TIRS 68

CHAPTER 68…………..

 Filled with Intense Heat

The statue of Lus, shattered beyond recognition, was in a pitiful state.

The priests had tried to restore it, but apparently, it hadn’t gone well.

“This is a problem.”

Illei murmured lazily.

“Child, this is a place you shouldn’t enter…”

A priest who had discovered Illei approached, intending to escort him out.

Illei slowly turned around.

The priest froze when his golden eyes met the boy’s gaze, halting in his tracks.

“Ah…”

A short gasp escaped the priest’s teeth.

Then, slowly, he bowed deeply before the black-haired boy, as if in worship.

But Illei, expressionless, merely looked down at him without a trace of surprise.

At first glance, his face was cold and indifferent, as if observing a crawling insect.

After remaining prostrate for a long moment, the priest finally found his voice, trembling as he spoke.

“I, your servant, greet you.”

The trembling voice carried the weight of awe, as if he were addressing a god.

“The master and order of this world.”

“C-Congratulations on escaping the maze…”

The priest, pale-faced, forced out his congratulations.

And as I emerged from the maze with Ancelot, I was just as disoriented as the pallid priest.

‘Why trouble yourself when there’s an easier way?’

I thought he had confidently found a way out of the maze.

But he immediately grinned mischievously and began destroying the maze.

Eventually, a priest came running, alarmed by the commotion, and Ancelot had threatened him to escape.

Outside the maze, a romantic, spacious garden stretched before us.

Those who had exited the maze earlier were seated here and there.

“This way, please…”

We were assigned the best seats among them.

The priest said it was a perk for those who escaped fastest, but I suspected it was really just because everyone was wary of Ancelot.

In front of a plush two-seater sofa was a tea table, and once Ancelot and I sat side by side, the priests immediately brought out food.

“Cheese and wine—Piya used to sing about this.”

I remembered Piya chattering about wanting the temple’s special cheese.

It felt slightly guilty to eat this alone with Ancelot, leaving Piya out.

“Eat as much as you like, Your Highness. No noisy pig-bird around.”

“You don’t feel bad leaving Piya out while we eat?”

I chided his coldness, and Ancelot replied with a dissatisfied tone:

“That pig-bird keeps stealing the princess’s portion.”

“Even if Piya eats, how much could she eat? At most, bird feed.”

“The real bird feed is you, Your Highness. You should eat like the pig-bird.”

“Even if Piya is cute for eating recklessly, if I did that, it would just be ugly, not cute.”

“No way.”

Ancelot stabbed a piece of cheese with his fork.

I expected him to offer it to himself, but he suddenly pushed it toward me.

“Shall we make a bet? To see if eating like a pig-bird makes one cute or not.”

He added, closing his eyes slightly, a teasing glint in them.

“I’ll bet on cute.”

“……”

I couldn’t tell if the warmth rising to my face was from his playful smile or the unnecessary comment about being cute.

“G-Get it away. I can eat on my own.”

I pushed his fork aside and used my own to stuff cheese into my mouth.

“You’ll choke if you eat like that…”

Before he could even finish warning me, I gulped down some wine.

Watching me, Ancelot chuckled softly.

The darkening sky was accompanied by gentle orchestral music filling the garden.

All the successful escapees were paired male and female, as the final maze mission required couples to complete it together.

Of course, we hadn’t completed any mission—we’d simply threatened a priest to escape.

‘So this is what they mean by finding love at the end of the maze…’

I had assumed it was just a temple gimmick, yet the romantic music and sweet wine created an atmosphere where even dormant love could bloom.

And yet, amid this romantic night, I felt anxious.

It was because of the quest that had just appeared today.

[Main Quest: Love and Duel! (3/3)]
You’ve won the duel and claimed love at last! Now all that remains is a true, heartfelt kiss! Give a kiss filled with sincere love♡

▷ Clear Condition: Kiss of Love
▶ Reward on Success: EXP +31,300, Skill Points +30

I sighed deeply at the unfinished quest.

When entering the scenario, I had looked at the [Scenario Preview], seeing Maria’s face close to mine as if to kiss, and had immediately closed the window.

Even after escaping the maze, I lingered here rather than searching for the others, trying to buy time because I was worried about facing Maria.

“Kiss…”

I muttered gloomily as if the word itself were a disaster.

“You don’t have to do it with that girl. Just grab anyone.”

Ancelot spoke lightly.

“You make it sound so easy.”

