After I, a Penniless Noble, Entered a Fake Engagement with the Most Elegant Duke’s Daughter at the Academy, For Some Reason She Started Showering Me with Love - Chapter 05.1: The Reason She Demanded a Kiss

Chapter 05.1: The Reason She Demanded a Kiss

“Dear husband…”

Yuri leaned in close, her eyes trembling softly.

Those delicate lips of hers strangely caught all my attention.

I couldn’t look away—literally.

Her hands were still holding both sides of my face, keeping me from turning in any direction but forward.

All around the classroom, I could hear people gasp.

From the sound of their held breaths, it was clear my classmates were quietly watching, trying not to make a sound.

And there I was, right in the middle of all that silence—

With Yuri about to kiss me.

How did it come to this?

I had no idea.

None.

There was no logical sequence that led to this. I could say with full confidence that nothing even close to this had been building up.

So how did this happen?

My eyes spun while my brain raced to find an answer, but of course, nothing came.

Meanwhile, Yuri’s lips kept getting closer. 

Her breath brushed against the tip of my nose.

A sweet scent floated around me, making my head swim.

“Stay still… just like that…”

Yuri slowly closed her blue eyes.

My throat tightened.

Was this… really about to happen?

Was I really going to kiss Yuri?

Should I? Should I not?

No proper answer came to mind.

Her lips were nearly touching mine when—

Smack.

I hit her on the head.

Instinctively. With a hand chop.

“—Ow! That hurt!”

“Sorry. I didn’t hold back.”

Yuri looked up at me with teary eyes, rubbing her head.

I just hit the head of a duke’s daughter.

That should’ve been a huge deal…

But I didn’t feel even a shred of regret.

“Why’d you hit me?”

“My body just moved on its own.”

To be honest, I really didn’t mean to.

It was completely unconscious.

Whether it was reflex or some kind of survival instinct, something in me just acted before I could think—

And ended up smacking Yuri on the head.

Was kissing Yuri really that unacceptable to me…?

I tilted my head in confusion—

Then finally realized something far more important.

Why would we be kissing in the first place?

Shouldn’t that be the first question here?

“Ow… it hurts, but… hmm, what is this feeling? Being casually hit by my dear husband… doesn’t feel so bad.”

“We’re leaving. Before you awaken something you really shouldn’t.”

Crap.

I might’ve just awakened something in this noble daughter that should’ve stayed buried.

As Yuri held her head and smiled like she was enjoying it, I hesitated for a second—then took her hand.

“Oh.”

She looked surprised, but I ignored it and pulled her out of the classroom.

All I wanted right now… was to get away from all those watching eyes.

Desperately.

So I ran.

And the place I ended up in—was our usual rose garden.

My legs had brought me here on their own, aiming for the only spot I knew where no one else would be around.

Where we could talk alone.

I leaned on the back of a bench, trying to catch my breath.

“…Dragging me all the way to a quiet, secluded place… what exactly are you planning to do to me?”

“I’m planning to make you explain. Why you suddenly tried to kiss me in the middle of class.”

When I turned around, I saw Yuri gently resting a hand against her cheek, her face faintly red.

Maybe it was from running—there was a bit of sweat on her forehead, and her expression looked strangely… alluring.

My eyes fell to her softly parted lips, and I quickly looked away.

Damn it…

Was it because she almost kissed me? Now I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Trying to shake it off, I let go of her hand and got into a more serious stance to ask what I needed to.

I also pretended I didn’t hear her whisper, “What a shame.”

“So? What were you thinking, pulling something like that?”

“Something like that…?”

Yuri tilted her head and gave a playful smile near her eyes.

“What are you talking about? You’ll have to explain clearly, or I won’t understand.”

“You want another chop?”

I raised my hand like a blade—shoop—ready to strike again.

But Yuri just lowered her head like she was offering it up, saying “Go ahead” without a word.

…She looked way too ready for it.

Not only would it not stop her, she’d probably enjoy it.

Seriously, what does this girl not like?

Sighing, I lowered my hand without doing anything.

“What, changed your mind?”

“No point hitting someone who enjoys it.”

“Hmm. Then next time, maybe I’ll act like I hate it.”

“Don’t plan for next time! Try not to get hit in the first place!”

She’s seriously draining my energy here.

If she’s doing this on purpose to wear me out, then she’s dangerously cunning—

But with Yuri, I could tell… this wasn’t an act.

This was just her being her.

And somehow, that made it even more exhausting.

Still, thanks to that nonsense, I had a chance to calm down.

If I was going to ask about what really happened, now was probably the right time.

“So? Why?”

“What do you mean—”

“You’re not dodging it again. Just tell me why.”

“Mmm… you could play along just a little, you know?”

Yuri pouted, clearly not happy about it.

But maybe she realized she couldn’t keep dodging forever.

She let out a small sigh, almost like she’d given up.

That look of hers—surprisingly gloomy—was rare for someone like her.

“I was hoping our silly banter would help you forget about it… But I guess there’s no avoiding it now.”

“I’m not enjoying any of this.”

“Fufu, really?”

She gave me a teasing glance, and I fell silent.

Whatever I said now would just get twisted into a joke anyway.

“You’re no fun.”

Yuri lowered her eyes and spoke with a reluctant tone.

“Well, to put it simply— I’ve been getting more marriage proposals.”

“…Huh?”

I tilted my head up and stared at the rose garden’s trellis overhead.

Letting her words sink in, I slowly turned my gaze back to her.

“…Why?”

You already have a fiancé, right?

(Me.)