How to Survive as a Princess in a Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 72
Perhaps there might be a way to increase Isaac’s affection even without completing the quest to repair his mana circuit. Catching a glimmer of hope, I felt a surge of confidence.
I grasped Isaac’s hand, which had been hovering aimlessly around my shoulder, and pulled it toward my chest.
However, Isaac froze stiff, unable to even think of gripping my hand.
‘It’s not like this is the first time he’s touched me.’
I was fine with this much now, but seeing Isaac tense up every single time made him seem a little endearing.
How strange. A man much larger and sturdier than me felt cute. Maybe that’s why—despite not having had a drink—a strange sense of courage welled up from within me.
Watching Isaac remain rigid since earlier, I carefully shifted backward and propped myself up. Then, placing my hands on his shoulders, I gently pushed him down.
‘He’s not budging.’
I tried it just out of curiosity, but I didn’t expect him to be this unyielding. Even so, I thought he might falter if I pushed him suddenly.
“Your Highness……?”
Isaac’s confusion was palpable. He had been frozen just a moment ago, but my pushing seemed to have snapped him out of it.
“Could you lie down for me?”
“If that’s what you wish.”
I almost felt embarrassed, thinking he might ask why, but Isaac complied without hesitation. Carefully, I climbed onto him, settling between his waist and hips.
The moment I did, he flinched and instinctively grasped my waist. It didn’t seem deliberate, more like a reflex to steady me.
“Your Highness? What… is this……”
“Am I heavy?”
I had tried my best to support my weight by putting strength into my legs, but still…… perhaps it was heavy for him?
Of course, Nepheli was quite slim, but being a person meant she still had a basic weight to her. Worried about the strain he might be feeling, I hesitated, debating whether I should climb back down.
“It’s not that……”
“……?”
“It’s not Your Highness’s weight, so please don’t worry about it.”
He clammed up again.
‘Well, at least he doesn’t seem to dislike it.’
Normally, I’d be too embarrassed to try something like this. There was always the worry that acting improperly might lower his affection level, and that made me hesitate. But after seeing the message window earlier, the situation felt different.
‘He seems to like boldness and the unexpected…….’
Thinking it might actually raise his affection level, I decided it was worth trying. So far, things didn’t seem to be going badly.
I ran my hand over Isaac’s teal uniform. The neat design was appealing even in the faint light, its structured lines barely visible in the darkness.
For a moment, I thought it might look even better in brighter light, but I quickly dismissed the notion. I still didn’t have the courage to attempt something like this in full view.
It wasn’t just about showing my own body—it was equally embarrassing to look at someone else’s. Unless, of course, it was a situation like before, where I was in so much pain that I couldn’t even think straight.
As I fumbled with Isaac’s uniform, my hands stilled in hesitation.
‘How am I supposed to take this off?’
The dim lighting didn’t help, but beyond that, I simply couldn’t figure out how the outfit was structured. I had never realized how complicated it was to remove—Isaac was always the one who undressed first.
‘This isn’t the time to blame Isaac.’
After all, I’d never been the one to make the first move either.
“Lord Isaac, I’m sorry, but could you maybe take off—”
“I will remove it.”
“No! Don’t do that!”
“……?”
I shook my head firmly while gripping the collar of his uniform tightly. Startled, Isaac froze in place, his hands hovering mid-air. He must have been baffled, but I couldn’t let him undress on his own.
Because…….
“That’s not it. I was wondering if you could teach me how to take it off.”
“…….”
“I tried to do it myself, but it’s a bit tricky…….”
My voice trailed off toward the end. Thinking about it now, he probably just wanted this over with as quickly as possible. Yet here I was, making such a ridiculous request. It felt like I was being stubborn for no good reason, and I was about to retract my words when—
“It’s not difficult.”
Isaac’s hand gently enveloped mine, guiding my fingers one by one as he spoke.
“For this part, first undo the button securing the knot, then unhook the clasp underneath.”
“Like this?”
“Yes.”
After fumbling around the spot he pointed out, I managed to undo the decorative knot on his uniform.
With each clasp I unhooked, his uniform jacket gradually opened, revealing a pristine white tunic beneath.
‘There’s no way I could’ve done this on my own.’
Unlike modern shirts with a line of buttons running from the collar to the hem, this was a pullover style with buttons only at the top. You’d have to either pull it off over the head or remove it yourself.
I was about to say this was far enough when he tugged the hem of his shirt out from his trousers and guided my hand beneath it.
“……!”
My fingertips brushed against firm, well-defined abs. Though I’d held Isaac’s arm or wrapped mine around his neck before, this was the first time touching his abdomen.
Unlike my tightly wound nerves, Isaac remained utterly composed, calmly guiding my hand upward.
“You just need to lift it like this.”
“W-wait a moment……!”
The increasingly dangerous trajectory of my hand compelled me to stop him, but it was already too late.
As my hand grazed his ribcage and traveled higher, I felt the distinct swell of his chest. The firm yet surprisingly soft texture of his muscular chest startled me, and I instinctively jerked my hand back.
“I’m sorry! I wasn’t trying to touch you on purpose…….”
“If you wish, you’re free to touch as much as you’d like.”
