Chapter 11

Neria wouldn’t know, but his n*pple was exactly between her fingers. It was an oddly ticklish, regretful feeling. The fabric between her fingers and his skin felt like an annoying barrier.

‘If only she’d pressed and rubbed a bit more…’

“Uh, uwaa! S-sorry!”

Hearing his groan, Neria panicked even more. She hurriedly braced herself with her knees and lifted her upper body. But in her panic, her legs gave out and her lower body collapsed.

“Waa!”

One of Neria’s legs slipped between his thighs, and her knee, wrapped in her skirt, brushed dangerously close to Aaron’s vital area.

“…Hah!”

That contact sent a jolt through Aaron’s mind.

It probably wasn’t intentional. Or maybe it was—what did it matter? Following a dark impulse, Aaron reached out with a trembling arm to grab Neria’s slender waist.

But before he could, Neria sprang up with the speed of a squirrel fleeing a predator.

Aaron stared blankly as Neria scrambled to her feet and moved far away. He felt disappointed. His fingers twitched, grasping at empty air.

“Um, um. You’re the Duke, right? Are you okay…?”

Pressed against the stone wall, Neria asked cautiously. Her violet eyes darted around. She didn’t know why the Duke was here, but he had definitely helped her.

“Yes. I’m fine. Ahem.”

Aaron’s voice was hoarse as he cleared his throat and stood up. Neria, flustered, didn’t seem to be hurt.

She was pressed against the cold stone wall, and though it bothered him, he couldn’t say anything to a woman who seemed so uncomfortable.

“Duke, your face is really red… You don’t look okay.”

Neria spoke in a slightly timid voice. Feeling vaguely blamed, Aaron replied in a businesslike tone.

“I don’t like repeating myself.”

He realized too late that his voice was too stiff, but Aaron never took back his words.

It was fortunate the temple wasn’t brightly lit. He could hide his flushed face.

Because of the commotion, distant murmurs approached, and low-ranking priests rushed over. They gasped when they recognized Aaron.

“D-Duke? We were told you’d be visiting quietly and not to disturb you, but what is…?”

“They took away the mat on the stairs. A visitor almost slipped and got hurt. Is this how the temple manages things?”

Aaron’s low voice made the priests’ faces go pale. One stammered,

“Ah, someone was praying on their knees and took it, I think…”

“We’re very sorry, Duke!”

The priests seemed uninterested in Neria, who looked perfectly fine. They only asked out of courtesy. When Neria nodded with a frightened, dazed face, they lost interest completely.

“If anyone’s hurt, we can call the temple healer…”

“No, that’s not necessary.”

Aaron waved his hand to block the priests, as if refusing any help.

Successfully hiding his agitation, he brushed off his clothes lightly.

“Lady Neria, if you’re uncomfortable anywhere, you should accept the temple’s help.”

“I’m really fine. Not hurt at all.”

Aaron stared intently at Neria, who couldn’t meet his eyes.

“But… I also think, like they said, that you should see the healer, Duke.”

‘Why won’t this woman look at me?’

There were only two reasons someone wouldn’t look at Aaron Denicar during a conversation. Either they’d done something wrong, or they were interested in him.

His instincts suggested the former, but Neria Warwick wasn’t the type to wrong him.

To say she had no interest at all was nonsense. Aaron glanced over his own appearance. He wore a simple monk’s cloak, but that couldn’t hide his dazzling looks and charm. He was someone you couldn’t help but look at.

“Is that what you think, Lady Neria Warwick?”

People react when their names are called. Yet Neria’s gaze still wandered. Even then, Aaron felt a pointless stubbornness.

“Yes, yes. Muscles might not hurt now, but tomorrow…”

“You seem to know a lot about men’s muscles?”

“……”

Neria sensed a subtle reproach in Aaron’s tone and finally looked up to meet his eyes.

Aaron was satisfied once she met his gaze. A smooth, confident smile appeared on his lips as if he’d been waiting.

Neria paused at his very friendly smile, pondering the meaning of his words.

‘Was that a compliment?’

‘…No, but asking an unmarried woman if she knows a lot about men’s muscles is a bit much, isn’t it?’

Ah, maybe she should just get angry.

Before she could, Aaron raised his hand with a casual wave.

“Priests, you may go. I’m fine.”

“But… the high priest ordered us to give you a massage after your prayers.”

‘Massage?’

