wildflower chapter 11

As twilight deepened, Lilian couldn’t discern Cairn’s expression. He broke the suffocating silence of the dense darkness. 

“…Lilian, do you… do you like me?” Cairn’s hand, resting gently on her thigh, trembled slightly. 

“No! I didn’t mean it like that.” Lilian shook her hand dismissively, and he sighed deeply. 

“If you didn’t, then why are you making such a… preposterous request?” 

“Why is a kiss preposterous? We used to kiss each other on the cheek when we were little. It’s the same thing! The only difference is it’s on the lips now….” 

For some reason, Lilian felt like a scoundrel trying to steal a man’s virtue. He was a man who charmed ladies like the Pied Piper, surely he was an expert at kissing. One more kiss wouldn’t wear his lips down. She made her own judgment and tried to erase her guilt. 

“So, why do you suddenly want to do that again now that we’re all grown up?” 

“Well… uh….” 

“Tell me the truth. What brought this on?” She had long thought of a plausible excuse. The problem was, it was rather audacious. 

“Kissing only one man my whole life seems terribly unfair!” 

“What?” 

“Life is so long, and once I’m married, I can only kiss my husband. Then… I’ll… I’ll wonder what it’s like to kiss someone else.” 

He inhaled deeply, listening silently. Undeterred, she continued, “Right now, I’m legally allowed to enjoy kissing multiple men, aren’t I?” 

Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and she noticed the deep crease between Cairn’s brows. He smoothed a hand over his chest, as if trying to compose himself. 

“Don’t tell me… Victor Regid proposed to you? Is that why you want to try it with someone else before you marry him?” 

“Huh?” 

“Is that really it?” 

“Huh?” A bewildered Lilian responded as if asking what he was talking about, but Cairn, mistaking her “Huh?” for an affirmation, began to rage. “Are you really going to accept that bastard’s proposal?” 

She had remained silent, yet somehow, she had become the one who had received a proposal. “He’s no good. You need to find a decent man, not some tiger-like brute…!” 

“Hey—Cairn, calm down.” 

“Do I look calm to you right now?” 

“I didn’t get a proposal…. Who would want to marry me…?” Lilian hung her head. “Lord Regid may be promiscuous, but he’s so handsome he’s incredibly popular. Why would he propose to me?” 

“Then, could it be… you confessed, and Victor Regid, no, that bastard rejected you?” 

“Huh?” The conversation kept veering off in strange directions. “What a jerk. Who does he think he is!” Cairn seemed angry no matter what she said. 

“Calm down! It’s neither of those! I’ve never spoken to Lord Victor Regid more than ten words! I just wanted to try kissing, so I named the person who seemed to have the most experience in the Empire.” 

She clapped her hands together. “So, are you going to let me kiss you or not?” He blinked, but didn’t open his mouth. 

“You promised on the Headington honor earlier. Doesn’t that mean you agreed?” 

“You really… how can you….” He covered his eyes. The skin visible between his fingers was flushed. 

“Just think of it as a… a bijou on the lips, okay?” Cairn opened and closed the hand he’d lowered from his face. He rose from the stool and walked to the end of the bedroom, opening the window halfway to cool off in the breeze. He paced there for a while, not returning to her side, then walked back with a determined stride. 

“Fine… but just briefly.” Lilian realized a moment later that his words were an agreement.