If They Get Obsessed, I’m Doomed - Chapter 28
Chapter 15.1
The sound of the lock echoed as the only entrance closed shut. At the same time, a sensation, almost like something sharp grazing her skin, ran through Ariel as she felt a chill down her spine.
Taking a step back, she carefully observed Devoncia.
‘Why did he lock the door? Was he worried someone might come or that I might escape halfway through? Is this a test that could only proceed unless the door is securely locked and completely secluded?’
Her bewildered mind poured out questions in this perplexing situation.
“Don’t be too wary. It’s just an examination. The door is locked for security purposes, and it’ll be over soon.”
As if noticing her hesitation, Devoncia explained kindly. Ariel concealed her fear and smoothed her expression before gazing at him.
“What… what is the procedure?”
“Don’t be so formal. I called you because I wanted to get to know Ariel, rather than being the examiner.”
“T-Thank you. It would be an honor for me as well if I could become acquainted with Your Highness.”
“Really? Should I just brush off the exam?”
“Still, it’s better to at least go through the examination…”
“I’m just kidding.”
Even though he was playfully making jokes, the problem was that it didn’t feel like a joke to Ariel, who was listening.
“Do you see that in the middle?”
As Devoncia, who had been rambling about something else for a while, gestured subtly as if revitalizing the topic, her eyes naturally turned toward where he pointed. It was a spherical object at the center, encased layer upon layer in a silver metallic material, forming a circular ring. It appeared somewhat like an atomic model or a planet wrapped in multiple layers of rings.
“Is the test conducted with that?”
“Yes.”
Saying so, Devoncia held her wrist and gently pulled her.
Ariel, not putting up much resistance to his subtle touch, followed along. It wasn’t that she wasn’t nervous. Just yesterday, she had made a mental note to keep her distance until she could figure out his personality.
“You seem to have a lot of thoughts on your mind.”
The approaching voice, as if catching onto her hesitancy, sounded quiet.
Ariel turned her head slightly to look at the owner of the voice.
“Don’t worry. There’s nothing to be concerned about.”
He reassured her with a gentle gaze.
Somehow, it didn’t seem like he was lying, so she just nodded in response. On the other hand, the Crown Prince’s eyes curved tenderly at the response before he released her wrist, which he had been holding, and turned to walk behind her.
Ariel’s gaze followed Devoncia with her head tilted as if she were straining.
He smirked.
“I know that my face is amusing, but right now, look ahead.”
It was a comment that seemed deliberately teasing. As she grasped her mistake, Ariel promptly averted her gaze, which had been lingering on Devoncia for a bit too long. Feeling an inexplicable sense of embarrassment, she hastened to lower her head.
All of a sudden, an object resembling an atomic model unexpectedly drew near, right in front of her nose, catching her by surprise. From his subsequent explanation, she learned that it was an apparatus used for the aptitude test.
‘What am I supposed to do with this?’
She was both curious and a little scared.
“…So, what do I do now?”
“Wait a minute.”
A simple response fell from Devoncia’s lips before he asked for permission.
“Let me hold your hands for a second. It’s necessary for the test. Is that okay?”
“…Yes, that’s fine.”
At the same time as permission, Devoncia’s hands wrapped around the backs of Ariel’s hands. The contact was as natural as the flowing of water.
“Relax.”
With a gentle voice, he stepped closer and closed the slight space between them. As their distance narrowed, his broad arms grazed against her back, making it seem as though he had embraced her from behind.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince…?”
He didn’t respond.
The Crown Prince, his chest pressed against her back, lowered his head slowly. Draped in a suit, his chest moved rhythmically with the gentle rise and fall of his shallow breaths, their cadence enveloping her from behind and softly caressing the back of her neck.
His warmth sent shivers down her spine… starting from the back of her hand and then trailing along her nape.
Devoncia’s long fingers moved deliberately across her knuckles before their hands merged, and her petite hand was enfolded within his palm. The sensation of skin against skin gradually intensified, deepening the warmth at their point of contact.
An unwarranted closeness, a conspicuously blatant touch that couldn’t escape notice…
‘Why?’
What on earth was the reason behind this? She couldn’t fathom the Crown Prince’s intentions.
“Your… Highness? If you could maintain some distance…”
“I need to concentrate.”
Devoncia’s gentle breath tickled Ariel’s ear.
His hand, embracing hers, moved in a slow and fluid manner, his fingers seamlessly intertwining with hers as they locked together before he delicately pulled her closer. Guided and led by his touch, her hand gravitated towards the sphere. Her fingertips threaded through the open loops, finally meeting the circular center.
“….!”
Out of the blue, a tingling sensation shot through Ariel’s hand. Just as she began to wonder if a chill was coursing through her, her fingertips started to tingle.
Perplexed by this sudden sensation, her eyes widened. Starting from the point where her fingertips had made contact, a reddish hue began to spread across the sphere. The expanding crimson color swirled around the rings, causing the once elegantly gleaming contraption that shone like silver to corrode gradually as if it were being immersed in blood.
Over time, the apparatus, now fully suffused with a deep crimson hue, started to rotate slowly. Spinning in a circular motion with a slight overlap, it turned without making any contact with her hand.
The rings completed about six full revolutions at a leisurely pace before gradually coming to a halt.
“It’s over now.”
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