ORHML 20

Chapter 20

[Quest! You can return to your original body for as long as you kiss Adrian Russell.]

I didn’t resist the way he explored inside. Accepting what had roughly entered, I reacted and tangled with him; the more I responded, the deeper he came in. His biting and sucking on my lips made it impossible to pull away.

[Duration: …61 seconds, 62 seconds…]

Time kept ticking.

After a while, when he tried to pull away first, I released my grip on his shoulder, grabbed his chin instead, and moved even more eagerly in reply. The situation was a little surprising, but this body seemed to know exactly how to kiss, moving on its own. I brushed against his neat teeth and untangled our tongues. Something slick dripped from my lips down my chin, leaving a trail—but I had to keep checking the time more than anything.

[68 seconds, 69 seconds…]

It felt like I was suffocating, but the moment I held onto him tighter, he grew even more intense. His tongue slowly traced my palate, as if trying to memorize the pattern there, and I let out a nasal moan. When I slid into the split under his tongue, his breathing grew rough. The hand that had been on my shoulder was now wrapped around my back, holding me so close that there was no space left between us.

“Mm…”

Our breaths tangled thickly, as though we were breathing the same air. He moved his jaw as if he wanted to touch me more the more he touched me, saliva trailing down his chin and dripping onto my chest.

Just when I thought I couldn’t go on because my jaw ached, he bit my lip as I tried to pull away. He licked the spots he had been nibbling and pressed down firmly on my lips once more before finally parting.

A long string of saliva stretched between us before it snapped.

[You’ve achieved a total of 92 seconds!]

Wow. I went so hard and it’s only 92 seconds? It felt like an hour!

But just thinking about being able to return to my original body, even briefly, made me laugh.

Things to check during those 92 seconds:

My lottery ticket is still safe.
All my limbs are intact.
G Corp is really paying for my hospital bills.

That’s it!

I closed my eyes, repeating it to engrave it into my mind so I wouldn’t forget.

[Your reward will be delivered immediately!]

“Alright! Let’s go!”

[Start!]

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep…

Looking at the thing attached to the back of my hand, it was an IV drip. I could clearly feel the liquid pushing into me.

[Time limit: 92, 91, 90…]

“Nurse!”

“Huh? Wh–what…?”

“My belongings, where are my belongings?!”

“Excuse me?”

“My belongings! The stuff I had with me when I came here! Where is it?!”

[58… 57… 56…]

She looked shocked, her hands trembling as she ran toward the desk.

“Nurse! My belongings!”

“This is NSICU! The patient’s awake!”

“Nurse!”

Damn it! She’s not going to help me!

I opened the only bedside drawer there. Inside were a newspaper and my bag—the ones I’d had during the accident.

I could feel the crinkled lottery paper I’d sewn into the bottom of the bag without even tearing it open. Running my fingers over it again, the crinkly texture was still there!

It’s still here!

I unfolded the newspaper and saw an article about me.

“G Corp shows its class by caring even for an unconscious employee injured in an accident.”

I thought it was ridiculous, but since they were paying my hospital bills, fine, I’d acknowledge it.

[…12, 11, 10…]

Reading through the article, it said they’d cover all my medical expenses until I woke up, rehabilitated, and returned to G Corp.

“Good!”

[You’ve used up all your time. Returning to the game!]

“What’s the meaning of this?”

Damn, I’d forgotten about this guy. The first thing I see when I return is Adrian Russell.

“Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Stay calm. Don’t laugh!

Recalling what had happened just 100 seconds ago, I spoke seriously, but he didn’t seem to notice.

“Will you grant everything I wish for?”

“No?”

[Francis Patella: Captain of the Guards ▼ Affection toward Gracie Fletcher Gabriella Bastian: 30%]

Seriously, how annoying. Like it’s even real. Who told it to drop 10%?!

“Stop it.”

His face, now sullen unlike his calm demeanor earlier, made me realize how unreliable the status window was.

“Should I try it with Sir Francis too?”

