Grayan, speaking gently as if reprimanding, pulled me into his arms. It was a fluid movement, but undeniably firm.

“Lady, your hand.”

He raised my hand and placed a kiss on top of it. In that moment, I involuntarily shivered, and my eyelids trembled.

“Only I should be the one to touch you.”

It was a small, almost whisper-like voice, but it surely reached the ears of others. With his appearance, the banquet hall fell silent.

Soon, textbook reactions like “Oh my!” or “What should I do?” began to burst out here and there. It was chaotic.

‘I never thought he would be jealous of such a pointless thing…’

No, the fact that he was jealous itself was shocking. Grayan Solsberry was always calm and laid-back, so I thought such intense emotions were distant from him.

He still had his lips pressed against the back of my hand, waiting for a response. In his silver-gray eyes staring at me, there was an irresistible charm.

…Was it because I couldn’t endure that gaze? Unconsciously, I averted my eyes and opened my mouth.

“Of course… that’s how it should be.”

“Yes, that’s how it should be.”

The voice whispering in my ear, claiming ownership, sent shivers down my spine. The hand embracing my waist, though warm, somehow felt chilling.

His smiling face seemed affectionate, but…

“And… April?”

When Grayan slightly turned his body and reached out his hand, April, who had been quietly observing the situation, approached and took his hand.

In this way, we ascended to the top seat in the banquet hall, appearing like a harmonious family.

Now that the lord of the castle had arrived, it was time to officially start the banquet.

“Well then…”

Raising a glass of wine, Grayan shouted a toast.

“To my eternal companion, may the blessings of the World Tree be upon you.”

After the banquet, in the thickly dark night, in my bedroom.

“Um, then…”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Shall we finish the conversation we started earlier?”

Perhaps because I had been waiting for a long time, my voice sounded forceful.

Seeing me nervous, Grayan chuckled softly. His reaction seemed to imply that he found it cute, making me even more embarrassed.

“You don’t need to be so tense, my lady. Speak comfortably.”
As if my body was lifting slightly, somehow I found myself sitting on his thigh. No, why does this feel so natural? In the midst of awkwardness, Gréan placed something in my mouth.

“……?”

I opened my eyes wide and rolled it with my tongue. …This taste… It was none other than a barley sugar candy.

Although it felt like a sudden candy attack, the sweet and refreshing taste gradually eased my tension. So, by the time I finished melting the candy, I could speak much more comfortably than before.

“……I was going to talk about earlier.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“I went down to the Alphonse region not just because of divorce issues but it’s not what you think.”

“…At that time, weren’t you considering a divorce with me?”

“Of course not!”

I vehemently denied, and unconsciously, I slapped his chest with the palm of my hand. It felt extremely resilient and firm. …What an impressive muscle.

“I never had any intention of divorcing you in the first place.”

“…Really?”

Was this wolf always deceiving himself? This time, I pulled his cheek with my hand.

“Then what was it, really? Do you think I’d kiss someone I have no feelings for…!”

“…….?”

Then Gréan stared at me without saying a word, suddenly lightly kissing my lips.

Smack—.

“……?!”

It was another stolen kiss. It’s a pattern now! Looking at him with a dumbfounded expression, he rubbed his cheek against my hand with a pitiful look.

“I, while you were considering divorcing me, wrongly thought that I could freely mark you… It was painful.”

Ah, it’s not that! Absolutely not! I raised my eyes wide and shook my head vigorously. Then Gréan smiled softly, as if easily understanding the meaning behind my actions.

“So, my lady, it seems you really like me.”

“Oh, I already told you, didn’t I?”

“No, you didn’t say it.”

“……?”

I silently reminisced. …Come to think of it, I never explicitly said the words ‘I like you.’

‘…Do I really have to say it out loud?’

It felt somewhat similar to the feeling of suddenly saying ‘Mom and Dad, I love you’ to your parents one day.

…It’s so embarrassing that words won’t come out. Sometimes, telling the truth is harder than lying.

“……Won’t you say it?”

Gréan looked at me intently, and at the same time, his hand gently tickled my waist.

I pondered on it, realizing that perhaps telling the truth is more difficult than lying.

“……Are you not going to say it?”

Gréan stared at me, urging me, while his hand continued to gently tickle my waist.

Frustrated, I grabbed his neck and said the words, as if squeezing them out.

Just, ‘that’ word.

“I l—!”

…And it stopped there, lips sealed again. Ah, this is driving me crazy. I didn’t think saying these words would be so difficult! People who confess to someone they like are truly amazing. Even if the other person might reject them, having the courage to say it is something else.
‘But in my case, there’s no chance of being rejected……. So, I can say it more easily.’

While tightly gripping the collar of Gréan’s shirt, I shook my shoulders a bit, then suddenly lifted my head.

What’s the big deal… Let’s just mess up this once!

“I like you.”

I said it like taking the first breath. My pronunciation didn’t falter, and I didn’t avoid his gaze. I could be sure that it was clearly conveyed.

“…….”

However, Gréan…

Just silently stared at me, adding a meaningful smile.