A Kiss as the Wager's Forfeit
565 Words
“Okay, as promised, time for my reward.”
Irene looked away.
She knew she lost the bet, she could accept that. But this reward, it felt like a total setup.
(This just doesn’t sit right with me!)
The demon watched Irene’s displeased expression with amusement.
With a deep breath, Irene steeled herself. No matter the reason, a promise was a promise. As a daughter of the Brighton Duke, she had to keep her word.
Then she remembered. The Queen also rewarded champions with a kiss.
(It’s not just a kiss, it’s a reward!)
Probably, once she graduates, she’d have to give reward kisses too. So this was practice!
With that thought, she stood up quickly.
“Here goes nothing!” She plopped down next to Cain.
Then she turned abruptly to face him, taking in his flawless features. His dark hair swayed gently, and his ruby-red eyes were fixed on her.
“…Ah!”
Grabbing a nearby cushion, she buried her red-hot face into it.
(No way, I can’t do this!)
She had never kissed a man before. She had no idea what to do.
Cain, watching Irene with her face buried and ears turning red, couldn’t help but stifle a laugh.
Then, he leaned in and whispered, “I’ll go first,” and planted a light kiss on her cheek.
“…Ah!!” Irene let out a silent scream, clutching her cheek as she jumped to the other end of the sofa. She pressed herself against the edge, glaring at Cain with teary eyes.
“What are you doing?!”
“I thought it’d be easier for you if I did it first.”
“Well… maybe… but…”
Irene looked away. She had to admit, if it were up to her, it might’ve taken all night.
Suddenly, she realized how foolish she must look. Losing her composure like this was disgraceful for a duke’s daughter.
She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself, running a hand through her hair.
“So, this is over now, right?” she said, trying to sound casual.
Cain covered his mouth, chuckling again. After a moment, he cleared his throat and stood up, smiling at Irene’s attempt to regain her dignity.
“Yes, the reward has been given, and the bet is settled.”
“Right.”
“It’s late, you should get some rest.”
“Yeah, I will.”
Irene stiffly walked to her bed, trying to act normal. She decided to put it all behind her.
As she lay there, with Cain gently stroking her head as usual, she vowed never to make a bet with a demon again. Slowly, she drifted off to sleep.
＊
A little while after Irene fell asleep, Cain left the room, walking silently through the dark hallways of the mansion. The moonlight from the windows illuminated his face softly.
Images of Irene’s flushed ears flashed in his mind, and he couldn’t help but chuckle.
This was far more entertaining than playing cards in the demon realm.
(…But who exactly was that Mrs. Nasty?)
She had completely controlled Irene and the servants, bending them to her will. Maybe she was some kind of spy.
(Well, whatever. She's not coming back.)
Cain glanced out the window, staring at the rising moon. “This is going to be fun,” he murmured before disappearing into the dark hallway.
- Writer
