They Say an Age Gap Like This Doesn’t Even Need Matching - Chapter 33

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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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My murmur gave Elhart pause for a moment.
But soon he spoke while holding my gaze.
“Yes, my body recovered quickly.”
On this point, even he seemed to have nothing more to say.
He squeezed my hand more firmly.
“But you were worried about me.”
“What does that matter?”
When someone takes such a beating, one can’t help but worry.
“It was my first time.”
…What?
“The first time anyone has worried about me, or tried to protect me.”
Until now, no one?
Of course, Elhart possessed a physique capable of such things.
Still, wasn’t that too much?
Just because he recovers quickly doesn’t mean he wasn’t in pain.
“It brought me peace of mind.”
A faint smile bloomed at the corners of Elhart’s lips.
“Iserna, your presence has become my solace.”
“…”
Solace.
Yes, I think I understand what he means.
Because I too have known such a presence.
One person with whom it’s acceptable to act petulant and reveal weakness, contrary to my nature.
Someone I can rely on.
“If you don’t hate it, couldn’t you just stay by my side?”
He spoke in a whisper, soft yet unmistakably clear.
“I will do my best so you won’t regret it.”
An emotion without hesitation seemed to seep through our joined hands, dyeing my entire being.
“If the time spent with me proves unsatisfactory… when this sham marriage ends, leave me.”
His desperation, his earnestness, gripped my heart.
“Then I won’t hold you back. Even if my feelings deepen, I won’t bind you. So please, give me this chance until then.”
If I refuse even now… it would truly be the end with Elhart.
‘I… don’t want that.’
I still needed time. To define what this complicated heart of mine truly was.
My fingertips, trapped in his hands, trembled slightly.
“…Understood.”
Elhart’s words were reasonable.
After all, whether it was a sham marriage or anything else, wasn’t this necessary for cooperation while keeping my identity hidden?
So there was no reason to refuse.
‘When the sham marriage is no longer necessary, I’ll think about it then.’
Rather than rushing to answer questions I didn’t understand, it seemed necessary to give myself time to grow accustomed to this new reality.
‘After all, not every romance succeeds.’
It wasn’t uncommon for something to begin with the conviction of only one person.
“I’m counting on you, Elhart.”
At my response, Elhart’s face brightened.
“Yes.”
Watching him smile so radiantly, the lingering anxiety within me seemed to melt away.
Fearing I might smile back at him, I quickly changed the subject.
“Everyone kept insisting that I have much to learn from you.”
I couldn’t fathom why I had so much to learn.
But since this very state of affairs proved my shameful ignorance, I resolved to adopt a more earnest approach to learning.
“What should I start learning first?”
“Hmm….”
After a brief moment of thought, Elhart spoke.
“First, shall we decide how to address each other?”
Indeed, it would have to be different from when I was a maid.
“Alright.”
“We need to act as a couple who fell in love at first sight and married—not a political arrangement. So it would be good to have some pet names like those used when people are in love.”
When in love….
I recalled the terms of endearment I’d heard people around me use during their newlywed days.
“Honey? Dear? Baby? Darling?”
With each word I uttered, a flush crept across Elhart’s face until it turned completely crimson.
“Y-you’re going to call me those things?”
“Pick whichever you like best.”
Unexpectedly unfamiliar with such matters, his lower lashes trembled delicately.
“They’re all so perfect without exception that I cannot choose.”
Soon, a soft moan escaped his lips, and the words that followed revealed that every example I’d given was the right answer.
“Alright then. I’ll call you whatever feels right depending on the situation.”
Elhart suddenly buried his face in his hands.
“This… this doesn’t seem right….”
His warm breath and trembling respiration transmitted through to my hand.
Perhaps he hadn’t forgotten that my hand was trapped within his.
“It feels like I’m committing a sin, yet it feels so good I cannot stop.”
“…?”
I couldn’t comprehend what he meant.
Perhaps this was precisely the kind of thing I needed to learn.
“What should we do next?”
“Now that we’ve settled on how to address each other… we should practice acting naturally as a married couple.”
It was certainly sound reasoning.
The moment any awkwardness showed in how we treated each other, we would be exposed.
“When others are watching, we should hold hands or link arms as much as possible.”
“Like at the last banquet?”
“Yes.”
Holding hands no longer felt particularly awkward to me.
“That much is easy.”
I rose from my seat and linked my arm through his.
The intense heartbeat I felt immediately after—whose was it?
“Even when we’re close, it shouldn’t feel awkward. I think it should feel natural.”
He met my gaze as I looked up at him intently, then slowly lowered his head.
His lips descended softly onto my forehead.
“Do it as naturally as you always do….”
“Hmm… I think there’s a problem.”
“What is it?”
“Your face is extremely red.”
Wouldn’t this give us away immediately? Most married couples wouldn’t be this embarrassed at this point.
“….”
He quietly straightened up and turned his head away.
Even so, he kept his arm around me while covering his face with his other hand.
His hand was large enough to hide his face, but it was futile—his bright red ears and neck would give him away regardless.
“Elhart, look at me.”
“…Just a moment.”
“Honey. Darling?”
He turned to me in surprise.
His golden eyes, visible through the gaps between his fingers, wavered uncertainly.
“You’re really in trouble.”
If it’s this obvious, we’ll fail before we even start.
It wouldn’t be any different whether it’s a fake marriage or anything else.
With my true feelings laid so bare, I’d be exposing my weakness.
After thinking it over carefully, I decided to take the direct approach.
“There’s no choice but to get used to it through repetition.”
Repeated practice and real-world training.
That’s the most reliable solution in any situation.
I pulled his hand away from his face.
I interlaced our fingers so he couldn’t escape, then tilted my head back.
“Go ahead, we can kiss. Let’s practice until your face stops turning red.”
“Are you serious?”
His low voice, as always, sounded strangely dangerous.
“Yes.”
“You won’t regret this?”
Even as he said that, I felt no desire to back away.
I simply wanted to draw closer, to take another step forward.
I released the arms I had been holding and stood facing him directly.
Our bodies nearly touching, I looked up at him from such proximity.
“If you’re going to do this, do it properly. I won’t accept failure born of insufficient effort.”
“…You’re right. A fair point.”
Elhart’s arms wrapped around my waist.
“Forgive my clumsiness. Since you’ve offered your assistance, I cannot refuse.”
It happened in an instant.
“…!”
His lips, as he lowered his head, met mine.
‘I meant on the forehead….’
Wasn’t he the one whose face had turned crimson at merely that?
Could we really skip steps like this?
‘Well… the sooner, the better, I suppose.’
Once kissing on the lips became natural, the forehead would certainly present no difficulty whatsoever.
Of course, my motivations were not entirely pure.
‘Kissing feels… wonderful.’
He did not close his eyes, nor did I.
‘Since this is practice, I must observe the progress carefully.’
That was certainly what I had thought.
Yet with experience gained from several encounters, he moved without hesitation, parting my lips and drawing deeper.
The sensation of his tongue sliding across mine was utterly dizzying.
“…!”
I felt his arms tighten around my waist with deliberate pressure.
As my body was drawn closer, my head tilted back further, and maintaining balance became increasingly difficult.
I felt our breathing grow progressively heated.
Both his and mine.
‘Can this truly be called… practice?’

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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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