I’ll Become the Tyrant’s Tutor - Chapter 22

Gillian changed their pathway. Since the royal carriage is too suspicious and their outing was supposed to be a secret.

Prim wrapped Reynsis’s face with a disguise that she prepared before.

Reynsis frowned, but he quickly gave up since she said that the disguise is the only way to hide his excessive beauty.

After a while, the carriage stopped. Prim got off from the carriage and offered him her hand*. Reynsis paused and stared at her hand.1

(note*a common way for servants to escort a lady from getting off the carriage. Mostly done by male servants.)

“What are you doing?” (Reynsis)

“I’m escorting you.” (Prim)

“So, why are you giving me your hand?” (Reynsis)

“I am your tutor —” (Prim)

“You don’t need to.” (Reynsis)

Reynsis spoke coldly as he jumped from the carriage.

“But as a tutor, I cannot stand still.” (Prim)

“You don’t need to be my tutor.” (Reynsis)1

“Then?” (Prim)

Prim bit her lips and sulked when she heard his reply. But he didn’t answer.

So Prim unfolded the maps that was given by Lise and they walked into the woods.

‘She told me to go left, starting from here.’

By the way, no matter how much she looked inside the forest, the temple was invisible.

‘Isn’t this the way?’

Prim stopped abruptly. ‘Don’t tell me that we’re lost!’ Cold beads of sweat started to form on her forehead.

‘I can’t get lost!’

Prim held the map in a desperate manner.

“……!” (Prim)

At that time, she felt something. Prim turned her head reflexively. But all she could see were the dense trees of the forest.1

But she really felt like the place was over there; Her intuition was telling her so.

“Your Highness, shall we go over there?” (Prim)

Reyn nodded calmly.

‘Please let it be here.’ Prim fervently prayed in her mind.

Prim took the lead over Reynsis and looked around.

“Wah!”

A big and magnificent temple came into her sight. She was sure that Lise gave her the wrong direction.1

Eerily quiet, as the words goes, ‘a temple without a seeker’. They both went to look around while Prim led the way.

The scent of the roses pierced their nose as soon as they walked in. The number of roses there was seemingly infinite.

Prim turned to see Reynsis.

“…..” (Reynsis)

He was looking at the roses calmly.

“Your Highness..” (Prim)

Prim called him slowly as she approached him.

“…How are you?” (Prim)

“……” (Reynsis)

Reynsis didn’t answer. Instead, he stroked the rose’s petal gently. A terrible rose’s scent surrounded him, but it wasn’t as disgusting as it used to be. Even that alone was amazing.

Reynsis looked at the roses quietly. He thought maybe he’s calm like this because she is next to him.

He took a small glance at her.

And their eyes met.

Prim was only wary of him, it was not of fear.

She only cares about his feelings. She seems that she didn’t believe in his curse.

That fact made him feel more at ease. He slowly opened his mouth,

“It’s just like what you said.” (Reynsis)

“Then…?” (Prim)

“It’s alright. It doesn’t matter.” (Reynsis)1

Prim tried to suppress her feelings. She didn’t want to burst with joy at that moment.

“I’m glad.” (Prim)

The relieved Prim smiled brightly. Her cheeks were red again.

Reynsis quickly turned his head away. The whole world seems to be coloured if she is still smiling like that.

“…Umm, some people said that they like flowers.” (Reynsis)

He couldn’t take his eyes off from her as he glanced at her a little.

“Do you like it too?” (Reynsis)

“I mean, of course everyone likes it since I don’t think of anyone who doesn’t like flowers.” (Prim)

“No. Not that.” (Reynsis)

Reynsis shook his head and stared at her.

“… I’m asking you. Do you like flowers?” (Reynsis)

With that question, her face brightened up.

She couldn’t believe that he asked about her opinion. The results they have been practicing have begun to appear!

Prim nodded.

“Yes. I like flowers.” (Prim)

“What about this rose?” (Reynsis)

“Huh?” (Prim)

Prim was hesitant to answer. In fact, roses were her favourite flowers, but she couldn’t say that in front of him.

“Roses. I don’t like it that m-much.” (Prim)

The end of her words trembled. Hearing her answer, he smiled slightly.2

“Speak honestly. It’s okay though.” (Reynsis)

It was difficult to deceive him. With that, Prim mumbled quietly.

“…I like it actually.” (Prim)

“Why?” (Reynsis)

“Because.. hmm.. That..” (Prim)

Have you ever thought about why you like certain flowers? Prim was lost in thought while Reynsis waited quietly.

After a while, she began to speak,

“There is a story that I like very much. This is the story of <Beauty and the Beast>, and the rose plays a big role there.” (Prim)

“……” (Reynsis)

“Before the rose withered, the love between the beauty and beast must be proven.” (Prim)

The Beast under the curse must be truly loved before the last petal falls.

And when there is only one last petal left, as love comes true, he is released from the curse.

“Love is an invisible feelings.” (Prim)

Love. Reynsis was surprised with that word. He glanced at the roses.

