Chapter 858: A Surprise Koko-Late Kiss ( 858 )
Javier turned toward the long wooden table where the chocolate samples had been carefully arranged just minutes ago.
Now it was empty.
Not a single square left.
"Ah! Liana! Gloria!" he called, spinning around with a half-panicked look. "Why didn’t you two go and taste it!?"
Liana tilted her head, pretending to be confused. "Hmm? What do you mean, Young Master?"
"The chocolate!" he pointed accusingly at the empty trays. "You didn’t even try one!"
Gloria exchanged a glance with Liana, then turned back to Javier with a perfectly straight face.
"But Young Master... didn’t you say it was for them to taste?"
"Eeeeeeee!! That includes you two!"
"But now it’s all gone, Young Master~" Liana replied sweetly, smiling like she’d done absolutely nothing wrong.
Inside Javier’s mind:
Guh! Now I can’t see their reactions! Damn it! I wanted to see that dreamy expression...! The sparkly eyes...! The little gasp of bliss...!
He sighed dramatically, ruffling his own hair.
Then slowly turned toward the crowd.
The farmers and the staff who had tasted it were still lingering. A few of them were peering under the trays as if hoping for a forgotten crumb. One man even tried licking his finger and dragging it along the wooden surface.
Javier watched it all in silence, then smiled, genuinely.
Well... if I can’t see Liana and Gloria’s reaction... seeing them like this is more than enough.
They’re smiling. Happy. Just from a small piece of chocolate.
He folded his arms with satisfaction.
Yeah. That’s all I need.
"...Young master."
Javier blinked and turned when he heard Liana’s soft voice behind him.
"Hmm? What is i—"
Before he could finish, Liana suddenly stepped closer, her eyes half-lidded, her expression calm yet unreadable.
Without a word, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his.
Warm. Sweet.
His eyes widened in shock as a faint taste spread across his tongue, smooth, rich, and...
Chocolate.
Liana’s lips moved softly, gently, just enough for him to catch the melted sweetness between them. Her hand rested lightly against his chest, steady and warm, keeping him from backing away. The kiss deepened.
By the time she pulled away, Javier was frozen, still blinking in dazed disbelief.
Liana smiled, sweet, playful, and dangerously charming. "Now I’ve tasted it, young master," she whispered softly, her tone carrying that quiet affection that melted him more than the chocolate ever could.
"M-Mou!! Liana!"
Gloria’s voice came from the side. She stood there, holding a bit of chocolate between her fingers, and a knowing smile on her lips.
"That’s cheating."
Her eyes glimmered behind her glasses as she leaned forward just slightly, voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "My turn~"
Gloria bit into the piece of chocolate, holding it delicately between her lips. Then, with slow, purposeful steps, she leaned up, her eyes locked onto Javier’s.
Before he could react, her lips met his.
Warm. Soft. Sweet.
The rich taste of chocolate melted into the kiss as Gloria pressed forward with a sudden boldness, her usual calm replaced by something deeper, something that made Javier’s thoughts dissolve into white noise.
His eyes widened.
It was bliss.
His mind spun, caught between the silky sweetness and the unexpected surge of emotion flooding him.
What the hell... I’m the one who wanted to see their reaction..
And yet here he was, completely disarmed by both.
Liana with her gentle surprise.
Gloria with her elegant fire.
He didn’t even realize the kiss had ended until Gloria pulled back with a soft exhale, her lips faintly glistening, her expression unreadable, but her eyes spoke everything.
Javier stood there, frozen.
Not a single word.
Not a single movement.
Just stunned.
Behind them, the farm staff and even Fringal were frozen as well, jaws half-dropped. A few mouths hung open.
They had just witnessed something impossible to forget.
Their young master, who was brilliant, elusive, unpredictable , now reduced to complete silence by two kisses.
Some of the farm staff exchanged glances, their voices dropping to hushed whispers.
"...Look at Young Master Javier."
"Completely frozen."
"He’s lucky beyond reason," one muttered, eyes still on Liana’s gentle smile.
"To be kissed like that... by her," another added quietly.
"And Miss Gloria too... that was..."
They trailed off, as if words weren’t enough.
A few of the younger farmhands didn’t speak at all. They just stood there, stunned, watching like dreamers staring through a window at a world far beyond theirs.
"That’s the elf girl, right?" someone whispered.
"Yeah. Miss Liana. Quiet type, but she never leaves his side."
"...And Miss Gloria’s the calm one. Always smiling."
"No wonder Lord Garius allows them to stay close. They’re not just maids anymore."
"Heh. If I had girls like that kissing me in front of everyone, I’d forget how to breathe too."
"Seriously... he doesn’t even look embarrassed. Just... knocked out."
"Can’t blame him. That kind of kiss? That wasn’t normal. That was..."
"...A love confession," someone finished softly.
And right in the middle of that growing cloud of murmurs, quiet envy, and admiration...
Javier still hadn’t moved.
Still stunned. Still blinking.
His heart pounding.
Inside his head, one thought screamed louder than anything else:
What just happened...!?
He didn’t even notice Liana leaning close to whisper in his ear, voice laced with playful warmth.
"That’s your reward, young master."
And behind her, Gloria smiled and added softly,
"You deserved it."
Then both turned, walking away like nothing had happened.
But after a few steps.
They paused.
Liana glanced over her shoulder first. Her eyes twinkled when she saw him. Javier, still stiff as a statue, lips parted slightly, completely lost in the afterglow of that double ambush.
"Young master?" she called gently, tilting her head.
Gloria followed her gaze and smirked. "What are you standing there for?"
Liana giggled, stepping slightly to the side so he could see her better.
"Let’s go home now, young master~"
And Gloria, brushing her hair behind one ear, added with a slow, teasing smile, "After all... young master’s going to be busy after this."
"Mm," Liana nodded sweetly. "Busy helping Lady Kliatana... and playing cupid for her and Master Heres~"
She clasped her hands behind her back and spun playfully as she walked.
Behind them, Javier blinked again.
"...Cupid?" he muttered.
But his feet finally moved.
Stumbling forward just enough to catch up... not that he had any idea what they had just set in motion.
( End Of Chapter )