Sealed with a Kiss
I was kicked out in an instant.
Ruphus was standing in front of the door.
"Tsk tsk. Why didn't you just behave yourself from the start?"
"I have been behaving! ...Probably."
"Cut the nonsense and follow me. I'll show you to your room."
Ruphus led me to a luxurious room on the second floor.
The bed was impressively spacious—big enough for four people to sleep comfortably.
"Your stuff's already been moved, so you can start using this place today."
"No wonder the dorm felt so empty. But what now?"
"Why?"
"I feel like I'm about to get fired."
Whether it's me getting fired as a guard or something else...
Either way, it's a crisis.
"Don't worry. Lady Latynia isn't that heartless."
"How would you know?"
"I've known her since she was little, so of course I do."
"Her personality's completely different now, though?"
"Her core hasn't changed. Just give it to her good and deep once, and she'll forgive anything. Good luck."
Ruphus left those words behind and walked out of the room.
Give it to her good and deep? What the hell does that mean?
Left alone, I looked around the room.
There were a lot of things here that hadn't been in my dorm.
I rolled around on the massive bed, opened the wardrobe, flipped through the books on the shelf—and before I knew it, time had flown by.
The verdict should be coming down any minute now, right?
Knock knock.
"Mr. Shin Do-jun. The lady is calling for you."
"Got it. I'll be right out."
The moment had arrived.
With grim resolve, I headed back to the parlor where I'd been thrown out from earlier.
"You've arrived. We've been waiting."
The atmosphere in the parlor was icy cold.
The air felt even heavier than when I'd first walked in.
Is this the end of my happy life...?
"We've had a long talk among ourselves."
"Yes."
"After much deliberation, we've decided..."
As I waited for the judgment, a strange thought suddenly hit me.
I don't even have any real connection with Latynia yet, do I?
Ji-ah might be different, but I can stand tall with Latynia, right?
Yeah. Time to be bold.
"Got it. I'll head out."
"Even Instructor Olivia... Wait, what?"
In the overlap of words, I caught something odd.
If I hadn't misheard...
"You first."
"No, Do-jun, you go ahead."
"No, Latynia first."
"Do-jun first."
Our words just kept going in circles.
Finally, Ji-ah couldn't take it anymore and jumped in.
"Oh, come on! Lady Latynia! Do-jun! Both of you, stop it! I'll say it!"
"Yeah, lay it out straight."
"I like you, Do-jun."
"Yeah? I like you too."
I pulled Ji-ah, who was approaching with this sudden love confession, into my arms.
Vivian wedged herself between us.
A happy aura enveloped the three of us.
"Um, everyone? This isn't the plan we talked about."
"But Do-jun's suffering so much like this..."
"Suffering? Me?"
"Do-jun, be quiet."
"Huh? Okay."
"But if we let this go, the women around him will just keep multiplying! You're okay with that, Ji-ah?"
"As long as Do-jun's by my side, I don't care. Right, Vivian?"
"Yeah. Do-jun's mine."
"Girls..."
I tightened my arm around Ji-ah.
Vivian, squeezed in the middle, wriggled before wrapping her arms around my waist.
This is bliss. How are Ji-ah and Vivian both so sweet?
"...Hic!"
"Ah! Latynia!"
Latynia, shut out from our happy aura, bolted from the room.
We stared blankly at her retreating figure, then broke the hug and sat down.
Vivian naturally climbed onto my lap.
Feels like it's been ages since she did that.
I stroked Vivian's hair and turned to Ji-ah.
"...Ji-ah. So, what was the original plan?"
"Do you... really wanna know?"
"Yeah. I'd love for you to tell me."
"Well... Instructor Olivia's a witch, and she's got that cold personality, so we figured she'd just let it slide..."
"And?"
"The idea was to graciously accept up to Instructor Olivia and make sure no more could be added after that."
"I see. But the premise is wrong from the start."
"Huh?"
"Once you actually meet Olivia, you'll change your mind. She's got a good heart deep down."
"Really?"
Ji-ah looked skeptical.
"Vivian, you've met her a few times, so you know. Right?"
"Uh... Dunno."
"Really? That's weird... Her looks aren't easy to forget."
"Do-jun. Ear here."
I offered my ear to Ji-ah, who whispered something inaudible to Vivian.
"Do-jun. Vivian's lying right now."
"What? How do you know?"
"Just a gut feeling. My honed intuition's telling me so."
"Ji-ah..."
Our sweet Vivian wouldn't lie, right?
Ji-ah must be mistaken.
"Anyway, putting that aside. You'll see once you meet her. She's busy right now, though."
"Huh? Why?"
"The research thing is real. By now, it's probably blowing up as the discovery of the century."
"Oh yeah?"
Ji-ah started tapping her smartwatch.
Soon, she looked up.
"It's true! Do-jun's name's here too. 'With the help of cadet Shin Do-jun...'."
"The research did happen, after all. Anyway, it'll take some time to meet up."
Our conversation lapsed into silence.
From then on, Ji-ah kept glancing at the door Latynia had run out of.
She's worried about her, huh.
"Can't stop thinking about it?"
"Yeah. Lady Latynia's not being honest either..."
"Ruphus said something similar."
"He did? What'd he say?"
"Uh..."
