Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 58

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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 58
Yet that murmur was cut short by Auredhian’s blade-like voice.
“I have no need to see you at present, so take your leave, Aiven Count. I would prefer it if such insubordination did not occur again.”
With those words, he resumed walking. As my view shifted back, I caught sight of Aiven Count still standing there with his mouth agape.
“Ah… Farewell to you.”
I found myself offering a hasty greeting to him as he continued to steal glances at me and bow, only to receive a sharp glare from Auredhian.
What did I even do wrong!
Of course, my aggrieved expression had no effect whatsoever. Auredhian simply strode forward without another word. Despite my relatively small frame, I possessed considerable weight, yet he ascended several flights of stairs without the slightest sign of exertion.
Before long, I found myself back in my newly prepared room on the third floor of the Imperial Palace. I opened my mouth, preparing to leap from his embrace as we reached the door.
“Thank you for bringing me— huh?”
My expectations were dashed. Rather than setting me down inside the room, Auredhian stepped inside and made directly for the bed.
‘Wait, this situation is… a bit…’
Before I could fully process my confusion, my body was gently placed in the middle of the bed. Auredhian set me down and crossed his arms, speaking with stern authority.
“You would do better to sleep.”
“I’m completely awake.”
How could I possibly rest comfortably when you’re wearing such a frightening expression? If you appeared in my dreams… well, that would be its own blessing. As I trailed off awkwardly, Auredhian declared with finality:
“No. You are drowsy right now.”
“Mm.”
Auredhian seemed genuinely intent on putting me to sleep. Yet my mind remained far too alert. Since waking, I had endured nothing but shock and tension—it would be strange if sleep hadn’t fled entirely. Besides, it was still too early in the evening for bed. Not even early dusk had arrived.
“M-maybe I am a little drowsy…”
Of course, the words that emerged were the complete opposite. His reddish eyes were gazing down at me as though I absolutely must fall asleep this instant.
I gradually shifted myself beneath the blankets. Peeking up at Auredhian, I noticed he appeared to have a headache, pressing his temples with deliberate pressure. He murmured something like a sigh.
“It would be better for you to return to Lebovni as soon as possible.”
“Pardon?”
Wait, why did the conversation suddenly take such a turn! I stopped mid-motion toward the blankets and threw them aside.
“I don’t want that! I’m perfectly fine—”
“I’m not fine with it.”
Yet Auredhian appeared to be entirely sincere.
“If it’s impossible for me to keep you at my side and never take my eyes off you all day, then it would be better to send you away.”
At those words, I was momentarily speechless. Should I be pleased by this, or should I feel hurt? On the surface, it sounded like he did want to keep me nearby. I carefully reached out and grasped the hem of Auredhian’s shirt, gently tugging. He offered no resistance and allowed himself to be drawn to sit at the edge of the bed.
Oh…? A spark of hope ignited within me. I shifted closer to his side and carefully opened my mouth.
“Then you could simply keep me at your side.”
“And what good would that do? You keep slipping away from me.”
The response came immediately. It struck me as somewhat unfair.
“I’ve never intentionally tried to slip away… In fact, today’s incident was entirely because Your Majesty was too forceful. You should acknowledge that…”
But as I continued, my voice grew smaller. For some reason, I found myself paying close attention to this man’s mood today. Was it because I had been in such pain and only just awakened, or was there something different about him than usual?
“…Sigh.”
Yet fundamentally, Auredhian Belgot was gentle with me. Along with a soft exhale, his warm fingertips lightly brushed through my hair. I felt a touch of indignation and murmured:
“Looking at it this way, you’re not really that different from usual…”
At those words, Auredhian let out a soft laugh. The sharp edge that had defined his gaze softened momentarily.
“It’s not different.”
“Though depending on how you look at it, it might be….”
“If it appears different, well. I’d say eighty percent of that is your fault.”
Her delicately brushed pink hair slipped through Auredhian’s fingertips. I met his gaze with complicated eyes. I couldn’t fathom what he was thinking. Was he worried about me, or was he angry? Should I dare to approach him further, or should I simply remain docile today?
Yet my nature was clearly not designed to cower silently and merely read the mood. Words tumbled out before I could stop them.
“Do you truly mean that?”
“Mean what?”
“That it would be better if I just returned to Lebovni.”
“To some extent.”
My heart sank weakly. Auredhian answered slowly.
“If you were completely out of my sight, my worries would diminish somewhat from what they are now.”
