Sorry, I got distracted by your looks Chapter 9

Mikrok floated in the water for a moment, staring at the way Leah’s platinum hair and slip billowed around her, shimmering under the moonlight.

She wasn’t moving.

The way her body drifted lifelessly with the gentle waves was eerily haunting.

And in that moment, Mikrok finally understood what it felt like for his heart to stop beating.

Instinct took over.

Without a second thought, he lunged, grabbing the back of her neck and yanking her out of the water in one swift motion.

“Cough! Cough!!“

Leah sputtered violently, choking on the water she had swallowed.

But Mikrok felt no sympathy.

She had dared to leave him.

Anger surged through his veins—though, if he were honest, it wasn’t just anger at her. It was fury at himself for being fooled by her innocent act.

“Were you planning this from the start? Did you follow me just so you could kill yourself?”

“What?! I was just holding my breath!”

“Holding your breath?”

“Yes! It’s a game I always play in the water!”

Leah’s indignant expression made it clear she wasn’t lying.

But even knowing that, he couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.

The idea of her leaving him—even unintentionally—had terrified him more than he could comprehend.

Mikrok spent half the year on the battlefield. He had cut down thousands, crushed entire nations—he had even wiped out his mother’s homeland without hesitation.

He had never feared anything.

But for the first time in his life, he had felt the sharp claws of fear dig into his chest.

And it was because of this one woman.

His heart pounded wildly as he stared at her, slowly beginning to calm as he reassured himself that she was still here.

Through the thin fabric of her slip, her warmth seeped into his palms.

Her long, wet hair clung to his arm, tickling his skin.

The way the moonlight reflected off her porcelain face and unique violet eyes only made her look more otherworldly.

Mikrok found himself unable to look away.

And as his heart thumped in his chest, a different kind of heat crept through him.

Without thinking, he leaned in.

The scent of soap mixed with her natural fragrance made his head spin.

He reached out, gently brushing his thumb across her damp eyelashes, wiping away the water droplets trailing down her face.

Then, cupping her cheek, he traced his fingers along her soft skin.

Leah’s lips parted slightly in surprise, and she blinked up at him, dazed.

Mikrok tilted his head down, inching closer—

And then—

Suddenly, Leah’s hands pressed against his shoulders.

She pushed.

The buoyancy of the water lifted her up, making their eyes meet at the same level—

And in that fleeting moment—

“Muah!”

Leah stole his lips.

***

It was the moonlight’s fault!

Or maybe it was the stars?

No, maybe the sound of the stream was too calming, making her brain malfunction.

Wrapped tightly in her blanket inside the tent, Leah rolled around in embarrassment.

“What the hell was that?!”

She bolted upright, her face burning.

She had been mesmerized.

Mikrok’s once-furious eyes had softened into something deep and intense—like polished black jade soaking in moonlight.

“He’s… too pretty.”

And then, his hand.

That huge, calloused hand that had felt so gentle against her face.

And his lips…

Her whole body twitched.

She had barely touched them, but they were insanely soft.

“Damn it! Just kill me now!”

She groaned and flopped back down, only to freeze.

Wait.

“Does this mean I really am a face-obsessed idiot?!”

For years, she had pretended to be one to lower the Marchioness’s guard.

She had thought she was simply acting.

But tonight, she had proven herself wrong.

“I really am an idiot for good looks!”

That face—his sharp jawline, the way his lips stood out against his pale skin—it was unfairly perfect.

It was like a cherry on top of a mountain of ice cream.

And she had wanted it.

She had craved it.

And she had stolen it before he could even kiss her first!

“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!”

She buried her face in her blanket.

Just as she was about to slam her head into the ground in frustration, she suddenly recalled his reaction.

Right before she had kissed him, his eyes had held something dark and dangerous.

But when she had actually kissed him…

He had… flinched.

It was as if she had shocked him.

Like the spell around them had broken.

Her confidence had evaporated in an instant, and she had run for her life.

“Haha! It’s cold even in the summer. I’ll head back first! Take your time!”

She had practically fled from the water.

Before she had left, she had sneaked one last glance back at him—

Only to find Mikrok staring at his own palm.

“Wait… was my kiss worse than his own hand?”

She flopped onto her back with a groan.

If Mikrok had kissed before, then surely there had been plenty of noblewomen throwing themselves at him.

That face? That body? Women would have lined up!

But this was her first kiss!

And it had been completely ignored!

Now she just felt insulted.

Grumbling, she pulled the blanket over her head.

“Forget it. Just sleep. Pretend it never happened.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, determined to rest.

But before she could, a loud neigh echoed outside.

“Young Lady! Lady Leah!!!”

Leah bolted upright.

“Millie?! Is that really you?!”

Heart racing, she scrambled out of the tent.

And there, standing in front of her—

Was Millie.

Leah’s dear maid, whom she had never been apart from since she was eight.

Millie looked exhausted, her normally round face gaunt, with dark circles deep under her eyes.

But she was here.

Neither of them hesitated.

They ran to each other, grabbing each other’s hands tightly.

“How did you get here?!” Leah gasped.

“I forced Sir William to bring me!” Millie grinned, despite her exhaustion. “He was terrifying at first, but I managed!”

From the look in her eyes, Leah immediately knew—William had been the one who had suffered the most.

Looking around, she spotted him.

William was kneeling in front of Mikrok, bowing his head.

Mikrok, now wearing a loose shirt, casually patted his shoulder before turning away to start a fire.

“I’ll do it, Your Majesty,” William said.

“Go pitch a tent. Sleeping in a tree was annoying.”

William swiftly began setting up a second tent.

Leah turned back to Millie, whispering, “William looks ridiculously stubborn. How did you convince him?”

Millie gave a sheepish smile.

“Oh… I, uh… stole his horse.”

“…What?”

“Yeah. I snuck into the stables before dawn and took Bibi.”

“Bibi?”

“His horse. I tied her up under a ginkgo tree and told him that if he didn’t take me, he’d never find her.”

Leah gawked at her in admiration.

Millie had blackmailed one of the scariest knights in Pritan—and won.

Leah squeezed her maid’s hands.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“My back and butt are sore,” Millie admitted.

“But it doesn’t matter. I found you, so everything’s fine now.”