99. First Kiss (2)

We'd rehearsed the engagement ceremony vow with Asella a few times. But I never expected her to suddenly crash her lips into mine without warning. That was news to me.

For someone charging in with such gusto, Asella hesitated at the very end, pulling her shoulders back just a touch. It barely grazed—too fleeting to even remember the sensation. Was she embarrassed mid-performance, or did she snap back to her senses? It wasn't like her at all.

Riding the crowd's roaring cheers, I grabbed Asella and ducked into the corridor like we were fleeing, catching our breath. The party's clamor faded into the distance. No knights or servants in sight.

"Young master, you're too late."

"I barely remember it, but you didn't warn me you'd kiss me, did you?"

At my question, Asella froze like a statue, then forced a smile. "No idea what you're talking about. Why were you so late?"

Playing total ignorance, huh? Or maybe she'd already erased it from memory. Still, letting it slide felt like a waste, so I decided to poke a little.

"Your Highness, performances like that need rehearsal to avoid mishaps. Imagine if I'd dodged in surprise—how awkward would that have been?"

"Ugh, seriously!"

Irritated by my persistence, Asella stomped her foot. "What are you even saying? Should I have announced it first or something?"

"Wouldn't hurt. We could've practiced ahead."

"Practice? Don't treat it so lightly!"

Asella furrowed her brow and punched my chest. "You think I'd waste my first on practice...?"

She grumbled something under her breath. She seemed genuinely pissed now—her classic angry face. Or wait, something else.

"Your ears are red."

"They're not."

Asella whipped her head away, avoiding my gaze, and covered the ear facing me with one hand. "Hoo, really."

She fanned herself with her other hand and let out a big sigh. I'd seen her every day, but this rare reaction? Priceless. Kinda fun.

I leaned toward her. "Sorry for worrying you. Had an emergency patient."

"I heard. The Imperial Medical Office went on alert."

Asella glanced at me sidelong, profile only. "...Did you fix them?"

I flashed a confident smile. "Of course. Both patients under my care pulled through the crisis. My healers are on them 24/7, so they'll wake soon."

"Well... good for them."

She was sulky but accepted it. Surprisingly sweet.

"Didn't expect Your Highness to care about others' lives."

"Can't I?"

"No, I think it's great."

"I meant good for you, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not the patients..."

Asella trailed off and punched me again. "Still, being late on a day like this? Not cool."

"You're right. I'll reflect on it."

"Your clothes are a mess, hair's undone. Young master, you reek of disinfectant."

"Was in surgery until 15 minutes ago. Bear with me a bit."

"Forget it. Go finish the coming-of-age rite. Handle the nobles well."

After rushing from work, now she's assigning more? Thanks a bunch, Your Highness—tears of gratitude.

"First, fix that bird's-nest hair. ...What the heck."

Asella reached for my neck, eyes wide in alarm. "Blood."

"Patient's, probably. Splattered earlier; a nurse wiped it."

"Hmph. Must've been serious."

I gently caught her outstretched wrist. She flinched, shrugging like a hermit crab.

"The ring suits you."

"Oh, yeah... Pretty?"

"Of course. On whose hand?"

"Picked by you, so looks-wise... not thrilled."

Asella stared at the engagement ring on her left ring finger, wrist still in my grasp. Not a fan, huh? It was platinum—pricey, enchanted too.

"It calls the other ring. Scratch the seam twice with your thumbnail; signals mine."

She tested it; my ring flashed. "Fancy. Why enchant it? Must've cost a fortune."

"You haven't slept with me lately. Verbal calls in emergencies are too slow."

Since that night she bolted, Asella sleeps in her own room again. Added a seizure-alert feature.

"...True."

Her gaze lingered on the ring. Our hands reflected in her eyes. I shrugged.

"My apologies. Next time, something you'll like."

"N-next? Too soon."

She yanked her wrist free. Fair—her birthday's next gift occasion, still early.

"Um, young master."

"Yes."

"...How do you feel?"

"Relieved—surgeries succeeded."

"Not that."

Asella nibbled her tiny lip, voice barely a whisper. "...We had the official engagement."

"We did."

"With all those eyes... and we did it."

"The kiss?"

"Young master, never say that word unless I do first."

"Got it."

Curious about my take on the engagement? Honestly, just more hassle ahead. Marks Gotberg house's deeper Moonlight Palace ties.

But whatever—later. "It was fun."

Today's Asella was entertaining—her reactions, actions. Social event made her seem like a normal teen girl. Different from the empress I knew.

"Fun? That's all?"

She didn't like my answer.

"Living enjoyably matters. Hope every day ahead is too."

"Every day ahead."

Now she fully turned away. Silence fell. Party chatter drifted like BGM—all about us.

"...Young master."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Still no eye contact. "...Want to do it once more?"

Today's Asella was weird.

The coming-of-age rite wrapped smoothly too. Late night, I donned my gown and headed to the Imperial Medical Office. Nobles swarmed with congrats—mental whirlwind. Polite folk, so mostly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠surface chat.

Rauga, though—acquaintance—prodded mischievously: How far with Asella? Wedding when? Her manifesto pushing quick marriage? Hate lying.

Good seeing Father and Neria. Factory done sooner than expected—aspirin production and distribution soon.

En route, I checked the status window.

Good ending odds surged. Recent events unlocked achievements—must be why. One normal ending climbed too.

Probabilities measure at the event triggering that ending.

Like, if barbarian invasion bad endings vanished, no death even if idle—like past loops. Avoiding all bad endings in 101 tries? Impossible. Even 50% bad endings each: coin flips 101 heads—1 in 2^101. Basically zero.

Probabilities shift with actions; ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fate's not fixed.

Just possibility gauges.

All bads avoided, then normal/good awaits.

But only top ones rising. Healer-exclusive? Anyway, steady gains—nice.

Office reached; Palkenhain briefed me. "Princess Wanda and Lady Alverich both progressing smoothly. Two healers alternating continuous healing."

"Good. Princess Geda?"

"...Father Libio took her."

Palkenhain paused, then: "Success. She passed crisis; additional healing in ward."

"Relieved."

Couldn't handle her myself, but safe now—worry off. Twins too; one loss would've crushed.

Libio proved skill—good, if not villainous.

Late, but checked patients myself. Night rounds.

Princess's room: guard knight statue-still at door. Emperor inside.

"Tell them Gotberg doctor's here," Palkenhain requested. Knights parted soon after.

Inside: Emperor on caregiver chair, eyes met. "Gotberg."

"Your Majesty."

His siblings too—two more. Our healer casting on Wanda looked tense.

"Good work today. Lucky you're in the office."

"Honored."

"Heard the carriage for Wanda and Geda was your system."

"Yes."

"Excellent."

Emperor smiled faintly, tired but pleased. "From engagement to here?"

"As you said. You knew."

"I get reports on kids' events. Late to important spot."

He eyed me amused. "Did Asella scold you?"

"Severely, but explained for princesses—she forgave graciously."

"Haha."

Emperor chuckled. "Official fiancé now. Never imagined her doing one before."

Because Asella born weapon, not heir? Maybe not 'daughter' to him.

"Didn't expect Moonlight Palace this far. She's grown—since you came, Gotberg?"

"I did nothing special. Her Highness was heaven-blessed in talent and vessel from start."

Literally punch holes in sky later.

"Don't like false modesty. Know changes since you: office revolutionized. My life's richer—no daytime ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fatigue now."

Low-blood-sugar diet and meds. He'd feel it most.

"Gotberg."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

He scanned me, smiled. "Reward your merits. What do you want?"

His second such question—my answer set.