Hunter was confident in not showing his emotions. So, even if his heart fluttered a bit, he thought it was easy to deceive and pass by Del.
However, every time Hunter and Del made eye contact, Del would purse his lips and tighten the muscles around his eyes. It was a slightly disgusted and fearful expression, filled with suspicion and wariness.
“Is there something on my face?”
Although Hunter asked calmly, Del turned his head, muttering something like, “It’s not that…” softly. Internally, Hunter was bothered by Del’s attitude, but he didn’t directly ask. In fact, he found it more disturbing why his own feelings were so tangled.
Del, in many ways, was a person I appreciated but to me, he was merely a political marriage partner. Hearing about the two-year deadline was reassuring, such a short period of time seemed like there was no need to be nicer to him than necessary. Del’s past of messy relationships, also suited him. He didn’t seem like the kind of person who would settle down with hunter
Hunter glanced at the golden crown of Del’s head, who was walking alongside him. His hair was similar to his own, shiny and golden. A single strand of hair popped up playfully on his rounded head. It was funny and cute.
Hunter couldn’t help but make a snorting sound unconsciously. In response, Del looked up at Hunter.
“Why. Why again. I was just standing still, and another increase in favorability….”
“Favorability?”
Suddenly hearing the word ‘favorability,’ Hunter’s face stiffened. It seemed like Del had read his inner thoughts. Del lowered his eyes as if realizing something.
“His Highness the Crown Prince seemed to be showing favor towards me.”
Hunter was slightly shocked. With a short laugh, Del seemed to have genuinely perceived Hunter’s inner thoughts!
“But, Your Highness, I hope you know the virtue of ‘five steps.’”
Del stammered.
“There’s a saying that ‘men and women should be separated at seven,’” he continued. “Even though I’m not a woman, we’re all human, right? Being too close can be uncomfortable, lead to unpleasant situations, and anyway, everyone living in the Empire should have personal space guaranteed. I, too, will respect Your Highness’s personal space, so please remember the freedom of five steps.”
Del circled his arms to create space in front of him.
A pleasant voice flowed continuously without stopping. At some point, Hunter started tuning out the content of Del’s words, fixing his gaze on Del’s lips that were rambling. After finishing his words, Del looked at Hunter’s face slyly, then turned his head and entered the room. Alone, he murmured, “Ugh, it rings like a doorbell every time I talk.”
Although Hunter couldn’t understand the meaning of those words, once again, Del seemed to have noticed that Hunter had stolen a glance at his lips. Even the Empress had never instantly grasped Hunter’s concealed feelings beneath his poker face. However, Del seemed to have some talent for revealing things that were hidden.
Wait a minute. Could it be… does he really have the skill to read minds?
Hunter’s expression became serious as he slowly entered the room. Del was already walking toward the living room inside.
The room they entered was filled with clothes and accessories brought by the imperial designer. They were called to get fitted before attending the 1st Princess’s birthday party. Hunter sat on the sofa, while Del chose a seat a bit away. Hunter didn’t look at Del and focused on the designer who was bowing politely in front of him.
However, deep inside he was thinking to himself.
If Del really had the skill to read minds, what should I be thinking right now? I’ve never heard stories about a magician being born in the Marquis of Narcissus, and even if he were a magician, magicians couldn’t read people’s minds. However, Hunter couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Of course, his face maintained a perfect poker face. The designer, who particularly struggled with the Crown Prince among the nobles, nervously laid out a catalog on the table.
“The Crown Prince’s attire is already complete, but his Highness the Crown Princess’s attire must be chosen from ready-made options. Since there are only three days left, if you choose a ready-made outfit, we can make alterations.”
The catalog she offered had blue-colored clothing. Hunter had decided to wear a deep navy suit for this party. Wearing similar colors or accessories to match at the party signified that the two were in a romantic or marital relationship. Therefore, Del also had to wear clothes in a similar color to Hunter.
Hunter found himself surprisingly pleased with this fact. He forgot his fear of his mind being read and enthusiastically browsed through the catalog.
“I like this and this. What about you, Del?”
Hunter handed the catalog to Del and asked. Del, once again with guarded eyes full of caution, briefly glanced at Hunter’s head before exhaling deeply and accepting the catalog. His transparent and clear green eyes slid down the catalog as if gliding. Hunter silently observed the movement of those eyes.
“I look good in anything I wear, so I’ll go with this one.”
Del quickly picked out a piece of clothing. It was a neat suit with a navy blue tint. The silhouette resembled Hunter’s tailored suit.
Hunter imagined Del wearing that outfit. Del, undoubtedly looking like his fiancé, standing next to him, introducing himself as ‘Del Narcissus Mellion.’ The imagination strangely captivated Hunter’s heart.
“Well then, we need to take measurements, so please stand up!”
The designer clapped her hands and spoke energetically. Judging by her faster-than-usual pace, it seemed like she was in a hurry. She gestured to her assistant. The designer’s assistant, a tall and skinny man, approached Del with a tape measure.
