Episode 64

I give a wry smile at her surprised outcry.

“Alicia, you’re blushing bright red too.”

“I-I’m not blushing…!”

“You’re bright red, really bright red.”

When I poke her cheek while pointing it out, Alicia turns as red as I said.

Still, Alicia’s cheeks are soft. They’re squishy and I could keep touching them forever.

About a month ago, I never imagined I’d be living like this.

I’m about to smile at the state of my relationship with Alicia, but I can’t show such a slack expression.

For now, I’ll cherish this time we can spend together this morning.

For that reason… I don’t have time to tease Alicia any longer.

I wanted to enjoy this happy time a bit more, but Alicia is here for me to meet Lord Goral in the first place.

“…Alicia. Then, could I ask you to fix my bedhead?”

I let go of Alicia’s hand, and she stared fixedly at me.

Faced with Alicia’s look that seemed to say, “What kind of face are you saying that with?”, I could only give a wry smile.

“…It’s fine. But I’ll return the favor later.”

In the mirror, Alicia puffed her cheeks and looked over at me.

Return the favor… I felt a little uneasy about what she’d do later.

Alicia dipped one hand into a bucket of hot water and then touched my hair.

Then she gently started to comb my hair with a brush.

Her touch, massaging my scalp as if fixing bedhead, is a bit ticklish but pleasant.

If I closed my eyes like this, I felt I could fall asleep.

I wonder how long it’s been since someone else touched my hair. Since I started working at the court, I’ve been so busy that even haircuts I handled myself.

“Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah. But it’s a strange feeling. I’ve never had someone fix my bedhead like this.”

“Really? I often had servants do my makeup and such, so I’m used to this.”

Well, that makes sense. I’ve heard some nobles have servants help them dress and the like.

While we talked, Alicia continued fixing my bedhead.

When my hair was almost back to its usual style, Alicia stroked my hair.

“Faik’s hair is soft and feels nice to touch.”

“…Is that so?”

I’ve never compared my hair to others’, so I don’t know if that’s a compliment or not.

“Yeah. I like it.”

“…You like it, huh. If that’s the case… good.”

Alicia’s word “like” makes my heart skip.

I thought I was getting used to being told “I like you,” but clearly there were still parts I wasn’t used to.

I knew her “like” was directed at my hair, not me, though.

Trying not to let her notice my body stiffening from embarrassed tension, Alicia poked her face in and peered at me.

“Huh, Faik… are you a little nervous?”

It seems I’ve been found out.

That makes sense. Since Alicia is touching me directly, she must have felt me twitch earlier.

To hide my startled reaction, I covered it with a smile.

“R-right? I’m not really used to having my hair played with like this…”

I knew my smile looked strained, but Alicia nodded repeatedly.

“Is that so. Hehe.”

She didn’t exactly seem convinced. Alicia smiled in a meaningful way.

What on earth is she plotting? Just then,

Alicia whispered in my ear.

“Faik, I like you. I really like you.”

“…”

This time,

I couldn’t hold back.

A heat rose from deep inside me as I looked toward her.

Alicia smiled like a child whose prank had succeeded.

“I thought you became nervous because I said “I like you” earlier—was I not wrong?”

“…Well, yeah. Being told that out of nowhere…”

“Hehe, Faik, you’re so cute. Even your ears are bright red.”

Saying that, Alicia poked at my ear.