That’s Not What Kissing Means! - Chapter 11

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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 11

“Why do you keep touching your lips?”

At Catherine’s question, Evelyn gasped in surprise.

When had she started touching them?

Catherine frowned and observed her quietly.

“Did something happen yesterday?”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“Nothing happened with His Grace? Now that I think about it, it’s strange. You came back to the lodging so late too.”

“The mountain hike was so difficult that I walked slowly!”

“By any chance…”

Catherine asked cautiously.

“His Grace didn’t startle you, did he?”

She spoke as if she knew something.

“For example…?”

At Evelyn’s question, Catherine made a troubled face.

“Oh, no. It’s fine if nothing happened.”

“…”

“It’s just… he’s someone who likes pranks…”

“His Grace likes pranks?”

“Not the kind of pranks you’re thinking of… Anyway, I’m glad nothing troublesome happened.”

Catherine forced a smile.

That ambiguous smile made Evelyn even more anxious.

What was certain was…

‘I don’t know anything about him.’

She had kissed someone whose name she didn’t even know.

Moreover, it seemed like they had vaguely promised a future together.

“…What kind of person is His Grace?”

Evelyn asked Catherine.

When she saw Catherine’s reluctance to speak, she put on an expression that said ‘what’s the harm?’

“We won’t see him again anyway. I’m just curious.”

“Was it obvious that we were avoiding him?”

Catherine sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.

“He sometimes plays pranks that would make others dizzy. Should I say he’s fearless…”

She told an anecdote.

Two years ago, in the neighboring Kingdom of Genok, a bloody change of royal power took place.

The king’s illegitimate son, who was thought to be dead, drove out the legitimate heir and seized the throne.

The Emperor of the Solaris Empire sent an envoy to congratulate the new king’s coronation.

Though it was under the pretext of giving gifts, the real purpose was different.

For smooth diplomatic negotiations, they sent related personnel to Genok.

Although the empire was mighty in power, they didn’t know how the new king with his warlike nature would react.

The Emperor wanted to maintain his current advantage and wished for his subjects to handle troublesome matters without bothering him.

The King of Genok was very interested in swordsmanship and wanted to meet Duke Ashford.

Theo eventually visited the kingdom under what was disguised as the Emperor’s command but was really a request.

The new King of Genok had a cruel disposition from his mercenary life, and the envoys attended the luncheon trembling with fear.

It was in the royal palace garden planted with beautiful flowers.

But they knew.

That all the servants were mercenaries who had joined the king in rebellion.

There was no telling what weapons they might be hiding.

Moreover, the King of Genok constantly found fault with this and that, displeased about something.

The empire’s envoys could only endure, suppressing their displeasure.

It was when this precarious atmosphere continued.

‘How dreary.’

Duke Ashford stood up.

Theo ignored the gazes pouring on him, said he would excuse himself for a moment, and left somewhere.

Had the Duke gone mad?

The envoys exchanged glances with each other.

They knew he was a man who acted boldly even toward the Emperor…!

When he didn’t return after several minutes, the King of Genok made a displeased sound.

Everyone held their breath as they saw his cruelly gleaming eyes.

Theo returned from afar.

With an armful of pink flowers.

He put them in an empty vase from somewhere and decorated the table.

Everyone stared at him blankly.

‘Hahaha!’

The King of Genok burst into loud laughter.

‘Aren’t those Lumi flowers! Surely this is a message for me.’

Children across the continent would receive Lumi flowers as gifts from their families on Children’s Day.

The king thought Theo was criticizing his attitude of constantly complaining.

‘I won’t act like a child anymore. I’ll engage seriously in negotiations.’

The murderous atmosphere instantly softened. The negotiations also proceeded smoothly.

Everyone looked around and smiled along with the king.

The king seemed to like Theo very much, giving him precious magic stones after lunch and asking about swordsmanship.

Later, the envoys asked him how he had such courage.

The answer that came back with a languid smile was-

‘Just, because I was bored.’

That was all. Everyone was shocked by his words that he was simply bored.

Catherine finished the story and shared her thoughts.

“At an important event, and in such a deadly situation where lives could be at stake, does it make sense to play pranks?”

