Cinderella is... the Male Lead? - Chapter 27
Cinderella urgently held onto her. Rona, clinging to Cinderella’s arm as if it were a lifeline, was pulled close and held tightly. It was a precarious situation where she could have easily broken a bone if she had fallen.
“Haa.”
Cinderella, holding Rona in her arms, breathed heavily, clearly startled. The branch they were on was thick and intertwined with other branches, so there was no danger of falling. Cinderella’s hot breath landed on the top of Rona’s head.
Rona couldn’t easily breathe and was frozen stiff. It was the first time she had been so close to Cinderella. She could smell Cinderella’s skin, a mix of ordinary soap and a unique scent. Without thinking, Rona sniffed, causing the hand on her back to flinch.
“Ah.”
Rona twisted slightly and glanced around. Being held so tightly by Cinderella felt awkward and stifling. She couldn’t understand why her heart was racing while being in another woman’s arms. Did beautiful people make anyone’s heart flutter regardless of gender?
‘Maybe it’s because she’s bigger than me. I didn’t realize Cinderella was this broad-shouldered…’
Rona steadied her trembling voice and thanked Cinderella.
“Uh, Cinderella, you saved me.”
“Didn’t I tell you to be careful?”
Cinderella looked down at her and made direct eye contact. ‘Her’ golden eyelashes cast shadows over ‘her’ blue eyes. ‘She’ pointed to a thick branch with her eyes, indicating that Rona should sit there. Once Rona sat down, Cinderella continued.
“Sit properly so you won’t fall.”
“Yeah. Ugh, it’s scarier now that I’m up here.”
“I told you not to come up…”
After confirming that Rona was safely seated, Cinderella turned her back and resumed picking the fruits.
Although Rona felt a bit hurt by the scolding, she knew she had no right to complain since she ignored the warning and almost fell. Keeping a wary eye on Cinderella, Rona picked the fruits hanging nearby and tossed them to the ground. After a while, Cinderella climbed down first and called out.
“Rona, come down!”
“O-Okay.”
With Cinderella watching from below, Rona managed to climb down without trembling. Before her feet touched the ground, Cinderella caught her slender waist and helped her land safely.
“Be careful.”
“T-Thanks, Cinderella.”
Rona looked up at Cinderella, who still had ‘her’ hands on her waist, and awkwardly responded. Their eyes met quietly, Rona’s green eyes locking with Cinderella’s blue ones.
Even after Rona was on the ground, the warmth of Cinderella’s hands lingered on her waist, almost tickling her.
An awkward silence filled the air, and Rona cleared her throat as she stepped back.
“Ahem!”
“Ah.”
Cinderella let out a small exclamation and looked at ‘her’ now empty hands, which still retained the warmth of Rona’s body.
‘What was that?’
Rona rubbed her reddened ears, trying to hide her embarrassment from Cinderella. She picked up the fruits scattered on the ground and put them in the basket. Cinderella joined her in gathering the fallen fruits. The basket soon filled with appetizing red fruits.
Wanting to break the awkward atmosphere, Rona picked up a fruit the size of a fist and walked to the lakeshore.
“These look tasty. Should we wash and try them?”
“Sure.”
Cinderella nodded and approached with the basket. Rona scanned the clear lake.
“Let’s see, the edge of the lake is higher than I thought… Ah!”
While wandering near the edge, Rona slipped on the muddy ground and fell into the water with a splash. The water level was higher than expected, and Rona was submerged. Cinderella, startled, jumped into the lake and pulled her out.
“Pwah!”
“Oh my, be careful!”
Rona spat out water, looking like a drenched rat. Although Cinderella wasn’t as wet, ‘her’ upper body had gotten soaked while helping Rona. The water at the edge of the lake was knee-deep. It wasn’t deep enough for someone to drown, but Rona, who had slipped and rolled, ended up hilariously submerged.
With Cinderella’s support, Rona walked out of the lake, wringing her dripping red hair like a wet cloth.
“Ugh, my clothes are soaked. I didn’t expect to slip and fall into the lake.”
“You’re the first person I’ve seen fall into this lake.”
“R-Really?”
Cinderella watched Rona with a look of amazement.
Seriously, it’s possible to fall in. Rona pouted and wrung out her skirt, lifting it up to her thighs. As Cinderella bent down to shake out the water from his clothes, his eyes momentarily traveled down Rona’s bare, pale thighs. The clear water droplets trickled down her smooth skin.
Cinderella, forgetting about his own drenched clothes, was entranced by Rona’s thighs. The droplets glided down her flawless skin, pooling at her pink knees before falling to the ground. After staring for a while, Cinderella quickly rubbed his face with his hand and turned towards the mansion, feeling heat rush to his cheeks.
