Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 42

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

Chapter 42
Now that I thought about it, I’d certainly been spending more days lately doing absolutely nothing. When I was out and about, things were fine. But the moment I stayed within the palace walls, I found myself spreading out like warm injeolmi, melting into lethargy.
I wanted to burrow under blankets and sleep endlessly. Wasn’t this the classic symptom of unemployment?
I pondered it seriously for a moment. Homesickness, magical maladjustment, or whatever—I was simply exhibiting the textbook behavior of a lazy person.
“Maybe I should exercise….”
Yet I already knew a far more effective remedy. Counting the days, it had been four since our last tea time. Without further deliberation, I sprang from my chair, mustered what little energy I could find, and left Bellirook Palace.
In search of a tonic, a restorative elixir—or perhaps a sacred recharge.
And when I found Auredhian, he zeroed in on one fact: that Princess Yerenika was unwell.
“Are you alright?”
“Pardon?”
I was strolling through the courtyard after tea, as I usually did. At his sudden words, I lifted my head.
“What did you say?”
“….”
Reddish eyes swept over me from head to toe, scrutinizing every detail. If I hadn’t misheard, it seemed I looked different from my usual self to him as well. I tilted my head blankly.
“Now even Your Majesty is saying it….”
Have I really contracted some fatal illness?
Auredhian stopped walking and turned me to face him. His crimson gaze traced over me from crown to heel.
“So someone else has said the same thing?”
“Yes. The people at Bellirook Palace, and Diego Schmart too. Lately, everyone worries the moment they see me.”
“Hmm….”
“Do I look strange to you?”
Auredhian, who had been examining me closely, finally spoke.
“Your complexion is poor.”
“I see.”
“You have no color in your blood.”
“Mm….”
“I thought I’d cleared away all suspicious matters that day.”
At those last words, my eyes widened.
“That day? Which day?”
“…Your hair is also unusually dull.”
“…!”
That was the most serious problem of all. I quickly grabbed the two braids Marienne had woven and examined them. Were they dull? If my already fine hair became dull on top of everything else, I’d look absolutely dreadful!
Auredhian took hold of both my wrists and gently drew my hands away from my hair. He spoke with gravity.
“Your hair isn’t what matters, Princess. Are you eating properly? Getting enough sleep?”
At those words, I looked up immediately. Concern was unmistakably etched across his devastatingly handsome face. I laughed brightly and winked.
“Why? Are you worried?”
“What are you trying to say now….”
“If you’re worried, it would be nice if you held me once.”
At my cheerful words, Auredhian let out a hollow laugh. He released my wrists and spoke curtly.
“You’re still full of energy.”
Tsk. How cold.
I set aside my anticipation and reached out, poking Auredhian’s hand with the tip of my index finger. That trivial contact alone sent a pleasant wave of sanctity cascading through me.
The corners of my mouth lifted without my realizing it. I laughed softly and withdrew my finger.
“Oh no. You caught me. I was trying to appeal through weakness.”
“Stop getting distracted, Princess. If you’re not feeling well, you should say so immediately.”
“I’m fine. Marienne and Diego have already worried enough for ten people, so Your Majesty doesn’t need to worry.”
I turned my body around with a laugh. The sanctity radiating through me made each step feel light.
Half a beat later, I heard Auredhian’s footsteps following. I thought I caught the sound of a faint sigh.
I quickly changed the subject.
“Have you resolved those recent troubles?”
“More or less. Just one or two things.”
“What about that ‘rat business’ from before?”
I looked up at Auredhian and probed carefully.
The “rat business” referred to what happened in the alley near Ugel Square a few days ago. Since Auredhian brought me to the Temple that day, he hadn’t told me what he did afterward.
“You don’t need to know.”
Today was no different. A firm answer came back. I didn’t give up and pressed persistently.
“You said things that shouldn’t be wandering the streets were wandering around. What was that? Those transparent spheres? What were they?”
Was it really Soleia Elad who was chasing after them? Those words climbed all the way to my throat.
Should I speak or not? Was Auredhian really suspicious of Soleia?
The expression on his face when he saw Soleia standing in front of Bellirook Palace that day was absolutely not the face of someone looking at a trustworthy subordinate, nor at a woman he was considering marrying.
