Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Two People (1)
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“...So,”
Rose hesitated, her voice laced with uncertainty as she asked,
“You’re saying I’ll be riding with Your Excellency? And you’ll be handling the reins?”
“That’s right. Or would you prefer I ride behind while you take the reins, Madam?”
“Wouldn’t that put both of us in danger?”
“You’ve got it. So there’s only one way.”
“......”
Rose’s face filled with distress as she looked at me.
Facing that expression swept me with the same impulse I’d felt on our first day together. The urge to just pull her in, scoop her up, and plop her right onto the saddle.
But.
“Then, I’ll be in your hands.”
Surprisingly, Rose approached me without protest. It seemed she sensed the unbreakable wall in my words and demeanor.
Satisfied with her compliant attitude, I positioned myself beside her.
“Hm.”
Standing next to the massive horse made Rose look even smaller. A single kick from its hoof might really be enough to kill her.
I deliberately chose only the burliest, most ill-tempered beasts. They had to be aggressive to follow my commands precisely.
“You remember how to sit on a horse, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll lift you up. Try mounting the saddle.”
“Whew, alright. I’m shaking. It’s been so long since I’ve ridden.”
Rose was already tense, taking deep breaths. It seemed less about touching me and more about the fear of getting back on a horse after so long.
That realization brought a slight sense of relief. It let me say what came next without hesitation.
“Let me say this upfront. Everything I do from here is purely to get you on the horse—no ulterior motives. You can’t misunderstand or accuse me.”
“Pardon?”
Rose gasped and turned to me.
“What are you planning? I’ve never heard you explain yourself at such length before.”
“It means I might have to grab your backside.”
“......”
The look on Rose’s face at that moment... it was priceless.
Her furrowed brows, her teary eyes, the glimpse of her tongue behind slightly parted lips.
Her face looked ready to burst into tears at any second, and I nearly laughed despite myself.
“...You’re serious?”
Forcing a straight face as she stammered,
“Is there really no other way?”
“To get your body up onto the saddle, there’s no helping it.”
“......”
“It’s a matter of choice. Sacrifice your backside or the horse’s?”
“If I choose the horse’s, we won’t be able to ride it at allll...”
Rose drooped her head with a pitiful whine.
Cute... no, focus.
“Then the answer’s decided.”
“...Please be gentle.”
Rose stood still, resigned. For a moment, standing before her, I felt like some rogue about to cause trouble.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
I grabbed her waist and lifted her up. Her body was still so slender and light.
“...Whew.”
Whether from the sudden rise in height or something else, Rose’s body went rigid.
Swoosh—
Her long, thin hair cascaded down like a curtain. That familiar scent poured over me like a waterfall.
I twitched my nose for a second,
Then,
Thud.
supported her backside with my other hand. Her body stiffened even more noticeably.
“......”
For a brief moment, I was tempted to knead the plump flesh pressing against my palm. It was too soft, too yielding, too pleasurable to just let go.
But...
‘I have to hold back.’
I couldn’t break my own word. And if she squirmed now and fell off, it’d be a disaster.
Thud.
As if those thoughts had never crossed my mind, I calmly set her down on the saddle.
“Whew.”
Rose let out a long sigh of relief once she was settled. She immediately recalled her posture and adjusted.
“It’s so high up.”
“Don’t look down. Look straight ahead.”
“Yes.”
She was clumsy at first, but following my instructions, her posture stabilized quickly.
With Rose seated on the horse, her eye level was now higher than mine.
‘Her lips are perfectly visible.’
I stared intently at her pursed pink lips. What a lovely color, I thought.
Finally settled, Rose turned to me.
“I think I’m good now.”
“...Mm.”
I slowly tore my gaze from her lips and nodded.
“Alright then.”
After confirming she was secure, I swung up onto the saddle in front of her. I took the reins and checked for any wobble.
Satisfied with the stability, I glanced back. Rose mumbled,
“But won’t this be too much for the horse, riding double like this?”
“I’ve ridden in full armor before. What’s the issue? You’re lighter than my armor, Madam.”
“I don’t think that’s true...!”
I neatly ignored her timid protest. Instead, I eyed the faint sheen of sweat on her nose.
“You alright?”
“Yes, yes. I guess I was tense from riding after so long. I’m fine now.”
“Relax. I’ll handle the horse anyway.”
