Can You Cheer Me On?
Strange. I could've sworn I only closed my eyes for a bit when the sky was still bright blue.
So why is the sun already setting?
How long was I out? I lifted my slightly stiff neck and looked up at the person I was leaning against.
To my utter shock, Kane—who'd been wide awake and fine just before I dozed off—was now fast asleep with his eyes closed.
"That's why time flew by like this. Kane, wake up."
I quickly checked if anything was missing, then shook him gently to rouse him.
Of course, I couldn't exactly complain since I'd fallen asleep first, and with my lingering drowsiness making my body all limp and wobbly, gentle shaking was all I could manage.
I hoped that would do it, but he seemed to be sleeping deeply—no signs of stirring.
My anemic body refused to shake off the sleepiness, but Kane? He was just plain not waking up.
Just as frustration was about to kill me, a brilliant idea struck.
"It's Kane's fault, so I've tried waking him the nice way plenty of times already."
Kane had some resistance to being touched by others—not as extreme as mine, but enough that I could tell he was holding back every time I chipped away at his dignity little by little as payback.
So, what if I touched him while he was defenseless in sleep? What kind of reaction would that get?
If it were me, I'd bolt upright.
That's how I've been conditioned, thanks to that bitch sister coming to torment me every time I slept.
Though for me, it's just sensing something off and waking up—no more than that.
"Excuse me."
I glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then—with my body still all floppy—slowly climbed on top of Kane.
The hem of my neatly dressed skirt rode up a little higher.
Nothing too intense; I still had some shame left when it wasn't that sister or the first wife doing it, so I kept it tame.
First, straddle his thigh.
Then, press my chest firmly against his like I'm hugging him tight.
Anyone this wary of others would wake up from that alone.
Plus, as thanks for not waking me earlier, I figured I'd reward him properly once he did.
"Good morning? Good night? Good afternoon? Or is it fucking time?"
"Ah... sorry, but not sorry."
I didn't expect him to like it this much.
If he'd just ripped my clothes off right then, he could've mistaken it for straight-up fucking time.
Still, this was my fault, so I'd pull back after this much.
Even though in this situation, he should be the one backing off.
I never imagined he'd grab me so fiercely and pin me down like this.
What if he does this again later, fucking me senseless at night and then jumping me while I'm asleep?
"Am I that pretty? Pretty enough you wanna stare at me this close forever?"
"You are pretty. But right now, my head's all messed up over one super cute and pretty girl."
I'd been about to pout a little and slip away naturally, but his sigh-mixed words sank me in an instant.
To think someone could say something that brutally honest right to my face.
Thanks to that, my heart was pounding like it was furious, and the heat that had faded after waking rushed back to my head.
With the guy who pissed me off in this situation right in front of me, what was I supposed to do?
Maybe bite him? Yeah, that felt right.
He was like my last bastion, so maybe it'd be okay to sink my teeth in just once—that urge bubbled up wildly.
"Too early."
"You can't eat it even if I give it? Do you like guys, and I'm just a smokescreen for the engagement?"
"Say the word when you're serious, and I'll do it."
"Scaredy-cat who can't eat it even when offered. Might not get another chance like this."
Only after the mood shattered did I finally push Kane off me.
Meaning, he finally let go after having me pinned to the bench the whole time.
The warm weight that had felt kinda nice vanished, quickly replaced by a new friend: embarrassment.
"Ahh... why didn't you stop me..."
"Now you're embarrassed—what am I supposed to do about that?"
"Dunno. It's all your fault, Kane."
In place of that peaceful weight came shame from what looked like indecent public fondling at a glance.
That sister dragged me around all the time, making me do everything but the sexual stuff, so it wasn't like I hadn't done similar things.
But that was on her orders.
No reason to get turned on or feel shame from it.
Just deaden your heart and obey—that's all the command game required.
Sexual contact was blocked from the source by the family head, who saw me as a money-making machine.
A noble lady's greatest value was her virginity, after all.
Maybe that's why—being dragged around by that sister, I felt the human shame of exposing my body in public, but this faint sense of sexual looseness? That was new.
"Sorry. But it wasn't all a joke?"
"What part was the joke, then?"
"Thinking about it, just the mood was playful. Everything else was real."
"Don't say stuff like that—I told you. I'm going home now."
"Let's. It's getting late."
"Not that late."
Today, I could come home super late.
The family head would welcome it with open arms if I said I was with Kane.
Still, how to put it... I kinda wanted to savor him a bit more?
We could spend the whole day together, but leaving it teasingly unsatisfying and looking forward to next time felt better.
That way, he'd give me a reason to endure that hellhole when he wasn't around.
The influence of my past life lingered just a tiny bit, and though it was only day two since we met—not love yet—being with him had grown my feelings to the size of a comfy friend.
"You look like you don't wanna go. I've got time until the academy entrance."
"The best stuff is meant to be savored slowly."
"What does that even mean?"
"Means you've leveled up to 'delicious' in my book. Be grateful."
"You're the only one who'd say that to a prince. Still, thanks."
"That's why we're engaged, right? Walk me home like a proper escort."
With the sleepiness gone and my body a bit easier to move, I tugged Kane along.
He followed quietly, having quietly picked up the parasol that had been folded away at some point.
We didn't exchange a word on the way back.
I wanted to savor every last bit of peace before voluntarily marching back to hell, and Kane was dutifully complying since I'd told him not to pry.
It was only natural he'd worry, seeing the girl who'd been bouncing with energy moments ago suddenly clam up, radiating the tragic aura of a pig headed to slaughter.
But what could I do?
I was the pig heading to the slaughterhouse.
I might have some freedom at first when I got back, but once fresh potions arrived, it'd pile on just as much.
The silence stretched on—peaceful yet guiltily heavy in every way—until we reached the mansion.
One step through the main gate, and it was over, but I decided to play one last coquettish card, blaming it on the lingering languor.
"You're the only one I can ask this of, so... can you do it?"
"What is it? Just say."
"Answering without hearing it first? What if I said I want you to become emperor?"
"Try me."
"Anyone can talk big. Anyway—you've been good to me so far, and you can keep being good. Say that."
Hearing it once might help me hold out better.
The old butler used to say stuff like that when I was little, but lately, the first wife made sure I couldn't even see him.
So I needed some cheering up.
If there's someone who can do it, you gotta milk it—no such thing as too much.
I sent him my expectations full blast, and like a vending machine, Kane took my coins and dispensed.
"Lea, you're doing great. You'll keep doing great. If you think you can't, tell me. I'll wipe them all out."
"Pfft... thanks, even if it's just words."
"It's real."
"Then it's even worse. I can't have rumors my fiancé wiped out a whole family."
People would talk.
He was already catching flak for acting like a wastrel; imagine the backlash if he exterminated a house.
Not like I was inner-assisting my fiancé already.
Once I was set up to run away later, I'd break the engagement and bolt.
I'd even told him yesterday at our first meeting that I'd leave eventually, so let me go.
I just didn't want a good guy like him catching hate.
The ones who deserved it were my family.
I waved until Kane vanished from sight, then entered the mansion.
And there she was.
That bitch sister, holding a dog collar and greeting me oh-so warmly.
"Our little Lea. Looking cozy with Sir Kane? Wanna play nice with your big sis for old times' sake?"
Yeah, she's the one who deserves the hate.
Right?
Good guys like Kane shouldn't get any.
Damn, my knees are gonna get scraped again.
When are those potions coming?