Ah. That answer stung a little. My thoughts stuttered to a halt before resuming slowly. I laughed awkwardly and let my gaze slip away. I should have just stayed quiet.
“Come now, that’s too much. I actually like it here….”
Then again, perhaps I was the strange one for not considering leaving Belgot even after enduring this ordeal. I awkwardly changed the subject.
“When did you realize that Elad was a dark mage?”
“…Recently. Though it’s still only circumstantial evidence.”
Recently almost certainly meant the day we ventured to Barishard. His unsettled demeanor had been a tell—it was from that point onward that he’d begun to seriously suspect Soleia.
“And you?”
“Well….”
I didn’t answer immediately, carefully choosing my words. I couldn’t breathe a word about the original story, so I needed some other excuse. The crack in my thoughts from that powerful punch earlier hadn’t yet healed.
“It just happened….”
“It just happened?”
“I’m perceptive, so I simply thought it might be the case. Just like you, Your Majesty.”
In the end, I babbled nonsense and turned my head away. It was clear my body still wasn’t functioning perfectly. The lingering pain must be making me act foolishly like this. Yet my lips curved upward habitually on both sides. I was almost certainly wearing my usual bright smile.
“Well then, you must have completely abandoned any thought of marrying Elad now. Isn’t that right?”
“….”
“Did I ask something too obvious…?”
No answer came. There was nothing worth hearing anyway. If I could only expose Soleia’s true identity completely, would a mere engagement matter? Dark magic was a capital crime worthy of the gallows.
‘Ah, but then….’
My thoughts rolled slowly forward, and then understanding crashed down upon me. There was no longer any reason for me to remain in Belgot. I had accomplished my purpose—preventing Auredhian from marrying Soleia.
“That’s a good thing….”
I let my words trail off. It was indeed a good thing. My task was complete, and since this man himself said it would be better if I returned to Lebovni, I should leave before suffering greater harm from Soleia. Reason told me so. Yet I found myself unwilling to look directly up at Auredhian.
How strange. Now that I’d acknowledged it, my feelings had truly become strange. What is this feeling…?
Before I could soothe my turbulent heart, I simply muttered something.
“Ah, I’m sorry for always causing you concern. It always feels like I’m only a burden to you…. I don’t mean to be this way. It’s just that somehow things always end up like this….”
The man perched on the edge of the bed maintained a remarkably stubborn silence. I found myself unable to bear the increasingly awkward discomfort settling over us. I leaned back and continued in a voice that seemed to shrink away.
“And… thank you for being there at dawn.”
“….”
“I said it was fine in words, but truthfully I was really frightened that day….”
Since I was avoiding his gaze, I couldn’t see what expression Auredhian wore. Words I needn’t have spoken continued to spill from my lips.
“It felt like an endless dream. No light, no sound—only the dead surrounding me. No matter how much I ran, there was no exit, and no matter how loudly I screamed, no one could hear me….”
Was I simply seeking sympathy? Why suddenly?
“I knew no one would help me. The truth is, I was so frightened then… Huh?”
I couldn’t finish my sentence. Auredhian had leaned toward me. A clean, refined scent brushed against the tip of my nose. Shimmering silver hair swayed directly before my eyes. And then I was gently drawn into an embrace. My eyes widened involuntarily. I felt the purest, most radiant sanctity flowing and filling my body like a gentle tide.
“Oh….”
Auredhian didn’t pull me toward him with force. The hand resting on my shoulder was light yet sincere. The bodies barely touching, the breath grazing the nape of my neck where my hair parted—everything was impossibly light as air. Yet I had experienced far heavier contact before.
“…Your Majesty?”
My heart raced strangely.
“I thought I could protect you in the safest place of all.”
His calm voice flowed into my ear from close beside me.
“It seems that’s not the case.”
“….”
“You should be in the place that is safest for you.”
I wanted to answer that my life was precious too, to turn the conversation that way. But something caught in my throat, and my voice wouldn’t come. So perhaps I didn’t truly want to say such things. From barely parted lips, an entirely different confession spilled out.
“I’m fine though….”
“Now that I think about it, that word ‘fine’ seems to be a habit of yours.”
A soft laugh escaped him. Warm fingertips gently brushed through my hair, then carefully caressed it within his palm, repeating the motion. And his voice was just as tender as that touch.
“As I said before, I’m not fine, Princess.”
Not a trace of coldness remained in his tone.

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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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