* * *

Isaac’s body stiffened as his attempt to stop Luinael’s hand came a moment too late.

“I-it’s fine!”

“I insist. It wouldn’t sit right with me otherwise.”

“Ugh…”

Luinael’s fingers brushed against the cravat’s end, and Isaac instinctively let go.

He didn’t want to risk their hands touching again.

His face burned as a sudden memory surfaced.

Lowering his gaze, Isaac tried his best not to look at Luinael’s face.

“You still tie your cravat so tightly.”

“That’s…”

Isaac’s lips parted, but Luinael’s amused tone made his ears tingle.

The “still” must refer to the real Isaac, not him.

Luinael had met the original Isaac, but he was only imitating the man now.

Feeling slightly unsettled, Isaac averted his gaze and cleared his throat softly.

Rustle, rustle.

The soft silk cravat slowly unraveled.

Each time Luinael moved to untie it, his fingers brushed against Isaac’s body, almost but not quite touching.

Isaac gritted his teeth, trying hard not to show how tense and rigid he had become.

He thought he could handle it as long as he didn’t look at Luinael’s face, but it wasn’t just that.

There was also this faintly sweet scent lingering around Luinael.

What kind of cologne makes a man smell like this?

Isaac clenched his teeth so hard they might shatter.

“Wait…!”

When the cravat finally slipped free from his neck, Isaac thought it was over and exhaled in relief.

But then Luinael’s hands immediately moved to take off his jacket.

Startled, Isaac cried out, and Luinael tilted his head innocently as if he didn’t understand the fuss.

“I can take it from here.”

“But there’s still more to change into,” Luinael insisted stubbornly, his hands not relenting.

Isaac tried to brush them away in his flustered state.

“…?”

Why isn’t he budging?

Isaac wasn’t at the pinnacle of strength, but he was high-level enough to push away what appeared to be a delicate hand.

Or so he thought.

Yet, contrary to his expectations, Luinael’s hand didn’t move an inch.

Isaac stared, bewildered, at his own hand gripping Luinael’s, then at the hand itself.

‘What’s his level?’

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, a status window flashed before his eyes.

[Name: Luinael Vernon Eukrencia
Level: 99
Age: 20
Affiliation: Beatrix Empire
Rank: Grand Duke
Special Note: War Hero]

‘Luinael… is max level?’

In the original story, only the protagonist could reach the maximum level.

Luinael’s level was never explicitly mentioned in the source material, but if he had been max level, the protagonist wouldn’t have let it slide.

Jealousy would’ve driven him to take action.

Still, Isaac had been curious about Luinael’s level, but seeing it displayed so easily like this… was it some kind of perk from becoming a protagonist candidate in this altered narrative?

Lost in thought, Isaac forgot his predicament for a moment.

Rustle.

“Ah…!”

Taking advantage of his distraction, Luinael kept moving.

In a blink, Isaac’s jacket had slid halfway off, leaving him in just his white shirt.

Alarmed, he tried to retreat, but a solid arm wrapped around his waist, holding him firmly in place.

“Y-Your Grace…!”

“I’ve been thinking, Isaac,” Luinael said, his tone casual.

“…?”

“We’re going to be married soon, aren’t we?”

“Well… yes, but…” Isaac stammered, baffled at how that related to the current situation.

He glared at Luinael with narrowed eyes, only to regret it immediately.

He quickly looked away, biting his lip.

“Stop being so formal. Call me by my name,” Luinael said softly.

“That’s…”

“Yes?”

Luinael smiled, his low voice brushing against Isaac’s ears as he whispered.

Then, without warning, he kissed the back of Isaac’s hand.

Isaac’s eyes widened in shock.

[BL Points earned for intimate contact with your match.
Current BL Points: 7
Keep earning points!]

“…!”

More points?

Earlier, he’d only gained points for holding hands in public.

So now, even private contact earned points?

And a hand-kiss seemed to be worth slightly more points than just holding hands.

Only a tiny difference, but still.

Shaken, Isaac finally tore his eyes away from the status window.

What had Luinael just said?

Something about calling him by his name?

It was sacrilegious to casually address a royal by their name.

But given they were soon to be married, maybe there was no need to be so rigid.

“…Luinael.”

“Drop the formalities.”

“No, I can’t—”

“Call me Lui, like you used to.”

“What?”

Did the real Isaac call Luinael by a nickname?

Were they that close?

Then why didn’t he remember…

Isaac instinctively tried to recall his past.

But no matter how hard he tried, the memories of the time after their last meeting five years ago remained elusive.

“Ugh…”

The effort made his head throb. Isaac groaned softly.

“Isaac, are you okay?” Luinael asked, his voice tinged with concern.

“I’m fine… It’s nothing.”

“You should change and rest.”

“…Alright.”

It seemed Luinael had mistaken his headache for fatigue.

Isaac, not bothering to correct him, nodded.

Feeling strangely resigned, he let Luinael take over.

Tap. Tap.

Luinael’s fingers delicately undid the buttons of Isaac’s shirt, one by one, at an agonizingly slow pace.

Each deliberate motion made Isaac swallow nervously.

Do other nobles have to endure this kind of embarrassment daily?

The real Isaac’s brash personality had been a blessing in disguise—it at least allowed him to change his clothes privately in the duchy.

The real problem was the future.

If he dismissed servants again, Luinael would undoubtedly come running to help, and enduring this ordeal every time was unthinkable.

Isaac sighed, lowering his eyes as he stewed over his predicament.

By the time Luinael’s hands reached the middle of his shirt, dusk would have fallen at this rate.

“Your skin is so pale, Isaac.”

“Ah!”

Without warning, Luinael’s hand grazed Isaac’s neck as he paused mid-motion.

Though it probably wasn’t intentional, the touch felt oddly intimate, making Isaac flinch and squirm.

“What are you—!”

“Ah, sorry,” Luinael said, startled, his wide eyes betraying genuine surprise.

He quickly looked away, flustered, before resuming his work on the buttons.

“…”

But his fingers fumbled awkwardly, struggling with the buttons.

A closer look revealed that Luinael’s ears were tinged red.

Isaac had assumed Luinael was just slow, but was he actually too embarrassed to unbutton the shirt properly?

That’s… kind of cute.

“…!”

Wait, did he just think a grown man was cute?

Sure, Luinael was breathtakingly beautiful and his match in this bizarre system, but Isaac needed to remember he was just using him.

Shaking his head, Isaac cleared his throat.

“Is this going to take all day… Lui?”

Isaac hesitated before finally using the nickname.

Luinael’s face lit up with a radiant smile.

Isaac immediately adjusted his gaze, avoiding direct eye contact.

“It’ll be done soon,” Luinael replied with unnecessary determination, his fingers wriggling with renewed focus.

Anyone watching might think he was performing delicate, intricate work, but all he was doing was unbuttoning a shirt.

Still, beautiful people made even mundane actions captivating.

Isaac found himself staring at Luinael’s long lashes, quietly marveling.

Silver lashes, delicate as if woven from threads of light, quivered faintly each time they focused.

Since his possession of this body, Isaac had met people with every imaginable hair color, but the pure silver hair of Luinael was unlike anything he’d ever seen.

And to see it this closely—no matter the circumstances that brought them together—was undeniably a rare experience.

“All done.”

“……”

“Isaac?”

“Ah.”

Before he realized it, Luinael had finished unbuttoning his shirt and was staring directly at Isaac.

The look in his eyes resembled a puppy seeking praise, making Isaac unconsciously reach out his hand.

“……!”

“Ah!”

* * *