Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 156

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 156
“Hmm.”
I glanced briefly at the crowd beyond the fence before lowering my gaze. Their flushed, excited faces whispering amongst themselves made me deeply uncomfortable.
But there was nothing to be done about it.
My hand, which had been gently stroking his hair, descended lower. I placed both palms against his cheeks and drew him closer to me.
“Show me your face up close.”
The moment the words left my lips, his gaze lifted sharply. His handsome face was suddenly inches from mine. I could see the sharpness in his eyes. I reached out and gently traced the area around his eyes, which bore a faint reddish tint.
“Did Raulus give you a hard time?”
“….”
Auredhian Belgot didn’t answer. He simply gazed down at me for a moment, then pulled me close again.
“Hmm.”
I let out an awkward sound and patted his back. Through our pressed bodies, I felt his rapid heartbeat transmitted directly to me. It was the same as before—not calmed in the slightest.
“….”
It seemed my plan to exchange playful banter as I usually did had fallen through. Yet now it felt embarrassing to offer reassurances about not worrying or saying everything was fine. No matter how many times I insisted I was perfectly well, he wouldn’t believe me anyway.
How could I comfort him? What should I say first? I simply blurted out the first words that came to mind.
“Have I told you that I love you?”
“No.”
The answer came swiftly. I pushed him back slightly and took his hand instead.
“I love you.”
Auredhian Belgot’s hand was always warmer than mine. I brought his warm hand to my lips and brushed my cheek against it.
“Well, there’s a response that should come after that.”
“….”
“You’re being slow to respond today.”
His other hand, which I hadn’t caught, rose to my neck. With his palm resting just below my jaw line and on my shoulder, he remained silent for a long moment.
“…?”
I looked at him in confusion for a moment before suddenly understanding what he was doing. Thump-thump. He was feeling the pulse at my neck. My heart ached again. Somehow, it felt as though I were reliving what happened two years ago. I swallowed my sigh and opened my mouth instead.
“I love you.”
This confession carried an unspoken demand. Answer me. You have words you should be telling me. But instead of saying what I hoped to hear, Auredhian Belgot called my name.
“Yeni.”
“Yes?”
“Yerenika.”
“Yes. I’m here.”
“….”
His other hand, which had been caught in mine, pressed against my wrist. I could feel the pulse of the vein at my wrist transmitted through his palm. Finally, a long sigh escaped me. I grumbled in frustration.
“I don’t appreciate being treated like a dead woman.”
“Don’t even speak such words, not even in jest.”
Auredhian Belgot’s brow furrowed.
“Even as a joke, I….”
“I love you.”
I shot him a sharp glare. I seized both his hands and pulled them away from me.
“This is the third time now. You’re not pretending not to hear me, are you? If you don’t answer this time, I’ll find it rather dull.”
“I love you.”
Auredhian Belgot answered immediately. I slyly retrieved one of his hands again and replied with a coy tone.
“That’s what should have come first.”
“Mm….”
His crimson eyes flickered downward again. I lightly swatted away the fingers that tried to grasp my wrist once more.
“Enough with the verification. I’m not dead—I’m perfectly alive and well.”
Auredhian Belgot still wore an expression of reluctance. But when I finally pushed his hand away again, he hastily reclaimed it and murmured.
“…Yes. It doesn’t seem to be a dream.”
“A dream?”
“Never mind.”
Cold lips descended upon the back of my hand, lingering on each finger repeatedly. I gazed up at Auredhian Belgot’s face with a somewhat melancholic feeling. His eyes were still red-rimmed. His complexion was pale and gaunt.
He was already the type who appeared cool by nature, and now with a sharp, sensitive aura surrounding him, he looked twice as cold as usual. Whether it was because that appearance was somehow striking, or because he was the sort of person who could carry off any atmosphere with perfect grace, it suited him well regardless.
Yet something about it troubled me. I tilted my head and pondered carefully.
“What could it be…?”
“What?”
“Why do you seem a bit colder than the person I knew?”
“…? I’m sorry.”
“I wasn’t trying to blame you. Really, don’t apologize without even understanding what I’m saying.”
That apology must be a deeply ingrained habit. I slowly examined Auredhian Belgot. It was purely by chance that I noticed the tightly wound crimson cravat.
“That must be uncomfortable.”
“…?”
My hand moved first, and it wasn’t really intentional at all. It was purely an unconscious action, but the thought caught up with me half a beat too late.
“Ah, is it this?”
The fabric of the crimson cravat touched my hand. The way it was tied seemed more complicated than usual, and I didn’t like it. I slightly furrowed my brow and struggled to untie the cravat.
