I Tamed the Monstrous Prince - Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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I don’t know what possessed me. I couldn’t resist; I impulsively kissed Cesar on the cheek. It was a common greeting in the capital, though typically reserved for close relationships—parents, siblings, or lovers.
Having never done it before, I worried I might appear awkward. A cheek kiss wasn’t a direct press of lips to skin, but rather a soft sound made near the cheek. My head tilted close, but when no contact followed, Cesar looked bewildered.
I gestured to the spot I’d intended to kiss, and a deep dimple appeared there. His eyes slowly fixed on mine, a quiet silence settling between us.
Cesar wasn’t one for words; he rarely spoke at length. But his eyes always conveyed his feelings clearly. At first, I couldn’t decipher his thoughts, but now certain things were evident.
Dislike or affection—Cesar didn’t hide his emotions. So, even without words, it wasn’t difficult to guess what he was thinking. The upturned corners of his eyes, the shimmering gaze, and the flush in his cheeks spoke volumes of his clear fondness for me.
“Th-this is a popular greeting in the capital these days.” My throat suddenly felt dry, scratchy as if filled with sand. Perhaps that’s why I offered such a lame excuse. Cesar slowly brought his face closer.
“Huh?” Before I could react, his lips touched my cheek. Not a near-kiss like mine, but a genuine press of lips. A tingling sensation spread through my cheek, pulling the corners of my mouth into a smile. Then, his lips touched my other cheek. The peck was more pronounced this time.
“S-so… you’re, you’re returning the greeting? How did you even know to do it on both sides…” I mumbled, trying to pull away from him. Yes, I’d shown him the greeting, and he was simply reciprocating.
It was just that, nothing more, yet I couldn’t understand why my cheeks were burning. This embarrassment was likely due to Cesar’s exceptionally handsome face. I had no experience interacting with someone my age, let alone speaking to them directly.
So, I desperately wanted to believe that my flustered state was solely because Cesar, who constantly disregarded personal space and approached me so casually, was just too good-looking.
“Len, good.”
“Huh?” I knew this “good” wasn’t a romantic confession. A chuckle escaped my lips. Why had I been so flustered?
“I like you too.” I replied without hesitation. Despite Cesar sometimes being frightening and occasionally hurting me.
“Like.”
“Like.”
Like fools who knew no other words, we repeated “like” back and forth. A warm feeling spread through my chest, bringing a smile to my face. Outside, the night was still dark.
“We should go back to sleep…” I was afraid that if I closed my eyes now, I would have that terrible nightmare again. So, the words telling Cesar to return to his room wouldn’t come easily.
“You shouldn’t keep coming over here.” Though his presence comforted me, I blurted out something contrary and unpleasant.
“Cesar, you have your own room. If you’re scared to sleep alone…” His bedroom was directly across from mine. If anything happened, he was close enough; he didn’t need to come to my room every night. Of course, these reminders were useless, but I had to say them anyway. Even married couples had boundaries.
“…Called.”
“Huh?”
“Called.”
“Me?” Cesar nodded. Could I have called out in my sleep? That would be embarrassing.
“Did I say something in my sleep?”
“No.”
If I didn’t speak, how did he know I called?
“Called.” He repeated himself. Sometimes, Cesar’s words were difficult to understand.
“Okay, I guess I called you.”
“Yes.” Continuing this standoff was ridiculous, so I surrendered. I had no choice but to agree with him.