He'd said to give it to her good and deep.
Should I repeat that verbatim?
Wait, more importantly—what exactly am I supposed to give her?
"Something about her not being honest."
"She used to be so straightforward back then."
"Nah, she was just as weird."
Ji-ah's too nice for her own good.
That's why I love her, though.
"Idiot! Idiot! You total..."
"Who's an idiot?"
"Kyaa! Do-jun?!"
Latynia was sitting in the garden in the backyard.
I sat next to her as she kicked futilely at the ground.
Latynia shrank back and put some distance between us.
"Why are you here? Why not go take care of those ladies you like so much?"
Latynia said sharply.
This attitude used to give me so much grief.
Now, I'm drawing courage from what Ruphus and Ji-ah said.
Ruphus isn't the most reliable, but Ji-ah is.
"Latynia."
"Still haven't left?"
"Look at me?"
At my words, Latynia turned to face me.
Her stiff expression chipped away at my confidence.
I grabbed onto my faltering resolve and pressed my lips to hers.
"Mm?!"
Unlike her expression and attitude, she didn't push me away.
Confidence surged.
Just as Latynia's face softened, I pulled back.
"Do-jun? What was that..."
"Sorry, Latynia."
"Why apologize? We're not even—Mm?!"
I silenced her bad-mouthing mouth again.
This time, I slipped my tongue in too.
I ended the kiss when Latynia's face turned beet red.
"Haa... haa... Do-jun? You think this makes me..."
"Won't work?"
"Wait! Where are your hands—Kyaa!"
I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her close.
Latynia, half out of it, leaned into me in an unsteady position.
This pose with Latynia feels oddly fateful.
Latynia looked up at me with half-lidded eyes.
I leaned down and planted a light kiss on her forehead.
"Jeez... Never seen anyone beg for forgiveness like that before."
"Not enough?"
"It's not about enough! Who the hell taught you that?!"
I ignored her protest and sealed her lips once more.
Latynia, who'd been mumbling complaints, went quiet as if by magic.
See? It was lacking.
"Haa... Really..."
"Latynia. Time for some serious talk now."
"Now?!"
"Still not enough? Greedy much."
"No! Do I look like some pushover who forgives anything if you just shove your lips at me?"
I answered by wrapping my hand around her waist again.
Latynia's face flushed crimson in an instant, and she fell silent.
Shoving lips at her? She's overestimating herself...
With my hand still on her waist, I spoke.
"I have no family, no friends. In this world, I was alone. The bonds I've made in Prism are everything to me."
"What? What do you..."
"That's why my connection with you is precious. That's why I can't let you go."
"Do-jun..."
Latynia grew solemn.
Where's the solemnity in what I said?
Latynia, lips twitching, finally spoke.
"At first... I thought you were after my status. Then I believed your sincerity, but you kept bringing women around, and my trust shook."
"I get it."
"But to think you felt that way..."
"Now do you see how sincere I am?"
"Yes. I'm sorry, Do-jun."
"It's fine. As long as you stay by my side, Latynia..."
I pulled her into my arms.
Latynia didn't push me away anymore.
"Ah! But if you touch the mansion maids, I won't stand for it!"
"Can't?"
"No!"
We returned to the mansion hand in hand.
Ji-ah and Vivian were still waiting in the parlor.
Vivian ran to me the moment she saw me.
"You're back."
"Yeah. Being honest worked—she gave permission."
"Honest... ly?"
"Told her straight up I have no family or friends, so every single person is precious."
"Ah..."
Ji-ah turned solemn.
I just stated facts—why's the mood like this?
Even Vivian tried to comfort me, reaching to pat my head but struggling with the height difference.
I let go of Latynia's hand, picked up Vivian, and she smiled contentedly, stroking my hair.
Latynia watched enviously.
"What is it, Latynia?"
"N-Nothing! Just..."
"Jealous? Wanna pat too, Latynia?"
I offered my head to Latynia.
She reached out—
Smack!
"Huh?"
Vivian had slapped her hand away.
Latynia stared at us in shock, alternating glances.
"Vivian. Play nice."
"..."
Vivian buried her face in my chest without a word.
Can't do a thing with her.
"Sorry, Latynia. Vivian's still shy around strangers..."
"Oh, yeah..."
Latynia replied awkwardly.
Her face screamed she had plenty to say but wouldn't.
"What? Something to say?"
"No! If you don't get it, that's fine."
Latynia dropped a meaningful line.
If it were just us two, I'd press her—but with Vivian and Ji-ah here, I couldn't.
Instead, I stroked Vivian's hair.
Always so soft and satisfying.
Vivian shook her head gently with my touch.
After this miraculous agreement, we headed to my room.
The room felt awkwardly spacious.
I flopped onto the bed.
The fluffy blanket enveloped me.
A strange emptiness washed over me as I closed my eyes.
Lying there with eyes shut, I heard the door open.
Someone entered quietly and approached.
The footsteps stopped by the bed.
"..."
After a moment, a light weight settled on me.
This is... Vivian.
Vivian lay on top of me, rubbing her cheek against my chest.
Then she started climbing higher.
Her hair tickled my body.
Her breath warmed my ear.
"Do-jun... You're not asleep, right?"
Vivian whispered in my ear.