After indulging in a delightful lunch, Louise and I continued our date, exploring the vibrant streets of the holy nation.


    Our journey took us to various ces, from icondmarks to hidden gems, and we reveled in the experiences each location offered.


    We delighted in the spontaneity of entering unknown shops, discovering unique items, and even stumbled upon street performances that captivated our attention.


    The bustling atmosphere,bined with the charm of the city, created an enchanting backdrop for our day.


    We didn''t miss a beat, savoring the moment as we indulged in street foods, engaged with random children, and immersed ourselves in the lively energy of the streets.


    We were even lucky enough to watch a y performed by a pretty famous troupe known for their grand productions.


    Throughout these experiences, I discovered facets of Louise''s personality that I hadn''t fully appreciated before.


    The way sheughed, the warmth of her smile, and her natural ability to connect with others all contributed to making her a truly fun and engaging person.


    Spending this time together allowed me to see her in a different light, deepening our connection.


    As the sun began its descent, casting a warm glow over the city, Louise and I found ourselves shopping for clothes.


    It seems she wanted to buy some gifts for Ana and Elena before the day ends.


    And as we continued to stroll along the shop


    Among the array of options, something caught my eye—a delicate pink hairpin with a flowery and gentle design.


    It seemed to mirror the pure pink hue of Louise''s eyes.


    I carefully held the delicate pink hairpin in my hands.


    Meanwhile, Louise was engrossed in a conversation with the store staff, inquiring about a specific type of clothing.


    Sensing the perfect opportunity, I called out to her.


    "Louise"


    "Nn?"


    "Excuse me…" I said, gently pulling her closer to me.


    With a soft smile, I pushed back a section of her tinum blonde hair, creating a space to ce the hairpin.


    As it nestled into her hair, the flowery design blended seamlessly with her locks, entuating the beauty of her face.


    "There we go, it suits you well"


    I remarked, admiring the reflection in the mirror that the staff was holding.


    Louise''s embarrassment was evident in her shy smile, and she mumbled a quiet


    "T-thank you" Even as she became more proactive in expressing her feelings, it was reassuring to see that she was still the same Louise I knew.


    The female staff members, noticing Louise''s endearing reaction, couldn''t help but giggle.


    Fiddling with her hair and adjusting the hairpin, Louise seemed to genuinely enjoy the unexpected gift.


    ….


    The atmosphere in the theater was filled withughter as one of the actors on stageically stumbled, and Adrian''sughter resonated right next to me.


    Witnessing him genuinely enjoy the y, seeing his eyes sparkle with amusement, made my heart skip a beat.


    In that moment, surrounded by the vibrant energy of the performance, I couldn''t help but feel an overwhelming happiness.


    ''This is the happiest moment of my life…''


    The smile on my face wouldn''t leave.


    ''I never thought I would experience something like this''


    Savoring the joy of the shared experience.


    I found myself wishing that this blissful moment would never end, that time would stand still in the midst of ourughter and enjoyment.


    "Haha" Adrian''sughter continued, a sound that felt like music to my ears.


    His rare disy of genuine emotion was a reassuring sight, a reminder that our date was going well.


    ''I''m being a good date right now, right?''


    ''Is he truly enjoying himself?''


    As overthinking thoughts threatened to cloud my mind, I shook my head to dispel the unnecessary worries. It was essential not to let my own uncertainties overshadow the present joy.


    While caution was warranted, excessive overthinking would only detract from the authentic connection we were building.


    I reminded myself of the purpose of our date—to have fun together, to create shared memories, and to deepen the bond between us.


    It wasn''t solely about making him fall for me; it was about both of us enjoying the experience.


    Returning my attention to the y, I found myselfughing at the perfectly timededic moments, especially when one of the actors seemingly fell off the stage.


    It turned out that the initial stumble was all part of the act.


    The y seamlessly transitioned through genres, weavingedy, action, drama, and finally, romance into its narrative.


    It was an unconventional mix, yet it somehow worked harmoniously with the unfolding story.


    As the y approached its conclusion, I sensed a shift in the atmosphere.


    Adrian''s gaze was fixed on me, and our eyes met.


    "Adrian…?"


    "…."


    I called out but he stayed quiet.


    There was an unspoken tension in the air, and I found myself holding my breath.


    To my surprise, his focus seemed directed at my lips.


    Gulp…!


    My heart quickened, anticipating a moment that could redefine our connection.


    Slowly, he moved closer, our hands still entwined, leaving no means for me to escape.


    ''T-this is it right?''


    Preparing for an imminent kiss, I closed my eyes, lips slightly quivering. I could feel the warmth of his presence nearing.


    Touch...


    Something soft and firm made contact with my cheek.


    It wasn''t my lips that were kissed but my cheek…?


    Opening my eyes in confusion, I was met with a mischievous smirk on Adrian''s face.


    "Were you expecting something?" he teased, his hands now lightly resting on my cheeks.


    "Y-you...!" I stammered, my embarrassment ring.


    Reacting on impulse, I yfully punched him, but my attempts at retaliation seemed futile as heughed it off, seemingly unaffected by my punches.


    This guy is just toying with me, even though I thought I was prepared for anything! Fueled by a mixture of anger and embarrassment, I forcefully grabbed his cor while he continued tough.


    Our faces drew closer, and his warm breath tickled my nose.


    Locked in that intense moment, our eyes met, and with newfound resolve, I pressed my lips onto his.


    Closing my eyes to shield myself from the embarrassment, I could feel the soft warmth of his lips against mine. The kiss lingered for about three seconds, but it felt like an eternity before I pulled away.


