That’s Not What Kissing Means! - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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That’s not what kissing means!

Episode 10

Just then, a gentle breeze tickled Evelyn’s cheek.

“It’s nice.”

“What is?”

“There’s a lake like this in Adrianne Territory too. With wildflowers blooming around it, where the sunset lingers.”

“Do you miss home?”

“I always do. The fields where I used to run and play, my family too.”

She hadn’t realized it before.

The moments of laughing and chatting with family, the forest that welcomed her familiarly, the comfortable home—she had thought it was all natural.

Even while frantically adapting to her new environment, she would sometimes feel melancholy thinking of home.

She should quickly forget and focus on work…

At those words, Theo shook his head.

“You don’t need to forget.”

His words continued.

“You left home because you wanted to become a better person. You can build new experiences on top of your memories.”

It’s a way to grow more without losing yourself.

“…”

Evelyn looked at him silently.

Theo didn’t bother to comfort her by saying it was okay.

He simply consoled Evelyn calmly.

Was it because she was drunk? His words resonated in her heart.

To Evelyn, who was quietly looking at him, Theo asked.

“What are you thinking about?”

“…My homework.”

“Right. You promised to figure out my name by tonight.”

Their gazes exchanged silently.

Evelyn looked directly into his violet eyes.

Unlike their first meeting, they were full of tenderness.

“It’s been a strange day.”

Even receiving a confession from someone whose name I don’t know.

At those words, Theo let out a small laugh.

“Still don’t feel certain about me?”

“I don’t know. What should I do?”

Was it because of the sunset? Evelyn’s eyes were shining.

Then, Evelyn placed her hand over Theo’s.

Theo’s eyes widened at the sudden warmth.

“They said I could tell if I did this…”

Evelyn spoke with pronunciation blurred by alcohol.

She seemed to be recalling what she heard at the restaurant earlier.

“…So, do you think you know now?”

Theo’s voice became even lower.

She shook her head slightly.

“There is one more method though…”

“What is it.”

Evelyn recalled the restaurant hostess’s words.

‘When we kissed, I could tell. That I would spend my whole life with this person.’

The golden sky descended over Theo’s face.

Evelyn blinked slowly.

Everything surrounding them was quiet.

The calm lake and the breeze tickling their cheeks, the occasional sound of insects…

After looking at Theo for a long while like that, Evelyn slowly approached him.

In this moment, she could see nothing but him.

She didn’t think about Theo’s position or status that she had been worried about.

Their faces gradually drew closer.

Theo didn’t avoid her either.

He waited quietly for Evelyn, anticipating the touch to come.

Touch—

Finally, their lips met.

Evelyn had lightly kissed him.

“…”

“…”

Theo wasn’t surprised like before.

His deepened gaze turned to Evelyn.

Putting strength into their clasped hands, he asked.

“How about now?”

The distance between them was still close.

“Do you feel certain about me now?”

Theo asked once more.

Somehow he looked anxious.

His violet eyes stared at Evelyn’s lips as if to pierce through them.

She unconsciously traced her own lips with her finger.

The brief kiss had been momentary.

Though it was very short, she tried to remember the sensation from that moment.

When Evelyn remained silent, Theo observed her.

“It’s okay, tell me honestly.”

Even so, he became anxious that a negative answer might come back.

Theo smiled wryly to himself. He found himself strange for being swayed by the other person’s reaction.

“Honestly…?”

Evelyn opened her mouth slowly.

“Yes.”

What kind of answer would come back? Theo smiled, trying not to show his nervousness.

However, Evelyn’s words once again missed his expectations.

“It was too brief, so I’m not sure. Should we try once more…”

“What?”

Theo ended up laughing out loud.

Evelyn had an expression that showed she didn’t understand why he was laughing.

When his laughter subsided, he gently caressed Evelyn’s cheek.

“Are you very drunk?”

“No, I’m not…”

“You’re sure, right? You can’t forget this moment.”

His voice was quite serious.

“The first time might be excusable, but from the next time on, you have to take responsibility.”

“…”

“I may not look it, but I’m very innocent.”

What am I supposed to do about that. Evelyn blinked.

