I Ran Away And The Reverse Harem Started Chapter 108

His fingers, which had brushed the ends of my hair, slowly moved downward.

Daniel cautiously took my hand. Despite the humid summer night, his fingertips were cold.

“It means I can marry the person I want.”

His gentle voice tickled my ears.

Daniel gazed at me with an intense look, as if he were carefully studying every corner of my face, waiting for my reaction.

“…You don’t understand what I’m saying?”

He muttered, almost grumbling. But there was no way I couldn’t understand. His hand, which held mine, was stiff and trembling.

If Deborah wasn’t truly a saint, she would have to step down from her position. Then the king would no longer be able to insist on Daniel’s marriage to her.

Because she was a fake saint.

If the temple’s power weakened after losing its saint, the king wouldn’t be so wary of it anymore.

And then…

“If the king gives up on arranging a marriage between me and Saint Deborah—”

“…”

“If I am no longer bound by any promises, does that mean you’ll come to me?”

“I mean, don’t even entertain such a thought. If you want to talk like that, do it after the king has actually given up on both of you. Right now, those assumptions mean nothing!”

I recalled the conversation we had earlier in the morning.

So right now, Daniel was asking for my answer.

If it were revealed that Deborah was a fake saint and their engagement was broken, would I accept his feelings?

“I told you—I’d think about it once the king lets go of both me and the saint.”

As I listened to Daniel’s slow voice, I quickly lowered my head. If our eyes met now, I wasn’t sure what words might escape my lips.

As I hurriedly looked down, I saw Daniel’s hand wrapped around mine.

My hand had already disappeared inside his large grip.

Even as his cold hand grew warmer from mine, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.

‘What am I even supposed to say…?!’

By now, my cheeks were burning as if they were on fire. My heart pounded so loudly it felt like it was echoing in my ears.

Then, Daniel’s hand touched my cheek.

Startled by the cool temperature, I flinched and lifted my head. Against the backdrop of the night sky, Daniel’s face came into view.

He looked just as tense as I was—furrowed brows, anxious eyes, lips slightly parted.

Seeing him more flustered than me made my breath catch in my throat.

If Daniel had teased or mocked me for freezing up, I wouldn’t have felt this embarrassed.

“…Even if I’m not destined to marry Saint Deborah, am I still not an option?”

His fingertips gently brushed my cheek. I felt like my wildly racing heart was about to leap out of my chest.

His dark eyes stared at me as if they were going to swallow me whole.

I didn’t like this atmosphere.

No, rather than dislike, I was just confused. My head felt hot, and I had no idea what to do.

“Or… is there another guy you’re interested in?”

His oddly sulky voice made my lips part slightly. His ears flushed red, yet he pressed his lips together tightly.

I had a good idea of who he was referring to, but for some reason, I couldn’t react the way I usually would—by snapping back at him.

My lips felt dry, and my throat was parched.

…Why am I so nervous?

Maybe because I had realized too soon that the air between us felt different tonight.

Besides, if not for the original plot of the story, I actually thought Daniel was quite a decent guy.

I had always buried such thoughts deep down, convinced that the original storyline wouldn’t change…

Daniel’s dark eyes fixed on me.

As his touch tingled against my cheek, I clenched my eyes shut, then slowly confessed, my words hesitant and halting.

“There isn’t… another guy I’m interested in. And it’s not like you’re the worst possible choice as a man either. I just…”

I couldn’t see my own face, but I was sure I must’ve looked as red as a tomato. Trying to calm myself, I exhaled in short, uneven breaths.

“I just… haven’t had enough time to think seriously about this. I don’t know how long you’ve had these feelings, but I only just started being aware of you in that way… And besides, you still have a lot to take care of.”

“…”

“Give me time.”

I tried to meet Daniel’s gaze with determination.

Of course, it wasn’t easy.

Facing his dark eyes, filled entirely with me, was overwhelming. A part of me wanted to run away from this moment.

‘I mean, life has been too tough for me to even think about romance or marriage. There was never room for this kind of flustering, embarrassing situation in my life!’

A wave of unfamiliar emotions crashed over me.

Being aware that I was inside a novel from the start, I had never entertained the idea of settling down with someone.

I admitted that I was shaken by Daniel.

But I needed to sort out my feelings first.

There was also the matter of Deborah and Yvette to resolve. Besides, none of this would even matter unless Deborah was exposed as a fake saint and removed from her position.

And who knows? Maybe I was just confused because this was my first-ever confession.

‘In this sense, I really am just an inexperienced fool when it comes to love.’

As I stared past Daniel at the white rose bushes, his lips suddenly curled into a faint smile.

“…What?”

I eyed him warily. Daniel hadn’t taken his gaze off me for even a second. Then, he spoke.

“The way you said you needed time… It sounded like you needed time to accept me.”

“…What? That’s ridiculous. I just meant I needed time to think things over!”

“Say what you want, but you wouldn’t be this shaken if you didn’t have some feelings for me.”

There was a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

“Remember when you asked if I only liked you because you were prettier than Deborah?”

“…”

“From the start, I never thought any woman was prettier than you. Not for a long time.”

Daniel said such a ridiculously romantic line with a straight face.

The shamelessness of it all left me completely mortified.

Seriously, was Daniel actually saying stuff like this? The Daniel I knew?

The miserly, bad-tempered brat who once broke a tooth fighting with me as kids?

But as if unwilling to let this moment slip away, Daniel pushed even further.

“Can I kiss you?”

“What?! Hey!”

Shocked, I pushed his chest.

“I said I’d think about it, not that I accepted your feelings! Say something that makes sense, you pervert!”

Daniel stared down at me indifferently and replied,

“I’m not asking you to decide right now. But maybe a kiss will help you make up your mind.”

“What kind of nonsense—”

“I won’t demand responsibility or claim ownership over you because of it.”

Only then did I realize his gaze had settled on my lips.

Daniel held my stare for a long moment before finally releasing my hands.

“If you kiss me, you might find your feelings leaning toward me.”

Somehow, he sounded very confident.

Blushing furiously, I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms.

And yet, when Daniel slowly leaned in—

…I didn’t run.

Seconds later, his lips pressed against mine.

The fresh scent of the garden, the soft fragrance of roses, and the familiar scent of his cologne filled my senses. Along with the warm touch of his lips.

Daniel had sounded so sure of himself, but when our lips met, he hesitated for a moment before gently pressing in.

I closed my eyes tightly, overwhelmed.

After all… this was my first kiss too.

 

 

 

****

 

 

A few days later, a welcome guest arrived at Roan’s townhouse. It was Colin, who had been left alone at the count’s estate.

Daniel had only told me in secret, but since he and Deborah had decided to search for that woman, Rumi, it seemed he thought it would be better to stay in the capital for a longer period.

As the originally planned short stay showed signs of extending, Colin also came here for convenience.

“Rose, have you been well?”