    That was my first kiss—with a man, and more importantly, with the actual boy I loved.


    Opening my eyes again, I could see his cheeks turning red.


    "T-that was your punishment...!" I stammered, attempting toe up with an excuse. Unable to face him any longer, my head turned downward.


    My face was probably as bright red as a tomato, and an inexplicable heat coursed through my body.


    I couldn''t take it.


    My heart was pounding wildly, almost to the point of feeling like I might faint.


    I felt like I was on the verge of losing myposure as my breathing became heavier, but oddly, I didn''t want this sensation to end.


    Thump...!


    Adrian pressed something onto my head, patting me gently with his right hand.


    He rubbed my head as if to console me.


    "Sorry, I guess I teased you a bit too much there…," he said soothingly, apparently noticing my difficulty in controlling myself.


    Then, before I knew it, his hands gently grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up.


    Press...


    Once again, our lips met.


    I closed my eyes, shutting out the gazes of the people around us. In the beginning, I was uncertain and awkward, thinking that pressing lips was the extent of kissing.


    However, a desire to explore this newfound intimacy took over, and I found myself wanting to suck on his lips.


    I had heard that lovers often deepen their kisses, their tongues intertwining in a passionate dance.


    ''Mom and Cecilia said that it was the start to making children''


    A first step per se.


    It would be good to prepare for child making right?


    Should I try that? I''m sure Adrian would enjoy it…!


    Just as I was about to make a bold move with my tongue, he unexpectedly pulled away.


    Opening my eyes and wondering what went wrong, I was met with his gentle smile as his hand caressed the tip of my lips.


    "Let''s not rush things," he said, calming me down.


    Whispering in my ear, he added, "We can do all of that and moreter..." His words sent a shiver down my spine, and a mixture of anticipation and nervousness filled the air.


    As my mind was still hazy, processing everything that had just happened, I simply nodded in response to Adrian''s suggestion.


    "Ahem...!"


    A man sitting nearby coughed loudly, clearly annoyed by our public disy of affection. Even those around us shot subtle nces in our direction.


    Adrian chuckled a bit before refocusing his attention on the ongoing y, but my eyes lingered on him.


    I didn''t want this moment to end, and the connection between us felt stronger than ever.


    After the y concluded, Adrian and I wandered around the city, enjoying some street food and ying with the local children engaged in a peculiar game involving kicking a wooden ball into a.


    Despite its oddity, the game turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable, even though I only managed to score one point – those kids were skilled!


    "Did you have fun?" Adrian asked.


    "Yes, although the game they were ying was weird and new, it was surprisingly fun," I replied with a genuine smile.


    "I didn''t expect you to be good at interacting with children, Louise. They practically treated you like their big sister; they even listened to your every word," Adrian said, genuinely surprised


    ''Those annoying brats even took your hand away from me...'' he mumbled at the end.


    I chuckled at his cute reaction. It seemed like he didn''t want to let go of holding hands.


    I was d I wasn''t the only one.


    "Hehe, surprising, right? I may not look like it, but back in my hometown, all the kids practically liked me. I was everyone''s big sister," I said proudly.


    After that, our date continued, and before we knew it, the sun was ready to rest.


    Then, a peculiar clothing store caught my eyes.


    This store was quite different from the others we had visited, as most of them only had white or ck clothing on disy. However, this one had different sets of colors showcased.


    "Adrian, how about we buy some gifts for Elena and Ana before the day ends?" I suggested.


    He looked at the store I was eyeing and nodded, "Sure," he said.


    The store we entered was noticeably different from the others we had visited. While everything in the city exuded a sense of holiness and reserve, this shop had a distinct feel of the clothing stores you would find in the empire. A staff member approached us.


    "Hello, dear customers, what can I do for you today?" she greeted.


    I wondered if she was the owner, but considering there were others around the store with the same uniform, I assumed she was just a worker.


    "Hello, we''re looking for something that''s appropriate for a gift" I said.


    She contemted for a moment before suggesting something.


    I looked at the three dresses in front of me.


    I clearly only asked for two dresses yet she brought three…. The blue and ck dresses was for Elena and Ana but what about this red one?


    It was a crimson dress with ck details around it,plete with a half-mask veil and webbed ck gloves as a set.


    "This red dress was actually a recent import we had from the Yamara Kingdom, and it can reform and reshape its size depending on the wearer," she exined. Then, she walked closer to me and whispered, "Young miss, it has quite the special effect of enticing a young man''s eagerness and energy at night..." with a wink.


    Even though I clearly stated that we were buying gifts, it seemed that the red dress was picked especially for me.


    Did she think that something was up between me and Adrian?


    Well, she wasn''t wrong, and I appreciated it, but the dress was a bit too provocative, reminding me of the dresses Aria wore back at the academy.


    Nevertheless, I decided to buy it. I had to take all my chances now that I had resolved to take on the role of the second wife for Adrian, and who knows, maybe the first spot might eventually be mine….


    "Louise…" Adrian suddenly called out.


    "Nn?" I turned around.


    "Excuse me," he said before cing a hairpin on my hair. His gentle touch was as soothing as ever. Was it for me?


    "Young miss," the staff called out and ced a mirror in front of me. Looking at the beautiful hairpin on my hair, I felt like crying in happiness.


    "It suits you well," Adrian said, and when he spoke those words, my heart beat once again. This was the first actual gift he gave me, right? Excluding all the potions I''ve received from him.


    "T-thank you"


    I felt like falling for him once again.