When that sentence dropped—"I hope this will be a good match"—62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCBIRpOa5d
it felt like a weight slammed down on Suzuran’s chest.
She lowered her gaze, quietly pulled her eyes away, and could no longer swallow even a bite of the dessert.
A moment later, she bit her lip and said, her voice as light as the wind drifting across the dinner table:
“…I’m full. I’ll head back to my room.”
“Huh?” Her father, Masaharu, blinked, a hint of concern in his voice.
But her mother, Kikyo, simply smiled gently and said,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZhiBBRNCl
“That’s fine. A young lady’s heart takes time to process things.”
Suzuran rose from her seat, the hem of her dress swaying gently with her steps.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcC5sBthIKJ
She didn’t look back—afraid that if she turned around, all the emotions she’d been holding back would burst out.
Kimijima stood silently by the wall, watching her walk away. His expression remained calm—62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VqnbJZij7
but his fingers clenched slightly around the tray he was holding.
Back in her room, Suzuran locked the door and collapsed onto the soft cream-colored carpet,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKHpqTmMLu
finally unable to hold back her tears.
It wasn’t because she hated Amagi Yuto.
That cheerful, brilliant, well-mannered classmate was—on paper—impeccable.
Nor was it because of her parents’ expectations.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wt7z9Hvfg
She knew they had never forced her. They’d only said:62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64U5kAvdGe
“Give it a try. If it doesn’t work, that’s okay.”
But still, she cried—cried so hard her chest throbbed in pain.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WrvUopb3i
Because that sentence… had taken root inside her.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaM798NKot
It coiled around her heart, tightening with every breath.
Because now, she finally understood—
The man she had secretly loved for so many years.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhR3rDWOSG
The one who had been by her side for nearly half her life.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH9J454mch
The one she thought—maybe, just maybe—might like her back, even a little...
Kimijima Koichi—
He had only ever looked at her with loyalty.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHejaXs7Jq
With gratitude.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJ9PHGg5C0
With unwavering duty.
There was never desire.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLPaq4juOU
Never hesitation.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvuJ5LXZfZ
Not even the faintest sign of emotional conflict or regret.
He’d smiled and wished her a "good marriage."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5mDFPbFVd
Steady. Courteous. Perfectly appropriate.
Just like he did every morning when he laid out her breakfast,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIZQYXEAmT
pressed her school uniform,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gvx7cSGom
or handed her umbrella in the rain.
She once believed she meant more than that umbrella.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbsEblCjFA
More than that ironed collar.
But she didn’t. She wasn’t.
She was only—
“My lady.”
Forever.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qyxA347ep
Only.
“My lady, it’s me.”
A soft knock came at the door, followed by a familiar, steady voice.
Suzuran jolted upright on the bed, startled from her daze.
She quickly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe away the tear tracks on her cheeks. Her heart pounded wildly.
“…Koichi? Why is he…”
She hesitated, then quietly opened the door just a crack, making sure he wouldn’t see her swollen, tear-stained eyes.
Outside, Kimijima Koichi stood as calm and composed as always, dressed in his usual deep gray butler uniform, a tray in hand.
Seeing the door open, he spoke gently, with impeccable composure:
“My lady, I noticed you hardly ate dinner. I’ve made some sandwiches and light desserts… nothing heavy.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv09BfPjr2H
If you’re not feeling well, perhaps you could eat a little.”
Suzuran lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes—62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusDMElF5Vx
the eyes she could sketch by memory, yet that showed not a ripple now.
His care was flawless,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvh2347a22
his tone was gentle,62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJri20as5A
but the distance between them remained—chillingly unchanged.
She sniffled, her voice soft:62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHmNLevRQw
“…I’m fine.”
Kimijima paused, then replied:62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepJtCMGfpb
“If you’d prefer, I can leave the tray outside. You can take it when you’re ready.”
That offer—so thoughtful, so proper—was also precisely the problem.
Even when he must’ve known she’d been crying, he refused to cross the line.
“No, Koichi. You can come in.”
Her voice trembled slightly, but she forced a calm tone.
He bowed and stepped in, placing the tray carefully on her desk.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5dgfSeFCp
The sandwiches were neatly cut.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlhergoBy8
There was her favorite apple blossom tea.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3oqQAn7JR
And a slice of soft whipped cream cake.
Everything—exactly to her taste.
“My lady… are you alright?”
He turned to her, his eyes calm, his voice soft like moonlight on a spring night.
Suzuran didn’t answer. She bit her lip hard. Her eyes burned again.
Kimijima hesitated, then asked:62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQodvLlcI7e
“Is it that you don’t like Yuto Amagi?”
He smiled gently—no pressure in his tone.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUN2ASw9ez
Like he was asking if she wanted Earl Grey or Darjeeling.
That calm smile—without even a trace of bitterness—62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSlv15CEQF
hurt more than anything.
“…No,” she finally replied.
“He’s wonderful. Truly.”
“I don’t dislike him…”
She looked up at him—only to find he was standing still, hands folded, keeping a polite distance.
Like a wall.
“It's just... some answers,” she whispered, “I’ve been waiting for... will never come.”
