Chapter 53
I was so flustered by the completely unexpected words that my eyes darted around aimlessly before I finally looked down to the lower left.
Across from me, I felt Jayeus lean forward slightly, resting his elbows on the small table between us.
And of course, he noticed the way I subtly pulled back.
“You’re not even going to ask where I did it?”
“…Y-you! I told you not to lie to me!”
“I told you I wouldn’t lie to you.”
“…”
Ugh, damn it! The way he answered, echoing my own words back at me, was infuriating.
And on top of that, I had no idea what to say next. Not that I wanted to ask the question he was so obviously waiting for me to ask.
That would be the worst possible question. It was basically the same as saying, ‘Don’t avoid it, face it head-on.’
Besides, I didn’t even need to ask. If he’d kissed me, then the place must’ve been…
“It’s not where you’re thinking, so relax.”
As if reading my thoughts, Jayeus added that at the perfect moment.
Without even needing a mirror, I could tell my cheeks were probably redder than an apple. I rubbed at them irritably.
“I-I wasn’t thinking about anything!”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really! W-where else would you even do something like that, anyway? It’s obvious!”
“Do you even remember where I did it?”
There was no way. I’d been in too much pain back then to even think straight, much less remember something like that.
If I had remembered, I wouldn’t be reacting like this now.
Jayeus knew all of that. He was absolutely doing this just to mess with me.
“…Dchuh meh ehf teh gman nolh-leuh.” (Stop teasing me while I’m being nice about it.)
In the end, I growled through gritted teeth.
While I fumed at the thought of him toying with me like it was some kind of game, Jayeus covered his mouth with his hand, trying to hide his laughter.
You’re laughing right now? Seriously?!
“Hey!”
“Ah, sorry. It’s just… funny.”
“Oh, you must be thrilled, teasing someone who doesn’t even remember!”
“It wasn’t where you think. It was on your left hand.”
How considerate—he even clarified which hand, though I hadn’t asked. Completely unnecessary.
I pointed to the back of my left hand with my right and stood up abruptly.
I wasn’t just upset; I was mortified. On top of that, it felt like he’d seen straight through my thoughts, and I couldn’t bear to look at him any longer.
“I’m leaving.”
“Already?”
“I just remembered I have something to do.”
I’d only woken up not long ago—there was obviously nothing for me to “do.” Jayeus knew that perfectly well, but I decided to bluff my way out anyway.
I couldn’t let myself get dragged into this any further!
Jayeus wasn’t the same person I used to know. His face, his demeanor—everything about him had changed from the boy I remembered. I couldn’t get used to it.
Especially because… that change was way too attractive.
I knew I had a weakness for good-looking faces. Which was exactly why I had to get out of here, now.
Just as I was cramming my feet back into my shoes—
“Senika.”
His deep, still-somewhat-awkward voice rolled over me, and with it came his pheromones, gently wrapping around my hands and feet.
That stopped me cold. The sensation spread, climbing up my arms and legs until it surrounded my whole body.
“Don’t go.”
His voice, soft and pleading, froze me completely.
The pheromones weren’t even that strong—I should’ve been able to shake them off—but I couldn’t. Maybe it was because the scent was so sweet. Or maybe because…
“Because you need me.”
Because it was him holding me there.
Honestly, I did have feelings for Jayeus. Even if our first meeting hadn’t gone well, he’d still run a long way just to see me—that had been pretty cool.
And it wasn’t just that. The broad shoulders, the tall height, the handsome face, the sharp mind—there wasn’t a single thing wrong with him.
But that didn’t mean I liked him.
I barely even see my closest friend Sireia these days—how often do you think I’ve seen Jayeus?
Mostly, it was just awkward. We weren’t two clueless kids anymore. We were adults now—and that made everything more complicated.
And now that I knew how he felt about me, the weight of it was hard to bear.
Pretending not to notice wasn’t an option anymore. I needed to set boundaries.
“Hey, Jayeus.”
“I came to the White Dragon Clan just for you.”
His voice came from right behind me—so close that I could feel the warmth of his breath. The sweet scent in the air grew even stronger.
Gulp. I swallowed hard without meaning to. Just knowing he was right there behind me made my whole body tense up.
I have no idea what he might do…
Not that I was expecting anything! Definitely not!
I just—
Thunk—
Something heavy rested on my right shoulder. I turned my head slightly and saw dark hair brushing against my arm.
I’d expected him to do something, but resting his head on my shoulder? That, I hadn’t seen coming.
