Still sitting on the sofa, Sion was fixedly staring at me.
I was at a loss for the answer⦠And ended up saying what I think.
āLetās, see. Probably I do⦠Is what I thinkā
āProbably? Thatās very vague. When I saw you together the other day⦠you looked like very intimate loversā
I averted my eyes from Sion who asked so in wonder, and looked outside the window.
The weather is fine today. While gazing at the floating white clouds, I again answered with what came to my mind.
āHonestly speaking, I donāt understand well. I think Iām fond of him, however, I wonder if this feeling is temporary or not⦠Iām not sure myself, and so Iāve been keeping His Highness waiting all this timeā
⦠I donāt understand why Iām telling this to Sion.
Still, I somehow thought I wanted him to listen.
āāāā Him, who had never said he loved me in the past.
ā⦠Itās my fault, isnāt itā
While I continued absentmindedly watching clouds, Sion murmured.
āNn? Did you say something?ā
When I looked back at Sion and asked him, he said No with a faint smile.
Then with relaxed movements he stood up from the sofa.
ā⦠Since I promised, it canāt be helped. Iāll encourage you just onceā
āEh? What, Sion?ā
Unable to understand the meaning of his mutter, I tilted my head.
Without answering Sion only smiled and walked up to me.
Confused about his intentions, I blankly watched his movements.
āLidiā¦ā
Having come close, Sion called my name, and with natural flow scooped my jaw. Just like that he tilted my face.
Eh⦠what? Perhaps Iāll be kissed?
āNoo!!ā
Before our lips touched, I promptly slapped his cheek with my left hand.
It wasnāt conscious. It was an instinctive action.
Silence followed the dry sound of the slap.
Haa haa , roughly breathing I intensely scowled at Sion.
Sion stared at such me with a smile.
His cheek turned slightly red.
āWhat are you doing suddenly!?ā
āSorry⦠But, that makes it clear, right?ā
āHa? What are you sayingā¦ā
When I scowled at him again not understanding what I had been told, with G ood grief Sion shrugged his shoulders.
I felt offended as he said āAfter all, youāre dullā with a sigh.
Whatās with after all . After taking a little distance from me, Sion slowly spoke.
āDo you hate me?ā
āHa? Whatās this out of nowhere?ā
āNever mind that, please answer. Iām asking whether you hate meā
I was bewildered by the sudden topic change.
But, overwhelmed by Sionās serious face, I reluctantly spoke.
ā⦠I donāt really hate youā¦ā
I donāt intend to reveal it, but weāre acquaintances from my previous life.
Since we met here by chance and he said heāll stay in this country, I would like us to build a friendly relationship.
When I answered, Sion nodded with a self-satisfied look.
āYou donāt hate me. Fine. Then, can I take it to mean that if you had to say, youāre fond of me?ā
āEh? Eeh, well, I think itās similarā¦ā
Despite being bewildered by Sion wanting a clear answer, I nodded my head.
If I donāt hate him, Iām fond of him. Itās putting it simply, but itās not wrong.
āIs that so. I understand⦠Then let me ask you. Why did you refuse my kiss just now? If youāre fond of me, thereās no problem with kissing, right? After all, arenāt you kissing with somebody youāre not sure if youāre fond of almost every dayā
ā⦠Ha?ā
The words he said were so unexpected, I couldnāt deal with them immediately.
āAm I mistaken? The Kingās Flower is the proof a Princess Consort. And youāre living in the same room as His Highness Friedrich. Of course, itās also accompanied by that kind of act, isnāt it?ā
āEr, rr. Thatās, wellā¦ā
Unable to deny, I nodded. Itās known within the castle anyway.
āPlease answer, Lidi. Why am I no good? If you had to say, youāre fond of me, right?ā
āā¦ā
Sion pressed me for answers.
I can understand what heās saying.
But, itās different.
Freed and Sion are fundamentally different.
Although itās (provisional), Iām roughly aware I love Freed.
On the other hand, I have no feelings for Sion anymore. I find him nostalgic, but thatās all.
Driven by a strange feeling of irritation I answered.
Speaking of the difference, of course itās in the romantic aspect. I think I more or less love Freed (provisionally) in that way, but itās different towards Sion.
But, I canāt answer the implication behind the words āWhy do you accept without being sureā without hesitation.
⦠After all, itās something I also thought about a little.
And yet I chose to continue accepting Freed. There were times when I even invited him myself.
Having that pointed out, I could understand less and less.
Still, with a feeling that Sion is trying to teach me something important, I desperately thought over it.
Sion piled up words.
āThe reason you only allow His Highness Friedrich. What is it?ā
āThatāsā¦ā
Itās simple.
⦠Itās because I know I donāt dislike kissing with Freed.
Itās not just kissing. Everything beyond that too. Even the act of him boring inside my deepest place and filling me.
Every single thing has felt good from the beginning.
Iāve not once felt uncomfortable.
Thatās why I didnāt need to think about it.
My encounter with Freed was at a special place called masquerade ball, where I only went with the aim of losing my virginity.
I thought kissing was a rite of page for that sake, and in fact I didnāt need to worry much, since I didnāt find it uncomfortable. Kissing, and beyond too.
⦠Then, why wasnāt it uncomfortable.
Finally confronted with the question I purposely hadnāt thought about until now, I was at a loss.
āIf you can accept being embraced without being sure whether youāre fond of him or not, thereās no problem if Iām the other party. If you donāt mind, shall we try it out?ā
āStop!ā
When he reached out his hand again, I shook it off with all my strength.
Everything about me is rejecting him. I screamed that I hate anybody other than Freed touching me.
āThatās wrong! Iāve never thought that I hate Freed!⦠After all, after allā
I donāt know how I should explain.
Still, in a tiny voice I told him what I understand right now.
ā⦠Unless itās Freed, Iād hate it. Iād absolutely hate it if it wasnāt himā
Iām certain of that much.
As I am now, I donāt want a man other than Freed to lay even a finger on me in that sense. I shudder from the mere thought. Itās enough to make me feel nauseous.
Sion sighed at my reply.
ā⦠If itās not a special feeling, then what would you call it. Are you still under the impression that itās a temporary thing? If you donāt cut it out with your unawareness, youāll only hurt yourselfā