She smiled. And cried.
He didn’t speak.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRDNoiOnAx
Just bowed his head, silently.
“My body feels unwell... could you feed me?”
Her voice was soft, and her eyes pleaded quietly.
Kimijima blinked. “Me?”
“Yes.” She leaned back into the chair with a faint smile.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUsuo2Ctvu
“I’m feeling so weak… I can’t lift my arms.”
He glanced down at her, but said nothing more.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWB1EtGtvB
Instead, he calmly said:
“Then please lie down. I’ll feed you.”
Helping her gently, he guided her to bed with a steady hand—62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbo1UITGx2g
all done with flawless professionalism.
Suzuran’s heart fluttered, but she obeyed.
He sat by her bedside, picked up a piece of sandwich with a fork, and held it to her lips.
“Open up, my lady.”
She looked at his composed face and asked quietly:
“Do you… not think this is too intimate?”
He calmly replied:62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5BsTVZGDU
“You’re my responsibility. I’ll take care of you.”
That sentence—
cut colder than any tea without sugar.
After the last bite, he gathered the utensils, as if nothing had happened.
Her heart pounded. She feigned calm:
“Koichi… one more thing.”
“My shoulders are sore… will you massage them?”
He paused.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynuybdhnGj
“That’s something Lady Sisimi can assist you with—”
“No.”
She suddenly raised her head, voice firm and stubborn.
“I want you, Kimijima Koichi.”
Her gaze held him.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaZz6pqVAG
Raw, desperate, aching—with a touch of challenge.
“This is an order.”
Kimijima stared at her.
No emotion on his face.
Just silence.
Then finally—he knelt behind her on the bed.
“…As you command, my lady.”
He placed his hands gently on her shoulders.
Steady. Measured.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvKzAhietb
Every touch restrained by invisible lines.
And that—
was what hurt the most.
"How pathetic... I have to order you... just to be touched," she thought bitterly.
She bit her lip, then suddenly pulled her nightgown slightly off one shoulder.
Smooth, pale skin glowed under the lamp.
“If I can’t move you tonight…”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJWagHxUqE
“Then I’ll give up.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvya61D1j2
“But I want to be selfish. Just once more.”
She didn’t turn. Just waited.
Kimijima’s breath faltered—62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RbG4Zqqi9
his fingers stopped right at her collarbone.
A half inch lower—62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQpHgKXtTe
and he would cross that forbidden line.
One second.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8sLbGSBsf
Two.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPPzmk7mCD
Three.
Then—
he withdrew his hand.
“…My lady, what is this?”
“I want an oil massage. It’s more comfortable,” she said, pulling her neckline lower on the other side.
His hand hovered mid-air.
His voice came out strained—no longer calm, but clipped and trembling:
“…Please don’t joke like this.”
Suzuran didn’t answer. She turned slightly, lashes low, a strange smile on her lips.
She wasn’t joking.
She was gambling.
“If I don’t do this now… I’ll regret it forever.”
“I just want to confirm something.”
Her voice was light—almost lost in the silence.
“I want to know… if you’ve ever seen me as a woman.”
Kimijima froze. His eyes flickered.
“…My lady, I am a man.”
“But your father saved me.”
His voice cracked with tension.
“You doing this… I’ll lose control.”
“Then Koichi… does that mean… you’re shaken?”
Her voice trembled. Full of longing and fear.
Her heart beat wildly.
All she wanted—was a reason to stay.
Kimijima lowered his gaze. His breathing unsteady.
“Please… value yourself more. You shouldn’t—”
“I do value myself, Koichi.”
She looked him in the eyes.
Soft. Sincere. But unwavering.
“Exactly because I do…62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7ApqLOkBI
I want the first man who touches and kisses me—to be you.”
“Not Amagi. Not anyone else.”
That sentence—
like a key that cracked his last restraint.
His eyes widened.
Something inside him—
finally broke.
He reached for her—pulling her into his arms.
But not with force.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsV6QOkhHE
With aching gentleness.
His forehead rested on hers.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sG8aq7rpH
His breath trembled.
“…You don’t know what you’re doing to me…”
His voice was so low, it almost didn’t exist.
Not a confession.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPetM0NgMnH
Not a refusal.
Just a fracture.
Suzuran’s eyes glistened.
She finally knew what she wanted.
“Koichi…” she whispered.
“I order you—”
“Kiss me.”
Silence.
He froze.
“Kiss my lips, Koichi.”
He shut his eyes tight.
Like he was battling a storm inside his own body.
“…I’m sorry, my lady.”
His voice was gentle.
But trembling.
“This… is the one order I cannot obey.”
Suzuran stared.
Then the tears came, like a dam breaking.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmWhfAX4FB
62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f711vyppx
62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMAKGCshgy
You made it this far—you're seriously the sweetest! 🥹💗62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQJ6dhM8Lw
If you liked it, don’t forget to like 👍, bookmark ⭐, and drop a little comment 📝~62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdKnykGedz
Your support keeps me going—and keeps the characters falling deeper in love 💞💭62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9Jao0rgks
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