NOVEL NEXT Chapter 47.1
Stage 2-16. A Smile Is Best
Seeing Ouga-kun swallow nervously, I suddenly come to my senses.
What am I even doing? I’m just hoping for Ouga-kun’s kindness, trying to push my past and sins onto him.
What a terrible woman. I deserve to be called trash.
How pitiful of him to attract the attention of someone as ugly and foolish as me.
The calmer my thoughts become, the more self-loathing ideas come flooding in.
…But. It’s already too late—this is what I’ve decided.
Ouga-kun is the one who will be my prince.
In front of him, the outer walls I’ve painstakingly built around my heart crumble away.
I can’t help it, can I?
“Show me. I’m ready to accept anything.”
That’s what Ouga-kun said to me.
He must have noticed it by now—why he kept staring at my chest all day.
What lies here… this abominable thing.
I already know his type.
A girl with big breasts, kindness, and charm.
I fit none of those traits.
There’s only one reason he’d stare at my chest so intently.
Perhaps the Verrett family has uncovered something we aren’t aware of.
That possibility is real enough.
Even so, Ouga-kun said he’d accept me.
His words… their weight… are pulling up my long-sunken heart.
“Are you sure you won’t regret it…?”
“Yeah.”
“No matter what it is… you won’t come to hate me?”
“Of course not. I never go back on my word.”
His earnest gaze made my heart tremble.
Overwhelmed with a thrill I’ve never felt before, my cheeks flushed, and my breathing grew shallow.
“…Alright. Please, don’t look away.”
I take a slow, deep breath.
The air feels slightly cool against my bare skin.
Just one more. Just one more button to undo, and Ouga-kun will see everything.
Finally, my world will change—
“—Wait, Reina!”
“Huh? Kyah!?”
Suddenly, Ouga-kun reaches out, shoves me aside, and snaps his fingers.
In an instant, a white battle coat materializes from thin air.
It flutters down, covering my body like a curtain.
The next moment, the sound of a door opening is followed by a cheerful voice.
“Aha~! I forgot my room key, and… huh? Ouga-kun, what are you doing?”
“I lost my balance moving the table and spilled some water.”
When I glance over, Ouga-kun is kneeling, wiping the floor with his handkerchief.
Of course, no water was ever spilled.
He’s just pretending.
Caught up in the moment, I hadn’t even noticed Riche approaching.
“Reina, you should get changed too. That spill must have splashed on you, right?”
“…Oh… Yes, you’re right.”
“Use the clothes there. The lavatory is through the door on the right.”
“Thank you. I’ll take you up on that.”
Hastily, I gather the clothes and slip into the lavatory, locking the door behind me.
So no one can come in.