Chapter 423

After a brief game with the cherry stems and an unexpected display of affection in the park, Ethan and I had a light lunch at a place he recommended. Now, we found ourselves at a dessert shop in the shopping district.

It was the same dessert shop I’d visited a few years ago with Isabel and Katarina. We’d shared a slice of strawberry shortcake there.

I thought this would be a good opportunity to bring him here. Since Ethan spends over half the year at the academy, he doesn’t get many chances to explore the Blackwood estate. Especially not places like this that cater mostly to female customers.

“For someone who hardly goes out, you sure know about some interesting places, Lily.”

“I came here with Isabel and Katarina on an outing once. The strawberry cake was really good. Since you paid for lunch, let me treat you to dessert.”

“You really don’t have to do that. Wouldn’t it be better if I paid?”

“Come on, let me pay this time. Besides, I don’t really have many chances to spend my salary otherwise.”

“…Alright, just this once then.”@@novelbin@@

Of course, saving money for when I eventually leave the Blackwood estate would be wise, but spending a bit here and there wasn’t going to hurt.

Since Ethan didn’t seem keen on finishing a whole slice on his own, we decided to share one slice of cake and a large drink with two straws.

‘We really look like a sappy couple, don’t we?’

Never thought I’d be sharing a drink with two straws in this world—something I never got to do in my past life.

I didn’t mind it, but it would be a bit embarrassing if someone I knew saw us like this. Fortunately, the only people I know here are Agnes or Lizzie, and they have no reason to come to Blackwood, so it’s fine.

“Here, Ed. Say ‘ah~.’”

“…Ah.”

Ethan, seeming both embarrassed and amused, took a bite from the piece of cake I offered.

“It’s not as sweet as what our cook makes, but I like that it lets the strawberry flavor come through more.”

“Right, Ed?”

After his brief review, he returned the favor, holding a piece up for me.

“Your turn, Lily. Say ‘ah~.’”

“…Ah.”

It wasn’t lost on me that we were basically exchanging indirect kisses with each bite, but after the “direct kisses” we’d shared in the park, I didn’t mind.

The warm afternoon passed as we shared a slice of cake and a drink under the sun—not too hot, just perfect.

As I leaned in to give Ethan the next bite, I noticed a spot of cream on his right cheek.

“Ed, you’ve got some cream on your cheek.”

“Where? Left or right?”

“Hold on. I’ll get it for you. Turn your left cheek this way, please.”

I took out a handkerchief and stood up, moving closer to him. But as I reached up to wipe the cream, a playful idea crossed my mind.

-Lick.

“Uh?!”

Ethan’s eyes went wide as I suddenly licked the cream off his cheek. He looked at me as if he were waiting for an explanation, but I just smiled and shrugged.

“It seemed too good to just wipe away.”

“…You’re right.”

His face flushed, so I knew my little prank had landed well. In the park, he’d taken the lead, but this time, I had the upper hand—one to one.

“Here, Lily. Say ‘ah~’ again.”

“Ah~.”

Ethan held out the last piece of cake, and I opened my mouth to take it. But before I could, he twisted the fork slightly, smearing a bit of cream on the corner of my lips.

…I could have just licked it off, but I wanted to see if Ethan would go along with what I was thinking.

“Lily, you’ve got some cream on your lips.”

“…Where exactly, Ed?”

“Hold still. I’ll take care of it.”

Seeing him approach without a handkerchief, I knew what he was planning and closed my eyes, waiting.

A familiar sensation brushed against the corner of my mouth as Ethan’s tongue licked away the cream.

-Lick.

“Mm…”

“There, all clean now.”

“Thank you, Ed.”

Ethan returned to his seat with a satisfied look, as if he’d won some unspoken contest. But I wasn’t about to let him have the final victory.

“Hold on, Ed. There’s still a little cream left.”

“…Hm?”

“Stay right there, don’t move.”

I scraped a bit of cream from the plate with the back of the fork and dabbed it onto his lower lip. Before he could react, I leaned in and covered his lip with mine.

-Smooch.

“Mmph.”

“Mm, mm.”

-Kiss, kiss.

“Mmm, mmm…”

It was a slightly sultry kiss, sucking on his lower lip to clean off the cream. Normally, I wouldn’t be so bold, but this time I had the excuse of “cleaning up” after him.

I didn’t mind enveloping his lip with mine and letting my tongue trace it, even if it was a bit embarrassing. I could handle this much.

-Smooch.

“Hah, hah…”

“Mmph…”

We parted, and a string of saliva stretched between us, glistening in the light. With flushed cheeks, we finally broke apart.

“There, all cleaned up. Next, I wanted to go to the general store in the shopping district…”

-Smooch!

Before I could finish, Ethan pulled me into another kiss, catching me off guard.

His sudden kiss had no pretense, no excuse—just an unrestrained desire that I couldn’t bring myself to resist.

As I tried to move my tongue in response, he held my tongue in his mouth, sucking on it with surprising intensity.

-Suck, suck!

“Hah?! Mmph?!”

-Suck, suck!

“Hah, hah?! What—what are you…?!”

Ethan pulled away after a few deep sucks on my tongue, leaving me breathless and reeling.

“Hah, hah…”

“Hah… Ed, what was that?”

“You had some cream on your tongue, so I was just cleaning it up.”

“No, I didn’t! You just wanted an excuse to kiss me!”

“There was cream—on your tongue.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Yup, just a little cream. So I cleaned it up.”

“…Unbelievable.”

But he wasn’t backing down from his absurd excuse, claiming he was only “cleaning up.” I shook my head and just let it go.

“Well, thank you for that, Ed.”

“You know you started it, right?”

“I’m well aware. That’s why I’m letting you off with that shameless excuse.”

“You were the one who smeared cream on my lip first.”

“No, Ed. You were more shameless.”

“But you started it.”

Fine, if that’s how he wants to play it.

Let’s see who gets the last word. I’ll take it as far as it needs to go to win.

…We’ll see who comes out on top in the end.