The Prince’s First Love Was Me – Chapter 18

Author: Asternkm

Of course, Aaron understood how uncomfortable it was to walk around in clothes drenched with sweat right after training.

But that was only acceptable when using the back paths near the training grounds and soldiers’ quarters. Wandering around half-naked in the courtyard, where the maids could see them, or around the mansion itself made their intentions painfully obvious. He couldn’t just let it slide.

More than anything, he was concerned about Ronnie, who had run into them right in front of him.

Ronnie had turned as red as a tomato and made a fuss just because Aaron had taken off his shirt. How would he react when faced with soldiers who were practically naked?

“……?”

For some reason, though, Ronnie didn’t look the least bit embarrassed.

“Wow! You guys are amazing!”

Instead, he let out a hearty exclamation and even gave them a thumbs-up.

The soldiers burst out laughing, exchanged a few words with Ronnie, and noisily continued on their way.

Even after they had passed, Ronnie remained busy kicking pebbles around with his feet.

“Well, look at that.”

Aaron’s cheek twitched slightly as he watched the whole scene.

A strange sense of victory seemed to wash over him.

At the same time, he found himself wanting to see Ronnie’s reaction one more time.

Was Ronnie really only unable to control his embarrassment when he was around Aaron?

“……Ha.”

Aaron soon let out a self-mocking laugh.

What was he planning to do with that information anyway?

Just as he was growing confused by his own train of thought—

“Ronnie!”

Chris suddenly pulled out a handkerchief, grabbed Ronnie by the shoulder, and drew him into his arms.

What’s going on?

Frowning, Aaron craned his neck to get a better look, but Ronnie was so small that Chris’s broad back blocked his view.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

The fingers that had been tapping steadily against the window frame suddenly stopped.

After a brief silence, Aaron let out a deep sigh, as if he were finally venting everything he had been holding in, and quickly left the room.

Of course, Aaron understood how uncomfortable it was to walk around in clothes drenched with sweat right after training.

More than anything, he was concerned about Ronnie, who had run into them right in front of him.

Ronnie had turned as red as a tomato and made a fuss just because Aaron had taken off his shirt. How would he react when faced with soldiers who were practically naked?

“……?”

For some reason, though, Ronnie didn’t look the least bit embarrassed.

“Wow! You guys are amazing!”

Instead, he let out a hearty exclamation and even gave them a thumbs-up.

The soldiers burst out laughing, exchanged a few words with Ronnie, and noisily continued on their way.

Even after they had passed, Ronnie remained busy kicking pebbles around with his feet.

“Well, look at that.”

Aaron’s cheek twitched slightly as he watched the whole scene.

A strange sense of victory seemed to wash over him.

At the same time, he found himself wanting to see Ronnie’s reaction one more time.

Was Ronnie really only unable to control his embarrassment when he was around Aaron?

“……Ha.”

Aaron soon let out a self-mocking laugh.

What was he planning to do with that information anyway?

Just as he was growing confused by his own train of thought—

“Ronnie!”

Chris suddenly pulled out a handkerchief, grabbed Ronnie by the shoulder, and drew him into his arms.

What’s going on?

Frowning, Aaron craned his neck to get a better look, but Ronnie was so small that Chris’s broad back blocked his view.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

The fingers that had been tapping steadily against the window frame suddenly stopped.

After a brief silence, Aaron let out a deep sigh, as if he were finally venting everything he had been holding in, and quickly left the room.

****

Twenty minutes earlier.

After quietly leaving the office at Aaron’s order, Chris and I immediately shot each other angry looks the moment the door closed, as if we’d agreed to do it beforehand.

Chris also looked like he had plenty to say, but since we couldn’t make a scene inside, we first left the central hall in silence.

“This is all your fault, Chris!”

The moment we stepped outside the entrance, I immediately started scolding him.

“Why did you look at Aaron?! You should’ve pretended not to know until the very end!”

“If you hadn’t brought it up in the first place, I wouldn’t have had any reason to look at His Highness.”

“I was just telling you to keep it in mind……”

I was at a loss for words, so I pouted and grumbled.

When he put it that way, I couldn’t argue.

Human nature was like that, after all. Tell someone not to do something, and they wanted to do it even more. Tell them not to look, and they wanted to look even more.

“Forget it. Since things have turned out this way, let’s go look at the flower beds. I saw some interesting plants earlier.”

While Chris and I were killing time with idle conversation, a group of about thirty royal guards appeared from nowhere and marched past in step.

As if hypnotized, I slowly turned my head to follow them.

“Chris. If I work out, can I get a body like theirs, too?”

“First, you need to gain some weight. You need to have something for the muscles to grow on, don’t you?”

I looked down at my body and quickly agreed.

Even if I built muscle in my current state, I doubted I’d look threatening to anyone.

Then I’d at least like to build up my stamina. I want to learn swordsmanship or self-defense, something that would let me protect myself.

Wasn’t it a good idea for a young nobleman to learn at least one sport or martial art?

I suddenly remembered an episode from the original novel in which the noble young men who spent time with Aaron humiliated Paul.

They’d mocked him, saying he didn’t know how to wield a sword, couldn’t handle a gun, and couldn’t even hold his liquor.

What can you do, then?

The scene was so vivid that it felt as if I’d witnessed it myself.

I’d been furious watching Paul clench his fists, unable to fight back.

It really did seem like a good idea to learn something so I wouldn’t be looked down on.

