#03"...Taehyung."
「…」
Taehyung's movements stopped. It was as if he had lost his soul and was staring at the heroine with a possessed expression.
"what happened?"
"…once again…"
"picture?"
"Please say my name once more..."
Taehyung holds the heroine's hand tightly and begs her to call him by his name. Though puzzled by his reaction, the heroine obediently calls his name once more.
“Okay, Taehyung—”
Kiss
As soon as he called her name, Taehyung gently lifted her hand and slowly kissed the back of it.
"When I heard your voice...calling my name..."
「…」
"I'm so happy, I can't even put it into words—"
"I wonder if just calling someone's name makes them so happy..."
"May I kiss you, Miss?"
"...Huh?"
Even as she asked where she'd learned the word "kiss," Taehyung's face was already so close. If she moved even a little, their lips would definitely touch. He had her completely in his arms.
"I want to..."
"Kiss! Where did you learn that word—"
"I heard that the act of pressing lips together is called a kiss...or am I wrong?"
"...My, my dress is in tatters... Anyway, let's hurry and go home—!"
She hastily pushed him away and managed to get out of his arms, with Taehyung following behind her, chuckling. The heroine, completely unaware of what was happening, was desperately trying to hide the flush on her face.
—
The carriage came to a halt again, and they arrived home safely. Taehyung had transformed back into an animal. Holding him in her arms, the heroine entered the mansion as usual, unaware of what had happened.
"I'm home-"
"My Lady...! Your Master is waiting for you in the study..."
Lucia looked unusually anxious, and her voice was low and hushed, suggesting something unusual was going on.
...It's already obvious.
"Lucia, put it in my room."
"Yes, my lady..."
Leaving Taehyung in Lucia's care, I trudged to my study. I could sense an unusual sense of tension even from outside the door. I cleared my throat, swallowed my dry saliva, took a deep breath, and put my hand on the door handle.
"Father... I heard you called for me..."
"Brie... Do you have any idea how much I expected from my only daughter..."
「…」
"How dare you disappoint me, your father?"
Every word stabbed him sharply. He clasped his hands together and rested his chin on them, staring sharply at his daughter.
"Your actions today have brought great tarnish upon the honor of my Brier family. Do you know what that means?"
「……」
"Marry the Duke."
"Eh...? Father, that's..."
"No excuses. If you don't want to be punished any more, get married."
"No."
"What?"
Her father's brows furrowed in anger at her defiant attitude, one of his eyebrows twitching slightly. He could see the anger welling up inside him, unable to hide his irritation at his daughter's defiance.
"I will marry whoever I want, so father, please stay quiet."
"You're getting more and more crazy. Are you talking about that man who was practically naked with you—"
She had no idea he knew this much. She couldn't hide her shock at the words that came out of her father's mouth. It made her keenly aware that rumors are the fastest way to travel in high society.
"You mean, did you send someone over...?"
"That doesn't matter. Get ready to marry the Duke. Never see that worthless man again."
"...Don't say such selfish things."
"What?"
"Don't speak lightly of him!!!"
Bang!
She slammed open the study door and rushed out. She hated her father for insulting Taehyung and treating his daughter like a doll. The tears she had been holding back burst out like a dam had burst, and she ran into the room sobbing, just in time to see Taehyung in human form.
"My Lady, what's wrong..."
"Huh... Hurgh... Ugh..."
The moment she opened the door, she jumped into Taehyung's arms as he sat on the bed. Without a word, she just clung to his chest, and Taehyung silently and gently rubbed her back.
"Uh... Hurry... Ugh..."
"Cry as much as you want, my lady. I'm here for you, as long as you want to cry."
Unlike my father, Taehyung's words were so gentle. I never expected that a simple, gentle pat on the back would bring so much comfort. I wanted to stay in his arms all night, to be comforted by him—that's what I thought.
——
I don't know when I fell asleep. As the morning sunlight poured in, I was still asleep on his chest. I gently opened my eyes and looked at his sleeping face, and the events of the previous night came back to me.
"……thank you."
I secretly placed a small kiss on his forehead. I gently stroked his hair, and just as I was about to get out of bed—
"...My Lady."
"Wow!!"
He had woken up without me realizing it and grabbed my wrist. He made me sit on his lap and hugged me tightly from behind. Then Taehyung snuggled up to me, burying his face in my neck.
"Did you think if you did it secretly I wouldn't notice?"
"It's just a thank you for comforting me yesterday. It's just a thank you."
"If you stimulate me like that, my lady..."
「……」
"...You won't be able to control yourself any more, you know?"
Taehyung whispered, bringing his lips to the young lady's neck and whispering softly. The sensation tickled her, and she let out a small sigh. His lips then slowly moved from her neck to her cheek, kissing her carefully as if to leave a mark.
"S-Stop it already."
「……？」
"...I, I should go and get your clothes made soon. Let's go to the tailor."