Chapter 48

I'll post them in the order they are completed!

That night, after returning from the cottage, Gilbert woke up feeling restless. As he lay on his back and wiped his forehead, his hand became damp with sweat.

(―It's hot)

The heavy, humid air clung to his body. Even in the Kingdom of Prosper, which was known for its relatively comfortable summers, hot days were still hot. Especially on days like today, after returning from a cool waterside, the heat felt more intense.

(I'll go get some water)

Gilbert forced his drowsy mind to wake up and sat up. Then, he shifted his gaze to the side and froze.

(Why...)

It was no wonder he was speechless. Next to him was Cecilia. She had snuggled into the same futon as Gilbert and was sound asleep, snoring softly.

(Could I have done something...!!)

In such a situation, the first thing he couldn't believe was himself. He panicked, thinking he might have done something to her in his sleep, and quickly checked his own body. Then, he cautiously lifted the futon covering her and sighed in relief.

(Thank goodness...)

She was still fully dressed. Gilbert covered his face, feeling relieved.

He was truly shocked. He was really, really shocked.

Sweat began to dampen his skin for a different reason.

(Come to think of it, she said she wanted to sleep with me...)

Gilbert sighed, recalling Cecilia's words.

Last night, Cecilia had come to Gilbert's room with her pillow. Despite being surprised by her thin summer nightgown, he asked what was wrong, and she said, "I'm scared of the killer, can I sleep with you?" Apparently, she had been frightened by something Lean had said. Feeling sorry for her pale face, Gilbert promised to increase the security and escorted her to her room. He thought she had accepted that, but...

(I didn't expect her to crawl in while I was sleeping)

It seemed she hadn't accepted it after all.

Gilbert straightened the futon over Cecilia. As he did, his eyes caught the glimpse of her white collarbone. The exposed décolletage was slightly flushed, perhaps from the heat. Her damp skin, with her hair sticking to it, looked strangely alluring. A bead of sweat formed on her chest and slid down, disappearing into the valley between her breasts.

Gilbert watched the sweat bead slide down before turning away.

(I can't)

His body temperature rose. She probably only saw him as a younger brother, but he saw her as a woman. Even though he called her "sister," he had never truly thought of her as one.

The killer might indeed be dangerous, but in this situation, the most dangerous person was himself.

"Mmm..."

She must have been uncomfortable. Cecilia turned over, and this time her foot emerged from the edge of the futon. Gilbert quickly covered her leg.

"Haah..."

Sighs kept escaping his lips. He had only gone to get some water, but what kind of situation was this?

In this state, all sorts of inappropriate thoughts kept swirling in his head.

Gilbert brushed the hair stuck to Cecilia's cheek and then, without thinking, touched her lips with his thumb.

When he pressed it, the soft sensation made him dizzy.

"Sis, do you want to break off the engagement? Should I let you?"

He whispered the question. The engagement, of course, was between Oscar and Cecilia. Gilbert knew how to break it off.

(If I think about it, it's a simple matter...)

What was required of her as a queen was intelligence, character, and lineage. And purity. If any of these were taken away, her qualifications as a queen would be lost. In other words—

(I could do it here...)

Gilbert pressed Cecilia's lips again and slowly traced them with his own.

(But she would hate me)

Taking it would be easy, but it would hurt her, and she would probably never speak to him again.

But if it meant he could have her, if she would stay by his side, would it be worth it? She said "I love you" almost every day. Maybe, given time, she would forgive him.

"Ah, forget it!"

Gilbert lay down on the spot. Thoughts he usually tried not to think about were now vividly surfacing, and he felt disgusted with himself.

"His Highness would never think of such a thing..."

From Gilbert's perspective, there was no more honest and upright man than him. Even if he were in the same situation, he wouldn't think of hurting Cecilia. If he did, he would dismiss it as unacceptable.

As he looked up at the ceiling, Lean's voice from a few days ago echoed in his mind.

"You, for the sake of your step-sister's happiness, are willing to sacrifice yourself. Somewhere in your heart, you think it's okay to give her to His Highness if it makes her happy. You resist with all your might, but somewhere you're also making plans to give up."

"I hate you, Gilbert. I hate your calculating nature. I hate people who give up the most."

"Of course, sometimes I get discouraged too," Gilbert murmured weakly.

If Cecilia married Oscar, she would surely be happy. He would protect her and cherish her, and everyone knew that. It was almost a certainty.

So, Gilbert was the only one resisting. He was the only one desperately holding her hand, wanting to be by her side.

Gilbert touched his own lips with the thumb that had been pressing hers.

(I won't give her to anyone. But...)

He could hear her steady breathing by his ear. If he turned his head, he would see Cecilia with her eyes closed.

And Lean's voice echoed in his mind again.

"Crush. Like how I feel about Hugh. ...In other words, someone I like."

"Do you like His Highness, Sis?"

Cecilia didn't answer but turned over again.

Next is Oscar's summer vacation.