TNKHC 70

Chapter 70 …

In an instant, his slender fingers slipped neatly between hers.

Startled, Elena pushed her chair back and recoiled.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing—”

“What, flustered?”

Aiden looked as if he were thoroughly enjoying the situation.

The way he pressed his lips together, barely holding back a smile that threatened to spill out, was downright irritating.

“Are you insane? Since when are you my boyfriend? Let go of my hand. Now.”

Elena tugged repeatedly, trying to undo their intertwined fingers.

But escaping his grip, tight as handcuffs, was no easy feat.

“What, I can’t? You do all kinds of things with my brother.”

“What?!”

Elena practically jumped as she shouted.

Thanks to that, every customer in the restaurant turned to stare at her.

Her face burning red, she glared at him and whispered harshly.

“Do what, exactly? I didn’t do anything—”

“Wow. Coming from the person who told me not to lie.”

Aiden clicked his tongue as if in disbelief.

“That’s—!”

“Then why is your face so red?”

He lifted the corners of his mouth with a mischievous grin.

He looked like a sly snake, flicking its tongue while coiled up and ready to strike.

“Ha… forget it. Let’s just stop talking.”

There was no way to argue back.

It was true that she’d done this and that with him, true that her face was red right now, and true that she’d lied.

Feeling embarrassed, Elena buried her face into the table.

“I’m using my wish coupon now.”

“Wish coupon? What’s that—”

Could he mean that thing from before, when he asked her to grant him a wish?

‘I’m the one who should really be sorry. And I searched everywhere for you like this. That’s enough for me.’
‘Still…’
‘Then grant me a wish later.’

Elena frowned deeply, her lips twitching.

“What is it? What kind of wish?”

“Something I’ve always wanted to try.”

“You’re not seriously—”

A wave of bad premonitions rushed through her mind.

There was no way… right?

Aiden was someone who could think rationally, after all.

Surely he wouldn’t say something like wanting to be her boyfriend for a day—

“Be my boyfriend for today.”

Ah. Dear God.

Why is it that this awful feeling is never wrong?

Why do You only give me trials like this?

“Ha… Aiden, that’s—”

“Yeah? Go on. You’re not going to pretend you forgot, are you?”

He smiled prettily, eyes curving up without a hint of hesitation.

He was exactly the same as Decarus.

To think he’d be this shameless.

Was this what it felt like to be a mother raising two sons?

She was utterly exhausted.

“You don’t just use wishes like that. Something more practical would—”

“This is practical.”

“No, seriously, that doesn’t even—”

“I think it’ll be fun.”

“Ha… fine. Fine. Do whatever you want.”

She was completely sick of it.

When she looked at him like he was a bug, he smiled brightly—fresh like a perfectly ripe green apple.

Annoying as it was, she couldn’t exactly take back a promise she’d already made.

And if she refused now, he’d sulk all day for sure.

“Here you go—salmon sushi and shrimp sushi. Enjoy your meal!”

At last, once that round of war ended, the sushi finally arrived.

It felt like there was a stone lodged in her chest, like she might get indigestion.

But she couldn’t not eat such a divine blessing as sushi.

“Feed me.”

“…What?”

For a moment, she thought she’d misheard.

Elena stared at him blankly.

But judging by his serious expression, he wasn’t joking.

“I said feed me. We’re officially together today, right? Using chopsticks is hard.”

She was about to lose her mind.

Feed him? In a place this crowded?

Was something wrong with his brain today?

Or was she dreaming right now?

She pinched her cheek—yeah, it hurt. Definitely reality.

What the hell is wrong with you today?!

“Hey, don’t push it.”

Elena smiled widely while cursing him with her eyes.

In response, he twisted his hair around his finger and muttered something.

“Wow, with my brother you—”

“Fine. I get it. I’ll feed you. Happy now?”

Just as she was about to put the sushi into his mouth, he shrugged and escalated things even further.

“Girlfriends don’t smile like that.”

“Haha…”

Elena forced her eyes open wider and plastered on a bright smile.

Then she picked up a shrimp sushi with her chopsticks and fed it to him.

What exactly was she doing to her friend of ten years right now?

“It tastes better when you feed me.”

Aiden smiled with fox-like eyes, soft and sly.

“‘You’…?”

“Yeah. ‘You.’ Or should I call you ‘honey’?”

Was he insane?

Like, actually insane?

This wasn’t We Got Married. “You”? “Honey”?

Did he secretly take some medication or something?

“Haha. Can you just eat already? Please…?”

Elena forced a smile with all the strength in her eyes and mouth.

She just wanted to escape this crowded place as soon as possible.

“If that’s what you want.”

Aiden took a big bite of sushi and smiled with eyes curved like a crescent moon.

