That’s Not What Kissing Means! - Chapter 4

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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 4

Flustered, Evelyn forced herself to show a social smile.

“Should I gather people in the conference room?”

“No, it’ll just be the two of us.”

He kept smiling the whole time, making it impossible to tell if he was joking or serious.

“At least our senior staff member…”

“They’d just be nervous the whole time. It would slow down the process too.”

“…”

“It’ll be over quickly anyway. I’m the one in charge, so there’s no need to worry.”

“So… my role would be to organize and relay what you say?”

“You understand well.”

The Duke took a sip of water and slowly began to speak.

“The schedule is three days total, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

He liked how Evelyn answered immediately. He detested anything tedious.

“First day will be monster subjugation, the rest is free time.”

He was saying he’d finish off the formidable monsters on the first day.

Today is going to be quite intense.

Evelyn recalled the business trip journal she’d seen that morning and asked.

“I also need to write down how and by what method you’ll defeat them.”

“I have to write that down too?”

The Duke tilted his head to the side.

“You’ll interpret the stone tablet and hide behind the knight order once the seal is broken. I’ll eliminate the monsters, and my subordinates will handle the rest from behind.”

“You mean you’ll attack at the front, Your Grace?”

Does she want me to explain in more detail?

Though it was bothersome, the Duke showed patience. She was a woman who had intrigued him, even if briefly.

“When monsters come out of the dungeon, I’ll handle them. I’ll attack their vital points or inflict major injuries. Then my subordinates will finish off the fallen monsters.”

No matter how outstanding the Ashford Knight Order’s abilities were, they couldn’t even match half of the Duke’s skill.

It was more efficient for him to step forward and attack.

His subordinates also took it for granted that they’d put him at the front.

“Always the same.”

The Duke spoke as if bored.

Though it was natural, this situation where everyone relied on him felt tedious.

Evelyn quietly looked at him.

His tone suggested he expected nothing from others.

Somehow, she thought the Duke’s eyes seemed empty.

And without realizing it, she cast a stone into his heart.

“That’s too much.”

What does she mean?

The Duke looked at her without much thought.

What returned was a straightforward gaze. He somehow couldn’t look away from those blue eyes.

“You’re doing most of the work alone. Of course it would strain your body.”

“Are you worried about me?”

Her unexpectedly clear voice struck him.

He found himself liking the face that genuinely cared for him.

For some reason, he wanted to draw out more of her concern.

Even knowing it was just passing worry.

The Duke let out a sigh.

“It can’t be helped. That’s my role.”

If his subordinates had seen this, they would have made a fuss calling it disgusting.

The Duke always took interest in new things but never fell deeply into them.

The feelings he had for the woman before him were probably just momentary curiosity too.

Like a cat poking at a ball of yarn it saw for the first time.

It was surprising that he found their private conversation so enjoyable…

He knew himself too well.

Interest would turn to indifference, and he would face tedious life once again.

‘Trust no one, the only thing you can give your heart to is…’

He shook off the thoughts as the past surfaced again.

The woman before him had a talent for bringing up buried memories.

Meanwhile, Evelyn felt sorry for him.

Perhaps it was because of his forlorn expression.

It seemed he had considerable responsibility as a duke.

“The Royal Court knights also distribute work among themselves. Just because you’re a duke doesn’t mean you need to take on everything.”

“…”

Evelyn was worrying about him as a human being, not as a duke.

It was the first time in his life he’d experienced such a thing.

The moment he realized this, Evelyn settled small in his heart.

It seemed like this brief business trip wouldn’t be boring with her around.

Evelyn carefully opened her mouth.

“…I know Your Grace’s swordsmanship skills are remarkable.”

Why is she hesitating like that?

The Duke listened intently. Soon her words continued.

“I have emergency medicine made by the Royal Court. Ointment to apply to wounds too.”

“So?”

The Duke asked, holding back laughter.

