As we walked down the street, Alicia suddenly broke the silence. "So, what did you talk about?" she asked, her tone casual but her eyes sharp.
"With whom?" I played dumb, though I knew exactly where this was going.
She raised an eyebrow. "With the druid. Who else?"
"Nothing. Just casual talk," I replied, a little too quickly.
Alicia stopped walking, turning to face me with a pointed look. "If it was just casual, she wouldn't have needed to talk to you alone, would she?"
I felt a bead of sweat slide down my temple. Damn it, I thought. I had hoped her silence earlier meant she hadn't been bothered by it. Apparently, I was dead wrong.
We resumed walking, but her words continued to pierce like arrows. "You know, Arthur, I'm not naive. Something happened between you two, didn't it?" She sniffed the air lightly. "I can still smell her scent on you."
What the— My thoughts spiraled. She had a scent? How could I not smell it? I panicked inwardly, keeping my face as neutral as possible.
Alicia stopped suddenly and turned to me, her gaze steady but her voice soft. "Arthur, you know you can tell me anything, right? I won't mind... if there are other girls."
I blinked, caught completely off guard. "Wait, really?" The words slipped out before I could think, and I instantly regretted it. "I mean—uh—no, that's not what I—"
She laughed, the sound light and teasing, her eyes sparkling. "Relax," she said, shaking her head. "I never expected to keep you all to myself. You're the heir to a dukedom—it's normal for nobles to have multiple wives. And honestly? Someone as handsome as you was bound to attract attention." She smirked. "I just didn't think it would happen so quickly."
This world really is a paradise, I thought, barely suppressing my grin.
Is this what people mean when they say a pie falls from the sky? Arthur mused, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.
Overcome with affection, I stepped closer, cupping her face with both hands. "Alicia, you're amazing." Before she could respond, I leaned in and kissed her, right there on the bustling street.
Her lips were soft and warm, and for a moment, it felt like the entire world melted away. But the sound of gasps and murmurs from the onlookers quickly brought us back to reality.
I pulled away, realizing we'd drawn quite the crowd. Alicia's cheeks turned crimson as she ducked her head, fidgeting with her fingers.
"Uh... sorry about that," I said, though I couldn't help but grin.
She shot me a flustered glare, her voice barely above a whisper. "Arthur, we're in the middle of the street!"
"Noted," I said, still smiling as I wrapped an arm around her. "Next time, I'll pick a better spot."
Her blush deepened, but I caught the hint of a smile tugging at her lips as we continued walking. Whatever whispers surrounded us faded into the background. In that moment, all that mattered was her, and I knew I was the luckiest man alive.
"So… you kissed her."
The unexpected statement made me stop in my tracks.
"Huh?" I blurted out, completely caught off guard.
Alicia glanced up at me, her eyes calm, yet piercing. "There's an unfamiliar taste on your lips," she said, her tone unnervingly composed. "I presume it's Lesley's."
I stared at her, dumbfounded. "What the—how do you girls do that? Is it magic? Some kind of sixth sense?"
She smirked, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Call it intuition, if you want. Girls just have a knack for these things."
"Well, this is awkward," I muttered, scratching my head.
Her smirk softened, but the curiosity in her eyes remained. "So… do you mind explaining what happened there?"
I let out a sigh, realizing there was no point in dodging the question. "Why not? You're already open-minded about our relationship, so I shouldn't have anything to hide."
Her brow arched. "Good. Because I'd find out one way or another."
I chuckled nervously and explained everything—Lesley's strange behavior, how she sat on my lap, her talk about my aura, the spirits, and, of course, the kiss. As I finished, Alicia's expression morphed from incredulous to amused.
"So, let me get this straight," she said, her tone laced with curiosity. "You're basically a walking beacon for druids?"
"Something like that," I said, scratching the back of my neck.
Alicia shook her head, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "Honestly, Arthur, I don't even know how to react to this."
"Don't think too hard about it," I said with a playful grin. "Just enjoy the moment. Life's simpler that way."
Alicia sighed but smiled faintly. "I guess you're right. What's meant to happen will happen. But promise me one thing—you'll never leave me."
I stepped closer, taking her hands in mine. "Leave you? Alicia, you're the love of my life. I'd never leave you. In fact…" I gave her a teasing grin. "…you'll be the head of my harem."
Her jaw dropped slightly before she burst out laughing, the sound bright and melodic. "Ha! This is the first time I've heard a man reassure a woman by promising she'll be the head of his harem."
"Well," I said, grinning, "you did kind of bring up the idea."
Alicia tilted her head, narrowing her eyes with a smirk. "Oh, please. As if you'd keep your prick in your pants even if I told you no."
"Ha… ha…" I laughed awkwardly, my hand rubbing the back of my neck. "You know me a little too well."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't hold back her laughter. "You're unbelievable."
"Unbelievable or not," I said, leaning in closer, "you're stuck with me."
Her cheeks flushed as I pressed a soft kiss to her lips, earning a few stares from passersby. When I pulled back, Alicia was red-faced, her head quickly lowering as she tried to regain her composure.
"You're ridiculous," she muttered, but there was a smile on her lips.
"And you love it," I teased, taking her hand. "Come on, we still have a movie to catch."
"Oh yes! What movie is it?" she asked, her eyes lighting up.
"I'm not sure," I replied with a shrug. "It's not a specific movie ticket—it's a theater pass. We'll find out when we get there."
We hailed a taxi, and after a short ride through the city's vibrant streets, we arrived at the theater. A large, colorful hoarding hung over the entrance, depicting a knight in shining armor locked in combat with a hulking demon. Behind him, a beautiful princess clutched her dress, wide-eyed with fear.
"Hah~" I sighed, rolling my eyes. "It's the same cliché story—a knight saves the princess. How original."
Alicia glanced at me and chuckled softly. "Don't be so cynical, Arthur. Sure, it's a classic, but classics have their own charm."
"Charm?" I raised an eyebrow. "You mean predictable plots and damsels in distress?"
She smiled, undeterred by my sarcasm. "It might be an old story, but it's romantic. And sometimes, that's exactly what you need."
I let out a playful sigh of defeat. "Well, if you say so, princess. Your wish is my command." I gave an exaggerated bow, pretending to be a noble knight.
Alicia laughed, her eyes sparkling. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"
"Ridiculously charming, I hope."