Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 175

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Side Story 2, Part 2, Episode 1
“How could I? …Oh!”
I resisted as best I could, but my efforts proved futile as he pulled me effortlessly onto his lap. My small hands pushed against his shoulders.
“Your Majesty, the sun is high in the sky. Don’t you think the bed is rather risky right now?”
“I’ll manage.”
“Manage what? You’re absolutely shameless, aren’t you!”
I let out an exasperated laugh even as I accepted his kiss obediently. He nibbled my lower lip, breathing unevenly, then tilted his head to deepen the kiss further. As my light frame was pushed backward, he pressed gently against my back, drawing me closer.
“It’s almost time to leave….”
“Just ten minutes.”
“You said ten minutes last time too, and it turned into over thirty minutes… Ah, mmm….”
With the child on the way, Auredhian’s patience naturally grew longer, and correspondingly, the shallow, gentle touches that spared my body from strain became longer and more frequent.
I was finally released from his embrace only after he’d kissed every exposed part of me above my dress. A rosy blush bloomed across my pale face.
After catching my breath for a moment, I whispered to my husband, whose fingertips still traced my belly.
“I’ll be careful while I’m away. And when I return this time, I promise I’ll truly behave and stay by your side for the rest of the year.”
“Why make a promise you won’t keep?”
Auredhian sighed and kissed the tip of my nose one last time before pulling away. I murmured sheepishly.
“You’re losing faith in me more and more… I really should reflect on myself.”
“Please do.”
Auredhian embraced me once more and set me gently on the floor.
“Don’t go running around everywhere playing with the cousins.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve already instructed Deb and Jena to keep a close eye on you. I’ve also sent advance letters to Lebovni.”
“I love you.”
I winked and gently cut off his nagging with affection.
“If my heart truly won’t settle, I’ll come after you. Understood….”
“I love you. Shouldn’t you say it back?”
“…Yes. I love you. Safe travels.”
Our long, lingering farewell finally ended. Auredhian watched as I waved goodbye with the children, our figures disappearing beyond the magic circle, before turning away with an unsettled expression.
“The Imperial Palace will be quiet for a while.”
My aide Felix looked both wistful and relieved. Having taken on the additional duty of protecting the young Prince and Princess for several years alongside his regular responsibilities, he could certainly appreciate the chance to catch his breath.
Auredhian observed his chronically exhausted aide and contemplated something for a moment. Lebovni. Now twelve years old this year, that adorable cousin-in-law. The childhood friend of my cousin-in-law, whom I’d only heard about through letters. Since Yerenika’s trip to Lebovni had been decided, he’d been solidifying a thought he’d been turning over in his mind.
“…Felix, I think you’re in need of a vacation.”
“Your Majesty?”
“The week after next. How about a week-long extended leave?”
“…Your Majesty, please don’t try to bait me with carrots first. Tell me what punishment you’re planning to impose beforehand.”
“Does changing the order make any difference?”
“I need time to mentally prepare myself….”
Auredhian smiled warmly at his aide, whose perceptiveness grew sharper by the day.
“We’ll take turns. The vacation.”
“….”
“I’ll go first for three days. And after that, you take a week. Not a good deal?”
“….”
“I’ve already processed all the documents requiring important approvals. You just need to organize everything that comes up during those three days.”
Though his tone was coaxing and gentle, it was already a command. He was planning to entrust the massive workload to his aide alone and chase after the Empress. Felix swallowed hard. Three days of grueling work, and then a week of sweet vacation afterward. It was a tempting offer.
“A week—you promised, Your Majesty.”
“I don’t go back on my word. Didn’t you know?”
In the end, Felix nodded. Less than an hour after the Empress departed, the Emperor’s trip to Lebovni was decided.
* * *
“Lebovni is so small. It seems even smaller than when we came before.”
“That’s because you’ve grown a whole hand’s length taller, Deb. You were only four years old the last time we were here. Do you remember?”
“This much?”
Decarve Belgot pressed his thumb and forefinger together to show a tiny gap, his adorable grin adding to the gesture. His mother burst into bright laughter.
“You remember that much? You’re amazing, our son. Do you remember Sister Brizni and Brother Alexio too?”
“Sister and Brother are this much!”
“Wow! Deb is a genius.”