And again—for the record—I wasn’t hoping for anything else!
“W-what are you doing? Why are you… why are you like this?”
Why was I stammering so much?!
Even if his action caught me off guard, it wasn’t that big of a deal… right?
I didn’t know where to look, so I glanced all over before finally turning my head the other way entirely.
I clasped my hands tightly together in front of me. My palms were clammy, and I could clearly feel how fast my heart was pounding.
Thump-thump, thump-thump—what if he could hear it? What if he asked why my heart was racing like this? What would I even say?
“Senika.”
He called my name again, softly.
Please, just stop saying my name like that. It makes my chest tickle in the weirdest way.
“So please… don’t push me away if you can help it.”
“…”
“If we were just a little younger, maybe I would’ve stepped back like you wanted—but now, I don’t have that luxury.”
His forehead brushed lightly against my shoulder, swaying side to side. Just like how I used to nuzzle against Hale when I was a kid.
The soft touch of his black hair tickled the back of my neck.
“…Why does it matter if I push you away or not?”
I tried my best to sound calm, to hide the tension in my voice.
I shot up from my seat, not even fully wearing my shoes. I couldn’t stay there any longer.
If I had, my heart might’ve actually leapt out of my chest.
“Stay here and rest if you want. Or don’t. I don’t care.”
I forced the words out as indifferently as I could and walked straight out of the garden without looking back.
Bang!
Leaning against the closed door, I gasped for breath.
“Finally… I can breathe again.”
I closed my eyes, but instead of darkness, the scene from moments ago replayed vividly behind my eyelids. I opened them again immediately.
Clenching my fists, I grit my teeth. I was angry—because I’d let him toy with me like that.
I’m not some easy girl! So why does my heart keep fluttering like this?!
It didn’t help that I couldn’t control how fast my heart was beating. Not that I ever could control it, but still.
Today had caught me completely off guard, and I hadn’t been able to escape it—but next time? Next time, I wouldn’t let him get to me so easily!
Jayeus didn’t go after her. He didn’t need to. He was certain that eventually, she’d come back to him on her own.
A faint smile—one he didn’t even realize he was making—touched his lips.
It was worth coming all this way, just to see her.
He let out a long sigh, the tension easing from his shoulders.
Just moments ago, he’d had to use every ounce of restraint to hold himself back in front of her.
Senika’s pheromones were stronger than they had been when he’d seen her at the palace. Probably because she was still maturing—still learning to control them.
Maybe I was too hasty.
He’d been holding himself back since the first day he saw her at this mansion. From that moment on, she’d filled his mind—so small, so pale, so delicate that he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Even when he returned home, the image of her lingered.
It hadn’t taken long for him to understand what that feeling meant—and he hadn’t tried to deny it.
His racing heartbeat and burning emotions whenever he saw her were all too real.
He’d wanted to take things slowly, but opportunities to see her were few and far between. Before he knew it, she was on the verge of full maturity.
Once that happened, he’d inherit his family’s position—and with it would come all the predictable words.
“For the sake of the clan, you must begin preparing an heir.”
Every great house said the same thing, acted the same way.
If even he, not yet fully matured, was already feeling that pressure, then Senika certainly was too.
That was why he couldn’t help feeling impatient—driven by a restless fear that someone else might take her first.
I won’t let that happen.
For now, his feelings resembled possessiveness more than love. But who knew how they might change with time?
Jayeus left the gazebo and walked through the garden, full of colorful flowers.
It was a stark contrast to the one in the Black Dragon estate—this one was brighter, more vivid, almost dazzling.
Mother’s garden only had purple mistflowers.
After his visit to the White Dragon Clan to see Senika, his mother had closed off her garden entirely. He’d never understood why.
He’d always thought Vivian was indecisive, so he hadn’t read too much into it.
After completing a slow loop, Jayeus returned to the gazebo at the garden’s center. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath.
Senika’s room probably smells even stronger than this place.
A dark thought, but not unexpected. The faint soap-like fragrance drifting through the garden reminded him of her pheromone scent.
If he could, he’d absorb all of it—make it his own. Maybe if he smelled like her, she’d like him even more.
That was how badly he wanted to keep her by his side. That was all he could think about.
It was why he’d volunteered to come to the White Dragon Clan without a second thought.
At least now, I’ve made her think about me.
Jayeus opened his eyes again. His crimson irises gleamed faintly, glinting with a dangerously seductive light.
