Chapter 77

“Why is the ring still on?”

“…”

“And in the exact spot where I put it on you.”

Her fiancé lowered his head, unable to answer her question.

‘…Finally.’

This wasn’t the first time she’d been in such a situation.

Someone asking an embarrassing question, and someone else too embarrassed to respond—it was practically a daily occurrence between her and her fiancé.

The only difference was that the roles were reversed this time.

It was usually her who was flustered, not her fiancé.

She was always the one whose face burned red from her fiancé’s shameless words and actions, while he enjoyed watching her squirm. How unfair was that?

…Not that she disliked his words or actions, though.

She was always the one being swept along by her sly fiancé.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? You’re usually so talkative.”

“…”

But now, the situation was completely the opposite.

Embarrassing words were flowing from her lips, and her fiancé was left speechless by her sudden change.

She didn’t know how things had come to this, but she knew better than anyone that an opportunity like this wouldn’t come easily.

“I told you, I slept hugging the ring you gave me because it’s so precious to me.”

“…”

“I’m being honest here, so why can’t you tell me why you’ve never taken the ring off?”

Her fiancé remained silent, his head still lowered.

His ears, peeking through his black hair, were slightly red, as if he were embarrassed.

“Could it be that you’re too shy to admit you didn’t want to take off the ring I put on you?”

Seeing him like this only boosted her confidence.

How long had it been since she’d taken the lead in their relationship? Since her fiancé had been left speechless by her words?

Even though her cheeks were burning from the embarrassing things she was saying, she was the one in control now.

“Won’t you say something? Stop just lowering your head.”

And she knew better than anyone that she couldn’t let this rare opportunity slip away.

For the future that was already set in stone, for the future version of herself who would have to live with this infuriating man for the rest of her life.

She had to use this chance to create a reason not to be swayed by her fiancé.

If she didn’t, she’d be doomed to live that terrible (?) life where her heart would race and flutter at every word her fiancé said.

“Did you like me that much?”

To avoid that fate, she continued speaking, trying to calm her cheeks, which were as red as autumn leaves.

“…Pfft.”

“…?”

Until an unexpected laugh escaped from her fiancé, who had been silent all this time.

“I was planning to just listen quietly for the Young Lady’s sake, but… I can’t hold back anymore.”

“…”

“Of course. I like my fiancée that much.”

The face of her fiancé, who had been lowering his head, was now filled with mischief.

***

At first, he had planned to just listen quietly.

It was amusing to see how much Rebecca’s behavior had changed after she confessed her feelings.

And it was cute to see his fiancée, who was usually so different, gradually turning red as she spoke such uncharacteristic words.

He thought he’d let her win this once and just listen quietly.

“Did you like me that much?”

“…Pfft.”

“…?”

But seeing his fiancée, her face completely red, asking if he liked her, he couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Of course. I like my fiancée that much.”

It was a fact that would only hurt his mouth to say.

If I hadn’t liked Rebecca, I wouldn’t have been able to live with such a difficult fiancée for three years.

If I hadn’t loved Rebecca, I wouldn’t have given her a ring on her birthday that clearly had an obvious intention.

But I did live with Rebecca for three years, bickering all the while, and I did give her that ring on her birthday.

The reason, of course, was that I had fallen in love with my fiancée, Rebecca Valencia.

And that fact was no longer a secret I kept to myself—it was something Rebecca, who was now panicking in front of me, also knew.

“You asked why I never took the ring off?”

“…”

“The answer is what you just said. I didn’t take it off because I didn’t want to remove the ring you put on me.”

“…But why didn’t you say that earlier…?”

Rebecca looked at me with an aggrieved expression, as if asking why I hadn’t answered earlier when I could have answered so well.

Her red eyes, larger than usual, were adorable, and as a considerate fiancé, I couldn’t help but respond.

“Of course, it was to tease my cute fiancée who thought she had the upper hand.”

“…”

“Did you really think you won, Young Lady?”

“…No.”

“Then why are you turning your head away? Weren’t you the one who told me not to lower my head earlier?”

“…”

Rebecca vehemently denied it, but her red cheeks and the way she couldn’t look me in the eye made it clear she was lying.

“As I said earlier, it’s an obvious fact.”

“…What is?”

If it were the old me, I might have teased her more.

The immature Albert Zernias from before might have gotten carried away and tormented his fiancée without thinking.

But the current me was very different from the past me.

They say people grow through various experiences.

After going through so much with Rebecca, I had already figured out the best way to act in this situation.

“The fact that I like the Young Lady more than anyone else.”

“…”

“Is it really necessary for me to say it out loud for you to understand?”

“…That’s not it…”

In situations like this, rather than pushing further, it was more effective to pretend to be sulky and make my fiancée restless.

Then my soft-hearted fiancée would slowly approach me, giving me another chance.

“…Just kidding.”

And it was entirely my role to seize that opportunity given by the heavens.

Whispering that it was a joke, I lightly kissed Rebecca as she came closer to check if I was really sulking.

“Eek! Did the butler see that?”

“Yes, I saw it too.”

“The Prince kissed the Young Lady!!”

“I saw it too, so please lower your voice…”

“Eek!!!”

“…”

After the kiss, Dorothy’s excited voice and the butler’s attempts to calm her down could be heard.

“…!”

Rebecca, completely caught off guard by the unexpected kiss, turned even redder and stared at me.

Her expression seemed to ask what on earth I was doing in such a public place where everyone could see.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Did you dislike it?”

“…”

To me, it wasn’t important at all.

What was the problem with two engaged people sharing a kiss?

If anything, it was strange that Rebecca and I, who had been together for three years, hadn’t made more progress and weren’t being treated as odd.

Besides, there was a legitimate reason for the kiss.

The reason was to not lose in the battle with my fiancée.

The reason was to punish my fiancée, who tried to embarrass me with her heated words to win.

These reasons were what led me to kiss Rebecca.

“…Eek.”

The kiss must have been very effective, as Rebecca still hadn’t regained her composure even as I finished organizing my thoughts.

Even though it was a sudden event, for her to be this dazed…

I thought I should increase the frequency of physical contact to help my beloved fiancée build up her mental strength.

“If you keep spacing out, I’ll do it again.”

“…”

“So pull yourself together. Before I really do it again.”

“…Eek.”

Even after my warning, Rebecca still hadn’t regained her composure.

Whether she was truly too dazed or just pretending to be so she could get another kiss from me, I couldn’t tell.

But one thing was certain.

“…Stay like that.”

“…”

Today, my fiancée had once again failed to win against me.

The sound of another light kiss echoed, proving that fact more clearly than any evidence.