You! Don’t Press that Button! - Chap 128

When I asked in a small voice so others couldn’t hear, the chef’s eyes widened round. As she gazed at me intently, the flesh under her eyes subtly rose and became plump. An indescribable glint appeared in her red eyes that matched her red hair.

Why, why is she looking at me with those eyes? My throat went dry from nervousness, making me swallow hard. My fingers holding the dessert box fidgeted without my realizing.

“Did someone you know say they wanted to hold an event?”

“Y-yes!”

I nodded vigorously. The chef made a “hmm” sound and said she had a good idea. Eager to hear this good idea, I rose on my tiptoes and pressed my face close to the tall chef’s. Her lips, coming near my ear, curved into a smile as they slowly opened.

“This is all you need.”

“…This?”

The chef spoke while placing something light in my hand.

🐤

Back in my room, I flopped around like wet seaweed with a pillow over my face. Could I really do this?

The chef had recommended something dubious as a small event for a lover, then patted my shoulders and cheered me on.I clearly said it wasn’t for me though… Maybe I’m the type who can’t lie well, like Arthur.

I shook my head full of thoughts and pressed the pillow firmly against my face.Hup, I held my breath then let it out long. I can do this. After reciting the courage-boosting spell three times, I suddenly sat up. Looking at the window, I saw the sky was already covered in deep indigo.

Right after making the dessert, I had asked a servant to deliver a note to Karhan. It contained a brief message asking him to come to my room before midnight because I had something to tell him, and Karhan had sent back a reply.

Unlike certain people’s handwriting, the elegantly written message clearly said “I’ll be waiting.” Sitting in the chair at the table, I kicked my legs restlessly before feeling my heart flutter again and turning to look at the window. It was almost midnight.

Firmly gripping what the chef had given me in one hand, I let out a nervous breath. While counting numbers with my eyes closed, I heard a knock at the door. The large double doors opened carefully as a servant poked their head through.

“Duke Karhan has arrived.”

He’s here! He’s here!I stuck out my tongue to moisten my rough lips. Quickly nodding, I signaled to the servant.

The door that had shown just a small gap gradually opened to reveal the appearance of the protagonist who had come to see me. Karhan, who had been standing behind the door, gently curved his eyes when they met mine. His handsome face, still striking no matter how much time passed, felt new every time I saw it.

“Did you wait long?”

“No, no! Not at all!”

My heart had been pounding all day, so I didn’t even know how time had passed. Karhan sat across from me and looked at me. His silver-gray eyes rippled beautifully in the light. The gentleness within them made my pounding heart race even faster.

Perhaps because I had something prepared, it was hard to keep my gaze steady when I usually could match his eyes well. When I glanced slightly to the side, Karhan’s eyebrows lifted.

“It seems you’ve been practicing your writing diligently. You’ve improved a lot.”

“Yes. I’m studying hard now, and I’ve memorized everything I need to memorize.”

I’d been studying writing hard lately. Later, when more time passed, I wanted to help with Karhan’s work and do more productive things. Though it would be fine to just eat and play around, you never know what might happen to people. If the duchy ever went bankrupt, I needed to become someone amazing enough to at least support Karhan.

As I chattered away enthusiastically, Karhan smiled while looking at my face. Thinking I might have talked too much by myself, the tips of my ears grew hot. When I pressed my lips shut and turned my gaze downward, I felt something damp with sweat in my hand.

Ah, right. I had other business.

Only then did I remember what I needed to do after calling Karhan here. First, I should show him the cake I prepared. I jumped up and fumbled to pull out the box I had hidden under the blanket. I placed the bracelet box I had made by hand and the relatively larger cake box on the table.

Ta-da! At the suddenly appearing gifts, Karhan tilted his head. Brushing his index finger across his lips, he asked with an amused voice:

“What’s this?”

“Well… it’s your birthday soon! So I prepared these.”

Though the results might be a mess compared to others’, they were things I made with all my sincerity. Would he be disappointed because they look strange? I hope not.

Though this wasn’t an evaluation, I swayed my upper body back and forth from shyness and nervousness. Not expecting me to prepare such things, Karhan looked back and forth between me and the boxes with rounder eyes than usual.

“Thank you.”

His silver-gray eyes narrowed in a smile. His large hand reached for the table and slowly pulled at the ribbon tied around the box.Sarak, came the smooth sound of the band sliding.

Karhan lifted the lid of the small box first. After looking down at it for a moment, he let go of the ribbon and fiddled with the corner of his lips. With no immediate visible reaction, what little confidence I had began slipping away.

“…Don’t you like it? It’s a bit strange, isn’t it?”

