Ian added shyly with a hot face.

"You said you like to bump into each other. That's what I've just tried. I'm not really this type of person..."

Ian seemed to know how to lie when he said he wasn't that type of person with a face that said he was delighted.

To Ian, who pushed me with his body to reflect my taste, I coughed a few times and answered bluntly.

"What you do with your body... I didn't mean it just like this, but you are subtly talented at exaggerating."

It was strangely reassuring to see the pleasure dwelling in his eyes.

It was because the fact that we were facing each other was so sweet that it didn't seem like my body was shrinking.

My heart was about to explode, and I added.

"Of course, exaggerating it doesn't mean it's a lie."

To be honest, I liked it, so when I told the truth, Ian laughed.

"What can I do...you're so cute I'm going to die."

My heart pounded as he reached out and stroked my hot cheeks.

"When you said you like me, I really thought I couldn't feel any better..."

His voice was languidly clinging to my ears.

"It's so nice to be together like this that I'm going crazy..."

The way he spoke wasn't particularly charming.

Despite this, Ian's word 'cute' was dripping with sincerity.

"Answer me, quick."

He swiped my wrist once.

"Come on, or else I'm going to have to accept myself for getting into more messed up gossip than ever before."

Ian was right.

It was ridiculous to say, why did I do nothing after such a sudden push earlier?

But after hearing everything he had to say, I was moved by an indescribable emotion.

"I don't really care what other people think. You know."

I answered in a trembling voice.

"Even if everyone thinks my lover is crazy."

"Hah."

Ian put his forehead on mine and closed his eyes slightly as if pleased.

"...Good. Then you are my lover."

He narrowed his eyes and smirked as he looked at my hand caught on the bed.

"There is no warp ring."

Of course, I didn't have any jewelry on my hands.

He continued to speak, gently swiping my ring finger.

"After you left me like that and went to the Prince by yourself, there's something I've decided to do."

It was true, but it was a sentence that seemed to be slightly fabricated.

As I was thinking of alternative words, Ian grabbed my hand and whispered, interlocking.

"You should never put a ring given to you by another man on this hand."

He slowly lifted his clasped hands and brought them to his lips. (pr/n: who taught this boy how to be so romantic????)

"I was bothered to see that ring shining at Caronda... After all, you used it to throw me away like this."

I felt his breath on my fingers which tickled.

I got a little embarrassed and changed the topic.

"By the way, because of you, I haven't even been able to fight properly. I'm at my best now. I wanted to give it a try..."

"I have no regrets. I'm jealous even when you came at him."

"..."

"Sorry. Sometimes..."

Ian sincerely apologized.

"I want all your opponents to be me. Whether it's a curse, a duel, or a sword... This is not the time to curse the main character of ."

"...Since your jealousy is sincere, there's nothing I can do about it. Then when we're together later, make sure to deal with it. Just like when we were training before the banquet."

"Okay? Now, shall we take a look at agility first?" (pr/n: help why is Ian so good at flirting??)

Ian laughed playfully.

"I'm going to kiss you now, but avoid it if you don't like it. I'm not going to cut you some slack. I thought I was going crazy trying to hold it in."

Our body temperature immediately clashed. I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"If I don't like it, can't you tell?"

I didn't even hear an answer because the kiss poured in.

And that night, Ian seemed really crazy.

"I can't train together anymore. Now I think I want to attack the body instead of the sword." (pr/n: excuse me???)

He hugged me tightly and whispered to me, and in my heart I gave up on our proper duel.

It was because it seemed that it would be difficult to seriously clash with our swords now that someone just said that.

"I'll do it, really. I'll do my best."

Ian whispered while stroking my hair again.

He would be a model lover if he did all that work in Caronda, but I couldn't believe that was not even his best...

"How about we start when we arrive in the capital?"

I blinked my eyes and smiled.

"You should be considerate of the broken-hearted Prince Robert. Let's refrain from traveling back together."

~*~

Amidst everyone's shock, the Wade mansion continued to roar after the awards ceremony.

"Oh right... Title, title..."