Yerenika ruffled the child’s hair and took his small hand. Then she turned her head to look down at the even smaller child clinging to her left leg.
“Is this Jena’s first time in Lebovni?”
Aizena Belgot, with her gleaming silver hair tied adorably in two braids, nodded. Yerenika pretended not to notice but secretly smiled as she watched her daughter’s gaze drift toward the onion-domed Royal Palace. She’d often wondered what would happen if her husband’s personality and hers were mixed in equal parts, and now she saw it perfectly in Jena. The child, who had just turned five, had seemed like a perfect copy of her mother and older brother when she was younger, but with each passing day, she was gradually beginning to take on her father’s distinctive aura.
While Decarve’s eyes sparkled with curiosity nine times out of ten, Aizena’s eyes were usually half-lidded and drowsy. Moreover, Jena was slightly quieter than her older brother but also a bit more particular.
“Do you like it, Jena?”
“Yes. It’s pretty.”
Even for Aizena, Lebovni—like a small fairy-tale kingdom—seemed quite appealing.
“Small and cute.”
Jena looked around with interest before clinging back to her mother’s leg. If Decarve was the type everyone knew as a charming little performer, Aizena was the type who subtly showed affection while pretending not to. Watching her like this made Yerenika smile softly.
‘I gave birth to them, yet their personalities are so different.’
Yerenika considered picking up her daughter but remembered her husband’s request not to carry the children around with difficulty, so she reluctantly abandoned the idea. Instead, she slowed her pace so her daughter could see more of their surroundings.
“The saplings we saw back then have already grown this much? My goodness.”
Then she became even more absorbed in looking around than her daughter was.
“Wow, that’s a statue I haven’t seen before, Deb. I don’t think there was a Raulus statue this size before, was there? Look at the eyes. It looks so lifelike.”
“Really! I want to see Lari now that I see Lari’s statue!”
“We came in spring. I’m wondering if we’ll see the youngest when they’re born….”
“I want to see the youngest soon too!”
“Yes, me too. We should be able to meet them after just two more seasons pass.”
Yerenika walked along chatting cheerfully with the children. After walking for a while, she spotted the Lebovni family members who had come to greet them in the distance.
“Yerenika!”
The moment Yerenika saw the red hair, she broke into a wide smile and waved her hand.
“Sister! It’s been so long! Oh my, Brizni!”
The moment she saw the young girl holding both hands tightly beside Tezebia, her joy grew even greater. Goodness, it felt like just yesterday she was a newborn, and now she’s already a young girl! But the surprise didn’t end there. When Yerenika saw the black-haired boy standing behind her niece, her exclamation reached its peak.
“Lexiiiiie!”
For growing children, three years brought tremendous change. Alexio had grown a whole hand’s length taller!
“Aunt…!”
Brizni rushed over first and embraced her. Alexio hesitated for a moment, but ultimately wrapped his arms around her as well.
“It’s been so long, Aunt Yeni.”
“Lexie is speaking to me formally…!”
“Lexie speaks formally to me now when others are around too, Aunt!”
Brizni, her frizzy red hair cascading down, pressed kiss after kiss to her favorite aunt’s cheek. Then, while Alexio was embracing the aunt, she turned her head slightly. Their eyes met. Brizni’s sky-blue eyes glistened with emotion.
‘This child…!’
We had finally met!
* * *
After three long years, I rushed to embrace the King and Queen of Lebovni, and then the Princesses of Lebovni headed together to the Secondary Palace. Decarve and Aizena had sent them out to explore more of the Royal Palace of Lebovni. My face was filled with reluctance.
“I should have come sooner instead of putting it off. The youngest found me faster than I expected….”
I wanted nothing more than to stay and play with the children. Brizni and Alexio had grown so much over these three years, shedding their childish ways, and I wished to spend more time talking with them, but unfortunately my body wouldn’t cooperate.
Though I’d entered a more stable period, I tired easily if I stayed outside too long. Moreover, there were several concerns that made me think I still needed to be cautious.
Tezebia asked carefully.
“Is this one different?”
“Yes. The youngest seems to resemble me somewhat…. I was relieved that Deb and Jena don’t really take after me, but the youngest is honestly a bit worrying.”
My face quickly grew gloomy.

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