“I just like you, that’s all.”

    Marie said, slowly leaning back and quietly taking a seat as she spoke. Then, she smiled as if nothing had happened. It was a smile so beautiful that words couldn’t do it justice.

    Meanwhile, I blinked for about five seconds, still unsure of what was happening, and then found myself unconsciously touching my lips. If Marie’s bold action earlier had been my imagination, then the sensation I felt on my lips now would be false.

    However, this feeling was not a figment of my imagination. The soft, fleeting sensation on my lips lingered vividly in my mind.

    ‘So... did Marie just... kiss me?’

    Not a deep kiss, but a simple peck also known as a bird kiss?

    I couldn’t say a word in the face of a reality that was hard to believe. Then, Marie looked at my face and opened her mouth with a slightly embarrassed tone.

    “How was it?”

    “... ...”

    “Whatever you say, this is my answer.”

    Oh, seeing her say those words, it’s not a delusion.

    We really had a light kiss.

    Marie really likes me.

    ...Oh my God.

    Flare-

    After three rational judgments, a soundless scream burst out. At the same time, my face started to burn in less than a second.

    I couldn’t bring myself to meet Marie’s eyes, so I hung my head low. Thanks to that... well, my mind was so tangled up that I couldn’t think straight.

    ‘Really? For real? Is this a true story?’

    Only those thoughts were swirling in my head. I couldn’t think of anything else.

    No matter how much I tried to deny it, the fact that Marie had given me a peck was undeniable. A kiss is an act that goes beyond just being friends of the opposite sex and is something that lovers would do.

    We haven’t even officially started dating yet, so I was too embarrassed to handle her being so bold. I had a girlfriend in my past life, but I always took the lead, and there was never a case where the girl took the initiative.

    ‘I’m getting dizzy...’

    Is it because of the heat that’s risen up to my head? Even though I haven’t been drinking, my head feels slightly dizzy.

    I’ve seen people feel dizzy because of high blood pressure, and this feels exactly like that. The difference is that they have a chronic illness, while mine is temporary.

    “Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.”

    I tried to take deep breaths to calm down the fiery heat that had risen up like a flame. Every time I exhaled, it felt like the heat that had risen to my face was leaving my body.

    For some reason, it was much more intense than when I touched Cecily’s chest. Maybe it’s because I have some rational affection for Marie. Moreover, the emotion I was feeling now was closer to a pure “heart” rather than a lascivious “desire.”

    “Phew...”

    By taking one last long breath, I was able to barely steady my pounding heart. Of course, the heat wasn’t completely gone, but my cognitive processes had returned to normal.

    I then slowly lifted my head and looked at Marie, who was sitting across from me. She seemed to be busy wriggling around, perhaps trying to figure out what she had done wrong.

    “...Marie.”

    “Uh. Uh-huh.”

    When I called her name, she responded with a voice full of cuteness. She took the “flower cup” pose and looked straight at me.

    My heart was about to give out again, but I managed to hold it together. I took a deep breath and asked her in a slightly trembling voice.

    “Do you know what your actions mean right now?”

    “I know, so what?”

    “... ...”

    “Do you want me to do it again?”

    Marie didn’t say anything and moved her body to stand up quietly. She seemed to want to do it again if given the chance.

    But I quickly reached out my hand to stop her. It’s not that I don’t trust Marie, but I have a strong feeling that if we do it again here, it won’t end “lightly”.

    It’s not that I’m not interested in beautiful women like Marie, but I’m just an ordinary man who likes pretty girls. I’m not a pervert, to be clear.

    Marie, who was tossing and turning with her hair in one hand as if she was embarrassed, giggled. In my heart, I wanted to grab those cute cheeks and stretch them out.

    “ha...”

    “Hehehe.”

    The “confession” I was going to make today was not a confession in this sense at all. I just wanted to let Marie know that I was the author of Xenon’s Biography, and our relationship would be something to think about later.

    However, now everything is completely reversed. The hand I gave to Marie at the restaurant entrance, called a snowball, has turned into a huge snowball and come back to me.

    But does that make me feel bad? Absolutely not.

    Thanks to Marie’s courageous actions, all hesitation disappeared from my mind.

