Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 25

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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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Chapter 25
It was endearingly clever. My slender fingers gripped his hand with surprising firmness. The coolness of his palm, slightly lower in temperature than mine, was oddly pleasant. Auredhian Belgot smiled languidly.
“And how exactly do you intend to manage that?”
His expression resembled that of a predator observing an oblivious kitten bouncing cheerfully before it. She likely had no idea that the woman gazing up at him with such radiant laughter was far less magnanimous than he appeared. Yet there was no need to reveal himself entirely. He conducted himself this way with nearly everyone.
So Auredhian Belgot simply offered his hand while looking down at her. His gentle eyes curved into lovely crescents.
“I do have some propriety, so I thought I might ask for your cooperation.”
The Princess interlaced her fingers with his and laughed brightly. It was an irresistible radiance that disarmed all caution. Whether she wielded it knowing it was her weapon or simply spoke with unblemished vivacity, her voice continued without hesitation.
“Will you surrender to my kidnapping willingly right now, or…”
“Or?”
“Will you spend the entire day troubled because of me?”
A spark suddenly ignited in her pale blue eyes. The determination to never accept anything less than agreement burned fiercely. Auredhian Belgot let out a hollow laugh.
“What exactly is it about me that displeases you, Princess?”
“Your Majesty’s schedule today.”
“My schedule?”
“Yes. I intend to thoroughly disrupt it.”
The Princess answered without hesitation. Auredhian Belgot needed a moment to discern her true intention. It appeared the Princess of Lebovni was determined to thoroughly obstruct his meeting with Soleia Elad today.
“Since we’re not even betrothed, I’m the same as she is, am I not?”
She spoke with a profoundly serious expression, yet her words made little sense. Then, with an utterly innocent face, she smiled brightly.
“I can guarantee your personal safety. I’m quite confident about that.”
“…”
“May I ask for your cooperation?”
Her tone was genuinely brimming with confidence. The Princess shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, if it sounds like coercion to you, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
The words sounded oddly familiar. They were the very words Auredhian Belgot himself had spoken when he kidnapped the Princess. In the end, he burst into quiet laughter. He didn’t know why she wanted to kidnap him, but whether he understood her intentions or not, her charm was too endearing to refuse.
“Well then…”
Auredhian Belgot roughly estimated the time. He had a lunch appointment with Soleia Elad. Knowing that she was sensitive about punctuality, she would surely arrive at precisely the agreed hour.
Perhaps thirty minutes to an hour remained. Auredhian Belgot deliberated briefly. It flashed through his mind how Soleia Elad had dealt with women who attempted to approach him. She had woven countless scandals, rendering poor noble ladies utterly unable to recover.
‘Scandal.’
Auredhian Belgot looked down at the brightly smiling Princess of Lebovni and reflected. There was perhaps no woman less suited to that word. It seemed impossible to entangle her in scandal even if one tried.
But beyond Soleia Elad’s involvement, appearing overly familiar with a foreign princess held hostage would benefit neither of them. Not him, nor the lovely princess before him. Yes, and yet…
“Come with me. Your Majesty.”
The Princess tugged at his hand and shook it. The ends of her delicately braided rose-pink hair swayed as if tempting him. Her pale blue eyes, brimming with anticipation, blinked hopefully.
“…”
For some reason, it was not easy to look away or turn back. It was a sweet insistence that effortlessly scaled even the highest, most formidable walls. As if she knew that today’s schedule was not particularly pleasing to him. The moment that thought took hold, it became even more difficult to withdraw his hand from hers.
“…Sigh.”
A small, wry laugh escaped from between his lips. If he left her here, she would surely droop dejectedly. The Princess of Lebovni was far more suited to moving about actively. But truthfully, when he turned away from this moment, he somehow sensed who would truly come to regret it…
“I cannot resist.”
In the end, Auredhian Belgot surrendered. This was already the second time. How much further did she intend to dismantle his defenses? Even as he thought this, he slowly straightened his posture.
The coolness that had intertwined between their fingers slipped away. He saw her pale blue eyes widen in surprise.