“Was it really a joke?”

Evelyn somehow felt a sense of déjà vu.

Hadn’t he brought flowers to their meal too, talking about formalities?

“People persistently asked, but he only answered that it was just a prank. It was fortunate that the king interpreted it favorably.”

Catherine shook her head, saying it could have been a disaster.

“Anyway, he’s obsessed with pranks… no, he has expertise in them.”

She lowered her voice.

“Actually, the Mage Knights, no, the entire Ashford Knight Order is like that. They’re so mischievous that they confuse people about whether they’re joking or serious… But once they pick up their swords, they display terrifying power.”

“But is that really a reason for everyone to avoid him?”

Avoiding someone over something like that?

Evelyn made a puzzled face.

“Well, there’s another reason they avoid him… I’ll tell you when I get the chance.”

Catherine got up from her seat, saying she’d be late.

At this point, Evelyn began to have doubts.

Putting together Catherine’s story…

The Mage Knights, including the Duke, always had a habit of making light jokes.

Among them, Duke Ashford played dangerously risky pranks that could cost lives.

‘Was the Duke’s confession really sincere…?’

A big question mark lodged itself in Evelyn’s mind.

Was it just a mere prank, as Catherine suggested?

The confession at the restaurant, the kiss, everything?

‘No, what if it was sincere?’

That was also a problem.

If they started dating as he suggested, realistic problems would arise.

Moreover, her partner was Duke Ashford, a nobleman of impossibly high rank.

For a newly hired employee, burdensome rumors would surely follow.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t considered his potential change of heart either.

Just as quickly as he’d felt affection, it might cool down in an instant.

This unexpected possibility only added to her anxiety.

Countless question marks settled in her mind.

Evelyn let out a sigh. She wanted to run away from this situation.

The Duke was right there in the same lodging.

Just a few steps would bring her within reach of him.

How should she face him?

‘The first time might be excusable, but from then on, you have to take responsibility.’

The Duke’s voice speaking of responsibility came back to her clearly.

If she went to him and brought up last night’s events, how would he react?

If he dismissed it as a prank and burst into laughter…

‘Wouldn’t that actually be better?’

For the Duke, it might just be a moment that passed by lightly like any other day.

She couldn’t predict his reaction at all.

What was certain was that she didn’t have the courage to face him right now.

Evelyn found herself speaking without realizing it.

“Senior, will we have any other occasions to meet the Duke? Not work-related, I mean.”

“Not at all. We live in completely different worlds.”

A very distant world where their paths wouldn’t cross—that was the distance between the Duke and herself.

‘Now that I think about it, I was worrying about something completely pointless.’

The moment they returned to the Capital, the Duke would come to his senses too.

Even if that moment was sincere, he must have been swept up in the atmosphere.

Many thoughts came and went in a short time.

The conclusion of all her thoughts was one thing.

Her connection with the Duke would end here.

Thinking this way made her head feel lighter.

Evelyn steeled her resolve and said,

“Senior, could you take me with you?”

“Back to the Capital? Didn’t you like it here? You said it reminded you of home.”

“Oh, I want to get back to work quickly! Everyone will be sleeping, so let’s leave as quietly as possible!”

“If that’s what you want… Will you go say goodbye to His Grace? I already did yesterday.”

“No, he must be tired, so I can’t disturb his sweet sleep!”

“You’re right, it’s better not to disturb him.”

Catherine muttered something cryptic.

“I’ll pack my things and come out.”

“I’ll be out soon too. Just give me five minutes!”

“That quickly?”

Haha… hahaha…

Evelyn responded with laughter instead of words.

Catherine narrowed her eyes.

She seemed to have noticed that something had happened between Evelyn and the Duke.

However, she didn’t ask anything.

“Then hurry up and get ready. I’ll wait.”

“Yes, understood.”

Evelyn hurriedly brought her luggage bag.

Was this the right thing to do?

Leaving without a word. That was her answer to his confession.

The clever Duke wouldn’t fail to understand that.

‘I’m sorry, please understand generously…’

Please let time solve this—Evelyn hoped and hoped desperately.

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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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