I Will Be the Greatest Knight-Chapter 459: Their First of Many

Henry’s response was so instantaneous that Irene didn’t have a moment to jump to any conclusions. The relief he expressed through a smile caused the same feeling to spread through her chest.

But that didn’t entirely take away the fear of being in such proximity to the handsome knight. He was terrifying as ever, being so out of her comfort zone, and the urge to impress him was at an all-time high.

She was sure it was communicated through her expression because he took a different approach than simply barreling forward as he pleased.

"Then let me get to know you more," he began quietly. And then after a pause, he said, "May I?"

Irene wasn’t sure what he meant until she gave him a stiff nod, and he gently cupped her face with his large right hand and he stroked her freckled cheek, which she knew was undoubtedly red. She was as still as a statue in response.

"I’ve always liked your freckles," he admitted. "They remind me of the part of the sky where the stars are the brightest and most concentrated."

She wanted to escape, but she was also curious as to how he found something like that pleasing when he had once had someone as flawless as the Princess within his grasp. Irene knew firsthand just how Princess Marie looked, although she supposed looks only went so far when the Princess treated him so awfully.

Her eyes never left the man treating her so carefully, but it didn’t feel like enough.

"May I do that to you?" she asked.

The Commander seemed curious, and he nodded.

With her lack of experience, she could only do what he did to her.

But as her hand met his face, he seemed not to mind her timid touch. She noticed the subtle sign of approval as the corner of his lips turned upwards. When had she gotten so good at reading his face?

He was gazing at her so intently that she couldn’t help exploring his features as well. It wasn’t the closest she had ever been to him, but it was the first time she was allowed to openly admire him—something she had only done from afar before.

The freckle underneath one of his eyes and his thick eyelashes were easy to get lost in. She also recalled when his face had a bit of stubble while he was bedridden, but it had since been cleanly shaven.

As they had been all day, her thoughts began to drift and she, again, sought more as her green eyes dropped to his lips, but then her courage crumbled and she quickly glanced away. He still held her hand hostage and he brought it to his lips before finally setting her free.

"I ought to stop, or I’m going to try to kiss you," he admitted, a light laugh punctuating his words.

Disappointment gripped her heart. Would it be too forward if she admitted that was exactly what she wanted?

No one had ever kissed her before. There was a long time when she thought no one ever would. It wasn’t until recently that she had found someone who was even interested in that much with her.

Now that the possibility was in front of her, she found herself unwilling to let it go.

"Wh-what would be so bad about that?" she uttered, mortified at her own words and fully aware of how unladylike she was behaving.

What about her was ladylike, though?

"Nothing," her Commander responded openly and honestly.

Then...? She silently wondered.

However, as she turned to acknowledge the man again, she was surprised to see him drawing himself even closer. His arm was now along the back of the couch they shared. The hand that was once on her cheek now carefully brushed into the side of her thick hair.

"Now is your last chance to push me away," he whispered.

If there was one thing Irene was good at, it was taking risks.

In response, she didn’t push him away at all. Rather, she grabbed the front of his tunic and closed the space between their lips.

Immediately, it felt as if all her internal struggles made sense. The electrifying feeling he was eliciting made the past confusing year worth it in every way.

The romance novels hadn’t lied when they told her it would be an all-encompassing feeling that she would come to crave. In fact, she had been unknowingly craving it before that moment, but now all she had was certainty.

Since the Commander was seemingly insistent on not pushing her further, he broke the first kiss, but Irene was already there and feeling daring. She grabbed the sides of his face and kissed him again.

He let out a quiet gasp at the second kiss, surprised at her forwardness. But her strong reaction to him was making it hard for him to control himself. He held onto her a bit tighter, pulling her just a bit closer—but not too close, or he was certainly going to get into trouble.

She was so courageous, he wondered what had happened to the timid young woman from before. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to get addicted to this. Her fiery temper was present in each kiss she pulled him back for.

However, Irene began to come back down to earth as she realized where they were.

It was broad daylight, and they were in the common area of the Duke’s Tower. He was the Duke.

She was breathless because she hadn’t been breathing deeply.

While she didn’t want to leave him whatsoever, Irene knew she needed to calm down, but she stayed at his side by leaning into him. Her hands were over her racing heart.

Surprisingly, he kissed her forehead, offering her a sense of familiarity she was so unbelievably shocked by. It was almost sweeter than the kisses because those were red-hot in her mind.

One of his hands went to her waist as he loosely held onto her, silently acknowledging what they had done and his lack of regrets.

"You don’t have to be nervous," he whispered.

Silence fell over them for a few moments as she collected herself. He was being so unbelievably patient with her despite how hot and cold she was towards him. One minute demanding kisses and the next unable to even look at him.

"I really like kissing you, Commander," she uttered, unable to look at him but still not moving further away. She leaned even further into him until her forehead was nestled against his neck.

"We can kiss whenever you would like to," he said.

She pulled away and looked at him with unveiled shock.

He shouldn’t have told her that because...

Irene was trying to figure this out. Could it always be as good as the first time?

She caught him off guard as she kissed him again.

This time, she had a bit more control over herself. It wasn’t something she was forcing upon him but a silent communication between them. Feelings poured out of the two uncontrollably and communicated through touch.

He began to hold her more tightly, and Irene thought it felt terrifyingly intense enough to cause her to be the one who gasped, but she was a knight who sparred and was ready for her opponent as her hands gripped his tunic, and she found herself getting more comfortable.

It all ended as a sharp knock was heard at the door.