And thus, the sushi-from-hell tour finally came to an end.

But something even worse awaited her.

“You, Rena. I think this would look really good on you.”

“No, it wouldn’t suit me at all. Let’s go home. Now.”

His cringe-inducing behavior made her want to crawl into a hole and hide.

But Aiden charged forward like a mad bulldozer.

“Rena, look. Should we get matching rings?”

“No. It’s a waste of money. Aiden! I said let’s go home!”

“Why? What are you planning to do at home? Don’t tell me you’re having dirty thoughts…”

“AIDEN MILLER!!!”

At this point, he surpassed even Decarus in shamelessness.

When she yelled at the top of her lungs, everyone on the street stared at them.

Well, given they were arm-in-arm while he said all sorts of weird things, it wasn’t surprising.

“Oh? Let’s do that.”

At the tip of his finger was a stall covered in balloons.

It looked like one of those dart games where you win prizes if you hit them.

She couldn’t believe she’d been dragged into this, too.

“Fine… do it. Do everything.”

Elena looked like a walking corpse.

One wrong nudge and she’d collapse.

Meanwhile, Aiden happily walked up and grabbed a dart.

Pop—

“…What?”

He hit the smallest balloon dead center on the first try.

And that wasn’t all.

He popped every balloon that held the biggest prizes around it.

The shop owner looked like his entire day’s earnings were gone.

“Since when are you this good?”

“Piece of cake.”

Aiden casually handed her a teddy bear.

“A present.”

“A doll…”

As a child, she’d always envied girls who carried dolls.

Children walking hand in hand with their mothers, a doll in the other arm, had looked so happy.

And now, she was holding such a pretty teddy bear herself.

A lump rose in her throat, and a smile bloomed on her face without her realizing it.

“Thank you…”

“No need.”

Aiden smiled softly and laced his fingers with hers.

“Let’s go. Somewhere you’ll like.”

“Huh? Where—”

The path he led her down was rough.

Winding roads, steep hills, stones tripping her feet.

It was more grueling than a hiking trail—like actual mountain climbing.

When she started gasping for breath, Aiden stopped.

“Your feet hurt?”

“Yeah… a little.”

“Come here.”

He slipped one arm under her thighs and one behind her back, lifting her effortlessly.

Startled, Elena pounded on his chest and shouted.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!”

“What? I’m your boyfriend.”

“…Fine. Do whatever you want…”

She was completely done resisting.

When she sighed in defeat, Aiden smiled with a soft snort.

Though he should’ve been sweating, his skin was dry and fresh.

Smooth hair that looked glazed with honey, long eyelashes,

golden eyes that shimmered like spilled paint,

a straight nose and softly red lips—

He looked like a prince straight out of a fairy tale.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“No reason. I was just thinking you’re handsome… and it’s weird you’ve never had a girlfriend.”

“Why would I, when I have you?”

“No, I mean in real life. There’s literally no woman around you.”

“But I have you.”

Aiden looked serious.

His intense gaze made her feel oddly shy.

“Oh—! The sea!”

Turning her head to escape the awkwardness, she saw a vast blue ocean spread out before her.

Elena jumped down from his arms and ran toward the cliff.

“Rena, it’s dangerous. Don’t run.”

The view from the cliff was breathtaking.

Rows of colorful houses packed tightly together,

and beyond them, the endless sea.

Waves shattered into glittering fragments under the sunlight.

A white ship floated on the distant horizon.

And the refreshing scent of the ocean filled the air.

“It’s so beautiful.”

“I really wanted to show you this.”

Aiden held her shoulder firmly so she wouldn’t fall.

“How did you find a place like this?”

“I came here once when I was very young. With the young princess.”

“Ah…”

He mentioned the princess now and then—he must’ve been close to her.

Suddenly, Elena grew curious about what kind of person she’d been.

“What was she like?”

Aiden turned and looked at her.

Then he smiled softly and spoke.

“She was pretty and cute. A bit of a tomboy, but she was considerate of others.”

“Ah…”

He brushed Elena’s wind-tangled hair behind her ear.

Because of their height difference, he bent slightly at the waist.

“How can someone be this beautiful?”

He smiled gently, running his fingers through her hair.

Warmth tangled between his fingers like flowing waves.

“So beautiful… that you want to have her.”

“Did you like the princess?”

Affection filled his gaze.

His warm golden eyes reflected her blue ones.

“Yes. I still do.”

That was the answer.

He hadn’t dated anyone because he still loved the late princess.

“You’re really devoted.”

“Of course. I only look at one person.”

His eyes were more sincere than ever.

Pure and clear, without a trace of deceit.

Aiden turned his gaze back toward the sea.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“I’m going to become the Emperor, Rena.”