The topic of ‘love’ was truly a perplexing subject.
Isn’t that something everyone feels? The emotion that lacks substance only reveals ambiguous and vague boundaries as one digs deeper.
It’s an embarrassing topic.
For a man who has been an adult for several years to ponder on ‘love.’
But no matter how shameful it was, I could not help but throw out the question.
What is ‘love’?
Could it be that the words Emma just muttered are related to this?
My mind went blank.
It was just like the time I received a confession from Senior Elsi.
While I was lost in thought, silence continued to linger.
Only the crackling of the burning logs in the fireplace brought time to this place.
Emma didn’t take her eyes off me for a long time.
Quietly, as she exhaled her sweet breath.
I suddenly realized that the distance between us was excessively close.
What would happen if I leaned in just a little?
Every time Emma’s soft breath brushed against my nose, my heart tingled. I was also curious if a similar scent would waft if I covered my lips.
Hesitation.
Like walking on a tightrope, my heart lost its balance and wavered. Just when the thought that this was precarious crossed my mind, I noticed that Emma’s face was still slowly approaching.
What unfolded afterward was predictable.
Yet, I found myself frozen, unable to retreat.
My head was a jumble of various options mixed together. I couldn’t decide if I should pounce on Emma or hold back.
Only a few faces passed through my mind.
Senior Elsi, the Lady Virgin Saint, Senior Delphine, and Ceria.
This shouldn’t be happening.
By the time I finally made that judgment, Emma’s face was already close enough to touch.
Even if I wanted to step back, I couldn’t.
The moment even a hint of such a sign showed, our lips would collide.
It was that close.
Emma’s sighing breath was enough to flush my face.
Just when I had steeled myself internally.
“…Puhuh.”
A clear laugh echoed in the suddenly silent bedroom.
The source was, of course, Emma.
She turned around, bursting into laughter while holding her stomach.
She looked so joyful that tears seemed to well up in her eyes.
I was so dazed that I could only squint slightly.
“Ah, ahahaha! Iaan, aren’t you being too serious?”
“…Should I make a snide remark then?”
I replied a bit gruffly, feeling a bit hurt.
But Emma found my tone even funnier.
Her clean laughter continued for quite a while.
Until I wore a sulky expression, and Emma wiped the dew pooling in her eyes.
Once Emma had calmed down a bit, I asked, mixed with a sigh.
“Are you feeling any better?”
“Yeah, thanks to you.”
Emma smiled as if she felt relieved.
To be honest, I didn’t feel good about having my expectations betrayed, but what could I do?
As soon as I saw Emma’s happy smile, my anger dissipated.
I recalled a time when Emma said something like this.
“Fool, idiot, pushover. You’ll just be used by a common girl like me.”
Those were her words when I had saved her, offering a monster with a name without expecting any price in return.
At the time, I had laughed it off, thinking it was nonsense.
But reflecting back now, her warning didn’t seem entirely unfounded.
I found it hard to shake the feeling that that empty warning was gradually being realized.
No matter how I thought about it, I was unusually soft on Emma.
Of course, as long as Emma is happy, it didn’t matter.
Ultimately, I bit my lip in bitter amusement.
“Still, isn’t this too much? To play with my purity with a lie.”
“Eh?”
Emma blinked her innocent eyes as if to say, “What do you mean?”
All I could do was sigh out.
“Emma, no matter how close we are, a confession should be sincere…”
“I didn’t lie!”
Just when I was about to say something funny, I found myself locking eyes with Emma.
And I realized.
Emma was endlessly serious.
My brow furrowed again.
“I really like you.”
“But just a moment ago…”
“Yeah, I said not to take it seriously.”
Her tone was more serious than ever.
I instinctively closed my eyes tight. It felt like I had to.
Anyone would, looking at that sorrowful smile.
“I’ve known for a long time, but I’ve only just realized it now. You and I don’t match.”
I intentionally showed no emotion.
I merely stared blankly at Emma.
I wonder how she took that as a signal.
Emma blushed and added shyly.