    If I am really going to be by Marie’s side, I will become a man who is suitable for her. And I can be that man.

    No, I already had the qualifications for it a long time ago.

    “...Marie.”

    “Why~”

    “...Is it that dangerous?”

    “It can be dangerous depending on what you do.”

    Marie gave me serious advice. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly and said.

    “As expected.”

    “Isaac.”

    “Yes?”

    “You heard my answer earlier, but I’m not worried about you revealing secrets. But this is a slightly different issue. I’m worried that you might write with impure intentions. Changing the perception of demons is an achievement that no one has ever accomplished, but do you remember the scene in the early part of Volume 8 of Xenon’s Biography, where the noble revealed his dark side?”

    The scene that had caused some controversy was mentioned by Marie. As she was also a noble, and a member of the Duke’s family, she had to be concerned about it.

    I leaned forward, realizing what she wanted to say. I could confidently say that her worries were unnecessary.

    “Marie.”

    “Yes, tell me.”

    “I have absolutely no intention of writing with that kind of intention. I just want my readers to enjoy my writing.”

    That’s why I had been avoiding the situation until now. As I always said, I was just an ordinary web novel writer in my past life.

    It is a job far removed from politics, and I only wrote for people’s enjoyment. And because people enjoy it, I plan to keep writing consistently.

    As Marie said, I have no intention of writing with a specific purpose. Even I didn’t expect the demons’ perception to be completely turned upside down, and as popularity increases, the weight on my shoulders increases.

    I just want to write, and people’s positive reactions to my writing are good enough for me.

    “If my writing causes harm to the world, I will never write again. And if someone forces me to write with ill intentions, I will cut off my hand.”

    “... ...”

    “I don’t know if you will believe me, but please believe that I am sincere. I am satisfied as long as people enjoy my writing.”

    It feels relieving to lay all my worries in my heart out. I told my family about it, but it was because they were family and could understand. This is the first time I have talked to someone else about it.

    Although I didn’t realize it, it also means that I trust Marie. Maybe the kiss we shared earlier could have been a catalyst for trust.

    “...I see.”

    Marie slowly nodded her head as she listened to me. Then she made a strange expression and asked me.

    “I guess you trust me since you’re telling me this?”

    “... Maybe?”

    “What’s with the ‘maybe’? It’s either true or not. You’re not very honest about these things.”

    “Ha ha.”

    I couldn’t help but laugh when Marie started grumbling. Marie, who had been giving me sharp looks, also chuckled at my laughter, perhaps feeling better.

    “At least I feel good. You’re the person I trust most after my family. Does anyone else know this fact? I think Cecily knows, but what about Rina?”

    “No, Rina thinks of my father as a writer, not me. Leort also thinks the same way.”

    “What? What does that mean? Why do both of them know instead of just Rina?”

    “Well, that’s because...”

    I explained to Marie what had happened at the time. I was worried that Marie, who already had negative feelings towards Rina, might get worse as I continued to explain.

    As my explanation continued and the details became more apparent, Marie’s expression became increasingly hostile. It almost makes me feel scared.

    “That woman... How could she do that to someone who’s just minding their own business...”

    “Well, at least everything’s been resolved, so don’t worry too much. If what you’re saying is true, those people won’t bother me recklessly.”

    “Maybe that’s true. But you still need to be careful. Understand?”

    “I got it.”

    “Oh, and there’s one thing I want to request from you...”

    “What is it?”

    “That’s...”

    As I looked puzzled at the word “request,” Marie began to hesitate. She seemed embarrassed to speak, fidgeting with her white hair, tinged with a blue hue, and avoiding my gaze.

    Judging from her slightly reddened face, it seemed she was hesitant to say something she found embarrassing. The more she hesitated, the more my curiosity grew.

    Since Marie was not the type to make strange requests like others, I wondered why she was acting like this. As I was lost in thought, Marie cleared her throat and quietly opened her mouth.

    “Um... can I have your autograph... since you’re the author of Xenon’s Biography... I thought it would be okay to ask for one...”

    “...?”

    I blinked in silence, and Marie foolishly grinned.

    “Hehehe...”

    It was cute.

    Translators note:

    Marie is officially the best girl.

    The second chapter from Baron Neckbeard.