Chapter 149

When she looked sideways towards the bathroom while maintaining her posture, she could see hot steam flowing out.

As if she were looking forward to seeing Theon coming out from behind the vapor, Ayla carefully dropped her fingers that were covering her eyes. On instinct.

His firm chest muscles, subtly visible between his wet black hair and the black shower robe, were very stimulating and desirable, even though it was not her first time seeing them.

Looking at Theon’s figure, Ayla unconsciously gulped her saliva without even paying attention to her blushing cheeks.

As if he were embarrassed by her secret gaze felt between her fingers, Theon, who came out of the bathroom, hesitated for a moment.

At the same time, Ayla quickly closed her separated fingers.

Theon, who snorted as he glanced at Ayla, strode forward and, as usual, took a seat on the sofa next to the bed.

“How long do you plan on standing there like that?”

“Ah! Ah… Going. I’m going.”

As if she had come to her senses at Theon’s playful tone, she walked quickly and picked up the tray she had placed on the side table.

Ayla frowned when she noticed that the water kettle, which she had heated to fit Theon’s taste, who usually got up before Ayla came, had cooled down.

“Forget the tea, sit here.”

“…”

Looking at her expression, Theon tapped his right thigh lightly and spoke.

The heat that had barely cooled down rose to the tip of her ears and Ayla’s face turned red.

‘Good thoughts… Let’s think good thoughts, Ayla. You are not like this. He’s just asking you to come.’

Although she had been pitifully single since she was born, she knew from her countless indirect experiences that babies could not be formed just by holding hands.

The erotic scenes that she saw from beyond the weekly paper when she followed her classmates at Fencers flashed through her mind like a panorama. Ayla shook her head vigorously to correct her disorganized mind.

But she couldn’t do anything about her pounding heart, and she couldn’t stop her constant gaze towards Theon’s lips.

Ayla stretched her body and walked to the side of the sofa where Theon was sitting. Her red lips gathered coyly. Then, awkwardly, Ayla hit the floor with the tip of her feet and lowered her gaze.

“Not there, here.”

Along with his low voice, Theon’s large hand grabbed Ayla and pulled her.

Ayla’s body, which had lost its balance due to his sudden action, naturally settled on Theon’s lap.

Ayla tried to get up as she felt Theon’s strong legs touching her thighs, but it was impossible.

Theon, who had suddenly wrapped his arms around Ayla’s slender waist, smiled mischievously at her and slightly stuck out his red tongue.

“By the way… Didn’t you wash your hair today?”

“…”

Theon said, ‘I’m kidding.’, as her face turned red from the shame of his serious question.

‘I’m going to punch you in the face sometime…’

Ayla quietly clenched her fists at Theon’s faint smile.

***

Entering the canteen for breakfast, Ayla looked around to find Lily, who had disappeared since dawn.

When Ayla appeared, the noisy interior turned silent as if ice water had been poured over it; but she didn’t mind it. It was also proof that she was accustomed to living in the royal palace.

“Did she not come yet… Or did she finish eating already…”

“Are you looking for me?”

“Eek, give some indication that you’re here! I was surprised.”

“I don’t know what you’re looking for, but eat first. Isn’t health more important than anything? Would you like some smoked duck?”

Startled by Diane appearing from behind her without even the sound of footsteps, Ayla grumbled while clutching her chest.

Diane shrugged, asking what she was so surprised about, and then pointed her finger at the smoked duck, one of this morning’s menu items.

The thinly sliced smoked duck, sprinkled with whole pepper and dried parsley, looked appetizing.

Even the subtle smoky smell coming from the oven was enough to captivate the taste buds, but she had no appetite at all.

Ayla shook her head from side to side as if she were fine at Diane, who was waiting for an answer while holding the tongs in her other hand.

Unlike Diane, who focused on meat and salad, Ayla’s plate consisted of a small bowl of cream soup, a couple of strawberries, and a small whole wheat bread; so, Diane quietly put a piece of baby back ribs on it.

“Why are you giving me food as you please?”

“You have to eat to use your strength. Are you going to use your strength by eating like that? You need to gain some weight.”

Diane, who gave a nagging response to Ayla’s blunt words, motioned at the empty seats. Ayla grimaced in one eye while smiling at Diane, as if she could not stop her.

“But who are you looking for?”

Diane, who had been busy moving her mouth with the smoked duck filling her cheeks, seemed to be a little full now and asked Ayla.

“Who else can I be looking for?”

She answered as if she was asking something obvious, because Diane should have known her short connections.