Chapter 98 (1/2)

“…..why should I…..”

“Of course! Whether you decide to have a mere bird open her heart up to you or not, Your Highness just needs to win the bet.”

As I saw the look on his face that went beyond reluctance and demanded patience, I made the goal of our bet clear.

When Rashid’s stiff expression finally softened, I reached out with both hands.

“Now, it isn’t a difficult task.”

“….”

Right before his hand touched my outstretched hands, though he seemed like he was about to grab my hands, he stopped. When he suddenly touched his sheath with his other hand, I was momentarily flustered, but I didn’t show it.

Fortunately, his red eyes came back to mine as if returning to its rightful place.

“Yes. And next, you do this….”

I began rolling my hands fumbling for empty air into waves. I smiled, knowing that though I knew he would never follow me, he would also never back down.

“If that child feels scared, she wouldn’t even come over here. You only need to lower her guard. Would you be alright if we end this without confirming who would win?

“……”

This wouldn’t be enough for a blind and deaf man like him, huh.

While I was at it, I swept my fingertips up against my cheek pointedly.

“…..Like this. Easy, right?”

“…..”

Now, please follow along with Miss Sullivan’s demonstration.

Since he was staring intently at me, he did seem to be listening to me, but being at the end of such a blatant stare was also a bit embarrassing. Though I told him calmly a few times, his eyes were still only fixed on my cheek.

“Don’t press, but…. Just ghost your hand over, like this…..”

“……”

“Hm, would this be too hard for Your Highness?”

“Nonsense.”

“Then that’s good.”

His sudden anger was no surprise to me now.

As if I’d been waiting, I spread my arm out gracefully and greeted the arrogant guest who came up the hill.

“Now, shall we try that for real?”

***

‘….Is this some kind of ceremony?’

A definite line appeared between Rashid’s eyebrows, who had been wondering how far this witch would go. Though all she had done was touch her own cheek, his cheek stung as if she had really chanted a spell on him.

“……”

He had already noticed that she was vaguely trying to provoke him.

But even if she did, she had nothing to lose.

Even without Peyton’s reports, if it had anything to do with this woman, her situations were glaringly obvious.

Really, nothing more than a shell of a ‘lazily brought in’ Duchess.

Though she was suspicious beyond just being strange, and her identity was still covered in secrets, she was nothing more and nothing less than that. That was why she’d been caught by him with nary a penny and doing something as ridiculous as this now.

Except for the fact that her obvious taunting laughs really weren’t funny, he had nothing to lose.