Aleshia didn't even change out of her maid clothes and just plopped herself onto the bed.

"So soft…"

Aleshia murmured with her eyes closed. Lying on a soft bed feels really good after sleeping on that hard carriage seat for so many days.

Lawrend sat on his side of the bed while Allen was in his arms. He put him down on the bed and glanced at Aleshia. Somehow, he wants to open his mouth right now and tell her what has been bothering him since earlier.

"Aleshia."

Lawrend called out to her. It was an instinctive reaction. His heart couldn't help but beat quickly in anticipation of what he was about to do.

"Hm?"

Aleshia turned her head towards Lawrend's direction and looked at him while still lying on the bed.

"I like you."

Lawrend stared silently into Aleshia's eyes. The meaning was conveyed directly to her from his eyes.

"Young Master…"

Aleshia raised herself from the bed and sat up. She looked at Lawrend with wide eyes.

"You are so beautiful, cute, and strong. Aleshia, why don't you follow me to the end of the world?"

Lawrend was aware that what he was saying was cringey. It was so cringey that he was about to puke, but he needed to do this to convey his love to her.

"C-cute? Follow you to the end of the world? Young Master, even if you say that so suddenly…"

Aleshia's face flushed red as this was the first time that someone was confessing to her so boldly. She didn't know what was the logical response she should make.

"Aleshia…"

Lawrend raised his legs onto the bed and moved closer to her. He couldn't stop himself anymore. He already confessed and it would be stupid to back down now. He had to man up now or never.

"Y-Young Master…"

Aleshia gulped hard as she witnessed Lawrend move closer to her. For some reason, he was being so manly right now that she was suffocating from it. She couldn't help but raise her head and look at Lawrend's handsome face.

Aleshia's heart was beating out of her control. She was just like a maiden that was experiencing her first love. Well, she actually was.

"Aleshia, I hate you. I hate you for all the things you did to me, but I also want to cherish you at the same time. I want you to be mine so I can let go of this hate inside me."

Lawrend touched Aleshia's chin with his right hand and focused her face directly to his.

"H-Hate me? And then you want me to be yours?"

Aleshia stuttered as her eyes swam around. Lawrend's presence was suffocating her. She couldn't believe that he would ever do something like this to her.

"Yes. In truth, I just realized recently that I'm really possessive. When I looked at your smile earlier, I knew I had to keep you in my life, no matter what."

Lawrend's words were coming from the depths of his heart. Although, what he was doing right now was reenacting the confession scenes in the otome games that he had played in his past life.

"K-Keep me??"

Aleshia gulped as she felt a new emotion appear inside her assassin heart. It was faint, but it was spreading rapidly. It was like a poison.

Yes, this was the poison of love. Once it takes a hold of you, it will be hard to escape from it.

"Aleshia… I'll take care of you and your little sister. I won't let you live in the slums anymore."

Lawrend knew that this was the moment to strike while the iron was hot. This promise of him was like the straw that broke the camel's back.

Aleshia's heart skipped a beat in response. This was her dream when she was small. That a handsome wealthy nobleman would confess his love to her and take her and her little sister away from the slums. It was a silly dream that she has long forgotten, but it resurfaced now with great momentum.

"I…"

Aleshia opened and closed her mouth. Her maiden heart wanted to say yes, but her assassin heart wanted to say no. She was in a dilemma.

That was a problem, until… Lawrend touched his lips with hers. It broke away all of the doubt inside her mind. She felt like she was accepted. Satisfaction filled her heart.

Her efforts were finally recognized by someone. She was entirely smitten. She knew it herself, and she gave up trying to resist it. Aleshia closed her eyes and silently enjoyed the touch of Lawrend's lips.

Lawrend's kiss was not too hard nor too soft. It was just the right balance of both. Aleshia wanted more, but Lawrend already pulled back his lips. She and Lawrend silently stared into each other's eyes.

Lawrend could see in Aleshia's eyes that she had already surrendered her heart to him. She was in a daze as she tried to process what just happened.

"...I'd take that as a yes."

Lawrend grinned widely. Aleshia turned her head away and nodded her head lightly. Her face was red as an apple.

Meanwhile, Allen's slime eyes were staring at them silently. It was unknown what was going through his mind.

Lawrend looked at Aleshia who was blushing in front of him. He couldn't believe what just happened. It all happened so fast that by the time he realized it, he had already kissed her. His face turned red when he realized what he had just done.

Meanwhile, Aleshia was glancing at Lawrend from time to time. She didn't know why she just nodded her head! What was going through her head?! She was his maid, why would he even confess to her!?

Aleshia was confused at what was happening.

Lawrend quickly changed his clothes. It was all dusty from their travels.

"Y-Young Master??"

Aleshia was flustered seeing Lawrend change in front of her.

"What? I only changed my outer clothes."

Lawrend asked her in bewilderment. In his mind, there was no shame for a man to change his outer clothes in front of someone.