hearing blasphemy, he covered his face and looked bewildered.
"Enya and I...."
"Yes, the two of us together."
"Why."
He trailed off quietly.
"Why would you go so far for me."
"It's not something I'm doing for you. Romance is mutual, after all."
"...I don't quite understand. What do you mean."
But he seemed to be grasping the meaning a little better than before. His body was gradually leaning toward me now.
"I don't understand at all."
Yet I understood his heart, which seemed to want a definitive answer. After hearing his confession, I too had discovered the identity of that strange concern I felt for Dale.
Dale's sparkling eyes gazed at me intently.
My hand, which had been placed on his shoulder to comfort him, was now half-hanging from him, resting there to prevent him from bending down further.
"Enya."
Dale urged for an answer, his face flushed with embarrassment.
"Tell me."
"It's because...! I feel affection for you too, Dale."
I squeezed my eyes shut at his approaching face and spoke as if shouting.
I felt nothing. Dale didn't come closer, and he didn't answer.
I opened my eyes slightly, feeling an odd chill run through me.
"...!"
I saw Dale frozen like a statue. His tightly closed mouth contrasted with eyes that shone like a boy who'd found his dreams.
His expression was rigid, but his eyes spoke of certain hope.
I realized then that it was true—you could read emotions just by looking at someone's eyes.
"...Dale?"
I waved my fingers in front of Dale. He didn't budge.
"Dale? Are you frozen?"
"...."
"Did I say it too suddenly?"
The silence stretched, and I began to feel anxious too. I thought the anticipation before confessing would be the worst, but I was wrong.
Watching Dale's unresponsive form, I felt myself freezing up as well.
I wrapped my arms around Dale's neck and spoke slowly, carefully.
"But it wasn't something I just thought of suddenly. From some point on, I thought about you often. Ever since I came here, I've even talked to an imaginary version of you."
"...."
"I thought it was just because I'd grown accustomed to being with Dale, but it seems that's not all it is."
I met his gaze as his eyes moved slowly.
"This feels like affection."
His eyes, which I hadn't expected to grow any wider, opened even further.
"I... I like you, Dale."
Thump.
The moment the words left my lips, he couldn't contain himself and his body fell forward.
Countless emotions swirled across Dale's face as he looked down at me from above.
I gazed up at him quietly.
Then I caressed his pale cheek.
"I like you. Sincerely."
"...."
"So let's have a real relationship instead of this contract marriage. We can be together whenever we want...."
At that moment, a brief sensation touched my lips.
"?"
I looked up blankly. Dale, his expression grave, was gazing at me gently.
"So you don't dislike me."
At his softly spoken question, I fumbled with my lips.
"D-Dale, what is this...."
"This isn't a dream, is it? That you like me?"
With his voice, my confusion gradually dulled. He murmured as if he possessed only a single emotion, gazing at me.
Laughter escaped at Dale's endearing expression. I cradled his cheek.
"It's real. Dale."
As I pulled him closer, Dale exhaled a low sigh and looked into my eyes.
When I closed my eyes, Dale's nose brushed against my cheek.
Soft lips touched my cheek, then briefly my nose.
Then our lips met.
Dale's body was warmer and more tender than any arm that had ever held me, warmer than any hand I'd ever grasped.
As I received Dale's first kiss, I ran my fingers slowly through his hair.
When I touched his rough nape, I felt Dale flinch.
'I wonder if I'm allowed to be this happy.'
As his lips melded smoothly with mine, I felt myself dissolving, and all thought scattered.
All I could hear was Dale's breathing near my ear.
* * *
"...."
"...."
"Ah, yes. It's quite warm, isn't it? Shall I open a window?"
I broke the awkward silence first. Dale couldn't meet my gaze and quietly nodded.
The bed was quite spacious for me, but with Dale sitting on it, it seemed like an ordinary size.
When the kiss ended, he looked at me and sighed helplessly.
His expression seemed so gloomy that I asked if he'd disliked it. Fortunately, he said that wasn't the case.
'What does he mean by "it was too good"?'
I gazed quietly at this strange man.
Dale's face was still flushed crimson—so deeply reddened it looked as though someone had pinched him and set him ablaze.
"Um, should I stay away for a bit?"
"...."
"Should I step outside until you're comfortable?"
Then Dale carefully grasped one of my fingers and looked at me. It seemed like he was saying not to go.
The already taciturn man had become even quieter.
Pondering how to navigate this predicament, I crossed my legs and rested my chin on my palm.
"Dale, if you're embarrassed, would you like to try once more? It might feel better if we do it several times, don't you think?"
"!"
Dale looked startled, as though he'd heard something he shouldn't have.
'Oh? I sound like a delinquent.'
Somehow I felt like the guilty party. That wasn't what I'd intended to say at all....
"I, I didn't mean anything improper. It's just that you seemed uncomfortable."
"It's fine."
He finally spoke.
Dale, who had been looking at me, quietly lowered his gaze.
"If we do it again, I won't be able to stop. I won't."
"...."
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------