During the awards ceremony, while everyone was stunned by Ian's confession of love, he muttered in embarrassment as if he had remembered the Emperor too late.

In any case, this was because the end of the award ceremony should end with the awarding of titles.

However, there was a problem, and there was no precedent for a brother who participated as a substitute rather than a full-time contestant to win.

"Should this be awarded to the real winner, Aaron Rainfield, or to Annabelle Rainfield, who registered as a contestant..."

The headquarters staff raised their glasses and rubbed their eyes as if in trouble.

This was because there was no manual on how to actually award a substitute contestant.

"Then let's do it this way. After all, if your sister and Ian come back, won't you arrange a friendly match?"

It was Aaron who answered clearly in that situation.

"How about putting this on hold for a bit until then? It will be a precedent for future swordsmanship competitions, so it is better to decide carefully."

Aaron added, supporting Oscar, who had just begun to come to his senses.

"I don't think it's a matter to be decided in haste. First of all, I am not interested in my title today."

So, the award ceremony for the swordsmanship competition ended with the conferment of titles being postponed.

Aaron, Marilyn, and Oscar, who came to their senses later, sighed and returned blankly to the annex of the Duke of Wade.

"First of all, someone must be very happy right now."

Aaron folded his arms and took a deep breath.

"I mean, Maiena in prison. I hope she's happy to think of the title of her next newsletter. 'Ian Wade, the national model student, and the story of becoming a national idiot'. She must be combining these things."

He handed over the criminals that had been imprisoned to the imperial palace, and Nick, who had accompanied him, also joined later.

"Since I'm in the South, I didn't know about such a story. Also, my analysis was great. I talked about love at first sight, but somehow it doesn't seem like a lie."

"I hope you will pass on every word to me later. I'm really curious about that crazy act."

"By the way, there was another real madman. That purplish haired weirdo."

"Are you talking about the Marquis of Abedes?"

Aaron frowned and said.

"Sadly, my sister believed that man was her biological father, and she lived like that for 22 years. During those years, she was pretty hurt."

"He looked like he wanted to hurt her more. But a Marquis? It's a little difficult for me to step on because of that title."

Nick, who had an action-oriented mind, groaned before opening his eyes.

"Or, if only Annabelle would accept the little Duke's heart... There seems to be a lot of room for being a bit of a fool in love, but what can't it be? The Duke is higher than the Marquis."

"Well, if he resembles the Duke, Ian is not going to become a fool in love, but an idiot sea cucumber anemone..."

Aaron shrugged his shoulders and answered.

"My sister is a very self-directed commoner, so they might take revenge, no matter how small a commoner she is. No matter how difficult the road was, she went through things by herself."

Marilyn and Oscar didn't seem to hear that.

No matter how much Aaron said, even if she reassured him that she is unconditionally safe, he continued to worry about Annabelle's well-being.

It was also unavoidable for her parents.

Of course, Leslie and Braden, likewise, returned to the duke's mansion, half-conscious.

It was quite late in the evening, when the servant brought the Emperor's decree from the Imperial Palace, their minds calmed down a little.

"Hmm, Prince Robert's dove has arrived."

After reading the Emperor's statement, Braden spoke to Leslie, who was restless.

"Prince Carlon and his escort have been arrested, and now both Annabelle and Ian are safely returning to the capital."

"Hah."

Leslie then leaned on Braden's arm and sighed in relief.

"I'm really glad that both of them are safe..."

Braden placed a hand on Leslie's shoulder and immediately made a signal.

A servant came in quickly, and he said seriously.

"Go to the annex right now and tell them that both Annabelle and Ian are coming back safely."

"Yes, I understand."

"And say I'll give Oscar and Aaron an indefinite paid vacation, as it will take some time to make up their minds."

"...Yes?"

"Ask the doctor if the West Annex is too small, and clear out the East Annex."

"Yes. East Annex, but..."

The East Annex had the best view and was the center of the mansion in terms of location, so it was where Braden's office and study were located.

"Of course I have to move. We don't have time, so don't ask useless questions and go. They must be curious about Annabelle's well-being."