“Please lift your arms like this.”
The assistant said while hugging Del from behind. It was to measure the chest circumference. However, as soon as the assistant embraced Del, Hunter quickly stood up from the sofa.
“What are you doing? Get out of the way right now.”
“Yes, yes?”
The assistant, taken aback, stepped back. His face turned pale.
“Uh, Your Highness, to measure dimensions, physical contact is inevitable…”
The designer tried to explain as if objecting. However, before she could finish, Hunter snatched the tape measure from the assistant’s hand.
“Spread your arms.”
Upon Hunter’s words, Del turned around, making a surprised sound.
“What, what do you mean by ‘spread your arms’?”
“…? You need to spread your arms. What else…”
As Hunter spoke, his face turned red. He realized what Del might be thinking.
“Del, what in the world…! What kind of thoughts are running through your head!”
Hunter exclaimed loudly and let out a long sigh.
“No, I mean, You just told you to spread your arms. You could have simply asked me to raise your arms…”
Del grumbled and took a step back. Hunter, feeling the awkwardness of the situation, took a deep breath and raised the tape measure again.
“So, are you going to raise your arms?”
“…Yes.”
Del lifted both arms. Hunter quickly regained his composure, calmly reaching under Del’s arms. In a posture reminiscent of a back hug, the familiar scent of Del permeated the air. Hunter felt warmth gathering in his lower abdomen.
“Oh my… Not again…”
It happened again. Whether it was when he fell on Del yesterday or when he smelled Del’s scent earlier, this sensation troubled him. However, Hunter had no intention of giving the task of measuring Del’s body to someone else. Even though the assistant was also a man, the thought that this foreign man might experience such a sensation with Del made something boil inside him.
“It’s a mess.”
Hunter thought to himself as he provided Del’s chest measurement to the designer.
“What happened to me?”
***
How did Hunter end up like this?
I checked the favorability level hovering above Hunter’s head. Favorability level 42. The favorability level was rapidly skyrocketing.
Moreover, the constant attempts at physical contact and measuring my body were extremely suspicious. Even the gaze directed at me was becoming increasingly mixed with desire. It felt like an emergency alarm was ringing in my head.
I had thought that even if I got engaged and married to Hunter, we would never share the same bed. I believed there wouldn’t be any demand for such a thing, and the thought never crossed my mind.
However, I was completely mistaken. In this game, ‘Platonic love’ was as mythical as a unicorn.
Hunter was confident in not showing his emotions. So, even if his heart fluttered a bit, he thought it was easy to deceive and pass by Del.
However, every time Hunter and Del made eye contact, Del would purse his lips and tighten the muscles around his eyes. It was a slightly disgusted and fearful expression, filled with suspicion and wariness.
“Is there something on my face?”
Although Hunter asked calmly, Del turned his head, muttering something like, “It’s not that…” softly. Internally, Hunter was bothered by Del’s attitude, but he didn’t directly ask. In fact, he found it more disturbing why his own feelings were so tangled.
Del, in many ways, was a person I appreciated but to me, he was merely a political marriage partner. Hearing about the two-year deadline was reassuring, such a short period of time seemed like there was no need to be nicer to him than necessary. Del’s past of messy relationships, also suited him. He didn’t seem like the kind of person who would settle down with hunter
Hunter glanced at the golden crown of Del’s head, who was walking alongside him. His hair was similar to his own, shiny and golden. A single strand of hair popped up playfully on his rounded head. It was funny and cute.
Hunter couldn’t help but make a snorting sound unconsciously. In response, Del looked up at Hunter.
“Why. Why again. I was just standing still, and another increase in favorability….”
“Favorability?”
Suddenly hearing the word ‘favorability,’ Hunter’s face stiffened. It seemed like Del had read his inner thoughts. Del lowered his eyes as if realizing something.
“His Highness the Crown Prince seemed to be showing favor towards me.”
Hunter was slightly shocked. With a short laugh, Del seemed to have genuinely perceived Hunter’s inner thoughts!
“But, Your Highness, I hope you know the virtue of ‘five steps.’”
Del stammered.
“There’s a saying that ‘men and women should be separated at seven,’” he continued. “Even though I’m not a woman, we’re all human, right? Being too close can be uncomfortable, lead to unpleasant situations, and anyway, everyone living in the Empire should have personal space guaranteed. I, too, will respect Your Highness’s personal space, so please remember the freedom of five steps.”
Del circled his arms to create space in front of him.
A pleasant voice flowed continuously without stopping. At some point, Hunter started tuning out the content of Del’s words, fixing his gaze on Del’s lips that were rambling. After finishing his words, Del looked at Hunter’s face slyly, then turned his head and entered the room. Alone, he murmured, “Ugh, it rings like a doorbell every time I talk.”