Theo tapped his own lips with his finger.

“This is something you do with the person you’re going to marry. Understand?”

Evelyn found herself nodding without realizing it.

Theo smiled with satisfaction and spoke quietly.

“I permit it, my lips.”

As if she had been waiting, Evelyn pressed her lips against his.

This time, a little longer.

There was no romantic atmosphere.

Her lips were tense with force, as if stamping a seal.

Theo briefly pulled his face away and looked at her tenderly.

He brushed her pink hair behind her ear and said.

“How about leaving it to me.”

“….”

Evelyn felt his gentle touch for several seconds.

What was she supposed to leave to him?

Her head felt heavy.

She liked the tender touch. The low voice, the close warmth too.

“…Alright.”

Finally, permission fell from her lips.

Theo cupped Evelyn’s face with both hands.

And gently took her lips.

A dreamy, intoxicating sensation spread like being drunk.

She helplessly fell into him.

* * *

‘I can’t remember what happened after that!’

Evelyn clutched her head.

She couldn’t remember anything after the kiss…!

It was the worst situation.

This morning, she had woken up feeling very refreshed.

As she stretched, her groggy head felt like it was clearing up.

Looking at the unfamiliar ceiling of the lodging, she remembered she was on a business trip.

At the same time, what happened yesterday began coming back to her one by one.

Going on the business trip together, encountering monsters, being left alone with the Duke….

“…Crazy.”

The events with him flashed by like a panorama.

Her overly honest words and everything she did while drunk…!

“You’re crazy, you’ve finally gone crazy!”

Evelyn punched the innocent pillow with her fist.

Alcohol was truly a terrifying thing.

‘No, was it really because of alcohol?’

What she was intoxicated by yesterday wasn’t just alcohol. His face, his atmosphere, even the kiss….

She had been enchanted by everything.

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, she couldn’t remember everything.

But what was certain… was that she had kissed him.

The problem was that she had forgotten what happened after.

Evelyn bit her nails anxiously.

What happened…? What did I say after that?

The Duke…? No, more importantly, did I properly make it back here?

At that moment, she remembered telling the Duke he was handsome.

‘This damn mouth…!’

How dare she tell the Duke that his face was just her type!

How absurd it must have been, Evelyn wanted to cry her eyes out.

Then suddenly, she became afraid of her own mouth.

What if she had babbled nonsense even after coming to the lodging?

What if she had blabbed about yesterday’s events to the researchers?

Her heart raced wildly with anxiety.

It felt like her heart would jump out of her throat.

Then, someone knocked on Evelyn’s door.

Startled by the knocking sound, she shouted loudly.

“Wh-who is it!”

The door opened to reveal Catherine.

“Why are you so startled? Is something wrong?”

“Oh, no! What’s the matter?”

Evelyn hurriedly got up from the bed. She roughly straightened her appearance.

“It’s fine, sleep more. You must have been very tired yesterday.”

“Yesterday…?”

“Yes, you came back carried by the Duke. You said you fainted from shock.”

“Ah….”

Evelyn scratched her cheek.

Fortunately, it seemed she had slept soundly without any nonsense.

“Anyway, I have something to tell you….”

“Oh, I’m going up to the Capital now.”

“Already? The business trip is until tomorrow.”

“Still, the monsters’ movements were suspicious. I need to go quickly and report.”

“What about the others….”

“Oliver, the Duke, and the knights will come according to schedule. I’m the only one going to the Capital.”

So you rest well and come back.

Catherine’s words made Evelyn’s mind complicated.

Everyone staying meant… she had to be with the Duke?

Evelyn’s face turned pale.

The major accident from the previous day came flooding back.

Even if she couldn’t remember other things, this one thing was certain.

She had kissed him first…!

And twice at that!

‘But the Duke didn’t refuse either.’

Besides, I’m the one who received a confession!

Her mind was in chaos.

Was it okay to accept his feelings like this?

Was there really no problem as the Duke said?

‘What about my feelings?’

Were they certain enough emotions to promise a future?

On the precarious boundary of emotions, Evelyn’s thoughts fell into a labyrinth.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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