The Abandoned and Terminally Ill Lady Married a Monster - Chapter 29
Chapter 29
“You were looking at me like that.”
“Ah, I didn’t realize.”
“Parties must be boring then.”
Kin nodded and told me to open my mouth. I obediently complied as he fed me a bite of pie. It was sweet and delicious.
Unbelievably so, considering Kin had made it. Chewing, I said, “But it would be fun if I went with you. No, it’d definitely be fun because if I’m with you, even this place isn’t scary and it’s nice.”
I imagined what a party would be like, drawing from books and very early childhood memories. Warm lights, bustling crowds, a wide balcony and garden, and melodies filling the hall with rich tones. It would definitely be fun.
Incredibly enjoyable. A peaceful atmosphere, incomparable to this place, might even ease my anxieties.
“But I can’t go to parties. So, I won’t run into you at one. That’s too bad.”
The pie was almost gone. Kin stared at me, then chuckled softly and extended his hand. “If you can’t go to a party, we can at least dance.”
“Here?”
“Yes.”
He cleared his throat and spoke softly, “Where we are is less important than who we’re with…”
At his words, I took his hand without hesitation and stood up. “But I can’t dance either. I’ve only read about it in books. And I can’t use one arm like this.”
“I’ll teach you. As for your arm…I’ll teach you a dance that doesn’t use it much. You can use your left hand, so hold my hand gently.”
‘Would it be better if I held her wrist?’
Kin’s worried gaze fell on my hand. I grinned and shook my head, assuring him it was fine. His other hand settled on my waist.
Kin gently guided me, explaining the steps. Honestly, I didn’t understand a thing, but I was simply elated. There wasn’t any music I could imagine, no warm lights, no grand ballroom, but I felt at ease.
Too at ease, which was the problem. I tripped over Kin’s feet, and we tumbled backward. Kin, as if trained in some sort of martial art, managed to cushion my fall with his smaller frame as we landed. I wasn’t sure if “safe” was the right word to describe falling, but it felt that way.
“S-sorry. I got too excited…”
“Your arm?! Is your arm alright?”
‘Shouldn’t you check if the back of your head is okay first?’
But I loved how he worried about me first. A warmth spread through my chest, a ticklish sensation, like butterflies fluttering in a spring breeze.
I felt giddy, my heart strangely light.
“Yes, my arm is fine…”
“I’m glad you’re not hurt. Does it hurt anywhere? Let me see.”
Kin leaned closer to examine my arm. His face, already close, drew nearer. Staring blankly at him, I did the unthinkable.
“You…”
‘What did I just do?!’
I kissed Kin.
Shocked by my own actions, I recoiled, my shoulders trembling. Even though I had initiated the kiss, I covered my mouth in embarrassment. My face burned, as if about to burst into flames.
Kin simply stared, dumbfounded.
‘He must hate this. Being kissed so suddenly. He must hate it. What am I going to do? Why do I always ruin things like this?’
Kin’s face finally turned as red as a beet. For a moment, we just stared at each other.
Kin broke the silence. Flustered, yet seemingly determined to say his piece, he spoke, a playful smile tugging at his lips. “You have to marry someone you kiss. I guess we have no choice but to get married now.”
I was relieved he hadn’t yelled at me, but then…
‘Kin is surprisingly naive.’
Getting married because of a kiss? Then everyone who greets each other with a kiss should be married.
Embarrassed, I felt compelled to correct him. Of, of course, Kin had said some nonsense about coming back to me someday, but this was different.
I was definitely not saying this because I was embarrassed. My face still flushed, I blurted out, “You’re surprisingly naive.”
“What?”
“Marriage, you see, requires a mutual agreement between two people who love each other. To talk about marriage just because of a kiss is a misguided notion. And a kiss is nothing compared to the first night, it’s just a part of expressing affection…”
“H-how do you even know about such things?!”
I should have stopped there. But the embarrassment and giddiness of the moment propelled me to continue my rambling. “Kin, I think you need to learn more about these things. Should I teach you?”
“W-what…what? Teach me what…?!”
Mortified, my body moved on its own.
Since I had backed away, a bookshelf was right behind me, making it easy to grab a book. I pulled out a rather…questionable book I had read and tossed aside earlier.
“Read this…”