“How exactly do you undo this thing? Ah, do you pull it out like this?”
“…No. The other way, Yeni.”
“Ah, like this?”
The blanket covering everything down to my arms was quite inconvenient, but I managed to successfully untie the cravat.
Whisper. The thin fabric slid smoothly down beneath his shirt. The collar fell open more naturally, as if the top button hadn’t been fastened.
Mm. Yes, this suits him better. I withdrew my hand and smiled with satisfaction.
“Perfect!”
Only then did I see the corners of his mouth curve into a smooth arc. His response came slightly off from what I expected.
“This would be problematic in the Garden, Yerenika.”
“Pardon?”
I tilted my head in momentary confusion before understanding his meaning.
“Ah. The location is a bit of an issue?”
My eyes naturally curved upward. I smiled brightly and whispered softly.
“Then shall we continue inside?”
“I can’t stop you.”
Auredhian let out a hollow laugh. His lips, still cold from the night air, brushed against my forehead. They traced along the bridge of my nose, then down to its tip.
“There are things I need to do once we’re inside.”
“Are you going to kiss me?”
“No. Rather than that….”
“Then are you going to hold me?”
“….”
When I smiled brightly and pressed my lips to his, Auredhian let out a short gasp and murmured against my mouth.
“You can’t keep provoking me like this, Yeni.”
“Why not?”
“…Let’s go inside first.”
Before I could protest, my feet left the ground. I grumbled about it, but his demeanor was so resolute that I eventually surrendered, relaxing into his arms.
* * *
I was carried directly to the Bedroom. The Old Physician, whom I hadn’t seen in ages, was already waiting beside the bed. The moment he laid eyes on me, thick tears began streaming down his weathered face.
“Heavens. Seeing you awake like this… I feel as though I can finally breathe again, Princess.”
“Hehe. It’s been a while.”
It seemed that over the past month, Auredhian hadn’t only been harsh with Raulus. The Old Physician examined me thoroughly before solemnly declaring his verdict.
“W… well, there don’t appear to be any parts that seem critically concerning.”
“Oh!”
Fully recovered! Completely healed! My face brightened instantly. I looked up at the Old Physician with sparkling eyes, but something about his expression seemed off.
“However, you must not spend too much time wandering outside, nor engage in strenuous physical activities such as training or sparring.”
Huh? I blinked in confusion. The Old Physician continued sternly.
“You absolutely cannot perform dangerous actions such as jumping out of windows from this height, Princess.”
“But….”
“You should also be cautious with your diet for now. Even though you were protected by divine grace, your biological rhythms were forcibly halted for over a month. You must maintain absolute rest.”
That phrase—absolute rest—was a word that never failed to accompany any discussion of my condition. I made a small attempt at protest.
“But I’m truly fine. I was able to channel divine grace without difficulty, and given how light the ground feels beneath me, I should have no problems even with mana exposure….”
“That remains to be seen, Princess.”
This time, it was Diego who cut me off. Diego, who had apparently been tormented by Raulus all this time, was sweating profusely as he poured out his words.
“We must observe whether Raulus’s divine grace has settled properly without any adverse effects. Even Novice Priests who undergo the Priesthood ceremony for the first time often struggle to bear excessive power. And you, Princess, are in poor health to begin with.”
As Diego’s words continued endlessly, Auredhian’s expression grew darker by the moment. No, these people—they weren’t even trying to reassure this man….
“Why am I still being treated like a delicate fish….”
I muttered under my breath, then fell silent when I caught Auredhian’s gaze. His eyes burned with the desire to push me down onto the bed right then and wrap me up in blankets.
“Divine grace is not a cure-all, Princess. If divine grace could heal everything, why would physicians exist?”
Even the Old Physician scolded me.
“Organs that have already been damaged and weakened cannot be restored. We can only be careful to prevent further deterioration.”
[That’s right. We can’t undo what’s already broken, little one.]
Now even Raulus had joined in. I looked up at their serious faces and smiled softly.
“So I’m supposed to spend my entire life doing nothing but lounging about?”
“Yes.”
“Right. That’s impossible… wait?”
“Hm?” Auredhian Belgot sighed as he spoke.
“My wish is for you to remain by my side, living a life of leisure exactly as you’ve described.”
“I… well…”
Such indulgence certainly appealed to me, but something about his protective nature seemed destined to intensify beyond what it already was. Was I merely being paranoid? I surrendered to Auredhian’s gentle push, sinking back beneath the quilts, trembling with an inexplicable unease.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————