Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 200
“There should be enough for the guests, shouldn’t there?”
Burt responded to Irene’s concern with a gentle tone.
“Guests?”
“Wouldn’t it feel a bit lonely to have an engagement ceremony without any guests?”
“…Who exactly are you planning to invite?”
Was he thinking of inviting most of the temple’s priests and holy knights?
‘Well, sometimes it’s not a bad thing to have a gathering like this.’
Everyone had been tense lately, and perhaps participating in a lighthearted event could be a welcome change of pace. Irene thought as much.
“I plan to invite almost everyone from the temple, except for the minimum number needed for security.”
The minimum number would remain on guard, just in case of any unforeseen events.
‘Of course.’
Irene nodded in understanding.
“And we should invite those who came from the northern lands as well.”
“What?”
“After the engagement ceremony, I will officially pass the throne to my successor.”
“Isn’t your successor still quite young?”
“I took the throne at that age myself.”
Burt answered calmly. But Irene couldn’t be as nonchalant about it. Becoming king at such a young age—there must have been a story behind it. Without realizing it, her tone grew gentler.
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry about what? The fact that I became king at a young age?”
“Yes.”
In response, Burt moved closer and took her hand in his.
“Are you worried about me?”
“Of course, I worry about you.”
“That’s good to hear. But there’s no need to worry. There’s no tragic story behind my early ascent to the throne. My parents simply got along too well, and they decided to leave everything to their young son and go off to enjoy themselves. But they continued to help me until I reached adulthood.”
Irene sighed in relief, grateful that there wasn’t a painful backstory. Meanwhile, Burt lifted her hand and placed a gentle kiss on her fingers. His lips moved softly over her skin, and her face flushed red in an instant.
Since they had agreed to the engagement, Burt’s displays of affection had grown bolder. At times, it was almost too overwhelming.
“What will you do on the day of the engagement ceremony, then?”
What does that have to do with the engagement ceremony? She looked at him curiously, and Burt raised his head to meet her gaze.
“Have you forgotten about the vow kiss?”
Oh, right, there was that. At the end of the engagement ceremony, they would exchange the accessories they had prepared for each other and share a kiss.
“I’m looking forward to that day.”
“Don’t—Don’t look forward to it!”
Irene stammered, unable to control her flustered tone.
“Are you nervous?”
Of course, she was nervous! The idea of having to kiss in front of others made Irene crumble before a reality she hadn’t fully considered.
“If you’re too nervous, how about practicing beforehand?”
“Practice… kissing?”
“Yes, some people do practice to avoid making mistakes.”
Irene glanced over at Lani and Noah, standing nearby, hoping for confirmation that Burt was being serious. But it was no use.
“Busy, so busy!”
Lani suddenly shouted and dashed out of the room. Though Noah stayed behind for a moment, that didn’t last long either—Lani quickly rushed back in, grabbed Noah, and dragged him out.
“You help too!”
In an instant, Irene found herself alone with Burt. The tension made her body stiff as a board, and her heart pounded so hard it hurt.
“Are you seriously suggesting we practice?”
“You wouldn’t want to make a mistake that day, would you?”
Can one even make a mistake with a kiss?
“If you’re too nervous, you might bump into the wrong place instead of the lips.”
Burt’s reasoning sounded oddly convincing, and Irene found herself starting to consider it.
“Then… how many times should we practice?”
“Until we get it right.”
“And how do we know when we get it right?”
“I’ll know. I’ve seen my parents kiss enough times to recognize it.”
“I see.”
In the end, Irene was completely won over by Burt’s words.
“Shall we start, then?”
Burt’s face gradually drew closer. How could this man have such flawless features, even from this close distance? She found herself lost in thought, and then he cleared his throat softly.
“It might be better if you closed your eyes.”
“But then I won’t be able to see.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the rest.”
Trusting his words, Irene closed her eyes. She felt his breath warm against her cheek as he chuckled softly. Her body, already tense, stiffened even more, like a block of wood.
“Don’t be so nervous.”
Then, she felt a gentle touch on her forehead. She opened her eyes slightly, only to shut them again as Burt drew nearer once more.
‘That’s not my lips, though.’
Even though she realized it, she couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud. His lips brushed her forehead several times, then slowly trailed downward. He kissed her eyelids, and even her cheeks didn’t go untouched.
The tender kisses gradually eased her tension.
‘If it’s like this, it’s not so hard.’
She allowed herself a small, perhaps slightly arrogant, thought.
