The Cursed Prince

Kira shook her head and smiled sweetly. "Nothing. I always have this expression. What do you mean I look like I am thinking seriously?"

"Well... your brows are knitted, and you have this weird gaze. I have never seen this combination before," Gewen said sincerely. "So, I am wondering what happened today that made you this way."

"Whoa... you're acting like you have known me my whole life that you can recognize my subtle expressions," Kira chuckled.

"No... but I am a great observer," Gewen pursed his lips. "I know you are thinking of something. Care to share?"

He looked at Kira deeply and tried to guess what she had in mind. Kira was silent for a moment. She started thinking of Mars' words about how Gewen liked her a lot and the man probably assumed they were in some sort of relationship.

Should she tell him that she didn't see their relationship the same way as he did?

Was this a good time to do it?

They were having a nice time together. This holiday was a really good idea. Kira had never felt so relaxed, pampered, and... pleasured her whole life.

Was she ready to see him feel disappointed and change his attitude toward her?

She knew a lot of men and understood them well enough to know that men could be ruthless when they were disappointed. Would Gewen treat her badly after she rejected him?

Ah.. fuck it.

Kira was not one to play games. She was no Gewen.

So, she finally decided to be honest with the man.

"I heard from your friend that you... have romantic feelings for me?" Kira cleared her throat and continued her words. "Is that true?"

"Huh?" Gewen's face heated instantly.

He was not ready to be confronted like this all of a sudden. He actually planned to confess his love to Kira on their last day of vacation and if she returned his feelings, he would propose to her on the spot.

He remembered the months he spent with Kira in Castilse while waiting for Mars to arrive. Gewen could see the woman was eager to be a noblewoman. She even learned the etiquette so she could carry herself well among the aristocrats.

Gewen gladly taught her some basic stuff about being a noblewoman because he had two younger sisters and he was also close with his mother. So, he knew quite a lot.

Kira was thankful for his help. Gewen was the reason she could get rid of her awkwardness when she met many nobles and acted like a calm and elegant woman.

If Kira married him, she would become a real lady, and her status would be automatically elevated. Wasn't it what she wanted? Gewen could give her his love, his status, and his family's wealth.

Kira could leave her father's pirate gang for good because she wouldn't lack anything in this world.

Gewen would make sure Kira, as his wife, would want nothing, because he would provide everything she wanted, not just everything she needed.

"I said, the king, your best friend, told me that he thinks you are in love with me." Kira looked straight at Gewen and checked his reaction. "Please tell me that it's not true."

Gewen's heart suddenly sank when he heard Kira's last sentence. She wanted him to lie?

"Ahaha... why? Do you mind if I had romantic feelings for you?" Gewen asked playfully, even though his heart dropped to the floor. "What? Am I not good enough for you? From the way you scream my name every time you got an orgasm, I thought YOU are the one who is in love with me..."

Kira was stunned to see the nonchalance in the man's expression all of a sudden. Was she wrong?

She clearly thought she saw Gewen's gaze earlier when he looked at her was very similar to how Mars Strongmoor looked at his wife. So, she assumed that it was the gaze of love, especially because Mars told her that Gewen was in love with her.

Well... maybe the king was wrong?

Or... Gewen's feelings might have changed.

It was common for a womanizer to look all attentive and lovey-dovey to the woman they were targeting and once they got what they wanted, they would act cold in order to get rid of the woman.

Was this what Gewen was doing now?

"No, I am not in love with you," Kira shook her head. "You are handsome and all, but I don't see a future with you."

"Y-you don't see... a f-future with me?" Gewen was so shocked that he spoke in a stammer. "What kind of future do you want and what makes you think I cannot be part of it?"

Gewen couldn't hide his disappointment any longer. Finally, Kira could see his facade was crumbling down. His nonchalance earlier was gone without a trace. Now, there was shock, disappointment, and even hurt.

Gosh.. so, maybe he did love her.

Kira touched Gewen's arm and said, "I want a life of freedom. I can't be chained to this place and acting like one of those housewives in the capital..."

"I thought you wanted to be a lady?" Gewen asked haltingly. "Didn't you make so much effort to learn the etiquette and how to behave among noblemen? What was that for? Did I misunderstand you?"

"I was just curious, okay?" Kira said impatiently. "I never said I want to be in a relationship with some lord and leave my world behind. Now that I know how ridiculous it is, I am not into it anymore. I don't want to be a lady and marry you."

"..." Gewen was at a loss for words.

His mind suddenly went back to Edgar and something in his mind told her that Kira was just looking for an excuse to get rid of him. Because Gewen was not Edgar. 

Gosh... Gewen felt so dumb. He thought too highly of himself and refused to admit the obvious, that it was Edgar whom Kira wanted. Not him.

Well, this was embarrassing.

"Don't get me wrong. It's not you, it's me," Kira quickly added. "I just don't want to be tied down."

Gewen looked away. "No. Don't lie to me to make me feel better because I won't.. I know you don't want me because I am not Edgar fucking Chaucer."