It was probably innocent, but Neria’s ears perked up, recalling the not-so-innocent massage she’d given recently.

“Haa…”

Aaron swallowed an annoyed sigh, making the priests flinch.

“I don’t like repeating myself.”

The Duke truly seemed to hate repeating himself. Aaron changed his expression in two seconds and stared at the lower priests. Hesitating, they obeyed his order and returned to their duties.

Having successfully chased away the intruders, Aaron’s face brightened.

“Now, Lady Neria.”

Then he offered his hand to Neria. Her heart skipped a beat.

“…Settlement money?”

“Of course not. I wouldn’t take your pocket change, Lady Neria. It’s just an escort.”

Impressed by how naturally Aaron teased her, Neria asked,

“In the temple? This isn’t a ballroom…”

“I’d feel a bit wronged if the lady I threw myself to save rolled down the stairs again.”

“……”

‘Am I some kind of fragile fish…?’

Neria felt too indebted to Aaron to refuse his offer.

She didn’t have time to wonder why he was suddenly acting so friendly. His handsome face and polite voice made it hard to resist.

Awkwardly, she linked arms with him, trying to keep as much distance as possible.

Aaron couldn’t help but notice her intent. Not liking Neria’s awkwardness, he snorted inwardly.

Then he pulled her arm closer, making her side touch his.

As her startled violet eyes looked up at him, Aaron smiled with his bright blue eyes. He knew full well how good-looking he was.

He also knew exactly how to smile most charmingly. Captivating people with his looks was easy for him… but was there any reason to use that skill on Neria Warwick…?

‘…There must be.’

Aaron quickly wrapped up his rational thoughts and enjoyed his time with Neria. He had a goal. First, he needed to figure out the cause of the persistent sense of déjà vu he kept feeling around Neria.

Aaron generally trusted his instincts.

‘What am I missing…?’

Meanwhile, next to Aaron, Neria was tense, taking short breaths.

‘Hoo-ha, hoo-ha!’

Because of her instinctive fluttering heart around someone so impressive, she couldn’t relax in front of the handsome Duke, no matter how much she wanted to. Her waist felt ticklish, so she kept squirming for no reason.

Then, as she faced the steep stairs once again, Neria swallowed hard.

The temple had been built from stone hundreds of years ago, and since then, countless people had gone up and down on their knees, making it extremely polished. The parts worn by kneeling were sunken, so Neria, wearing heeled shoes, had to be careful.

‘It was fine coming up because there was an anti-slip mat.’

Neria had no choice but to rely on Aaron as she walked. As she clung close to him, Aaron was quite pleased. Seeing her careful not to burden him with her weight made a gentle smile bloom on his lips.

To him, as a male knight, she wasn’t heavy at all. Neria was just above average height for a woman, with a moderate build. He could easily lift her by supporting her with his forearm.

But Aaron’s composure vanished quickly. It started when Neria’s chest began brushing against his solid arm. His eyebrow twitched. Neria probably thought he was wearing thick clothes and felt reassured, but in truth, he was a highly sensitive knight and soldier.

That’s why even a slight touch to his n*pple could make him lose control, but anyway.

The soft sensation against his forearm stirred Aaron again. It tingled all the way to his knees. In his chest, it felt as if a hummingbird was frantically fluttering its wings.

At the same time, a dirty desire started to creep up again. He kept thinking of the witch’s soft body. Worse, he began to imagine the witch, not Neria, linking arms with him.

Swapping a proper noble lady for that witch in his mind—he couldn’t help but feel guilty. Neria was dressed very modestly, befitting a temple prayer visit.

‘She’s innocent and lively, with the same wish as me… just a slightly cute unmarried noblewoman.’

She couldn’t possibly be the same as the phantom witch who teased him.

Aaron felt sorry again for having acted so harshly toward her.

Just then, Neria spoke cautiously.

“There aren’t any more stairs now, so you don’t need to escort me. I’ll walk just fine on my own.”

There were still more stairs, but Aaron understood what she meant. She was asking him to let go now that there might be eyes watching.

“Understood.”

Aaron considered being stubborn, but gave up. If the woman was uncomfortable, insisting would only make him look strange.

“Thank you, Duke Aaron. Have a good day.”

Neria bowed and carefully walked away. She didn’t look back. The funny, bold attitude she’d shown before was nowhere to be seen. Like someone she’d never see again, there wasn’t a hint of regret.