[51.4] Oops, She Did it Again

I yawned and stretched in bed, "Hmm. Are you getting hungry?"

Zephyr groaned as he held his stomach, "I couldn't eat anything if I wanted to… I think you've actually given me third-degree burns!"

I rolled my eyes, "It isn't that spicy. Stop being dramatic."

"Dramatic!?" His voice squeaked, "I'm practically breathing fire!"

"I can try to make some soup."

He shook his head quickly, "No way. I want real food."

"Then we can go out to a restaurant?"

"Actually… I have a better idea."

Before I could ask what he meant, a knock came from the front door. Thanks to a little magical trick, I was able to enhance the sound so I could hear it upstairs.

I sat up, "Who is knocking?"

If it was Chief Gonza, he would have just used his key to come in.

Zephyr jumped up and rushed down the stairs, "I will check!"

I followed him down the stairs curious as to who it was.

Zephyr opened the door and cried out, "THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SAVING ME!!"

I froze when Caldwell walked in with a grin followed by Cyrus. Caldwell snickered, "How could I refuse?"

I pulled Zephyr to the side and glared at him, "You asked him for help!?"

Zephyr groaned, "You were trying to kill me!"

"You're overreacting!!! It wasn't that spicy!"

"I'VE BEEN ON THE TOILET FOR DAYS!"

I forced a smile and turned to Caldwell and Cyrus, "He's just overreacting. It wasn't that spicy. He's just a baby."

Zephyr looked at them with tearful eyes, "Please save me."

Caldwell chuckled and rolled up his sleeves, "I love to see you grovel at my feet. It's exactly where you belong, little kitten."

Zephyr swallowed his pride, "Call me whatever you want as long as you make me food I can actually digest."

I pursed my lips, "My food wasn't that bad."

Caldwell turned to me with a convincing smile, "Worry not, Young Miss. I can prepare a meal that will astound your tastebuds."

I followed him into the kitchen, "I still have some hot chili oil left over that you can use."

He laughed, "Let's stay away from spice today."

I pouted, "But I was just gaining my spice tolerance back…"

Caldwell gave me a wink, "There are more tastes in the world that are just as good as spice."

I let out a sigh, "Fine."

I stood in the kitchen watching him cook while I ignored Cyrus who was staring at me.

I still can't look at him!

What kind of expression will he be making!?

He is probably angry that I've been ignoring him!!!

Ugh…

Let's just continue treating him like air.

I cleared my throat, "D-Do you need help with anything, Caldwell?"

He motioned to the potatoes, "You can peel those."

I grabbed the potato and held the knife.

I really wish they had a potato peeler in this world…

I carefully tried to peel the skin but lobbed off an entire chunk instead, "Oops…"

I grabbed another potato and tried again, but this time the potato went flying out of my hands.

I let out a forced chuckle, "Heh. Slippery."

As I reached for another, Caldwell spoke, "U-Um. Young Master. Could you help the Young Miss? I'm afraid that we won't have any potatoes very soon."

Cyrus stepped behind me before I had the chance to decline. It was as if he was just waiting for the opportunity to hold my hands.

His arms wrapped around me from behind and held my hands, helping move them in the way to correctly peel the potato.

"You don't want to put too much force, but you don't want to be too weak either."

My face burned as his voice whispered in my ear.

Forget about the d*mned potatoes!

All I can think about are those muscular arms and those rough calloused hands holding my own.

Ah.

I can even feel his toned chest pressed against my back.

And his smell…

Oh, he smells so good.

I bit down forcefully on my lips to shoot away those evil thoughts.

Potatoes, Reika!

Potatoes!

I tried to refocus on his hands, but once again I got lost as I watched his hands move my own, peeling off the potato with ease.

Why is he so good with his hands?!

Cyrus smirked to himself and leaned down to see my expression, "Think you can do it on your own?"

My voice cracked, "Y-Yeah."

I ignored his chuckle and stepped out of his arms to grab a new potato.

However, as soon as I held the potato, I realized my hands were shaking too much and I lobbed off another chunk of the potato.

I cleared my throat and placed the knife and remaining potato down on the counter, "I will leave it to you two to prepare dinner."

Without looking either in the eye, I spun around and strolled out of the kitchen with my head held high.

Cyrus let out a disappointed sigh and leaned onto the counter watching me leave.

Caldwell gave him a look, "Young Master… You're coming on too strongly."

After dinner was finished, Zephyr and I sat down at the table with our mouths watering. Zephyr took a bite and burst into tears, "Thank you so much!"