“Still...”
Rose fidgeted with her hands, whining softly.
“We’re about to head out. You planning to stay like that?”
“Huh?”
I nodded toward her hands.
“If we go like this, you’ll fall off.”
“Then what should I...”
“Grab onto me.”
“Eeeh?!”
Rose jumped as if it were impossible.
“How could I possibly touch Your Excellency’s body? No way.”
She waved her hands frantically, refusing repeatedly. Her unexpectedly vehement reaction furrowed my brow.
‘Does she hate touching me that much?’
It wasn’t unnecessary contact—it was essential. No need to recoil like that.
Of course, since she already shied from my touch, she’d hate initiating it even more.
Wait. Actually, hadn’t she approached me herself once before?
I knew it was childish, but I couldn’t stop the thoughts spiraling.
“You touched me just fine before.”
The grumpy remark slipped out.
“Pardon? When did I?”
Her wide eyes, as if she’d never heard such a thing, only made it more absurd.
Tap, tap.
I patted my chest demonstratively. Her cheeks flushed instantly.
“I-In the closet. Back then, Your Excellency...”
She remembers after all.
I’d thought she’d forgotten since she acted normal afterward. But that was the vivid look of reliving that day.
“What about it? Did I do something?”
“Ugh...”
Rose bit her lip, looking utterly wronged. She couldn’t even muster the excuse that I’d held her tight, leaving her no choice.
Her flushed cheeks really did resemble a radish.
‘Her least favorite nickname.’
But no word fit her face better.
Radish reminded me of something else.
“You touched me plenty during the bath too. That was fine then, but not now?”
“No, back then it wasn’t me touching—it was rubbing with a towel...”
“Still, it was contact. If I hadn’t stopped you, you’d have gone all the way to the front.”
“Wh-When did I?! I never did that!”
Seeing her flustered face made my mouth run away.
“You forget anything inconvenient, huh? Convenient memory you’ve got.”
“No! Back then I was diligently rubbing only Your Excellency’s back... Ah.”
“Admitting it now?”
“......Ugh.”
Speechless, Rose clamped her mouth shut. Then she puffed up, her face about to explode.
“That’s too much, Your Excellency. You know everything...!”
Pfft.
A laugh slipped through before I could stop it.
‘Ah.’
So this was it—laughing.
It was strange.
The smile I couldn’t force in the mirror, the natural laugh I’d lost for years.
It returned to its place in an instant, as if it had always been there. All from this brief exchange.
“Ah?”
Rose froze, forgetting her huffing. Her wide eyes captured the smile tugging at my lips.
“Did you just... smile...?”
“No.”
I quickly tightened my facial muscles, as if it never happened. A bit of focus, and my mouth settled into its usual stern line.
“I saw it. You definitely smiled...!”
“You must’ve seen wrong.”
I turned my head forward firmly. If I didn’t, she’d catch me holding back a laugh.
Smooth.
As I faced front, I touched my mouth.
‘Me, smiling?’
I thought it impossible, yet deep down, I was already accepting it.
I admit it. I’d just felt genuine enjoyment.
Whether from her beet-red face or the fun of teasing her helpless excuses, I wasn’t sure.
But...
This soft, squishy emotion I’d forgotten for years was a luxury I couldn’t afford now.
“Let’s get going.”
I said it coldly on purpose. Like whipping myself.
“Hurry up. Isn’t it just like grabbing a handle?”
“...How could I treat Your Excellency like a handle?”
“Anyway.”
I urged her with a glance. Rose sighed.
Then, with resolve, she said,
“I’m only grabbing because Your Excellency told me to. Got it? This isn’t me touching you on purpose.”
Worried I’d tease her more, she repeated it insistently. Oblivious that it only made me want to tease her further.
“Understood.”
As I pondered my next jab,
Squeeze.
Her small hands gripped my waist, stealing my focus for a moment.
“I’ve... got it.”
Her soft voice reached my back.
“Holding on tight?”
“...Yes.”
She’d only lightly clutched my clothes at first, but now she had no choice—she stretched her arms fully around my waist. I felt an odd satisfaction from it.
“We’re heading out.”
“Yes... Ah!”
As the horse started moving, Rose’s body lurched backward.
Reflexively, she pressed tight against me. At the same time, I felt her chest squish against my back.
‘...Not bad.’