That’s Not What Kissing Means! - Chapter 104

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. 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 104

It wasn’t long before we arrived at another Gate.
Evelyn still couldn’t shake her unease. The Mage who kept dozing off didn’t seem trustworthy.
“Is this the right place?”
She asked as we emerged from the Underground Gate.
Only after Theo nodded could she feel reassured.
“G-greetings, Duke Ashford! What brings you here without notice…!”
The Knight guarding the Gate looked startled as he regarded the three of us. He then ordered his subordinate to prepare a Carriage.
“Tell Donovan to come find me at dawn with Helena.”
“Yes, understood.”
Theo observed Evelyn. She must be exhausted from the overwhelming events of the day.
“The Ashford Estate has a Village where Mages and technicians gather. This is the Magitech Research Institute located in the center of that Village.”
Evelyn was amazed that Mages from the House could form an entire Village.
“Then there must be many fascinating magical artifacts here.”
“We even crafted the image recording device and audio recording device you’re carrying.”
It was certainly technology that surpassed the Royal Court. These were clearly highly skilled individuals.
“The Mage Knights we use are made here too. They’re truly remarkable people.”
Vanessa spoke with pride as well.
The three of us climbed the stairs from the Underground where the Gate was located. Only faint magical lamps illuminated the dark Interior.
As we exited the Research Institute Main Gate, a Carriage was waiting.
Theo escorted Evelyn before taking a seat beside her.
Vanessa also sat across from us with his permission.
He gazed out the Carriage window. Just as he’d told Julian, Duke’s Mansion Knights were stationed at various points as sentries.
He didn’t know when the Envoy might launch a surprise attack. The man would stop at nothing for his purposes. He couldn’t afford to be careless.
The Village was quite large. It took considerable time before we finally reached the Castle.
“You must be tired. Why don’t you rest your eyes?”
At Theo’s words, Evelyn shook her head.
“We just passed through the main gate. We’ll reach the Castle soon, so it’s fine.”
“That’s…”
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
“The Castle is so vast that even just the Garden takes forty minutes to traverse.”
“…”
Evelyn closed her eyes without hesitation. As she drifted into sleep, Theo let her lean against his shoulder.

* * *

The next morning, I opened my eyes in an unfamiliar room.
At Ashford Castle.
Despite the foreign surroundings, my heart felt infinitely more at ease than it had in the Holy Kingdom.
Soon, the people Theo had summoned would arrive.
After a quick wash, I stepped out of the room and surveyed my surroundings from the second-floor railing.
Ashford Castle was impossibly vast—the Manor in the Capital looked almost quaint by comparison.
Descending the stairs to the Main Hall, I found Theo waiting for me.
“Did you sleep well?”
I asked him with a bright smile, and he nodded.
“Why didn’t you ask me?”
“Ask you what?”
“Whether I slept well. You should return the question.”
“I see. You looked so well-rested I didn’t think I needed to ask.”
Theo observed my pouty expression and asked anyway.
“Did you sleep well?”
….
Instead of answering, I started toward the Dining Room. Or rather, I tried to.
But the Castle, which I was visiting for the first time, was quite grand, and I couldn’t navigate its passages.
Theo chuckled and took my hand, leading the way.
Now that we had confirmed our feelings for each other and left the Holy Kingdom behind, he no longer held back.
“Do you like the Castle?”
“Does it matter what I think?”
I asked, puzzled. It was a Castle that successive Dukes had maintained for generations. What did my opinion matter?
Theo continued.
“The mistress of House Ashford is also responsible for the Castle’s interior.”
He smiled at me.
“If you don’t like something, you can change it however you wish.”
My face flushed instantly.
Theo was already treating me as the future Duchess.
That meant he intended to spend his life with me….
Perhaps because I’d heard it so many times before, excitement now filled me more than apprehension.
Upon arriving at the Dining Room, he pulled out my chair. Then he took his seat across from me.
“It’s been so long since we’ve eaten facing each other.”
“Did you miss it?”
Theo’s lips curved upward.
Before long, countless dishes were laid across the Table.
Seeing the elaborate and varied spread, I swallowed involuntarily.
But what I’d truly missed was something else entirely.
Theo hurried to assist her as he watched the delight bloom across her face.
He sliced her meat and arranged the salad within her reach.
Throughout the meal, her smile never wavered.
Yes, this was exactly it…!
No more of that nauseating green soup that made her skin crawl just looking at it. This alone was enough to make her blissfully happy.
Once her hunger was satisfied, her excitement began to settle.
Evelyn glanced at her completely empty plate and, feeling a touch embarrassed, changed the subject.
“Where did Vanessa go?”
“She went to train at dawn. She must have felt cooped up during our time in the Holy Kingdom.”
It was understandable—Vanessa’s vibrant nature made confinement unbearable. She’d spent those days practically imprisoned in a small room.
Her entire day had consisted of lying in bed or snacking.
After finishing our satisfying meal, the Duke’s Mansion’s head butler appeared in the Dining Room.
“Donovan and Helena have arrived. I’ve shown them to the Reception Room for now.”
Theo nodded. Evelyn rose from her seat and accompanied him to the Reception Room.
As the door opened, Donovan and Helena bowed respectfully.
“We greet you, Duke Ashford. I trust Evelyn has been well.”
Donovan appeared much the same as before—his posture so rigid it seemed almost inflexible.
Helena, however, possessed an entirely opposite temperament.
The House of Ashford’s chief Mage’s eyes sparkled the moment she saw Evelyn.
“Duke Ashford, it’s been so long. But who is this person beside you…?”
“Helena.”
Donovan cautioned her. He held overall responsibility for the family’s technicians and mages.
Helena immediately closed her mouth upon seeing Donovan’s expression.
“My apologies. Mages tend to be quite curious by nature…”
“It’s fine.”
Compared to the Mage Knights’ inquisitiveness, this was nothing. I’d even grown to find it endearing.
“Have a seat.”
At Theo’s words, everyone settled onto the Reception Room’s sofas.
They sat facing each other in pairs across the table.
Theo explained the situation thus far to Donovan and Helena in broad strokes.
The Emperor had insisted it be kept secret to prevent panic among the Empire’s citizens. But now that I knew the Emperor himself was being manipulated by the Grand Cleric, I could no longer continue following him.
“This is the ritual circle the Grand Cleric created.”
Evelyn handed them the paper with the ritual circle drawn on it.
Helena’s eyes widened as she studied the intricate patterns.
“Good heavens…necromancy, summoning magic, soul absorption…is this really a pattern that came from the Temple?”
She wore an expression of shock, calling it the worst of all dark magic.
“It hasn’t been executed yet, correct? To satisfy this, it would require at least ten or more victims in a single ritual.”
“There have already been two fires. The next target is the Ashford Estate.”
At those words, Donovan’s expression hardened as well.
“So that’s why…you’ve recently strengthened the village’s security.”
When Helena learned that the Envoy’s target was their residence, fury ignited within her.
“This is absurd! You would sacrifice us, who strive so earnestly to secure our eternal lives?”
She cried out that an entire village could not be reduced to ruins overnight.
“Helena, compose yourself. Would Duke Ashford truly abandon us?”
Accepting his words, Helena’s anger subsided.
Yet Theo’s response was unexpected.
“I’m prepared to endure it to some extent.”

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