Hee.I awkwardly laughed while scratching my cheek. At my behavior, Karhan let out a deflated laugh before lifting the bracelet. Without hesitation, he placed it on his wrist and fiddled with the clasp part with one hand, wearing it in an instant. My bumpy bracelet stood out on his well-formed wrist.

“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to wear it! Even I think it looks a bit strange. I’ll buy you something better later.”

“No. This is my favorite gift I’ve received so far. Did you make it yourself?”

Karhan examined it while turning his wrist this way and that.

“Yes! I made it myself, but, well, I didn’t have much money… so the finish turned out a bit strange.”

“Come to think of it, you’ve been looking for work constantly.”

“Yes. I worked hard to save money.”

When I spoke in a proud voice, Karhan let out a soft laugh. The smile on his face showed no signs of disappearing. Was my gift that touching? My shoulders started to rise proudly.

“Quick, open this one too!”

“Alright. Of course I should.”

His large hand moved toward the cake box. I perked up my ears and stared only at Karhan’s fingertips. As the box lid carefully opened upward, a sweet scent that tickled the nose wafted out.

Thanks to the preservation magic the chef mentioned, not only the cake but also the ice cream on top radiated coldness. Karhan stopped while holding the box, apparently not expecting such a gift.

“Quick, try it!”

At my urging, he finally picked up the small fork. Like someone well-trained, he scooped up both ice cream and moist cake together and put it in his mouth. His lips moved prettily while chewing, then his Adam’s apple moved largely up and down.Gulp. The moment Karhan swallowed the cake, I also swallowed my saliva.

“Is it good?”

“It’s sweet.”

“Too sweet?”

Could it not suit Karhan’s taste? When I glanced at him nervously, Karhan shook his head.

“I like that it’s sweet. It’s delicious beyond compare, whoever made it.”

“R-really that good?”

At Karhan’s praise, the corners of my mouth rose uncontrollably toward the sky. I said in a voice full of pride:

“Actually… I made this!”

“Your cooking skills are top-notch.”

“Don’t praise me so much! It’s embarrassing!”

Though I protested against the praise, my voice rose high as if asking for more compliments. It was both embarrassing and shy. I raised my hand to cover my face, pretending to wipe my forehead. My cheekbones protruded prominently.

“But what’s that you’ve been holding in your hand?”

“Huh?”

What I’m holding? I slowly lowered the hand that had been wiping my forehead. Oh. This was still here. The grand event the chef had told me about. My heart, which had been fluttering with joy, suddenly started beating intensely.

Swallowing hard, I slowly opened my mouth:

“This is, well…”

Though I dragged out my words from lack of confidence, Karhan patiently waited for me. When I opened my trembling hand, a damp, limp red ribbon appeared. I stroked it with my fingers before slowly lifting it up.

Trying to calm my constantly slipping fingers, I slowly wrapped it around my neck. After fidgeting for quite a while, I managed to make a pretty bow shape. Finding my actions interesting, Karhan raised one eyebrow sharply while looking down at me.

“Ta-da! This is the real… pre…sent…”

While speaking, I became too embarrassed and mumbled the end while raising both hands. I completely covered my face with my widely spread palms and carefully rubbed my cheeks that were hotter than usual. I could feel not just my cheeks but even my neck burning hot. My neck color probably wasn’t much different from the red ribbon.

This is embarrassing. So embarrassing. The chef clearly said this would work.

No words came from Karhan sitting across from me. As time passed, embarrassment wrapped around my whole body. What should I do now? Wouldn’t Karhan want to leave this room from awkwardness too? I wish he would just pretend he hadn’t heard anything and leave. I wish he would leave me alone.

As I was trying to dig a hole and crawl into it, I heard the sound of a chair being pushed back with adrrrkfrom across me. Karhan must have stood up. I felt a shadow gradually falling over me, and soon after, large hands gripped my wrists that were covering my face and pulled them away.

“If you cover up a present like this, what am I supposed to look at?”

Karhan said with a sly smile. His face was full of signs that he was trying to tease me.

“D-don’t tease me.”

I glared at Karhan as he leaned his upper body across the table with narrowed eyes. Finding something about my words amusing, Karhan laughed again while lowering his head. I could feel his laughter trembling finely through my wrists.

“Truly, without any lie, this is the gift that makes me happiest out of all the gifts I’ve received.”

He let go of my wrists and walked halfway around the table to stand close behind me. Then he gently wrapped his hands around the backrest of my chair and pulled it back. My weight seemed like nothing as the table quickly grew distant.

Karhan kept his upper body bent and rested his chin on top of my head.Hmm, I felt the sound of his light exhale near my head. However, I had no time to focus on that as his arms, which had wrapped around my shoulders, were now caressing me suggestively.

“This meaningful real present, can I play with it from now on?”