Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 54

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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 54
I swiveled my head around, taking in my surroundings. A deep blue blanket the color of the canopy. Soft, plush sheets that seemed designed to make one sink into endless comfort. Oversized pillows. And a bed so vast that four people could easily sleep upon it.
“…?”
Still groggy from sleep, my mind refused to function properly. I forced my sluggish thoughts to work, dredging up memories from the previous night. The events came floating back slowly, like images rising through murky water.
Right—I’d fallen asleep only to be seized by nightmares. Just when I thought I’d escaped, my soul had popped right out of my body. And just when I’d barely managed to slip back in, I’d witnessed those dead flowers surrounding Bellirook Palace like a siege.
Goosebumps erupted across my spine. A chill crept up the back of my head, numbing it, so I burrowed back under the blankets. Only after wrapping the soft fabric around myself did the cold begin to fade.
“Ugh. What a horrible night….”
It had been a night worthy of a horror film. The fact that I’d maintained my sanity throughout was nothing short of miraculous. Of course, the fact that I’d woken up now suggested I’d eventually lost consciousness somewhere along the way….
“…Ah.”
And then I finally remembered the rest of what had happened at dawn. The memory of frantically fleeing Bellirook Palace, running for my life with everything I had, and reaching the entrance to the Training Grounds south of the Imperial Palace came rushing back. And I remembered who I’d seen there.
Only after recalling that far could I understand why I was now in one piece. The person in the middle of the Training Grounds had undoubtedly been Auredhian Belgot. He must have come out for his early morning training.
The image of him rushing toward me in panic surfaced in my mind. It felt unreal, like watching a movie on a screen. In that moment, that was what a miracle truly was—the man I’d thought couldn’t help me appearing before my eyes when I’d been pushed to my absolute limit.
What else could I call it but a miracle? I held back the tears threatening to spill and buried my head under the blankets. I’d have to thank him properly next time I saw him. Thank him for coming out to train today.
In any case, my memories cut off abruptly after that moment at the Training Grounds entrance when I’d spotted Auredhian. I must have lost consciousness then and there.
[Hey—. Little one—.]
A sudden ringing sound pierced through my mind. And then, without warning, a familiar voice echoed in my head.
[Crumb, are you alright?]
“I don’t know….”
I answered listlessly. Raulus sending his voice into my mind was no longer surprising. Raulus clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
[Yeah. That’s how it looks to me too.]
Whether he was being sarcastic or offering comfort was impossible to discern—but I’d grown accustomed to this manner of speech. Under normal circumstances, I would have growled back without mercy, but I lacked the energy now. I pulled the blankets tighter around myself and gave a half-hearted response.
“For someone so utterly useless, you’re doing a remarkable job of not helping.”
[Are you talking about me?]
Who else would it be? Of course, I didn’t voice that thought aloud. He’d just get offended. What use was this god to me anyway? I wished he’d stop talking and leave me alone—I was exhausted….
[Hmm…. Judging by how you’re talking, you really do seem fine.]
Raulus appeared to be examining me from all angles. Then, at some point, he fell silent. The sudden quiet from the usually talkative god struck me as odd, and a brief voice cut sharply through my mind.
[Ah. Someone’s coming.]
What? Who? I poked my head out from under the canopy. No sound came from beyond it. But Raulus wouldn’t lie. Was it a maid…? With that thought, I managed to push myself up into a sitting position. My fluffy pink hair tumbled down over the blankets wrapped around me.
I sat there blinking blankly. My body still felt somewhat heavy, but it was far better than those mornings when I’d woken drenched in cold sweat. The brief moment when I’d consumed Auredhian’s divine essence at dawn seemed to be having an effect.
I sighed and reached toward the canopy. At least I needed to know where I was. But before my hand could even touch the edge of the canopy, a large hand suddenly swept in and pulled it back.
“…!”
Brilliant sunlight poured in all at once. I reflexively squeezed my eyes shut.
“You’re awake?”
“Huh?”
“Who were you talking to like that?”
It was a voice far too familiar to me. Gentle and composed, yet with a hint of languor. It was Auredhian.
“Uh….”
A hand gently brushed through my disheveled hair. But the sunlight was too bright, so I shrank back and turned my head away.
“It’s too bright….”
“You’ll adjust soon.”
The canopy drew back with a soft whoosh. The dim bed was instantly flooded with sunlight. As the room brightened, my expression grew increasingly pinched.
“Ugh, really….”
My initial delight quickly gave way to resentment. It was so blindingly bright!