“That’s what red roses do. So in my hometown, we express our love with roses.” (Prim)

“……” (Reynsis)

“Romantic, right?” (Prim)

After she finished, she laughed.

Reynsis stared at her face. He was tempted to pick a rose.1

Prim was nervous about his hands being stabbed by a thorn on the rose, but there was no movement in his face.

“Why do you convey your feelings through roses?” (Reynsis)

“Huh?” (Prim)

“….You can just say it yourself. I love you.” (Reynsis)5

He looked at her and said that. Prim was speechless. It seemed that the love delivered indirectly did not make sense to him.

‘How can I explain this?’ Prim was in agony. He waited for her without urging.

After a long time, she opened her mouth.

“Love is invisible and words are a moment. But roses are romantic because they show evidence of love.” (Prim)

At that end, Reynsis quietly looked down at the rose in his hand. It was red, like her hair.

The feelings of love is invisible.

‘Then, what about the colour I saw?’

Reynsis’s eyes suddenly triggered. The pain in the eye started again.

It was at this time when Reynsis was overwhelmed with confusing emotions.

[ Drip, Drip ]2

Drops of water started to sprinkle on the roses. It’s raining. The grey sky started to get dark.

“Oh no! I didn’t bring umbrella!” (Prim)

Prim scoot near him while making a fuss. As if to keep him out of the rain, she stretched out her small hand to cover his head.1

Their face was an inch away. His pupils were shaking when her face was full in his view.

The pain of his eyes came back again.

“Let’s hurry up. We can avoid rain if we go inside the temple.” (Prim)

“……” (Reynsis)

“Your Highness?” (Prim)

For a moment, there was a certain light in his eyes.

It was an undefined colour. She blinkeds several times.

[ Rumbling ]

Suddenly the sky grumbled. Prim pulled his hand. It was her first priority to avoid getting drenched from the rain.

“Let’s get inside first. You will catch a cold.” (Prim)

“……” (Reynsis)

Reyn stared blankly down at where his hand held hers. Prim’s hands were so hot. Maybe that’s why his face was burning.2

They entered the temple.

“Wait here for a moment.”

Prim said as she loosened her grip on his hand. She needed something to wipe off the water.

‘There wouldn’t be a towel where there’s no one there, right?’

Fortunately, there was something visible in front of Prim’s eyes. It was surprisingly a clean towel.

“Maybe someone lives here?” (Prim)

The only thing she could see was the white walls of the temple.

“I’ll borrow this for a moment!” (Prim)

Prim, who shouted as loud as she could hear, quickly grabbed the towel and ran straight to her target.  Reynsis had his head covered with a towel suddenly and was seriously confused.

“Excuse me.” (Prim)

Then, making herself small, she started to slowly wipe away his drenched hair.

“What are you doing?” (Reynsis)

His voice expressed a great deal of embarrassment.

“You have to dry up. If you stay like this, you’ll catch a cold.” (Prim)

“I’m good, you can dry yourself.” (Reynsis)

“I’m fine.” (Prim)

It was then, a pair of strong, white hands  popped up covering the hands of Prim. It was a much bigger hand than her.

Between her fingers, his hands overlapped.2

Reynsis, who pulled down the towel, looked at the Prim with her hair slightly curled.

“I told you, I’m fine.” (Reynsis)

Their gaze met. Dark eyes as the night sky.

[ Lightning flash ]

The sky suddenly grumbled loudly.

“…….”

“…….”

Like people who lost their language, they couldn’t say anything.

The sound of rain filled the temple with silence.

It was Reynsis who broke the silence first,

“I don’t get cold.”

He said so and then stepped back.

The hand that touched also loosened up.

Only then, Prim came back to her senses.

“…Thank you.”

Prim mumbled in a dazed voice and wiped her hair in an awkward gesture.

It was strange.

‘It is true that we have become much closer than when we first met, but why are we getting uncomfortable?’

It was so strange.

“Sorry.” (Prim)

Prim opened her mouth first. Reynsis peeped at her and asked.

“Why are you sorry?” (Reynsis)

“Just······ I think you’re just suffering because of me….” (Prim)

“…..” (Reynsis)

“If I had known this would have happened, I would have brought roses into the palace.” (Prim)

Prim mumbled, holding the towel while her eyes were fixed to the floor like a sinner.

“I’ve never been outside the palace before.” (Reynsis)

She bowed her head, shoulders falling sullenly.

“I’m sorry for being so rude. It’s understandable His Highness doesn’t like me. But…” (Prim)

“Hey.” (Reynsis)

Reyn cut off her words with a cold voice, Prim raised up her head carefully.

“I don’t hate you.” (Reynsis)1

“…Huh?” (Prim)

“I will never hate you.” (Reynsis)1

Reynsis stared at her blankly and handed her something that he picked.

“This..” (Prim)

It was the rose that he took from the garden.5

“Are you not taking it?” (Reynsis)

He shook the rose in front of her again.