I replied sullenly, sipping wine.

“Why, they look so easy.”

“Them…? Ugh!”

Following the direction Ancelot pointed, I turned my head slightly, only to choke on my own shock.

“What… what is this? Here!”

It had grown dark, so I hadn’t noticed the couples kissing everywhere.

“The Heart-Throbbing Maze that helps you find true love.”

Ancelot read aloud the sign we’d seen before entering the maze in a bored tone.

‘My goodness! Is this what they mean by finding true love?’

Seeing the affectionate sights everywhere, I spun around, shouting.

“I-I can’t do this! If kissing were this easy, I’d have done it ages ago! But I…”

Even though it had been ruined by Hezen, I still harbored a romantic dream of a first kiss.

‘I want my first kiss to be with someone I truly love.’

When I didn’t say anything further, Ancelot tilted his head.

Perhaps he had no romantic notions about a first kiss.

‘Or maybe he’s done it so many times that the romance is gone.’

Squinting at him, I suddenly asked,

“Is kissing easy for you?”

“?”

“You must have done it a lot, right? With that girl.”

“Not really.”

He answered uncertainly, looking as if he wasn’t sure.

“I’ve never done it, so I don’t know.”

“Huh?”

I widened my eyes in surprise.

“Never? Not even once?”

“Yes.”

He nodded.

“Why did you think I had?”

“Well…”

“You see, our princess thinks I’m too frivolous.”

He chuckled softly.

“That’s not true.”

Feeling my face heat again, I continued drinking wine.

Perhaps the alcohol had softened my mood slightly.

“If we don’t finish the quest, we can’t complete the scenario.”

Ancelot murmured, looking at the quest window.

“Kiss of love…”

Suddenly, he reached for my hand and intertwined our fingers.

Tilting my head slightly in confusion, he gently pulled my hand and pressed his lips to the back of it.

“……!”

I blinked in shock and quickly pulled my hand away.

Ancelot, with a thoughtful expression, murmured, stroking his chin.

“This won’t do. We really need our lips to touch.”

“Wh-what are you doing?!”

My heart pounded fiercely, and I stammered, but Ancelot remained composed.

“I wondered if this would count as a kiss…”

“……!”

In that moment, I realized something.

‘Right. A “kiss” in the quest doesn’t necessarily mean a passionate kiss like the couples over there.’

I examined the quest’s description and clear condition carefully.

‘Our lips only need to touch briefly.’

“Your Highness?”

Seeing me stare at him as if enlightened, Ancelot called out in curiosity.

“……Ancelot. Don’t misunderstand. Listen.”

I grabbed his sleeve while turning to him.

Perhaps it was the wine I’d drunk earlier.

“Lend me your lips.”

Though it looked like I was grabbing his collar, it was a daring proposal.

“Uh…?”

The man, who seemed unflappable, blinked.

“You said we can’t just kiss anyone, right?”

We were sitting too close on the two-seater sofa; merely tilting my head and pulling his collar was enough for our lips to meet.

The moment my lips gently touched his—

“……!”

Ancelot’s eyes widened.

I felt him swallow sharply.

His lips were astonishingly warm, and fiery.

Thump, thump, thump, thump…

The undeniable rhythm of our hearts shook me.

I realized this wasn’t just the thrill of a first kiss.

Perhaps it was time to admit it.

Why I had been inexplicably hurt by Ancelot.

Why I had been angrier than him about false rumors.

Why recalling his past lovers left me with an unexplainable loneliness.

Why, upon seeing him in the well that reflected my ideal type, I had immediately denied my feelings.

And even… why I had used the quest as an excuse to press my lips to his.

“…….”

“…….”

I gently pulled away.

The warmth vanished instantly, replaced by the chilly night air.

Perhaps I…

I, Ancelot…

Bit my lip and tried to step back.

Swoosh—

A cool hand cupped my cheek, and I lifted my head.

Ancelot was staring at me intently.

Though his expression seemed calm, his eyes blazed like a scorching sun.

The redness in his gaze carried an oddly erotic intensity.

I swallowed silently.

Our gazes met in the air before slowly drifting downward.

Finally, they landed on the lips we had just touched.

“Luivel.”

He parted his lips and called my name, as if seeking permission.

The wine’s heat surged through me, dulling my thoughts.

I clutched his sleeve tightly, almost clinging to him.

His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me close, and my body sank into his embrace.

And at that moment, our lips met.

Even warmer, and filled with more intense heat than before.