I twisted my head this way and that before finally burying my face deep into the blankets like a turtle retreating into its shell. A short laugh escaped, and suddenly my body was lifted. Auredhian Belgot easily extracted me from the blankets and sat me up, speaking gently.
“You’ve slept long enough. It’s time to wake now.”
“But I haven’t….”
“Yes, you have.”
Since I’d collapsed at dawn, I couldn’t have slept more than half a day no matter how long I’d rested. I looked up at him with a thoroughly disgruntled expression. Auredhian Belgot sighed and cupped both my cheeks, meeting my eyes. A clear, sacred light flowed gently into me. I forgot my frown entirely and stared at him blankly.
Silver hair falling lightly across his forehead. Handsome features as always. Crimson eyes. And reflected within them—my own disheveled, vacant face.
I immediately stopped admiring his face. A ghost was sitting right there in those crimson eyes.
What… what is this appearance…?
As I stood there gaping stupidly, Auredhian Belgot continued in a strangely stern voice.
“You’ve slept a full day and a half—surely that’s enough.”
“Pardon?”
A full day and a half?
“Even so, eat properly and rest again. You mustn’t skip more than three meals.”
My mind began to creak and grind. So that incident at dawn wasn’t last night—it was a full day ago? It was no coincidence that it reminded me of the day I’d first arrived at Belgot. Just how damaged had my body been…?
I exhaled a long, heavy breath. What could I do? I was born a drifter. I pushed aside my melancholy and asked the question that had been nagging at me.
“Where is this place?”
“My bedchamber.”
“Pardon?”
And this time I truly startled. My words came out stammering like a fool.
“W-w-w-where did you say…?”
“My bedchamber. More precisely, you’re currently sitting on my bed.”
His voice was utterly composed. I suddenly felt the urge to faint all over again.
* * *
The Imperial Palace. Belgot Palace. And the Emperor’s bedchamber no less! The moment I grasped this fact, my face flushed crimson, and I could no longer bear to look at Auredhian Belgot. I hastily scrambled away from him.
Of all places, in this man’s bedchamber…!
For someone who’d just woken, I rose with surprising vigor, pushed past him, and leaned out beyond the canopy. And at the sight of the room before me, my mouth fell open.
“Oh….”
This was undoubtedly the Emperor’s chamber. The space was so vast that my entire room at Bellirook Palace—spacious as it was—could fit inside twice over, and the interior was lavishly appointed. My mouth hung open in astonishment.
I should have realized it the moment I saw the jewels adorning the ceiling!
“You can’t go out dressed like that, Princess.”
I was about to slip out of the room entirely when Auredhian Belgot caught me with effortless ease. I couldn’t bring myself to turn and face him, so I twisted in his grip.
“Why not!”
“Where would you go in your nightclothes?”
“I-it doesn’t matter. I’m going back….”
The moment those words left my lips, I fell silent. Going back? Where? I felt Auredhian Belgot’s hand settle lightly on my shoulder. I was lifted like a paper doll and set back down on the bed.
Auredhian Belgot spoke in a measured tone.
“You cannot return to Bellirook Palace. You have no desire to, and I would never allow it.”
“Y-yes… that’s right…”
“Isn’t it?”
I had nothing else to say. It was true that I’d never willingly return to Bellirook Palace on my own two feet. But that didn’t mean the Imperial Palace, Auredhian’s Bedchamber…!
“Ugh…”
N-not that I disliked it, of course!
That was actually the biggest problem. His divine presence and clean, intoxicating scent permeated every corner of this room. There was no way I could hate this space. Even before opening my eyes, hadn’t I been burying my face in the blankets, reveling in his scent? Like some sort of deviant!
—No, that’s not it! As I began flailing my limbs again, Auredhian pressed down on my shoulder with a stern warning.
“A room safe enough for you hasn’t been prepared yet. You mustn’t venture outside carelessly, Princess. Especially not in this state.”
“Ugh…”
He was right—this wasn’t exactly appropriate attire for wandering about. The thin white slip dress that fell to my ankles was unmistakably sleepwear. As I struggled to respond, Auredhian continued slowly.
“I understand it’s frustrating, but I’d appreciate it if you could bear with it a little longer. That dawn-like appearance of yours… I’d rather not see it again.”
His violet eyes darkened slightly for a moment. Perhaps it was because he stood with the sunlight slanting across his back. Or perhaps… I awkwardly averted my gaze and mumbled something incoherent.
“Were you… worried about me?”
“Worried?”
Auredhian let out an incredulous laugh, his tone carrying a note of reproach.
“And you choose to say that now.”

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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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