[ this is worse on his heart than tripping into the water face-first; his whole body tenses when he feels her hand on his face, and he feels his heart shoot up into his throat, which is possibly why he makes a surprised little choking noise. The princess is touching his face. This... This is pretty romantic... Does she honestly just mean this all honestly? Does she not know what she's doing to him? Of course, her occasional cluelessness was a part of her charm, but right now, it's just frustrating!

But he's like putty in her hands, limply turning his head to look at her again with the guidance of her touch. All it takes is one look at her to confirm that she doesn't see any problem with what she's doing and obviously doesn't see him the same way; it's also all it takes for him to lose his cool again, eyes instantly darting elsewhere. She's holding his face... and she's only wearing a wet towel. He's going to die. ]

Princess... [ he's seriously going to die. He needs to defend himself here. ] Nngh... Y-you shouldn't touch me so carelessly! Did you forget that I'm trying to kidnap you? You'll fall into my next trap easily...!

[ sniff. he continues in a much smaller voice: ] Or you just forgot that I'm a man, too...