“Just in case you might need it. This is all I can do.”

In that brief moment, she seemed to have thought of ways to help the Duke.

In the process, she even mentioned his swordsmanship skills, worried about damaging his pride.

“This kind of consideration is a first.”

At those words that seemed touched, Evelyn doubted her ears.

‘Is he really a duke? Has no one around him ever looked after him?’

But looking at his expression, everything seemed to be true.

Evelyn recalled the heroic tales she’d heard as a child.

The story of a knight who hid his fatal wounds for the sake of his subordinates’ morale.

Seeing Evelyn’s face growing darker, the Duke asked.

“You said you’re ignorant about the Capital’s social circles?”

“That’s right.”

“Then you don’t know about me either?”

“No, you’re Duke Ashford. I heard you’re the continent’s greatest magic swordsman.”

“Do you know my name, not just the family name?”

She didn’t know that.

She had only done research to begin with, and the nobles she encountered just needed to be addressed with their family name and title.

‘Do I really need to know…’

“Do you really need to know?”

Gasp! Evelyn covered her mouth with her hand.

She was worried that her inner thoughts had slipped out of her mouth.

Evelyn was the type whose thoughts showed on her face immediately.

“Find out. By tonight.”

“Is this also work?”

“Yes, it’s an assignment I’m giving as the general manager.”

What on earth did this have to do with business trip duties.

The Duke, reading Evelyn’s thoughts, curved his eyes gracefully.

“What’s wrong, it’s interesting.”

“….”

At his sudden smile, Evelyn’s heart skipped a beat.

She immediately put on a serious expression.

It was her own defense mechanism.

The Duke chuckled and got up from his seat, heading into the lodging.

The first floor that had been noisy was now quiet.

Instead of the split table, spare furniture had been placed there.

The image of subordinates grumbling while carrying in a large wooden table was vivid.

Duke Theo Ashford, imagining this, recalled the meal they had just shared. The dining experience with Evelyn, who was supposedly a new researcher, hadn’t been bad.

Her sparkling blue eyes remained like an afterimage.

As did her clear voice that genuinely worried about him.

* * *

After lunch time ended, the monster subjugation began in earnest.

Theo, along with the knights and three researchers, climbed Monster Mountain.

The higher they went toward the mountain peak, the thicker the fog became.

Occasionally, small vibrations rumbled from the ground.

Evelyn recalled the report’s content about Monster Mountain’s ominous energy.

“This is strange. It’s never been this gloomy before.”

One of the knights tilted his head in confusion.

However, the researchers who could barely walk didn’t care about the weather.

The physical stamina gap between knights who trained daily and researchers buried in indoor work all day was like heaven and earth.

Evelyn, who had run around in fields, was relatively better off.

But as the slope grew steeper, her feet slipped.

“Careful.”

Theo, who was nearby, lightly supported her back.

At the shortened distance, Evelyn tensed her face again.

‘Serious expression… serious expression…!’

The knights watching him widened their eyes.

“You know how to show such consideration?”

Theo didn’t even pretend to listen and whispered to Evelyn.

“Aren’t you going to worry about me today?”

“Pardon?”

Evelyn, who had been giving thanks, opened her eyes wide.

Wasn’t this usually something the unit members should do?

Then she suddenly realized. As a leader, he couldn’t carelessly show weakness to his subordinates.

After thinking for a moment, Evelyn whispered.

“Don’t overdo it.”

She lowered her voice, worried someone might hear.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Theo’s lips curved into an arc.

His softly curved eyes were captivating.

He left the dazed Evelyn behind and walked ahead.

Evelyn stopped for a moment and watched his retreating figure.

From the first time they met, he had been someone who left a strange lingering impression.

Always disappearing first, yet leaving behind a deep afterimage…

‘Forget it, there won’t be any more involvement anyway, so let’s not think too deeply!’

She shook her head lightly.

After all, her connection with the Duke would end with this business trip.

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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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