I rolled my eyes and took a bite. My taste buds all cried out happily.

D*mn.

It tastes good!

As I ate, Cyrus cleared his throat.

"Reika-"

I immediately stopped eating.

W-What is he going to say!?

He can't bring up what happened, right!?

"-I recently received a letter from Priscilla."

I slammed my fork down and glared, "You've been exchanging letters with Priscilla!?"

He blinked in surprise, totally taken off guard by my response. He quickly recovered from his shock and shook his head, "No. I've been mailing the Duke trying to get in touch with Felix."

I flushed from embarrassment, "Oh."

Urg!!

Of course it's that!! Why did I have to jump to conclusions!?

I glanced at Cyrus sheepishly, but instead of seeing the irritation I was expecting, he was beaming with joy as if he had just won something.

Why does he look so proud of himself!?

He cleared his throat to hide his prior smile, "I haven't heard anything recently from them. However, Priscilla recently sent me an invitation to visit. She specifically asked for me to bring you."

I narrowed my eyes, "It's a trap, isn't it?"

He laughed, "I doubt it. She probably knows we want to visit Felix."

"That's exactly why it's a trap." I crossed my arms, "She would never be kind enough to let us visit him."

"So you don't want to go with me tomorrow?"

I scoffed, "There's no way I'm going to let you go alone."

If it's a trap, I need to be there to help.

Cyrus smiled affectionately at me while I went back to finishing my meal. After dinner, he collected the dishes and went to wash them. I quickly stopped him, "Zephyr can do the dishes."

Zephyr looked at me in shock, "Huh!?"

I gave him a dirty look, "You brought them here. You clean up."

"Ughhhhh!" He stomped, "I don't wanna!"

"Do it or I'm going to turn you into a little kid again."

"...Fine."

Cyrus gave me a careful glance, "Is it okay… If I stay the night?"

My heart skipped a beat.

He continued, "We could leave in the morning together-"

Zephyr responded by shoving him out of the door, "Absolutely not! You can come to pick her up tomorrow, you heathen!"

As I watched Zephyr escort him out, I felt an itchiness in my heart that I couldn't explain. Cyrus looked so dejected and I couldn't get that expression out of my mind. It was obvious he came to spend some time with me, innocent and otherwise, but I was avoiding him instead.

I didn't even try to stop Zephyr.

That night after Zephyr fell asleep, I paced around my room while biting my lip.

Ugh. Why am I acting so indecisive!?

I want to chase after him to explain myself, but at the same time, I don't have the courage to do so. But the more time I spend ignoring him, the worse I will make him feel.

Can I be ruining something magical before it even begins?

I smacked my head in irritation.

Reika!! Why are you acting like this!?

It's not like I regret what happened that night…

In fact…

I kind of want to do it again…

Maybe I should sneak into his room and-NO!

Get those thoughts out of your head!

I can't just break into his room!

He will get the wrong impression of me.

But if I do, I could at least give him an explanation for why I'm acting this way!

I paused.

That's right… I should go give him an explanation.

Just an explanation.

No other reason.

I quickly wrote a note to Zephyr and snuck out of my house silently so as to not wake him up.

Once outside, I jumped onto my ice chunk and soared through the sky toward his estate. I arrived in front of his window and undid the magical circle and opened it.

I went to crawl in as covertly as I could but paused midway through.

Cyrus was staring at me in surprise just as he was about to change his clothes.

I gulped, "I… Uh… I just wanted to tell you that I wasn't avoiding you because I regretted what we did or anything… So please don't be mad."

He raised an eyebrow, "Why would I be mad?"

I scrambled inside and blushed in embarrassment, "I-I don't know."

My eyes sneakily stole a glance at his slightly unbuttoned shirt.

Seeing my glance, an arrogant smirk appeared on his face.

He slowly, tantalizing, undid the rest of his buttons and took off his shirt.

Holy Adonis.

Thank you for gifting me the sight of this chiseled body.

Great Roman sculptures can't even compare to this glorious body.

I forced myself to gulp, "I-I just came here to explain."

"Mhm."

He stepped over to me with a curl of his lips and leaned down to stare into my eyes directly.

"Is there anything else?"

Oh f*ck it!

I jumped into his arms, wrapping my arms around his neck. I kissed him deeply, soothing the thoughts I tried to ignore.

His arms wrapped around my waist and hoisted me up.

As we both collapsed onto the bed, I could feel him smiling through the kisses.