Although Hunter couldn’t understand the meaning of those words, once again, Del seemed to have noticed that Hunter had stolen a glance at his lips. Even the Empress had never instantly grasped Hunter’s concealed feelings beneath his poker face. However, Del seemed to have some talent for revealing things that were hidden.
Wait a minute. Could it be… does he really have the skill to read minds?
Hunter’s expression became serious as he slowly entered the room. Del was already walking toward the living room inside.
The room they entered was filled with clothes and accessories brought by the imperial designer. They were called to get fitted before attending the 1st Princess’s birthday party. Hunter sat on the sofa, while Del chose a seat a bit away. Hunter didn’t look at Del and focused on the designer who was bowing politely in front of him.
However, deep inside he was thinking to himself.
If Del really had the skill to read minds, what should I be thinking right now? I’ve never heard stories about a magician being born in the Marquis of Narcissus, and even if he were a magician, magicians couldn’t read people’s minds. However, Hunter couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Of course, his face maintained a perfect poker face. The designer, who particularly struggled with the Crown Prince among the nobles, nervously laid out a catalog on the table.
“The Crown Prince’s attire is already complete, but his Highness the Crown Princess’s attire must be chosen from ready-made options. Since there are only three days left, if you choose a ready-made outfit, we can make alterations.”
The catalog she offered had blue-colored clothing. Hunter had decided to wear a deep navy suit for this party. Wearing similar colors or accessories to match at the party signified that the two were in a romantic or marital relationship. Therefore, Del also had to wear clothes in a similar color to Hunter.
Hunter found himself surprisingly pleased with this fact. He forgot his fear of his mind being read and enthusiastically browsed through the catalog.
“I like this and this. What about you, Del?”
Hunter handed the catalog to Del and asked. Del, once again with guarded eyes full of caution, briefly glanced at Hunter’s head before exhaling deeply and accepting the catalog. His transparent and clear green eyes slid down the catalog as if gliding. Hunter silently observed the movement of those eyes.
“I look good in anything I wear, so I’ll go with this one.”
Del quickly picked out a piece of clothing. It was a neat suit with a navy blue tint. The silhouette resembled Hunter’s tailored suit.
Hunter imagined Del wearing that outfit. Del, undoubtedly looking like his fiancé, standing next to him, introducing himself as ‘Del Narcissus Mellion.’ The imagination strangely captivated Hunter’s heart.
“Well then, we need to take measurements, so please stand up!”
The designer clapped her hands and spoke energetically. Judging by her faster-than-usual pace, it seemed like she was in a hurry. She gestured to her assistant. The designer’s assistant, a tall and skinny man, approached Del with a tape measure.
“Please lift your arms like this.”
The assistant said while hugging Del from behind. It was to measure the chest circumference. However, as soon as the assistant embraced Del, Hunter quickly stood up from the sofa.
“What are you doing? Get out of the way right now.”
“Yes, yes?”
The assistant, taken aback, stepped back. His face turned pale.
“Uh, Your Highness, to measure dimensions, physical contact is inevitable…”
The designer tried to explain as if objecting. However, before she could finish, Hunter snatched the tape measure from the assistant’s hand.
“Spread your arms.”
Upon Hunter’s words, Del turned around, making a surprised sound.
“What, what do you mean by ‘spread your arms’?”
“…? You need to spread your arms. What else…”
As Hunter spoke, his face turned red. He realized what Del might be thinking.
“Del, what in the world…! What kind of thoughts are running through your head!”
Hunter exclaimed loudly and let out a long sigh.
“No, I mean, You just told you to spread your arms. You could have simply asked me to raise your arms…”
Del grumbled and took a step back. Hunter, feeling the awkwardness of the situation, took a deep breath and raised the tape measure again.
“So, are you going to raise your arms?”
“…Yes.”
Del lifted both arms. Hunter quickly regained his composure, calmly reaching under Del’s arms. In a posture reminiscent of a back hug, the familiar scent of Del permeated the air. Hunter felt warmth gathering in his lower abdomen.
“Oh my… Not again…”
It happened again. Whether it was when he fell on Del yesterday or when he smelled Del’s scent earlier, this sensation troubled him. However, Hunter had no intention of giving the task of measuring Del’s body to someone else. Even though the assistant was also a man, the thought that this foreign man might experience such a sensation with Del made something boil inside him.
“It’s a mess.”
Hunter thought to himself as he provided Del’s chest measurement to the designer.
“What happened to me?”
***
How did Hunter end up like this?
I checked the favorability level hovering above Hunter’s head. Favorability level 42. The favorability level was rapidly skyrocketing.
Moreover, the constant attempts at physical contact and measuring my body were extremely suspicious. Even the gaze directed at me was becoming increasingly mixed with desire. It felt like an emergency alarm was ringing in my head.
I had thought that even if I got engaged and married to Hunter, we would never share the same bed. I believed there wouldn’t be any demand for such a thing, and the thought never crossed my mind.
However, I was completely mistaken. In this game, ‘Platonic love’ was as mythical as a unicorn.
