TOOCM 61

Chapter 61

Much had changed from her past life.

No longer confined in the imperial dungeon, she was now in Crensia Castle in the North.

No longer a blind villainess, she was the sighted Duchess.

The thought that Ritsi’s powers might have changed compelled her to test them.

Reina used Ritsi’s ability to look at Kaiden.

She expected to see vibrant life force, unlike the fading energy of her past.

But—

“Gasp!”

Startled, she withdrew the power, even leaning back.

Kaiden looked puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing.”

Reina clutched her racing heart, panting.

What was that?

Thinking she’d misseen, she used the power again.

She was stunned to see his emotions bathed in a vivid pink—a color blazing alongside his robust life force.

It’s a color I’ve never seen before.

The pink hue, so out of place with his stoic demeanor, burned brightly.

It wasn’t threatening; if anything, it seemed affectionate.

She’d never sensed this color from anyone around her before.

Unbeknownst to her, it was the hue of someone in love—a feeling absent from her past life.

Meanwhile, Kaiden gazed at her, entranced.

With Ritsi perched on her hand, her eyes fixed on him, she was breathtaking.

Even the Sacred Tree behind her seemed ordinary by comparison.

Loved by bird and tree, she exuded the mystical aura of a fairy-tale spirit.

Noticing a leaf in her hair, Kaiden reached out.

Reina flinched, tumbling backward.

Thud.

“Ah.”

She stared at the pale sky, letting out a soft exclamation.

She’d reacted overly sensitively.

Kaiden froze, his hand still extended.

It was clear she’d dodged his touch abruptly.

Reina tried to deflect. “The, uh, sky’s pretty.”

“…”

“Lie down and see for yourself.”

To ease the awkwardness, she tugged him down.

Kaiden, now lying on the grass, gazed not at the sky but at her.

“It’s pretty, right?” she asked, looking upward.

“…Very pretty,” he replied, his eyes on her.

The sky wasn’t even in his thoughts.

After a while of staring upward, Reina said, “When Michael arrives, we might need to act like a loving couple.”

“Act like a couple?”

Her distancing words irked him.

Unaware, Reina continued calmly, “Michael still doubts our relationship. He won’t believe it unless he sees it with his own eyes.”

At the Emperor’s banquet, he’d been skeptical of their marriage to the end.

If they seemed distant in the North, it could fuel his suspicions.

“So we should act as naturally as possible, like a real couple…”

She trailed off as Kaiden gently lifted her chin.

Her gaze shifted from the sky to him.

His eyes, intense today, locked onto hers.

In a low voice, he murmured, “If we’re acting like a couple, how far can I go?”

“What?”

“I’m asking what you think a natural couple looks like.”

At his question about boundaries, Reina’s eyes widened.

“Well… it’d be good to show affection often. Like walking together or having tea…”

Her uncertainty made Kaiden chuckle.

“Reina, friends do that too. We did those things before we were married.”

“Now that you mention it…”

“What’s your idea of a loving couple?”

She blinked, never having considered it.

Her mother died at her birth, and her father exploited her.

Having never known proper parents, she couldn’t picture a loving couple.

Then she recalled her estranged Eve family.

The Eve couple had cared for her in her mother’s place during childhood.

Though contact ceased after they left the capital, they remained dear to her.

Recalling them, she said softly, “Holding hands while walking, hugging morning and night, or light kisses.”

Her voice carried a wistful tone.

Lost in memories, she didn’t realize she was stirring him.

Kaiden’s expression grew serious.

Interlacing their fingers, he asked, “Like this?”

Reina looked at their tightly joined hands.

It wasn’t their first time holding hands, but today his felt especially large.

Perhaps because of the interlacing?

A strange tension arose, but it wasn’t unpleasant—rather, it felt comforting, calming her.

She nodded with a faint smile. “Yes, like that. But kisses might be too much for you, so like before, on the cheek…”

“Will that be enough?”

“What?”

As she looked up, he leaned closer, half-sitting, gazing down at her.

His purple eyes felt impossibly close.

“A kiss on the cheek could just be a friendly greeting.”

“Well, yes, but…”

Her gaze drifted from his eyes to his lips.

Recalling how they’d brushed her cheek made her heart race uncontrollably.

Sensing her waver, Kaiden pressed further.

“Will that really fool Sir Michael?”

“I’m not sure.”

Given Michael’s suspicion, half-measures might not suffice.

Uncertain, she asked, “What should we do then?”

“What do you think?”

He smirked, as if it were obvious.

“Just do what you said.”

“…”

“Like holding hands.”

He pulled her up gently.

Embracing her carefully, he added, “And hugging…”

His voice was slower than usual. As their gazes met warmly, a tingling sensation spread through her.

Anticipating what came next, Reina closed her eyes.

To deceive Michael, they had to do it properly.

Or was that the only reason? She wasn’t sure.

She just felt that with Kaiden, it was okay.

Kaiden stared at her closed eyes.

Did she know what he intended, reacting so innocently?

He could kiss her now, under the guise of practice.

But, clinging to reason, he pulled back.

“That should fool him.”

“…”

Reina stayed silent, her lashes trembling slightly.

For a moment, she’d thought a kiss from Kaiden would be fine.

Since he’d kissed her cheek, maybe her lips would be okay too.

She’d expected it, not even knowing if he wanted it.

How embarrassing.

Feeling foolish for closing her eyes in anticipation, she touched her flushed cheeks.

“R-right. That should do it.”

She couldn’t fully hide her flustered heart.

Her prim tone only heightened her embarrassment.

Unable to meet his eyes, she covered her face.

He whispered in her ear, “Were you hoping for something?”