'...I really hope she fulfills her promise,' Soren thought as he walked away. 'However, the princess herself might end up spilling it... I hope Ethea can talk her into keeping quiet.'
'...'
The moment Ethea crossed his mind, the image of their faces so close together followed right after. His steps slowed, and a strange warmth rose to his cheeks before he could stop it. His heart gave a sudden, traitorous thump.
'W-What am I even thinking about right now...' He rubbed the back of his neck and forced his legs to keep moving. 'Focus, Soren. There's still work to do.'
'...But... What if... What if the princess didn't interrupt us?' His face burned even hotter, and he quickened his pace as if he could outrun the thought. 'Would I have actually... kissed her...?'
An image of Ethea's face, her lips slightly parted and her eyes half-closed, surfaced in his mind before he could block it.
