Chapter 76

It's the 5th day of the 10-day consecutive update project!

"Can we go to my room?"

W-What!?

Even though she looks like this, Sophy was raised as a lady, and for her, entering a man's room late at night is a taboo. It's not a place she can just casually step into, but she can't wander around someone else's castle at midnight either. The situation is what it is.

Livio, being raised as a noble knight, must have considered this before making his decision.

I understand. I understand, but of course! And nodding lightly, showing a rashness that she doesn't have, or blushing and showing the courage to say, "Of course, darling," is not something Sophy can do.

Sophy, who stiffened, was met with Livio's gently narrowed eyes.

"It's fine. I won't do anything."

When he smiles and says that, his face looks strangely alluring. Is it because Sophy's heart is dirty? She feels like she can see purple roses in the background, but perhaps it's Sophy who has ulterior motives.

Beautiful people are scary.

Thinking this belatedly, Sophy nodded.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"No, I just had something in Eleanor's room..."

Livio nodded and gestured for Sophy to sit on the sofa. Like in Sophy's room, the sofa is large enough for three people and is very comfortable to sit on.

So, even if Livio sits next to her, there's plenty of room, but he deliberately sits next to her. It's natural to feel tense.

Sophy swallowed hard.

She couldn't look at Livio's face and stared at the window in front of her. She tried counting the window frames—1, 2, 5, 8—but couldn't count properly. Get to work, brain!

"...Sophy"

"Yes!"

When her name was called with a sad tone, Sophy's body stiffened.

"!"

Warmth in her right hand.

The sensation of her hand being caught by bony fingers sent a jolt down her spine.

Don't move! Her brain suddenly became serious and issued orders to her entire body.

"...Sophy"

"Y-Yes"

Called by her name again, she couldn't avoid his gaze any longer.

Sophy slowly moved her eyes.

– Livio's thumb, treating her hand like a fragile object, gently stroked her fingertips.

The inexplicable shock that ran through her back made Sophy catch her breath, but Livio didn't let go of her hand. Instead, he kept staring at her fingertips, checking if they were split or rough. Sophy, whose attention was completely on her own nails, was completely ignored by Livio.

Under his long, lowered lashes, his two eyes didn't even blink. She felt uncomfortable, not knowing what to do.

When Sophy instinctively gripped her other hand, Livio sighed. The warm breath on her fingers made her shoulders jump.

"Am I heavy, Sophy?"

"Huh?"

Heavy. What? Is this what Reginian was talking about?

Sophy tilted her head.

"You're worried about it."

"Well, I don't really care much about what people think of me."

That's right, Sophy thought.

He was the kind of man who, even when told he had dragon blood, said, "Well, I'm still me," with a carefree attitude. He didn't seem to be bothered by what Reginian said to him on their first meeting.

But then, what is it? Sophy tilted her head and then stiffened.

Her neck, which had stretched, felt like it was cramping, but that wasn't the issue.

The weight of Livio's head on her shoulder. The softness of his hair. The pleasant scent. It stopped Sophy's thoughts.

In her head, alarms were ringing. Emergency! Emergency! It's an assault!!! Run! But, where to?

"!"

When he rubbed his forehead against her shoulder like a kitten, Sophy almost screamed. Gulping, her throat didn't make a sound, and she wanted to be praised for that.

Because.

This.

Is.

Too cute!!

Just having his head on her shoulder made Sophy feel like she was going to fall over. What is he, a kitten? A puppy? A small animal? Despite his towering height, which could look down on most humans, he curled up and clung to Sophy's shoulder. Is he trying to kill the overexcited part of her brain? Does he understand how hard it is for Sophy to hold back a "hiiiiin" sound while clenching her teeth?

Suppressing the urge to shake his shoulder and question him, Sophy called his name.

"L-Livio...?"

His grip on her right hand tightened, and Sophy felt like crying.

Her heart was being squeezed. It was painful. Impossible.

"No matter what anyone says, I don't care."

"Y-Yes."

Sophy liked Livio's beauty and strength, which were the opposite of her own tendency to worry about what others thought of her. Right now, that wasn't the issue. No, calm down.

Sophy, who couldn't see the scenery Livio was bringing, listened carefully to the words he murmured, curling up.