Moreover, on the day that woman stood in front of Bellirook Palace, they said the palace underwent major renovations. While Auredhian and I were away from the Imperial Palace. Whose orders it was, was actually clear.
So this much became certain. Auredhian Belgot was wary of Soleia Elad. The question was how deep that wariness ran.
As I stared up at him, Auredhian reluctantly answered.
“Unauthorized magical items were openly circulating in the streets.”
“I see.”
“I’ve finished by searching the entire square and taking recovery measures. Let’s not speak of it anymore.”
Tsk.
Before I could dig deeper, an iron wall rose high. How could I say anything with this? I pouted my lips.
“Your Majesty, I think it’s time you became a bit more flexible. Let’s get closer, shall we? Let’s have a deeper conversation.”
“Get closer, then.”
Auredhian spoke in a languid, passing tone with a slight laugh.
“This distance is good for me, and it’s good for you too.”
“I think I’d be fine getting even closer. Like this, perhaps?”
I seized the moment and quickly stepped closer to him, looking up with bright, sparkling eyes like a cat in boots.
Come on, give in!
The distance between us was so close that not even a fist could fit. Close enough to feel each other’s breath without difficulty. The gentle breeze of a warm spring day, the fresh scent of the garden, and a clean, refined fragrance brushed against my nose. My heart beat pleasantly. Thump, thump.
Auredhian paused for a moment.
Then he laughed like a sigh.
“Fine. Do as you wish. How could I possibly stop you?”
His tone was almost resigned. The heart that had been so soft and fluffy burst open with a pop, and the steam escaped with a hiss. I pouted my lips and took a step back.
“That’s enough. I won’t do it.”
What good does wagging your tail do? Fine, fine, do whatever you want. I’ll just keep my walls up, that’s all. I maintained that stubborn attitude.
Auredhian Belgot looked down at me with his arms crossed. A faint glimmer of something flickered in his reddish eyes.
“You also keep things from me. Isn’t it fair for both of us?”
“I’m always honest.”
“Really? Then tell me what trouble you caused at the Temple that day.”
“….”
“Why were you clinging to Diego Schmart like that?”
He took a step closer—exactly as far as I had retreated.
The distance between us closed in an instant. I drew a sharp breath. Less than three seconds after confidently declaring my honesty, my words dried up. Auredhian Belgot didn’t stop there. He bent slightly at the waist to meet my eyes.
In the afternoon sunlight filtering through, his violet eyes shone with unusual transparency. And there, reflected in them, was me with my eyes wide open.
The moment I realized he was right in front of me with barely any distance left between us, heat rushed to the tips of my ears. As I clamped my mouth shut like a clam, Auredhian Belgot laughed as if to say, “See?”
“You don’t intend to speak either, do you?”
His languid eyes curved slightly upward. It was a small change, yet it was utterly dizzying. His voice was tender, but I couldn’t understand why it was so captivating.
You’re far too dangerously alluring.
I was grateful that my hair was covering my ears. I didn’t know what to do, so I averted my gaze and took a step back.
“That’s cheating….”
“What is?”
“Attacking with your face like this… from so close.”
As I mumbled while avoiding his gaze, I heard him chuckle softly. Then Auredhian Belgot took a step back. Only then could I finally exhale. What was that? I was the only one being self-conscious. How embarrassing….
Looking down at me with an expression of utter amusement, Auredhian Belgot spoke.
“Either way, we’re even. Aren’t we?”
“Ugh. Seriously.”
I wanted to say something back, but I had nothing. I could only hope my face wasn’t turning red as I shot him a sidelong glare. His expression remained utterly composed.
“Let’s end the discussion about that day. It doesn’t seem like a particularly meaningful topic anyway.”
Meaningless? Why would it be meaningless! If you were on edge that day because of Soleia Elad, then it’s not unrelated to me either! I managed to suppress the urge to retort indignantly. Truth be told, I was the one with more secrets. After all, my very existence wasn’t of this world.
Moreover, I hadn’t even mentioned that I’d been hearing Raulus’s voice recently.
So was this man right? We were even? It felt like an incredibly unsatisfying kind of even….
As I frowned, Auredhian Belgot smoothly changed the subject.
“What you should be paying more attention to is something else.”
“What is it?”
“For instance, a reply from Lebovni?”
Auredhian Belgot pulled a white envelope from his breast pocket and waved it slightly. The moment I saw the seal stamped in the center of the letter, all my thoughts came to a complete halt.
What?

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