That’s Not What Kissing Means! - Chapter 15
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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 15
Julian, who was rigid by nature and lacked flexibility, persistently questioned him about that day’s events.
Isn’t that enough?
Even when his superior openly showed his annoyance, Julian just silently continued his work.
Having filled the report completely, he finally skimmed through the contents one last time.
“Wouldn’t there be a clue here? I think it would be best to try following their example.”
“You mean get blood on my hands like I did? Who exactly is going to do that?”
“That’s something they’ll have to figure out themselves.”
“Those cowardly clerics will surely step forward.”
Julian said he needed to go to the Imperial Palace immediately and bowed respectfully to Theo.
“Why don’t you send someone else?”
“Since this is important business related to the Royal Court, it’s proper for me to go personally.”
Right, right.
At Julian’s characteristically proper response, Theo waved his hand dismissively.
Julian left the office and walked quietly down the corridor with perfect posture.
Then he encountered confident footsteps coming from the opposite direction.
The woman with flowing red hair and a refreshing smile was Vanessa.
“Oh my, it’s been a while, aide!”
“Please refrain from giving the Duke unnecessary advice.”
Julian clicked his tongue without even acknowledging her greeting.
Watching him pass by her coldly, Vanessa giggled.
“How cute.”
Then she knocked on the office door.
“My lord, it’s Vanessa.”
When Theo gave permission, she cheerfully entered.
The Duke didn’t talk about his romantic affairs in detail.
It seemed he wanted to keep his memories with Evelyn to himself.
But when he couldn’t find his way at all, he would call for Vanessa.
She looked at the romance novels piled on one side of the office desk and said sympathetically.
“My lord, romance is about practice, not theory.”
“I know that. That’s why I called you.”
It seemed dozens of books couldn’t provide him with answers.
She crossed her arms and sat on the office sofa.
“You haven’t forgotten what I said, have you? If you push too hard, it’ll be burdensome, so you need to hold back for a few days. But you can’t let her forget you completely either.”
“What exactly am I supposed to do?”
“Give her advance notice before visiting directly. Then she’ll be anxious and secretly wait for you, Duke.”
“I did that.”
Theo had thought about it all night.
Then he remembered that Evelyn liked flowers, and decided to send white hydrangeas that held memories for just the two of them.
“You sent flowers? Not bad.”
Vanessa nodded, thinking of a small bouquet.
“I made sure it wasn’t burdensome at all.”
Theo spoke with a confident tone.
Though he wanted to fill the entire research facility, he held back and only sent enough to fill her desk.
“I’m thinking of sending another gift in about two days.”
“May I ask what it contains?”
“A handkerchief.”
Theo’s face softened gently.
It seemed the handkerchief had some special story behind it.
Since he wasn’t the type to answer even if asked, Vanessa didn’t bother to pry.
“Good, one heartfelt handkerchief.”
“…”
“Don’t tell me two?”
“…”
“Ten…?”
She decided to change the subject.
“So what’s the problem?”
Vanessa asked why he had called her.
“I miss Evelyn.”
That was it. The biggest trial was longing.
He had refrained from visiting her out of consideration, but she kept appearing before his eyes.
“When will I be able to see her?”
At Theo’s question, Vanessa made an exasperated face.
“Be patient for about two weeks.”
“I should deliver this next gift myself.”
“Are you planning to confess publicly?”
Vanessa asked as if astounded.
“What are you talking about? I’ll keep my identity hidden.”
“Wow, I’m sure you’ll be really well hidden!”
Was there anyone in the Imperial Palace who didn’t know Duke Ashford?
Theo continued nonchalantly.
“Tell them I’m going to the armory soon.”
“The armory? Don’t tell me…”
Bewilderment spread across Vanessa’s face.
* * *
Two days had passed since then.
Evelyn had been wondering what response she should give Theo, but then stopped.
A small reaction might only fan the flames further.
Fortunately, the researchers’ interest seemed to have cooled as well.
She was relieved by the quiet routine she had regained. Today would pass peacefully too.
