"No," he said softly. "That wasn't a ruse at all."
He didn't let go of her hand. Instead, his other hand lifted slowly, hesitating for only a fraction of a second before gently cupping her cheek. His touch was surprisingly warm against her fair skin.
The cold indifference of his godhood felt miles away, held back entirely by the anchor standing right in front of him.
Audrey leaned into his hand. Her heart started racing, messing up her usual Spectator calm. Her green eyes looked right into his brown eyes.
The world seemed to shrink until it was only the two of them.
Klein leaned down, his gaze dropping from her eyes to her lips. The space between them closed. One inch. Then less. He could feel the soft, warm air from her breath, almost touching his own.
Just as their lips were about to meet—
HONK HONK
A deep, deafening horn blast from a steamship on the Tussock River below shattered the air. The sudden, ugly noise ripped right through their quiet, intimate bubble.
Klein flinched, the sound pulling him instantly out of the moment.
Audrey startled, her eyes flying wide open, her cheeks flushing brightly as she realized just how close they had been. Uuuu~, we were so close... she thought.
The moment was broken, replaced by the awkward silence.
Klein pulled back slightly, clearing his throat, his Clown powers working overtime to put a calm smile back on his face.
"...Backlund steamships," he said, trying to make a joke. "They really have terrible timing."
I'll use a Wish to make these ships disappear next time! Klein joked inwardly.
"Yes, yes they do," she replied, a hint of disappointment being heard in her voice.
"Let's, uh, go somewhere else, shall we?"
Audrey agreed, they both left the bridge, and continued their peaceful walk around the streets of Backlund.
8 minutes until sunset... Klein thought as he glanced at the watch on his wrist.
As they walked, they entered a street dedicated to just stores, mainly clothing stores meant for high-end nobles.
"Wow~! Look at that dress, Klein!" Audrey pointed at the window of one of these clothing stores.
Klein glanced over, and his eyes met the dress that Audrey was talking about.
Isn't that dress a little too...
Klein looked at Audrey, then back at the dress on the mannequin. It was... revealing. It was a dark green dress with quite a revealing cleavage. Its fabric was thin and clung tightly to the body, accentuating the wearer's curves. Its length reached down halfway between the hips and knees, revealing a lot of the wearer's legs. There was also a large opening on the side, revealing the thigh.
This dress reminded Klein of a qipao, a type of Chinese dress. The only difference was that this one was... way more revealing, especially in the chest area.
If she wore that... Klein felt his face turn pink again. Pure thoughts! Pure thoughts! Klein had to resort to cogitating to rein in his thoughts.
Wasn't Loen supposed to be modest? Although Audrey's notebook reports did mention that the young ladies started experimenting with more revealing outfits... but what kinda of lunatic would open up a store here that sells this kind of stuff? This is too much!
Klein then looked at the notice that was placed on the store's front entrance.
"Authentic Intis outfits! Inspired by the newly discovered designs made over 200 years ago by the great Emperor Roselle!"
"..." Klein was left speechless. Roselle, when I find you!... He wasn't sure if he should beat up or thank the emperor for introducing Chinese dresses.
"I wish I could try it on!" Audrey said. "I'll have to come back another day with my maids to check it out," her voice sounded slightly wistful. After all, she wasn't just any noble. She was required to be escorted by her maids whenever she wanted to try on clothes, and it was also impossible to do it now since they were both invisible to the outside world thanks to Klein's illusions.
"...You," he asked, "really want to try it on that badly?"
Audrey looked down, a slight blush rising on her cheeks. "Oh, well, yes," she admitted. "It's beautifully made, but even if my maids were here, I could never actually wear it outside. Can you imagine Aun—Count Cassandra's reaction?" She sighed lightly. "My father would probably lock me in my room. It's just... fun to look at, I suppose."
Klein watched the disappointment in her expression. This was their date, the one they had promised each other. He was a Sequence 2 Miracle Invoker now. What was the point of achieving miracles if he couldn't grant such a small wish?
He leaned in to her ear and whispered, "Close your eyes."
Once she closed her eyes, Klein raised his right hand and snapped his fingers.
Audrey felt something change. Hm? What was that—
"You can open them."
As she opened her eyes, she suddenly felt the sensation of something different touching her delicate skin. She looked down and saw the beautiful dark green dress neatly worn on her body.
"Wh— How? Huh?!" she exclaimed, puzzled, but also excited. "It's not an illusion? I can touch it and interact with it!"
"Of course, this is light work for an Angel," Klein said.
This was the work of a miracle from a Miracle Invoker!
The dress clung to her form exactly as Klein had imagined, making her live up to her nickname as Backlund's Most Dazzling Gem. She looked elegant, mature... and undeniably sexy.
I get to make her happy and on top of that I get to see this sight... Klein thought, a devious smirk forming. Wait! Audrey, don't twirl that's—Uuuu... I'll lose control just from a piece of fabric. This is definitely bad for my heart!