“Well, of course, right? You’re a noble, and now you have the Emperor’s favor too. But I can’t be of any help, being a commoner and poor, I can’t do anything for you.”
“Emma, you’ve saved my life several times already.”
“Thank you, Iaan, for saying that… But anyone could have done the same.”
I let out a deep sigh.
How many times had I had this type of conversation? It was becoming quite frustrating.
Unaware of my feelings, Emma continued to indulge in self-deprecation.
“Hmm, anyone could have done it… If anyone threw 10,000 gold at a random common girl from the Alchemy Department, couldn’t they have done it?”
“Emma.”
“Well, I’m just glad I know my place. If I work hard from now on, could I even be your concubine? Ahahaha… I guess I’ll have to try really hard…”
I finally decided not to hold back any longer.
I understood Emma’s feelings.
Inferiority is like a monster that gnaws at your heart. Confronting it alone is nearly impossible.
I had been there too.
Because I was a low-ranking noble, because I lacked talent.
I had been lucky enough to be stronger than before.
But I didn’t know if this role truly suited me.
A hero saving the world, huh?
It felt like being a character from a long-past fairy tale.
That’s why I might have been more careful with Emma.
Her self-deprecation bore resemblance to my own.
Because it’s frightening and painful, I endlessly belittle myself, but on the other hand, I hope someone tells me otherwise.
And that someone just happened to be me.
“Stop whining.”
At my statement soaked in sighs, Emma’s eyes went wide.
Then she soon looked down.
As if she anticipated it, with a pitiful gaze.
“Y-you’re right? Sorry, I… uh!?”
I covered her mumbling lips with mine.
It was a vague sensation.
The kiss I shared with Senior Delphine was more passionate. Compared to the pleasure of intertwining tongues, it was hard to find any meaning in merely a contact of mucous membranes.
That’s what made it even more fascinating.
Emma’s lips tasted just as I expected.
Soft, moist, and I felt the sweetness of her breath.
Emma looked more surprised than ever.
Her round eyes revealed an emotion of shock. It seemed like she was ready to pull away like a criminal who had just committed a taboo.
Of course, it was just a faint resistance.
Just by gently holding her chin with my hand, Emma’s total resistance crumbled.
A few seconds later.
As our lips parted, the blocked breath finally flowed.
Phew, the cute sound Emma made was hot on her cheeks.
I asked Emma, who was glancing at me sheepishly.
“Are we done here?”
It was a question even lacking an objective.
Even if I were to ask, “Of what?” Emma offered no rebuttal.
She merely turned her head slightly away to avoid my gaze.
And after a moment, her voice emerged, laced with light moisture.
“I-Iaan…”
If left untouched, she looked like she would burst into tears.
I quietly waited for Emma’s next words.
“I think I could really do well as a concubine.”
She was already far too happy.
Hearing that confession, I internally wore a bitter smile.
Suddenly, a single question struck my mind.
But will this really be okay?
I regained my sanity the next day.
“…Have I gone mad?”
I hadn’t realized the atmosphere of the night before, but reflecting on it now, I had practically committed a monumental blunder.
Just the women involved with me alone numbered several.
Senior Elsi, the Lady Virgin Saint, Senior Delphine, and Ceria too.
Even now, I was at an unmanageable level, yet I had kissed Emma yesterday.
It wouldn’t be strange if I were torn apart into several pieces for such a serious crime.
The only good thing was that the issue I had entrusted to the Imperial Princess was resolved well.
That was also why I could face Senior Delphine today.
As always, in the deep night, Senior Delphine wore a light smile, as if she found it amusing.
“This is interesting, isn’t it? In the end, it’s saying that the Yuridina is responsible for making the elves citizens of the Empire.”
“It’s not bad news for the Yuridina Clan either.”
I quickly added on, fearing I might hurt Delphine’s feelings.
In fact, Senior Delphine’s intellect surpassed mine. After all, she didn’t receive successor training from a young age for nothing.
Even so, the reason I felt the need to explain was likely because I wanted to show off to Delphine.
The fact that I had endured so much.
Men can be such petty creatures in front of women.
I finally began to unveil the plan I had heard from Reto.
