They Say an Age Gap Like This Doesn’t Even Need Matching - Chapter 90

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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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It was the first time I’d sat face-to-face for such a long stretch at a distance where our knees nearly touched.
And with complete focus on each other, no less.
The awkwardness made me want to flee anywhere—the ticklish discomfort was unbearable.
Should I mention how much progress had been made on the magical portal repairs? Or perhaps discuss the purification operation plans instead?
But I couldn’t do that.
‘He told me not to talk about work during our date.’
I wished Elhart would look away and pretend to admire the scenery like I was doing.
Ever since boarding the boat, he hadn’t taken his eyes off me once.
“…Blink while you’re looking at me.”
“Huh…?”
“Staring is fine, but remember to blink properly.”
“Oh.”
He finally blinked a couple of times, then smiled.
“Was I not?”
‘Why is he smiling like that?’
My heart began racing far too quickly.
Against the quiet of the lakeside, it felt impossibly loud.
‘Calm down, will you.’
I drew a long breath and exhaled slowly, struggling to regain my composure.
“Ser.”
When the boat came to a stop in the middle of the lake, Elhart set down the oars.
“Mm?”
“May I kiss you?”
“What…?”
I stared at him in bewilderment.
“You’re so beautiful. I was trying to restrain myself since we’re outside, but it’s proving difficult.”
If I refused, that lovely smile would fade.
The corners of his eyes would droop.
‘If I see that expression, I’ll have no choice but to agree anyway.’
Wouldn’t it be better to simply consent now?
Without thinking, I swallowed hard.
“Y-yes. I’d like that.”
As if he’d anticipated refusal, his eyes widened slightly.
‘…He’s delighted.’
How could a kiss—something we’d done countless times—bring him such joy?
That’s what I thought, but the moment he began leaning toward me, I found myself equally flustered.
Gripping the railing behind where I sat with both hands, he slowly lowered his head.
It was approaching noon.
The sunlight streaming down from above was blocked by his shadow.
I kept my gaze on his lips as they drew closer, then gently closed my eyes.
A shiver ran through me at the gentle touch of soft lips meeting mine.
After a brief separation, his lips returned, slanting against mine once more.
He drew my lower and upper lips alternately between his own, licking slowly and deliberately.
The electric sensation spread throughout my entire body, threatening to steal my balance.
When I urgently grasped Elhart’s collar, his tongue invaded my mouth as if he’d been waiting for just such an opening.
Could we really do this in the middle of the lake?
Anyone could pass by in a boat, and people on the shore could see us.
But it was already too late to stop.
With each passing moment, I became more intoxicated by his kiss, and I had no desire whatsoever to pull away.
We devoured each other desperately, quenching an endless thirst.
Yet the more we did, the more unbearable the ache became.
He wanted me, and I wanted him.
As if we could consume one another on the spot.
It was Elhart who broke the kiss first after it had continued for so long.
“…?”
Like a child robbed of a delicious candy, I stared up at him blankly, and he pressed his forehead against mine.
“Ser….”
His voice murmuring my name was low and rough.
He steadied his breathing and slowly lifted his eyelids.
His golden eyes, shadowed in the dimness, rippled with deep, dark desire.
It was a look I had grown quite familiar with.
When uncontrollable lust threatened to erupt.
That exact moment when a single small stimulus could strip away all reason.
“Elhart… you’re alright, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
He returned to his seat slowly, his expression one of barely restrained composure.
The reason he placed his jacket over his lap was… well, obvious enough.
I barely stopped my gaze from drifting there before quickly seizing the oar he had set down.
“Ser…? Why….”
“I think we’ve completed the boating course quite smoothly.”
We hadn’t even opened the snack basket, but let’s just call it done.
We were still within arm’s reach of each other, and now that felt dangerously close.
I began rowing, mimicking what he had done.
“Let’s move on to the next activity quickly.”
