Chapter 473: Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye’s Kiss

There was a silence.

Probably several minutes had passed?

Just when Himekoji thought it had gotten awkward—

“Close your eyes.”

Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye suddenly spoke.

His heart skipped a beat.

Himekoji took a deep breath and pretended not to care, smiling easily as he joked.

“I already said I won’t close my eyes. Besides, we can discuss whether it’s her on top or me on top.”

Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye did not respond to Himekoji’s joke.

“This isn’t a request; it’s an order I give you.”

Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye’s golden pupils shone with a bright light as she finished speaking.

Himekoji’s body froze instantly.

His eyelids felt as heavy as lead.

The tiredness from staying up all night rushed into his head.

He tried his hardest to keep his eyes wide open, but it was useless.

Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye, walking step by step toward him, became blurry, then more blurry in his sight.

Finally, he could see nothing.

His eyelids were tightly closed like they were stuck together, and everything was pitch dark.

“What? I’m not your underling? Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye, please, don’t be silly.”

Himekoji forced a smile and said with a shaky voice, chuckling.

When he felt panicked, uneasy, or at a loss, he had a lot to say.

But Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye didn’t give him that chance.

Something soft and warm, like cotton candy, gently covered his lips.

It was a kiss.

It was made up of one-tenth wetness, one-eighth sweetness, and one-fifth cuteness.

The rest was all shy unwillingness to part and longing.

Unwillingness to part?

Longing?

Since it was like this, he could feel reassured…

As Himekoji thought this with relief, his head started to feel dizzy and heavy.

Another so-called sleeping kiss?

So how handy was the skill of the Evil Eye of the Wicked Lord?

He could not stop thinking about such unimportant things.

He did not want to face the sadness of parting.

“Mr. Himekoji, your f-feelings?”

Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye asked this shyly, biting her lower lip, feeling both hopeful and anxious.

This was her first kiss.

It might also be her last one.

“Feelings?”

Strong drowsiness took over most of Himekoji’s mind.

He could not stand steadily, and his body started to sway.

He barely grabbed the windowsill, and with his last bit of awareness, joked with a smile—

“It tasted like spicy beef soup…”

As his voice faded, “thump,” Himekoji fell to the floor.

His body brushed past the curtain, making a soft “whoosh” sound.

“Spicy beef soup flavor? Hehe!”

Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye laughed at first.

But then, tears began to fall down uncontrollably in big drops.

“How dare you, how dare you say that about me… Then Mr. Himekoji, yours tasted like pickled vegetable soup! Hmph…!”

Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye, half shy and half savoring it, stuck out her tongue to lick it slightly.

“So that’s what it tastes like…”

In front of the passed-out Mr. Himekoji, she no longer had to hold back.

She cried satisfyingly and loudly.

“Goodbye, Mr. Himekoji.”

“…I’ll wait for you.”

Just as she made her final farewell, she heard this sudden reply.

Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye was startled and quickly looked down—

The one who spoke was fast asleep, mumbling like he was talking in his sleep.

Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye stood frozen in place.

The next moment, she gave a loud “wah” and cried even harder.

It was because of happiness that she cried.

…

When Himekoji slowly woke up, he opened his eyes and saw Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye sitting blankly on the edge of the bed.

“Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye?”

Himekoji asked tentatively.

Hearing this voice, Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye seemed jolted out of her confusion.

She tilted her head to the side and looked at Himekoji.

Her direct gaze seemed like it had no focus.

Inside, his heart went “thud.”

Himekoji forced a smile and switched to another name—

“Rikka?”

The other person was stunned at first.

Then she slowly came to life.

It was like the girl before him started as a simple black-and-white drawing and slowly had colors added.

From dull gray ashes, she slowly became animated.

“A-Akito?”

Rikka looked around awkwardly, blinking her eyes in confusion.

She found big gaps in her memory.

“Why am I here? Why am I here with Akito…”

Before Rikka could finish her question, it was cut off.

Interrupted by Himekoji.

Himekoji hugged her tightly.

“A-Akito, what’s wrong?”

She was held so tight that she could hardly breathe.

Besides, what worried her more was the expression on Himekoji’s face when he hugged her—

Twisted and wrong.

She had never seen such a Himekoji before; it made her sad and scared.

“N-No… It’s just that I haven’t seen you for so long, I got a bit excited, sorry.”

Himekoji said this.

But Rikka, who was held tightly in his arms, thought it wasn’t true.

“Akito, are you crying?”

“No!”

Himekoji denied it quickly, but then came back to his senses and felt it was too strange. So, after taking a deep breath, he changed his words,

“Really, what are you saying all of a sudden?”

“But, your tears fell on my back.”

“No, that’s spit.”

Himekoji refused to admit it,

“It’s all because you look so yummy today, Rikka. If I smell carefully, there’s even a scent of beef soup.”

“Huh? What is that?”

“Who knows.”

Himekoji wiped his tears and took several deep breaths in a row to make sure he looked normal. Only then did he let go of Rikka, whom he had been holding tightly.

He couldn’t let Rikka see his tears, nor could he let her see his sad face.

Just like how the Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye, whenever everyone looked at her with hopeful eyes meant for Rikka, would feel guilty and think she had done wrong, feeling she had stolen their Rikka away. This sent her into endless blame and guilt.

If Himekoji showed feelings of missing the Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye, feelings of not wanting to let go, or feelings of sadness in front of Rikka, what would Rikka think?

Would she think ‘It’s my fault for being Rikka, not the Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye,’ and feel sorry?

Or would she think ‘The one who is needed is the Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye, not me,’ and feel lonely?

Or would she think ‘I should disappear to let the Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye come back,’ and do something dumb?

If that happened, wouldn’t it go back to the awful loop of picking one?

Himekoji had said that he wouldn’t pick again.

……

“Rikka, I’m so glad to find you again. From now on, you mustn’t disappear willfully like this.”

Himekoji let go of Rikka. After saying this, he quickly turned his back,

“I’m going to the restroom.”

His back quickly vanished from Rikka’s sight.

Only then did Rikka seem to remember something and sniffed at herself—

“Is it the smell of beef soup?”

She tilted her head in confusion,

“What is that?”

……