IWBQ 32

Chapter : 32. Someone Who Knows Me Well

2023.09.01

For Elise, the regression was both an opportunity and a stroke of luck. A tremendous one, at that.

But the world tends to be relatively fair.

‘Though it has been a bit harsh on me.’

So there was a possibility of side effects from the regression.

‘I should have been more careful. Paid more attention to my body.’

Especially before important events like the New Year’s gathering.

Karan’s day had been ruined because of her.

The guilt in her heart grew endlessly.

‘He must have been looking forward to it.’

She recalled the sparkle in his eyes when she suggested going to the festival together.

Eyes that shone as purely as pebbles wet from the sea.

The thought that those eyes might be clouded with disappointment crushed Elise’s chest with guilt.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

Elise widened her eyes in surprise. That wasn’t the response she had expected.

She lifted her head from Karan’s chest.

His chest rose and fell evenly. His eyes were closed.

Had he answered half-asleep?

Elise leaned her forehead back onto his chest obediently.

The cool warmth of his body made her feel good.

‘He stayed close to cool me down.’

She realized one more thing.

“You must have been uncomfortable. I feel even worse.”

“I said it’s fine.”

Elise sat up abruptly. Karan’s heavy arm slid off smoothly.

“You’re awake, right?”

His eyes were still closed, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Elise wanted to see his eyes. She wanted to face him properly and apologize.

“Your Highness, now that you’re awake, please open your eyes.”

Karan wanted to stay tangled in bed with Elise a little longer, but he obediently opened his eyes. It was unavoidable—he moved as she asked.

Karan slowly shifted his body. Each movement made his finely-chiseled muscles ripple.

To Elise, who had no muscles herself, it was a marvelous sight.

“If you want to touch, you may.”

Had she been staring too intently? Startled by Karan’s words, Elise turned her head.

Even though her fever had completely subsided, her cheeks bloomed with a cherry-blossom blush.

“That’s not it.”

She thought she had briefly heard him say, “What a shame,” but that must have been a misunderstanding.

Feeling embarrassed, Elise brushed her neck and offered him the blanket.

“Shall I cover you?”

Karan asked. Elise nodded. She wanted to see more but felt she shouldn’t.

Again, Karan obediently wrapped himself in the blanket as she instructed.

“Your Highness, I’m sorry for being late.”

Elise cleared her throat and bowed toward Karan.

“Just words?”

Elise blinked rapidly. She expected him to say it was fine.

Of course, it wasn’t fine, but even if he said it was, she had planned to continue apologizing—yet he reacted differently.

“Ah… is there something you want?”

“In Titrith, it is said that the hand of one who seeks mercy must be heavy.”

“Is there a reason for that?”

“That… we will find out in time.”

Karan couldn’t bring himself to explain that, in the game, a hand must be extended empty when wearing a mask. So he quickly changed the subject.

“If you’re really sorry, Elise…”

Her hand, sticking out from under the blanket, was suddenly grabbed by Karan.

“Please.”

Before she could ask “Please what?” Karan leaned in closer.

Elise shivered under the impetuous touch that skimmed her dry lips.

Unconsciously, she let out a faint moan.

Karan’s eyes darkened as he watched her. He leaned further toward her.

“I want to accept your apology. Will you allow it?”

Even though there was space behind her, Elise didn’t budge an inch.

That was permission. Karan’s eyes curved as he smiled.

Elise couldn’t take her eyes off his face.

His face bloomed like a fully-opened flower, exuding a seemingly sweet fragrance.

A hand slipped out from the folds of the blanket.

Karan gently brushed Elise’s trembling eyelashes.

The touch hinted at what was to come, and Elise closed her eyes.

Even with her eyes shut, his movements were vivid to her.

Karan wrapped his hands around the back of her head and pulled her waist closer.

Her frail body was shielded by his bare chest.

“I’ll accept it gratefully.”

His husky voice near her lips made her head ring.

Her chin lifted slightly along with his breath.

Karan’s lips touched her jaw. When Elise trembled, he soothed her by brushing the back of her head with his fingers.

The electric heat shot from the back of her head down her spine, pooling near her tailbone.

Karan licked her lower lip. Elise parted her lips slightly and moaned.

Through that opening, greedy Karan invaded—deeply, very deeply.

On the third day of the banquet,

Elise awoke in Karan’s bedroom.

Karan, having given only a neat kiss before stepping back, didn’t let her leave even late at night.

He argued that her fever could spike again at any time.

