Chapter 75

When people close their eyes, they can’t see anything.

The reason is, of course, that all visual information is blocked.

If someone could still see without visual information, they’d be too extraordinary to be considered a mere human.

“Have you closed your eyes?”

“…Yes.”

The reason I’m suddenly talking about this is because there’s someone in front of me who has lost all visual information.

My fiancée, with her clear, transparent red eyes tightly shut.

While it’s a shame that one of Rebecca’s most charming features is temporarily gone, her reaction to what’s about to happen is far more important. So, I can endure this much.

*Step, step.*

Slowly but precisely, I approach Rebecca, who’s standing there with her eyes closed, looking like she’s daring me to try something. In one hand, I’m holding the gift that made me late today.

Even though she’s my fiancée, I can’t help but think she’s a peculiar person.

Just moments ago, she was radiating an aura of “I’m not in a good mood” and “I’m really mad at you.” But as soon as I asked her how she felt about her fiancé, she forgot her own state and sank deep into thought.

Is this really the behavior of someone trying to hide their feelings?

I’ve always known how Rebecca feels.

If you can’t recognize someone doing the exact same things they’ve done before, then you’re the strange one.

She’s admitted to herself that she likes me but refuses to show it outwardly.

Even without concrete evidence, Rebecca probably has an idea of how I feel about her.

She’s determined not to reveal her feelings until I confess first.

– She doesn’t dislike me.

Though her actions don’t exactly scream that.

But as a considerate fiancé, it’s only polite to overlook such things.

It’s also polite to quickly resolve the struggles of a fiancée who’s late to realize her own feelings.

Wanting your loved one to not suffer is a universal human sentiment.

I’m just following my human instincts.

Gently, I take Rebecca’s warm hand, which radiates warmth just from holding it.

“…I didn’t tell you to close your eyes.”

Locking eyes with my mischievous fiancée who doesn’t listen, I slip the prepared gift onto her finger.

***

“Then, could you close your eyes for a moment?”

“…”

With her permission, her fiancé now asks her to close her eyes.

At some point, as always, she’s naturally lost control of the situation.

She starts to feel like things are getting weird and that the roles might be reversed.

“…I closed them.”

Since she’s already agreed, she decides to see how her fiancé will unravel her feelings.

It’s not like her heart was completely swayed just because she briefly thought about her fiancé.

*Step, step.*

With her eyes closed, the only sound she hears is her fiancé approaching.

They say when one sense weakens or disappears, the others become stronger.

Whoever discovered that wasn’t lying.

She can hear her fiancé’s footsteps and breathing more clearly than usual.

In the pitch-black darkness, as she listens to her fiancé’s sounds, she feels something strange on her left ring finger.

A round, indescribable sensation.

Feeling the oddness, she slowly opens her eyes.

“…I didn’t tell you to close your eyes.”

What she sees is her fiancé kneeling with a defeated expression, slipping something onto her finger.

The object on her finger is unmistakable, even a three-year-old could recognize it.

“…A ring?”

A circular accessory meant to adorn one’s hand.

An accessory she usually avoids because it’s uncomfortable.

Yet, here it is, slipped onto her finger by her fiancé.

“It’s been over three years since we’ve been engaged, and it bothered me that you didn’t have a ring.”

“…”

“I was thinking about what gift would suit you, who already has everything, and this suddenly came to mind.”

Despite being the one who gave it, her fiancé’s face is slightly red with embarrassment.

“So, the reason you were late…”

“Yes. I had it commissioned to be finished by today, but they said it would be ready by tonight.”

“…”

“So, I pushed them and ended up being a little late.”

“…*Pfft*.”

Finally learning the reason for her fiancé’s tardiness, she can’t help but burst into laughter.

It’s so absurd that she can’t stop laughing.

She knew her fiancé was a fool, but not to this extent.

“…What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, you’re just such an idiot.”

“I don’t think that’s something a princess should say.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Well, what do you think I mean?”

“…”

But he’s a bit of an annoying idiot.

The kind of idiot you sometimes want to smack on the head.

“So, your request was for me to accept this ring?”

“Essentially, yes.”

“You were being so serious about this as if it were some grand request?”