“Since we’re on the subject……”

I waited for a chance, then casually asked Chris in a subtle tone,

“Would it be possible for me to train here with the others?”

“If you want to, I can ask His Highness. He’ll probably approve. Though it would only be for the duration of your contract.”

How stingy. This wasn’t a fitness club. Why did everything have to be temporary?

Hearing my dissatisfied sigh, Chris added,

“Don’t worry. I’ll find someone who can help you get the best results in the shortest amount of time.”

That wasn’t what I was complaining about.

I gave Chris a crooked smile as he seemed quite pleased with the compromise he’d come up with himself.

Just then, several shirtless soldiers came pouring around the corner of the mansion.

I froze for a moment at the sudden display of bare skin, but my eyes quickly adjusted and began moving busily from one person to another.

The soldiers were approaching while chatting noisily among themselves, but the moment they spotted Chris, they sucked in their breath.

One of them discreetly covered his upper body with the shirt draped over his shoulder, while another hurriedly grabbed the waistband of his trousers.

What’s with them?

Puzzled by the sudden change in the atmosphere, I glanced sideways.

Chris adjusted his glasses with a fingertip and looked the soldiers over with displeasure, as if silently warning them.

Caught in the middle, I worried that I might get caught in the crossfire, so I loudly exclaimed in admiration and gave them a thumbs-up.

“Wow, you guys! You’ve got incredible bodies! Your muscles are so tempting I want to pluck them off and stick them onto my own!”

Chris shook his head, looking completely baffled.

“Muscles aren’t fruit. How can they be tempting?”

“Haha. That was the only expression I could think of on the spot.”

I laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of my neck. Suddenly, the soldiers, who had been shoving each other and snickering, puffed out their muscles even more, clearly showing off.

“Oh?”

When I showed interest, one soldier with particularly well-developed upper-body muscles pointed at me challengingly.

“How about we switch bodies? You get mine, and I get your face! I think your face is much more tempting!”

“I’ll have to pass.”

“You little punk! At least pretend to think about it before you answer!”

Loud laughter erupted all around us.

The soldiers grabbed the man by the arm as he protested, telling them to let him go. Then they waved energetically at me and disappeared.

“Ronnie.”

“Yes?”

“You don’t seem bothered at all now. Earlier, when His Highness showed you his bare chest, you even took a step back.”

“Oh, come on. You can’t compare the two!”

“Their bodies are like beautiful paintings or carefully sculpted statues. Nothing more, nothing less. But Aaron’s body……”

The moment I saw Aaron, all sorts of decadent fantasies popped into my head against my will. Just looking at him felt like committing a sin.

I found myself recalling the moment Aaron had undone his own buttons.

In my memory, Aaron had kept his eyes fixed on me as he slowly undid each button, one at a time.

It was a distorted memory, embellished by my imagination, but my judgment was so clouded that I didn’t even realize anything was wrong.

Where does this man get off acting so seductive? Hurry up and button your shirt before I have to ask nicely. Oh, you’re not going to? And why are you licking your lips?!

Just as I was getting irritated because the Aaron in my head refused to listen—

“Ronnie!”

Chris suddenly wrapped a hand around the back of my neck and pulled me toward him.

Huh? What’s this?

I blinked blankly, completely dazed.

I’d never imagined things taking such an unexpected turn with Chris.

As I stared at him in confusion, moving only my eyes, Chris leaned closer and said,

“Your nose is bleeding. Fortunately, it hasn’t gotten on your clothes.”

“Oh.”

Only then did I notice the handkerchief pressed against my nose.

“Thank you.”

I hurriedly placed my hand over Chris’s, which was holding the handkerchief, and pressed it against my nose.

“I guess I’m a little tired because I didn’t sleep well last night.”

I couldn’t exactly admit that I’d been imagining Aaron half-naked, so I made up an excuse and laughed awkwardly.

Just then, heavy footsteps sounded behind us.

I instinctively turned around.

Aaron was approaching us, looking displeased about something.

Did something happen while I was out here?

Aaron strode toward us and stepped directly between Chris and me.

Chris, who had been pushed to the side before he knew what was happening, looked confused.

“It’s nice to take care of him, but don’t get too close.”

Aaron draped an arm around my shoulders.

“Unless you want people to think you’re involved in a love triangle with me.”

At those words, Chris immediately put some distance between himself and the two of us.

His movements showed a firm determination to stay out of that situation at all costs.

Aaron’s expression softened a little. But when he turned and saw my face, his brow furrowed again.

“Oh, this? I guess I’ve been a little run-down lately. I’ve been running around everywhere and dealing with people all day. I never used to get nosebleeds, but now look at me.”

It should have stopped by now, right?

I uncertainly touched my nose, wondering if the bleeding had finally stopped, when Aaron gently lifted my chin, making me look at him.

“Stay still.”

I swallowed nervously and stared straight ahead with wide eyes.

Aaron furrowed one eyebrow as he examined my face from different angles.

I gazed at him for a while, then eventually broke into a soft smile.

He was only examining my face, but his calm eyes seemed to be filled with concern for me. It made me happy.

“You’re ridiculous.”

Aaron gave a quiet, amused smile, took the handkerchief from my hand, and reached out into the air.

A maid who had been standing by noticed and hurried over to him.

“Wash it and put it on my desk.”

The maid took the handkerchief and disappeared just as quickly as she had arrived.