"...If you think I'm heavy, or a burden, I don't want that."

Her ears felt like they were going to burst.

Explode, explode. Scatter into pieces and have to be collected. It was that shocking.

Is there no law to regulate people who are too cute? This is not just a matter of her brain, but her heart might not hold up. Hey, overexcited brain, get ready for overexcited heart. The first generation might stop at any time!!! What a disaster!!!

With her face contorted, Sophy forced out the words.

"...I don't think that at all."

"Really?"

Livio, who sat up, furrowed his brow and looked at Sophy with a pained, troubled expression. The cute face that made her want to hug him, so different from the dark aura he had just a moment ago, made Sophy frown.

"What's wrong?"

"...It's a bit embarrassing."

Sophy nodded, and Livio lowered his eyes.

She stared at his long lashes, which seemed to be able to hold a few gemstones, with a racing heart.

"When I heard that someone helped Sophy, Lady Sophyria, during her difficult times, I felt relieved, but at the same time, I was incredibly envious. I was frustrated that I couldn't do anything."

"...Livio..."

Sophy, who recently recognized that her life had been somewhat unfortunate, didn't hate anyone. It was because of that miserable life that she was able to travel with Livio now.

Livio had saved Sophyria. More than anyone else.

Help me.

He allowed her to say the words that were forbidden to Sophyria, which were normal for others. He truly saved her.

Sophy was deeply grateful for this.

Yet, what a person.

With her chest full and speechless, Sophy was looked up at by Livio.

Then, he let his gaze wander and looked at her again, as if scrutinizing her. There it is, the Livio upturned eyes! Sophy, who is particularly weak for this, bit the inside of her cheek. Not a good time to be grinning.

"I'm not blaming you. I'm frustrated that I was a child then... and, simply, jealous."

Jealous!!!!!!!

Sophy's eyes and mouth opened wide in shock.

No matter how beautiful a painting or scenery, if Livio were to say it was beautiful, she would probably turn up her nose and say, "I don't want to hear it from you." With that face, which could make the world bend to its beauty, he was jealous!

"...I'm always jealous of anyone who gets close to Sophy. You don't know how much I envied that stupid, idiotic, foul prince."

"!!!"

Guilty! Definitely guilty!!! This is illegal. A crime. With his cheeks flushed, his brows furrowed, and his lips pouted, saying "jealous" and sulking, he is a national treasure-level beautiful and cute creature. He can't be let loose in the wild. He should be protected immediately. Isn't that for the good of the world and humanity? How powerless humans are, captivated by this beauty. How sinful the gods are. Well, Sophy doesn't really pray or confess, but Livio's existence should be protested to the gods. Thank you, God!!!!!

"I, I don't think anything of Lord Rubenis."

"...I know."

He knows. Of course, he does. What is this urge to mess up his hair? Sophy bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from grinning. It hurt. Good, she's still sane.

"But, when I couldn't get close to Sophy, and someone else touched her... I'm frustrated."

Livio lifted Sophy's right hand.

"I, who absolutely loves Sophy more than anyone else."

Livio's eyes never met Sophy's. Under his long lashes, two gem-like eyes were intently focused on Sophy's fingers.

Before Sophy could react,

While she was staring at his long lashes, her hand was lifted, and then, a soft, gentle touch on her fingertips.

"!!!"

As she instinctively tried to pull her hand away, the grip tightened.

The blueberry-colored eyes that glanced up at her were probably filled with dissatisfaction.

No, it's not that she disliked it. That's obvious.

Because it's Livio.

Unlike with Rubenis or Reginian, it can't just be a matter of surprise. Because it's Livio.

Her heart was pounding so hard, her blood was racing through her body, and her overexcited brain was about to fly out of her head. Livio didn't seem to understand any of this.

"L-"

So, he can do something like bite her index finger.

Sophy, feeling a small, almost imperceptible pain, felt her blood boil, and her tongue, which was visible, didn't know whether to inhale or exhale.

"Never let anyone else touch you again."

What else could she do but nod rapidly at his earnest gaze?

Feeling a bit suffocated, Sophy almost felt a sense of hatred towards the satisfied Livio.

Jealousy is a scary thing.