After some thought, Elise decided to stay by his side.

Her parents wouldn’t care either way, so there was no one to object.

‘Maybe they’d be glad they can’t see me.’

Elise chuckled softly.

She did, however, feel guilty about skipping the second day of the banquet.

So last night, she wrote a letter to Dvoa.

She wanted to spread the reason why she and Karan hadn’t attended so no false rumors would circulate.

‘It’s not a rumor—it’s the truth.’

She reported Karan’s devoted care while she had collapsed.

If Dvoa published the article, it would improve Karan’s image.

Even though Pedroka was leaving soon, maintaining a good image for Titrith and Karan was important.

‘Even His Majesty Langzi couldn’t ignore favorable public opinion.’

Managing one’s image was important in many ways.

Karan didn’t seem to care at all, of course.

‘He’s just a pure person.’

Elise asked Hartwin to deliver the letter, then fell asleep as if collapsing—her fever had returned.

Karan stayed by her side all night. Every time she opened her eyes, he spoke to her gently.

Even in childhood, she had never received such devoted care while sick.

Despite her fever, Elise felt grateful and decided she must give him a great gift.

Perhaps thanks to his meticulous care, Elise felt completely recovered.

“Let’s do what we couldn’t yesterday.”

Elise proposed after finishing breakfast. Karan flinched.

“What we couldn’t do yesterday…”

“The festival tour.”

“Ah…”

A fleeting expression of regret crossed his face, but it vanished quickly. Karan smiled brightly.

“Very well. Let’s prepare the carriage. Where shall we start?”

“Wharton Manor. We should go home first so I can change clothes.”

It would be difficult to wear the sweat-drenched dress again.

Also, it wouldn’t make sense for her to wear some indoor dress Karan might have gotten from somewhere.

It was a matter of his dignity.

“It won’t take long. I contacted Regina last night. We’ll be back soon.”

Elise acted like she was ready to leave immediately. Honestly, she was eager.

At that moment, Karan grabbed her wrist and gently pulled her.

Elise had no choice but to sit back down.

“No need. The clothes are already ready.”

Karan gave a meaningful smile and rang a bell.

The doors swung open, and a row of dresses on hangers flooded in.

Red, blue, yellow, green, purple—Elise’s eyes widened at the variety of colors.

“Your Highness, what is all this?”

“Dresses, aren’t they?”

Elise gaped at Karan’s nonchalant reply.

She didn’t even need to ask whose they were; she knew they were hers.

She was the only one in the room who could wear these extravagant dresses.

‘How much would all this cost? I don’t think Titrith’s finances are that strong, and the royal budget must be even smaller…’

Elise calculated silently and was shocked.

‘Did he just spend the entire annual royal budget?’

Elise turned sharply to Karan. He met her gaze and calmly said,

“Elise, what are you doing? Pick one.”

The room had Karan’s servants, a person who seemed to be a designer, and Hartwin, Karan’s right-hand man.

Refusing his gift here would be difficult. Reluctantly, Elise stood up.

“Thank you, Karan. I’ll wear them well.”

Elise scanned the dresses and picked only one. She did the same for the shoes.

She knew what colors and designs suited her best.

A skirt that wasn’t too puffy, a design that revealed a slim waist and straight collarbones, and vivid primary colors.

In the past, she had used Iris as a standard of beauty and tried to emulate her.

So she used to wear dresses adorned with countless ribbons that didn’t suit her.

And the colors were all pastel.

Chase usually gave her only those kinds of gifts too.

‘Come to think of it, Chase really did show he liked Iris. I was oblivious.’

Elise chuckled and scanned the dresses.

Not a single pastel-colored dress was among the ones Karan’s servant brought.

It was as if someone who truly knew what suited Elise had chosen them.

“The designer has excellent taste. The design, the colors.”

Naturally, Elise complimented the designer standing next to the rack. The designer stepped forward and said,

“All of these dresses were chosen by His Highness Karan. If you like them, then the credit is his.”

What were the odds that hastily prepared dresses would all suit her perfectly?

‘Almost zero.’

That meant Karan had considered what colors and designs suited her long before.

Thinking that, Elise’s eyes softened.

More than the expensive dresses, she appreciated the time he had spent thinking about her.

So she couldn’t bring herself to tell him to take all of them; she just fidgeted with the dresses.

She couldn’t ignore his effort. And if she accepted them all, it would cost a lot…

Elise toyed with the dress she liked most, deep in thought.