However, a pitiful voice reached her ears.
“Evelyyyy…”
It was Paul, sitting next to her.
“What.”
Despite her indifferent response, he brightened like a child and pulled out a letter he had prepared.
“Just read this once for me. I worked really hard on it.”
“What’s the point? You won’t be able to deliver it anyway.”
At those words, Paul’s face fell.
He was hopelessly in love with a librarian at the Imperial Library, but couldn’t even confess properly.
Hearing rumors that she was well-versed in literature, he read poetry day and night and wrote love letters, but Paul had no talent for writing.
“I really did well this time. Please read it, okay?”
“Why do you always ask me to read them?”
“We’re friends. Besides, you’re the only person around me who loves books as much as you do.”
“Don’t you know that reading a friend’s love letter is even more torturous?”
Evelyn grumbled but took the love letter he offered.
[You who resemble the sun, your shining eyes always drive away winter and bring spring to everyone.]
“Ugh.”
That was her impression after reading just the first line.
It was a cheesy and childish sentence no matter how she looked at it.
Paul became dejected again. Evelyn barely stopped her dry heaving and asked.
“Why the sun of all things?”
“Her eyes are golden. Brilliant and beautiful….”
He had an expression as if he were dreaming.
She didn’t want to know about her friend’s love life.
“I’ll rewrite it….”
“How about just confessing plainly?”
“Is it that terrible?”
Evelyn smoothed things over with laughter instead of answering.
Just then.
“You can’t come in here….”
A sense of déjà vu washed over her.
When a researcher tried to stop someone, the man replied.
“I have a Royal Court permit.”
“Ah, I see. Please come in.”
The man was carrying a rather luxurious red velvet box.
He looked around the small research lab and spotted Evelyn.
‘Why is he looking at me like that?’
The man’s eyes widened so much that even Evelyn was flustered.
His eyes were filled with overwhelming emotion, as if he had encountered a treasure he had been desperately searching for.
The moment their eyes met, she could feel warm affection radiating toward her.
This tenderness directed at her was….
“Your Grace?”
Evelyn whispered without realizing it.
Though her voice was quiet enough that no one could hear, the man’s eyes lit up.
As if he had read her lips.
There’s no way he could be His Grace.
Evelyn hurriedly organized her thoughts.
The man before her had an ordinary appearance you might see anywhere on the street.
He didn’t resemble Theo in any way.
Just as Evelyn was focusing back on her documents, finding her own mistake absurd.
Thud-
A box was placed on her desk.
It was that man who had been bothering her since earlier.
“What is this…?”
“….”
The man said nothing and just quietly looked at Evelyn.
Then he silently left.
“What, what!”
Instead of Evelyn, who had frozen at the sudden situation, Paul noisily opened the box.
Handkerchiefs?
Silk, cotton, pale pink, ivory….
The box was filled with handkerchiefs of various materials and colors.
‘You threw away your handkerchief because of me.’
‘It’s fine.’
‘When we get to the Capital, I’ll give you new handkerchiefs.’
Suddenly, memories from the north flashed through her mind.
At this point, she could no longer avoid it.
‘I need to clearly convey my feelings.’
Evelyn made a firm resolution. At that moment, Paul’s exclamation reached her ears.
“There must be a hundred of these?”
“A, a hundred?”
Are you telling me to wipe my hands for the rest of my life?
Evelyn was horrified.
Like the flowers last time and these handkerchiefs now, the Duke’s spending was no joke.
Meanwhile, a neat paper envelope caught her eye.
Upon discovering it, Evelyn’s heart began to flutter softly.
Her small hand carefully pulled out the white letter envelope.
Soon, the neat handwriting in the letter greeted her.
[I trust that you too remember the promise made after our kiss.]
It meant she should keep her word, just as he had.
After the kiss?
This was a continuation of the story that Evelyn couldn’t remember at all.
‘What did I babble about?’
What on earth had happened-!!
She grabbed her hair in frustration.
Paul could only look at his colleague with a bewildered expression.
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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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