“What?”

I wanted to test if kissing someone else would let me go back again. But if I said that, would I get killed?

“That kiss with you, Adrian—that’s what it was.”

“…”

“Whether I roll around with Joshua or with Francis, it’s none of your business. If you’re coming to me just because you want a kiss, I’ll give it to you. If that’s really all you want.”

After all, what you want is my position.

And my sister’s affection.

I still can’t forget how surprised you looked when you first saw my face. That’s why I know this attitude of yours is really for Keira-unnie’s sake.

“Why are you suddenly tired of me? You acted like you couldn’t live without me.”

“Now it feels like I can’t live with you.”

“You can’t become Emperor without me. Clayton is using you. He’s trying to get revenge for last time.”

“Yeah, I think so too.”

Clayton, you—it’s all the same to me.

“And you’re still doing this?”

“I said I’d marry you, didn’t I? You’re doing this because you want to become the royal envoy.”

“I won’t deny it. But wanting to marry you isn’t only about that anymore.”

“Sure, of course.”

Because you want to get my sister back.

I hid behind Francis’s broad back nearby, clutching his cloak tightly to completely hide my face.

“What’s this about?”

“I don’t want to see you. I’ll give you the fiancé’s spot and your royal envoy title. So let’s avoid each other as much as possible.”

“What about the victory ceremony?”

“I’ll go with someone else.”

“If you’re going with that bastard Clayton, be ready for a civil war.”

“I’m going with my father.”

His softened tone seemed to melt my frozen expression. Adrian spoke in a calmer voice than before.

“Have your feelings for me really changed?”

“Yes.”

“What triggered it?”

“You were shocked when you saw my face. It made me realize my situation. Being next to you is too hard. It keeps making me think about what my face looks like.”

Of course, it was a lie.

No matter my face, I’m still me, and I don’t want to be with someone hung up on that. Above all, knowing I can change this face through quests means it’s nothing to be ashamed of!

“I was surprised. You’d never shown me before.”

He clenched his fist and sighed. Then he looked at me, his eyes like black pearls, his long, crease-less lids trembling with beautiful lashes.

“But I didn’t judge you for that. If it hurt you, I apologize.”

“…”

“I’m sorry.”

He apologized softly, and I peeked out from behind Francis’s back. Caught peeking at him repeatedly, I stared straight into his eyes before turning my back and walking away.

Then, when I looked back once more, our eyes met again.

“Are you alright?”

[Francis Patella: Captain of the Guards ▼ Affection toward Gracie Fletcher Gabriella Bastian: 40%]

Why did it jump another 10%? Even though I know it’s meaningless, it’s so annoying!

“No. Do I look alright?”

When our eyes met, his dark expression brightened. Facing me without avoiding my gaze, it felt like he could read my thoughts—an odd feeling.

“I asked because I hoped you were okay.”

“Because you want a kiss?”

“Yes. I do. Will you let me?”

“Pfft.”

So this is my “bodyguard,” huh. He’s trying to cheer me up in his own way.

“Thanks, I feel a bit better now.”

“Excuse me?”

“My father seems like he’ll take a while. Should we sneak off and do something else?”

“Uh… y-yes.”

He lowered his head shyly—it was cute. But remembering he was watching me for my sister made me feel resentful.

“My sister’s so lucky. All the handsome, cute ones are hers.”

“…I want to belong to you, Princess.”

“Yes. Please do.”

Too bad the princess isn’t me.

“Y–Your Highness!”

I’d just gone to my room to change clothes when I found Lilfei there. I wondered why she looked so flustered, but she was breaking into a cold sweat.

[Lilfei: Second Princess’s Lady-in-Waiting / Junior Noble ▼]

Ha, would you look at that.

A lady-in-waiting, not even a maid, alone in the princess’s room?

You’ve got something going on, don’t you?

The joy I’d felt from confirming my 7 billion was safe, that G Corp was paying my hospital bills, and that all my limbs were intact—vanished the moment I saw Lilfei.