It’s just a time for the morning to show its face.

  I leaned against the doorway and asked.

  "So, Perez, why are you here now?"

  Unknowingly, the sound of half-coldly laughter was mixed into the words.

  "For Caitlyn."

  He answered well without changing his expression.

  "Tia sent me a letter that Caitlyn should stay in your mansion longer because of the Brown family."

  "Explain it better."

  "If Caitlyn, who usually doesn’t take personal leave, suddenly doesn’t show up at the Palace for days, the Empress will doubt it."

  "So what?"

  "So if I’m staying at Lombardy’s mansion to spend time with my fiance, Tia, So there will be no doubt that Caitlyn, my maid-in-honor, has emptied the Palace."

  There’s a secretly shameless part of this guy.

  I crossed my arms and squinted and asked.

  "Really? There’s not a single reason for your self-interest, is that really all?"

  Perez smiled at my question and shut up.

  It was a method that he often used when he couldn’t lie to me and wanted to avoid answering.

  "……Come in for now."

  I really can’t let this be.

  I moved away from the door that was blocking the way.

  Then he hurriedly walked into the house before I changed my mind.

  It’s been a long time since I’ve been loosened with a smile on my cheek.

  "But Caitlyn would still love it. She was worried about you."

  I said, leaning sideways against the back of the sofa in the drawing-room.

  In fact, I was still wearing a thick robe in my pajamas.

  I don’t think I’ve ever had another guest in this state.

  Well, it’s Perez.

  The morning temperature was chilly, so I hugged my knees and curled up.

  That was all.

  But before I knew it, the robe Perez was wearing fell silently on my shoulder.

  "I told you. I’m here for Caitlyn."

  Perez shuddered halfway like that.

  Then naturally he sat facing me in the seat right next to me.

  It was close enough to reach Perez’s knee and my toes.

  Oh, my God.

  At that moment I realized.

  That we’re sitting in the same shape as that night a while ago.

  I bit my mouth in nervousness for some reason.

  But my move seemed to have caught his attention.

  I could see red eyes following me as if they were attracted to my lips.

  I never meant to provoke him.

  His relaxed smile disappeared from his face, which was looking at me with my head folded with one arm.

  And he reached out to me.

  Shocking.

  I was a little nervous without realizing it.

  But Perez’s hand only opened his robe more meticulously over my shoulder.

  Oh, it’s embarrassing.

  In an instant, I could feel my face burning up enough not to need a robe.

  But the look on his face was extraordinary.

  It was a face that was very dissatisfied with me that the smooth edges of his eyes were slightly raised like the tip of the brush.

  "You hate me?"

  Sure enough.

  Perez’s voice was full of anxious signs.

  "……No, not like that."

  I don’t do anything meaningless to deny my feelings about him.

  I’m still nervous.

  I rubbed the robe with my hands underneath my heart-throbbing collarbone, pretended to fit the robe tighter.

  It didn’t make a difference though.

  "Do you like me then?"

  Perez asked as he approached me a little further.

  Thump! Thump! Thump!

  Perez’s scent, resembling the scent of roses, was breathless.

  This wasn’t my original plan.

  I was going to treat Perez the way I used to when I brought him into the room a while ago.

  As if nothing had happened that night.

  Perez told me not to worry, but I couldn’t.

  I like him, too.

  But if the moment of choice comes, I won’t hesitate to choose Lombardy.

  Even though I know how deep and blind Perez’s heart is towards me.

  I couldn’t just listen to Perez and act as if there were no problems, even though I knew I wouldn’t be able to fully repay that heart.

  It was not the right thing to do.

  By the way.

  Perez’s body leaned a little further towards me.

  At the same time, I could feel his big, warm hands clasped around my naked toes and feet.

  "Tia."

  Perez whispered to me.

  The red eyes were only looking at me.

  And there was something about the look that made me cry.

  "Perez, you’re so……"

  Why are you so pretty?

  What the hell do you believe in?

  The words behind me were swallowed without speaking out, but Perez laughed with his eyes as if he could hear the sound in my heart.

  Eventually, our lips overlapped.

  His big body hugged me completely and kissed me for a long time.

  "Huh……"

  At the scent that comes through, at body temperature, and at the sound of a breath that passes by.

  I even forgot where I am now.

  And when I came to my senses, I was sitting on Perez’s lap.

  "Huh, oh, no! Hold on!"

  I took off my lips that wouldn’t come off like a magnet and hurriedly blocked his with my hands.

  Let’s get a hold of ourselves!

  "Huh, huh……"

  Looking into the eyes of a guy who hasn’t lost any heat yet, the dizzying temptation struck me over and over again, but I overcame it.

  I swear it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

  "Ooh, we can’t do this."

  "……Why?"

  Perez asked slowly, rubbed under my finger.

  With the stealthy touch burning my hands, I jumped out of my seat and fell far from the sofa.

  "Because, because……"

  Damn it.

  I couldn’t think of any good reason.

  I had no choice but to shout firmly.

  "Anyway, No!"

  "……Okay."

  Suddenly, Perez, who was left alone, touched the hand that had been holding me a little while ago. (Oh boy)

  And now that his eyes were swiping down, it was obvious that he was sulking now.

  "Ewhhh……"

  I had a strong urge to soothe him at the moment, but I clenched my fist and endured it.

  Get yourself together!

  He’s a kid who knows how to take full advantage of his beauty!

  Sure enough.

  I could see Perez glancing at me with his fresh eyes.

  I opened the window and breathed in the cold air.

  Well done, well done!

  I cleared my throat once and said.

  "I’ll talk to the butler and give you a suitable guest room."

  "I’d like a room close to here."

  What the hell are you going to do with a room close here!

  "Tia."

  Broogh.

  Perez approached me with his robe, which I sprang to my feet and threw off.

  It seemed that he had regained his usual composure.

  And he said it again, wrapping it around my shoulders.

  "You’ll catch a cold. Be careful."

  You’re the most dangerous thing in this room right now!1

  That was when I tried to say that.

  Perez’s gaze turned towards the tightly closed door.

  There was a wrinkle in his eyebrows.

  "Perez?"

  "……I don’t think it’s dangerous."

  Perez muttered an unknown word.

  Then he slid the door open very quietly.

  Creak!

  A small noise came first as if the utensils were bumping into each other.

  "Be quiet so that Tia doesn’t wake up."

  It was my father who pushed a small cart of food and put a finger in his mouth toward the incoming employee.

  My father definitely said he’d stay in Cheshire until next month.

  "I’m sure Tia will be surprised."2

  My father laughed.

  And as he was heading to my bedroom, he found me standing blankly by the window.

  "Huh? Tia, you’re up……"

  And Perez standing next to me.

  "Why are you two together at this hour?"7

  Obviously, it was a question, but it wasn’t.

  I’ve never seen such a face of my father.

  My father, who always smiles, has such a scary face.2

  "Oh, Dad, that’s……"

  I tried to explain, but my father’s sharp eyes were directed at Perez, not me.+

  "Explain, Your Highness the Second Prince."

  Looking to the side after my father, I faced another sight.

  "Lord Lombardy……"

  It was the appearance of a bewildered Perez sweating.