My face was surely as flushed as his was.
‘Boating is incredibly dangerous.’
With that conclusion, I moved my arms faster.
Splash—!
While Elhart had rowed smoothly, something went wrong, and water sprayed up on both sides of the boat.
“…?”
Though that was the case, the boat’s speed had increased tremendously, so it should be fine.
We were able to return to the lakeside in an instant.
After gathering the snack basket, I quickly escaped the boat and turned to look at Elhart.
He was staring at me with a somewhat dazed expression.
“Are you alright? Can you disembark? If it’s uncomfortable, you can sit a bit longer.”
That was when it happened.
He covered his mouth with his palm.
Then, moments later, he covered his entire face with both hands.
His shoulders seemed to be trembling….
“Um… Elhart? You’re not crying, are you?”
Fortunately, he wasn’t.
Because shortly after, laughter he could no longer contain burst forth loudly.
“Haha…!”
His face, laughing so heartily that tears welled up in his eyes, resembled that of an innocent young boy.
I watched him for a long while as he couldn’t easily stop laughing.
‘He really does seem adorable.’
Even without knowing the reason for his laughter, the corners of my mouth rose to match his.
I had decided never to go boating again.
But seeing how much Elhart enjoyed it, I should do it often.
However…
‘I need to find a place where no one can approach.’
So I can do everything I want besides kissing.
***
After our boat ride, we quickly worked through the rest of the itinerary.
For some reason, Elhart seemed even more eager afterward, so we managed to get through everything in a flash.
Among all the activities, sampling one slice of every type of cake at the dessert café ended the fastest.
‘I never knew Elhart had such an appetite for cake.’
Later, he even tried to eat the tart crumbs clinging to my lips.
It was only because we’d rented out the entire dessert café that we avoided another disaster, following the boat ride incident.
After that, he found the concert tedious and left halfway through, and our library date amounted to little more than a cursory walk.
‘Is this right?’
I’ll admit I’d packed the schedule densely, but I hadn’t intended to rush through everything so carelessly.
And yet…
I understood why he was doing this.
Because I felt exactly the same way.
‘I want to be alone with him.’
The fire that ignited during the boat ride hadn’t extinguished.
My body continued to burn with warmth.
Rather than focusing on the date activities, I found myself entranced, staring only at Elhart’s face whenever I regained awareness.
After rushing through the itinerary like that, we managed to return to the castle by evening.
“How was your day?”
The eldest daughter-in-law of House Brin asked with sparkling eyes, her expectations clearly high.
So I couldn’t bring myself to be honest and could only give a vague response.
“It was quite fun, but I’m a bit tired from going around so many places.”
“Oh my, I see. Then please get some rest.”
“Yes. Oh, and we’ll skip dinner. I think I ate too much cake.”
Why?
Why was she smiling like that, with such knowing intent?
“I won’t disturb you. Please rest comfortably.”
With those words, she led us to a bedroom with a large bed positioned in the center of the room.
“…?”
“….”
“Married couples should share a bed.”
She whispered quickly before leaving us alone.
Thud.
The sound of the door closing seemed unusually loud.
“I think I should wash up first….”
As I murmured and began unbuttoning my outer garment, Elhart gently took my hand.
“Should we wash together?”
“Yes.”
“…!”
Why was he so startled when he was the one who suggested it first?
His eyes widened as he looked at me, but only for a moment before he urgently pressed his lips against mine.
As if continuing what we couldn’t finish during the boat outing, he began intensely from the very start.
With laughter gone from his serious face, he was utterly different from the innocent young boy he’d seemed moments before.
Yet I still found him so irresistible I could hardly bear it.
I reached out to him eagerly.
Bending at the waist, he caught me in his arms and strode purposefully toward the bathroom.
Regardless of any obstacles, I kept my arms wrapped around his neck, focused entirely on our kiss.
The scorching heat pooled in my body seemed to transfer between us.

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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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