‘Edward hates it when I do that…’

Sometimes, when Edward would anger Yelena, she’d sit on his desk amid their argument.

The reason was quite simple.

If they argued while standing, it would hurt her legs, and it was frustrating to sit on a chair as there would be a difference in eye levels.

Thus, the reason for her choosing to sit on the desk was that it had brought about relatively good results.

‘Wait, but he’s too tall…’

Yelena was late in realizing another issue.

Usually, when one sits on the desk, their eye levels would match even if the other party was standing, or you would become taller even while seated, but Duke Mayhard…

“You.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t get up. Just remain seated. This is something that I want too.”

Yelena re-emphasized it.

Duke Mayhard once replied in acknowledgment.

“…Hmm.”

Yelena found it strange when Duke Mayhard had obediently acceded to all her requests so far.

She never expected him to be so obedient.

Though he might be keeping his promise of letting her do whatever she wanted, he was still more compliant than expected.

Yelena looked at Duke Mayhard without breaking the silence that was filling the office.

His black hair with slightly messy bangs and that black mark that covered the majority of his face.

Yelena pressed down her hand that was about to make its move.

Otherwise, they would touch his face again.

‘Why do I keep wanting to touch his face?’

What else could I do after touching it?

‘Well, it is kind of soft.’’

Yelena recalled the last time when she had felt the texture of Duke Mayhard’s face.

Yes… It was soft.

Very much like a baby’s.

Yelena, who was still in deep thoughts, realized the silence was getting too long and started to speak again.

“You know, you don’t have to worry about what will happen to your desk if I sit here for too long.”

“…”

“I’m lighter than I look.”

“I know th-”

“Hmm?”

“It’s nothing.”

Yelena blinked.

Though Duke Mayhard stopped his sentence midway, Yelena somehow felt that she had heard the entire sentence.

‘Is he… saying that he knew about it?’

Yelena slightly glanced at her wrists, which grabbed the edge of the desk, and her exposed ankle as her dress rolled up in the sitting position.

‘…Am I thin? Hmm, in fact, I do look quite thin…’

Though she was taller than average, she had heard others commenting that her physique was on the thinner side.

Yelena suddenly felt bashful and softly let out an awkward cough.

“Ahem.”

…Anyway.

Yelena’s antics were not about to end there.

It was a pity to end her trip to confront him with just sitting on his desk, brazen as it was.

‘Besides, he doesn’t look flustered at all.’

Duke Mayhard was surprisingly calm compared to Edward, who would always be in shock when Yelena jumped to sit on his desk, shouting, ‘Wait, what kind of girl are you?!’

‘Of course, Edward is particularly sexist, I suppose…’

Yelena, who was inwardly mocking her brother, slightly lifted her foot, wearing indoor slippers.

Duke Mayhard’s gaze briefly turned to that movement.

Yelena stopped midway after lifting her foot.

“There’s something else I want now.”

“Sure.”

“Compliment me.”

Just then, the flustered look that Yelena had been waiting for finally appeared on his face.

“By compliment…”

“Well. Maybe my looks? Am I pretty?”

This was it.

Yelena held back her satisfactory smile when she saw the embarrassed look on Duke Mayhard’s face.

“Ah, you’re not going to say that I’m ugly, right?”

“That…. No.”

Phew, he scared me for a moment.

‘What’s the big deal?’

Yelena calmed her heart, which was racing for no apparent reason.

“Then answer me. You said you’d let me do whatever I want. I really want to hear some compliments right now.”

Honestly, I just want to see more of your flustered face.

“Come on. You should have at least one compliment in mind for me, right?”

“…”

“You’ve got nothing? Really? Then you just lied saying that I’m not ugly-“

“You’re beautiful.”

At that moment, Yelena’s hand, which was holding on the edge of the desk, slipped.

“Are you alright?”

Duke Mayhard asked in surprise, quickly reminding Yelena to regain her composure.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Yelena’s face turned red from embarrassment, and she nearly fell over in shock.

‘That surprised me.’

Why did her hand slip right then…?