Turns out the sight of Audrey wearing such a sexy outfit was too much for his virgin mind.
He quickly forced his Clown powers to lock down his expression into one of calm appreciation.
She turned back to Klein, who was trying very hard to look only at her face. A nervous but excited smile bloomed.
"Well? What do you think, Klein?"
"Looks perfect," he replied calmly. Praise the Lady for this view!
Klein, still forcing himself not to look anywhere else but her face, checked his watch.
It's time... he thought.
He raised his arm in the form of an invitation. "There's another place I'd like us to go to," he said
She took his hand. "Alright~"
Klein pulled her closer, his right hand settling firmly around her thin and delicate waist, their bodies practically touching.
Technically, merely holding her hand would have been enough to teleport them both. But this felt... safer. More secure. Totally.
Yes, purely for safety... he silently lampooned, ignoring the way his heart sped up the moment he grabbed her waist.
The world dissolved into a swirl of colors before solidifying again. The shop was replaced by the desolate top of a hill. The hilltop grass swayed lightly around their feet. The light breeze felt refreshing—a noticeable change compared to the usual Backlund air.
In front of Klein and Audrey, there stood a tree overlooking the stunning view of Backlund. This hill, located on the outskirts of Backlund, had the perfect view for the sunset.
"Wow! This view is amazing!" said Audrey, sparkles practically forming in her eyes.
Klein stepped forward and extended his arm. He then pulled out a picnic blanket straight out of the Historical Void.
He then placed the blanket on the grass right in front of the tree. This way, they could get the best view of the sunset.
As Klein sat down, Audrey quickly followed.
The silence that settled between them wasn't awkward this time; it was comfortable, filled only by the wind whistling past the lone tree.
"When Miss Magician summoned you... You were scouting this spot, weren't you?"
Klein froze.
Damn Spectators, he silently lampooned.
He didn't answer, instead, he cleared his throat and reached out to the air beside him. And pulled out another item from the Historical Void: an ordinary wicker basket
"You brought food, too?" she asked curiously.
"A proper date requires refreshments," Klein replied, trying to sound cool as he opened the basket. Inside were two plates and several small boxes tied with ribbon. "I believe these are the Desi pies you mentioned in your notebook report."
Audrey's eyes lit up. "You remembered that?"
"My memory is quite good," he said, handing her a plate.
They sat together, quietly eating and enjoying the sunset view. These few minutes might've been short, but for them it felt like an eternity. An eternity that they wouldn't trade for anything else.
As beautiful as the sunset was, Klein found his attention drifting back to the woman beside him.
Audrey immediately noticed his gaze and turned around to look at him.
They kept silent.
"..."
"..."
"Klein..."
"Audrey..."
Their names hung in the air, a question and an answer all at once. The memory of the interrupted kiss on the bridge flickered in their minds for a second.
Klein reached out, gently cupping her cheek. Audrey's eyes fluttered as she leaned into his touch. He got closer and she reciprocated, both still maintaining eye contact.
They both wanted it.
This time, there were no interruptions to stop this moment.
Klein leaned in at last, brushing away the final inch between them. Their lips met in a kiss that felt like the world was holding its breath. He wrapped his other arm around her delicate waist, pulling her closer as the sun melted into twilight.
It was clumsy and hesitant at first, but overwhelming. Klein's mind, usually racing with calculations and internal lampooning, went completely silent—his mind totally overwhelmed by all sorts of emotions and sensations.
Audrey's noble-like persona was shattered completely. She wasn't analyzing or observing like the usual Spectator she was. She was lost in the ecstasy of this moment.
The kiss deepened, losing its uncertainty and becoming sure and earnest. He shifted, pulling her even closer, until there was no space left between them, only the thin silk of the scandalous green dress and the warmth of their skin.
This... I... Klein's mind felt mushy, unable to form coherent thoughts.
Audrey's hand reached up and held onto Klein's firm chest.
Uuuu... Klein... Audrey's mind was no different.
Klein's hand, the one that had been gently cupping her cheek, slid down her neck, tracing the line of her shoulder before settling on her back. He pulled her tighter, his fingers pressing into the thin, clinging silk of the green dress.
His mind was on fire, all attempts at "pure thoughts" incinerated. The feel of the thin fabric over her soft curves was intoxicating.
Driven by pure instinct, his hand slid lower, tracing the curve of her body until his thumb brushed the edge of the large opening on the side of the dress, grazing the bare skin of her thigh.
That damn dress... Klein was blindly following his instincts, and this dress ignited them.
Audrey gasped into the kiss, her own mind short-circuiting. She had felt his hand spread wide on her back, no longer a gentle embrace but a possessive exploration
When Klein's hand reached her thigh, she suddenly became aware of something.
She was wearing this... this indecent outfit, and Klein was reacting to it... strongly.
But the hands holding her belonged to Klein... the man she loved. Disregarding the panic, she let herself melt once again into his embrace.