“Your Majesty?”
Being kidnapped for a brief moment wasn’t such a grave matter. He thought the same thing this time as well.
* * *
Success!
I gaped at the man who had vaulted through the window. I never expected such a reckless scheme would actually work. He was the type to sense even the subtlest approach and deflect it like a ghost, so I’d chosen the direct method instead. A brilliant choice, wasn’t it?
Auredhian Belgot, standing before me, opened his mouth with a loose smile.
“So then, Princess, what do you intend to do now that you’ve kidnapped me?”
Standing with his arms folded diagonally, he was dressed far more formally than usual. I hadn’t noticed when looking up at him through the window, but now that we faced each other properly, he seemed like an entirely different person. A black uniform embroidered with silver thread, silver shoulder ornaments, a deep purple cravat drawn snugly around his neck. Five or six brooches gleaming at his chest. His silver hair swept back neatly.
With his hair, which usually fell naturally about him, swept back, his straight forehead was revealed strikingly. His relaxed expression and leisurely demeanor remained unchanged, yet his appearance alone exuded an entirely different atmosphere.
“I… ”
I forgot what I was about to say and blinked stupidly. Before me stood a man bearing the impenetrable, formidable countenance of an emperor. I could hardly believe I’d just hooked this man.
Auredhian Belgot tilted his head slightly.
“Princess?”
Fortunately, my foolish silence didn’t last long. I quickly bit my tongue hard to regain my senses. This remarkable man had actually come over for me—I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away like this…!
I quickly rolled my eyes and glanced sideways at Marienne standing across the Garden. Noticing my gaze, Marienne drew a large O above her head. It was a pre-arranged signal of sorts. It meant Soleia Elad had entered the Imperial Palace.
Damn. That was fast! I hastily extended my hand to Auredhian Belgot.
“Well, first of all…”
Auredhian Belgot regarded my extended hand with a peculiar look for a moment. I mobilized every facial muscle to flash him a bright smile.
“First of all, shall we run away?”
For some reason, Auredhian Belgot readily took my hand. It was the opposite of the attitude one might expect from someone dressed in such an impenetrable, fortress-like manner. Was he being unusually indulgent today? If so, I’d take it!
I pulled him along in quick steps, hurrying out of the Garden. My heart was beginning to race. If Soleia Elad witnessed the scene of me spiriting Auredhian Belgot away, how would she react? This time, I might truly be buried alive without anyone knowing.
The emperor, oblivious to my anxiety, followed me with perfect ease. Because of the basic difference in our heights, no matter how quickly I walked, I couldn’t match his stride. Only I was always left shuffling like this. Only me! I turned back to him irritably.
“Your Majesty, there will come a day when you thank me for this.”
At my nonsensical remark, the man who had been docilely following me met my gaze. Doubt flickered in his reddish eyes, and then he chuckled softly.
“Well, that might happen someday. The future is unknowable, after all.”
The words nearly escaped me. I stared at him blankly for a moment, then turned my head forward again. In any case, I’d caught my prize. I just needed to return to Bellirook Palace and keep him confined for today alone.
That was the entirety of my plan. I’d never intended to carry off this man, who was roughly twice my size, and even if I did manage to escape, it would only be within the Imperial Palace anyway.
Which meant this situation was absolutely not my intention. It was Soleia Elad—that woman appearing before us like a ghost.
“-!”
I was holding Auredhian Belgot’s hand and had just stepped onto the path leading to Bellirook Palace when I felt his grip tighten suddenly. The moment I turned to him in confusion, Auredhian Belgot pulled my shoulder firmly toward him with solid strength.
I couldn’t resist and was drawn into his embrace. A flash of wavy, reddish-brown hair streaked across my rapidly shifting field of vision.
Oh no.
All the blood in my body turned to ice in an instant. I could only see the back of her head, but there was no mistaking it. The elaborate orange dress, the slender, refined figure, the carefully maintained reddish-brown hair.
What? Why is Soleia Elad in front of Bellirook Palace?!

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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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