Though Angelina had always seemed like a fragile child who never grew up in front of Shade, her expression and tone were unusually firm at this moment. Her soft pink lips were exceptionally alluring in the light, and the unyielding look in her eyes was something Shade had never seen before.
The astonished Outlander nodded gently:
"If judged from the perspective of an individual seventeen-year-old woman, Your Highness, you are very beautiful."
Her white teeth lightly bit her lip as the little princess smiled and asked her next question:
"Shade, if you truly see me as a seventeen-year-old young woman rather than a pretty vase ornament kept at home, then could you try kissing me? Even if it is only this once."
What Shade felt at that moment was not excitement, agitation, or unease, but a faint sorrow.
He considered mentioning Leisha, but that would be extremely rude to Angelina. He considered refusing, but even he could not come up with a reason.
Men.
"She" had not said much today, but her words were always perfectly timed.
"Let me ask again, Shade. Is this vase of mine beautiful?"
She moved a little closer to Shade on the sofa. The details of her face and the fragrance of her perfume directly assaulted his sight and sense of smell. Shade rarely lied, so he nodded at that moment:
"Very beautiful."
He felt his heartbeat quickening. Angelina did not say anything more, merely stared blankly at him before closing her eyes. At that moment, Shade actually felt that not kissing her in such a situation would instead be an unforgivable sin:
"If this also counts as a sin, what rune would it add to the Great Sin Chains?"
He did not understand why he was thinking that, much less know what the right