“…”

“It’s not like I’d refuse a ring from you.”

Of course, the fact that she always falls for such an idiot makes her feel even more foolish.

What is it about this idiot that makes her heart flutter so much?

Human emotions are seemingly simple yet incredibly complex.

“…Is that so?”

Hearing her answer, her fiancé smiles slightly, looking satisfied.

Honestly, she expected her fiancé already knew her feelings.

But there’s a big difference between assuming and confirming it directly.

Seeing her fiancé’s smug expression, she can’t help but feel a bit annoyed.

“Did you forget something?”

So, she decides to pick a fight.

If things continue like this, it feels like she’s the only one admitting her feelings, and she’s losing.

She recalls something her fiancé once told her and tries to find a way to turn the tables.

“Huh?”

“…Last time. You told me to rely on you.”

“?”

“Did you really forget?”

Not only is he acting like a fool, but he’s also making her say such embarrassing things.

The person in front of her might just be the worst fiancé, the worst idiot.

She really doesn’t like this about her fiancé.

He asked if she remembered, but he’s the one who forgot.

Earlier, she couldn’t bring herself to say she didn’t like it, but now the words flow easily.

…*Pfft.*

Her fiancé, who was struggling to remember, suddenly bursts into laughter as if he’s just recalled something.

“Were you really expecting that?”

“…Should I stop expecting it then?”

“No. It’s just surprising that you remember such things so clearly.”

“…”

Just moments ago, she was feeling really good watching her foolish fiancé.

But hearing his usual remarks, her mood sours again.

“It’s a joke. Just a joke, so don’t make that face and come here.”

“…Fine.”

Even so, with just one word from her fiancé, she melts.

She concludes that she must be a real fool herself.

As she slowly approaches her fiancé…

“Where’s your ring?”

She notices that her fiancé isn’t wearing a ring.

“My ring is here.”

“Why aren’t you wearing it?”

“Now that the princess has put it on me, it’s complete.”

“…”

Her fiancé, who was only focused on putting the ring on her, shamelessly asks her to put his ring on him.

“I don’t want to.”

“…”

“Do I have to do it?”

She can’t just comply with that request.

As she said earlier, if things continue like this, it’s as if she’s admitted defeat.

She needs to find a way to take control…

“If you don’t put it on, I won’t do it.”

“…”

“So, hurry up and put it on.”

“…Are you really not going to give in to your fiancée even once?”

“Yes. I really don’t like losing.”

With those words from her fiancé, any chance of her taking control is gone.

Her heart is screaming at her to quickly receive “it” from her fiancé.

“Thank you.”

With tears in her eyes, she has no choice but to slip the ring onto her fiancé’s finger.

“…I’ve put it on, so hurry up.”

Now it’s her turn to demand her rights.

“This foolish fiancé doesn’t know what the princess is asking for.”

“…”

“If you tell me exactly what I need to do, maybe I can do it.”

Before her fiancé can act all smug and play the fool…

Countless thoughts race through her mind.

Her inner voice tells her to be honest and forget her pride, but her pride refuses to let those words escape her lips.

After a seesaw of indecision…

“…Do it.”

“Could you say that again?”

“Kiss… me.”

Her pride has been defeated.

*Whoosh.*

Her face burns intensely.

She, who once prided herself on her composure, is now begging for a kiss like a child.

Something the cold-hearted her from the past could never have imagined is happening right now.

“Understood.”

Finally getting the answer he wanted, her annoying fiancé moves closer.

“…Really. You’re so sneaky.”

Grumbling about his sneakiness, she has no choice but to close her eyes and wait for her fiancé.

Her pride has already been defeated by her desires and has vanished into the distance.

On the day she should be at the peak of her power, her birthday, she’s lost both her pride and the secrets she’s kept hidden deep inside.

“I’ve always loved you. My beloved fiancée.”

“…”

“In times like this, you should say, ‘Me too.'”

“…”

“If you don’t say it properly, I won’t do it.”

“…Me too.”

“Well done.”

“…Am I a child?”

“To me, you look as cute as a child, so don’t worry.”

“…”

It’s not so bad. No, it’s actually quite nice.

At least, that’s how she evaluates it.