Chapter 143

“Ah…”

Looking at the shining moonlight, Ayla took a deep breath.

It seems that she already misses those she left.

“Ahem, is being deluded your hobby?”

With a cold expression on her face, Ayla turned her head towards Theon, who cleared his throat awkwardly and uttered incomprehensible words.

“It’s not a delusion, it’s a kind of longing. We may never see each other again, isn’t it normal to be sad?”

“Exactly, why do you think you will never see each other again?”

“That… They were employed temporarily. The place they lived in originally is also far away from here, so they will be going back when the work is done… I can’t go to Ruit…”

“They’re not going back.”

“?”

At Theon’s unexpected words, Ayla pulled herself forward and got closer to him, as if asking what he meant.

It was too close.

Because the inside of the carriage was narrow, she realized that the distance between the two of them was not as far apart as she had thought.

However, if she pulled her body back again, she thought the situation would be even stranger, so she maintained her posture as if nothing was wrong.

“Who do you think will sell the tribute we obtained? I can’t sell it, so of course an agent has to do it.”

“That is true.”

“They will do that. They will also investigate who is behind the Baron with us. It was a total mess today, but what can I do if not trust them?”

“Ah…”

“Also, that child Elin, whom Miss Ayla Serdian cherished so dearly, is supposed to have come with Orhan, so let’s put that gloomy look aside.”

He gently swept Ayla’s hair as she nodded while smiling brightly, as if she felt better after hearing Theon’s words.

Unlike Ayla, who had hardened in embarrassment at his unexpected touch, Theon did not stop sweeping her hair down slowly.

“You’re pretty.”

“?”

“You’re pretty when you smile.”

“I… If you keep crossing the line like this, you will be in trouble. Your Highness also has a fiancée, and you just have a business relationship with me, so I don’t think this kind of behavior is right…”

Theon lightly grabbed the tip of Ayla’s chin, who was speaking at a fast pace as if she were embarrassed.

At Theon’s sudden action, Ayla opened her eyes wide and closed her mouth tightly.

Theon, who was smiling softly while looking at Ayla, slowly approached.

The distance between the two of them was less than a fist.

As Ayla felt his breath on her exposed skin, it somehow tickled and she looked down.

“If I don’t get engaged… Can I cross the line?”

Theon, who had remained silent for a while, finally opened his mouth.

Below the eyes that met, Ayla’s heart started pounding incessantly.

***

“If I don’t get engaged… Can I cross the line?”

“…”

As she concentrated on Theon’s whispering voice, the distance between the two became a little smaller.

His gray eyes soaked in the moonlight gave off a moist glow, and she felt like she was falling into them without even realizing it.

She couldn’t say anything at his meaningful words. Ayla only exchanged glances with Theon and remained silent.

For a brief moment, she questioned what she really wanted for her relationship with him; but before she could find an answer, Theon narrowed the distance between them, and she had no choice but to swallow dry.

Soon, the distance between them slowly shrunk, enough for their lips to touch, and the faint scent of mint coming from him tickled the tip of Ayla’s nose.

As Theon’s unusually rough breath caressed her forehead, her whole body tensed up and she felt like she was suffocating.

The inside of the carriage, swaying sporadically, proved that time had not stopped. Silence flowed between the two for a while.

“If you tell me to stop… I won’t push it.”

“…”

At the sound of Theon’s voice, quietly whispering in her ear, Ayla lowered her gaze and kept silent.

As her fingertips fumbled over the seat she was sitting on, in the awkward atmosphere, his cold fingers squeezed in between Ayla’s and interlocked their hands.

“Does this silence mean you consent? Or does it mean negation?”

“T-That…”

Theon looked at Ayla, who stuttered as if surprised by his cold touch, with an affectionate gaze that she had never seen before.

After a moment’s hesitation, he bent down slowly, gently touching her exposed forehead with his lips and then releasing it.

Then, his lips passed Ayla’s blue eyes and touched the tip of her nose, and then headed towards her neck.

Widening the distance between the two at Ayla’s reaction, who gasped and held her breath as she felt his breath in an unfamiliar place, Theon quietly looked at her.

Theon closed his eyes for a moment and frowned at the sight of Ayla, who was frozen and had lowered her gaze.

He, who was silent, added strength to the hand that was holding hers and slowly opened his mouth.

“I wish you would look at me.”

“…”

“If you don’t like it, I’ll stop.”

Her reason was telling her to refuse him. But under the control of Theon’s voice, asking for her permission as if taming her, the words hardly came out.

“I don’t… Hate it.”

She closed her eyes as Theon approached her lips as soon as she finished speaking.