Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 76

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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 76
“Oh, come on. Between friends.”
It seemed I had finally seized the upper hand. This man had always been the one pulling away, but now that I was the one drawing him in, the feeling was exhilarating. There was something satisfying about it, something almost intoxicating about watching him react to my every touch. Was I punishing him for pushing me away so painfully all this time? Even as I recognized the pettiness of it, I couldn’t stop myself from needling him with each carefully chosen word.
“Friends who haven’t seen each other in ages can share a light embrace, can’t they? Don’t be so narrow-minded about it—”
But I didn’t finish my sentence. Something soft and pliant brushed gently against my forehead before withdrawing. I stood there, mouth agape.
“No, that’s not—”
“What about this?”
His whispered question sent a tingle down my spine. My heart began racing again. Noticing my sudden stillness, Auredhian’s lips curved upward. He lowered his head slightly further. This time, his lips made contact with the tip of my nose.
“Surely you can’t do this, can you?”
“That doesn’t—”
Say something! I swallowed a silent scream. This was the first time Auredhian had initiated a kiss directly. Before, he had only occasionally brushed his lips against the ends of my hair or fingertips, as if careful not to cross a line. My heart thundered faster and faster. I felt as though it might burst right out of my chest, racing and desperate.
“Of course you can’t.”
The man who remained composed answered for me. His satisfied smile was visible from mere inches away. Any further movement or lift of my head would bring our lips into contact. I blinked rapidly, my gaze darting about before I finally bowed my head completely.
Oh my, I’m so embarrassed.
“—!”
But his lips followed my lowered head with relentless persistence. Only after capturing my mouth did he withdraw lightly. It was brief but vividly clear—an overwhelming softness that felt as though it would dissolve the moment it touched, sweet and utterly unreal.
A sensation entirely different from every contact before flooded through me. In the blink of an eye, a clear, refreshing holiness swept through my body, spiraling and infusing vitality into each delicate vessel. A purity so overwhelming and intense that it rose to the crown of my head, shimmering and full.
“—Ah.”
I gasped involuntarily at that almost unbearable sensation. My breath caught, then spilled out like a breaking dam. Auredhian’s soft laughter reached my ears—a languid laugh as if he had resolved all my resistance with that single act.
“This is really—”
I felt a surge of indignation. My heart pounded relentlessly throughout my entire body as I bit the inside of my lip.
“I’m always the one losing. This isn’t fair.”
“Losing? Who says?”
Auredhian laughed, cupping both my cheeks and tilting my face upward. His crimson eyes filled my entire vision.
“You’re the one who always holds me and shakes me.”
Auredhian spoke casually, his tone completely at odds with his words, which sparked another wave of defiance in me. But before I could voice my protest, his gentle, measured words cut off my breath.
“You’re the one who makes me cross the line I’ve drawn for myself. You shouldn’t say such things.”
Sweet words that always left me breathless. Who truly held the upper hand between us? Perhaps such distinctions were meaningless.
The Lebovni Delegation had arrived in Belgot, which meant the day of parting was not far off. Yet even that thought couldn’t quell the racing of my heart. Rather than languish in melancholy contemplating our separation, yes—I should immerse myself completely in this sweet emotion for whatever time remained.
Worrying about the future and pushing it away had never suited my nature. And more than anything, I wanted to feel more—far more—of the overwhelming, urgent, and intense sensation this man could give me. My embarrassment had vanished, replaced by something closer to thirst that rose to the very tip of my throat. I opened my eyes wide and whispered softly.
“Then let’s do it fairly. One turn each.”
“What?”
I didn’t give him time to respond. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him toward me. Until our soft lips met again. I felt Auredhian’s slight start. Oh, truly. I waited for it, feeling the dizzying clarity that flooded through my entire body, and smiled against his lips. Truly, there could be no other man beneath the heavens who could give me such a sensation.
* * *
I encountered the Lebovni people again late that afternoon.
“So what exactly is your relationship?!”
I pushed Sergei aside with a weary expression.
“I told you. Kidnapper and hostage. Master and guest. That’s just how it is.”
Of course, it was far more intimate and secret than that. Oh no. Secret? I felt my own embarrassment at the word I’d just thought and clamped my mouth shut. A giggle escaped. Sergei’s eyes grew even more suspicious at my reaction.
“Don’t you know your lies are completely transparent?”
“I know. I understand.”
He was perceptive. I clicked my tongue and, still seated, dragged my chair inch by inch toward Duke Lebanon. We were conversing at a tea table in front of the Main Palace Garden.
My brother-in-law, Duke Lebanon, seemed troubled as his words trailed off.
“It would be better if you came to the palace with us. Why out here….”
“The weather is lovely. Not too hot, not too cold.”
I laughed awkwardly and made excuses. I couldn’t possibly tell him that I was a prisoner even within the Imperial Palace, unable to move freely as I wished. If I breathed a word about my condition, Lebovni would be thrown into chaos that very day. I quickly refilled my empty teacup and changed the subject.
“So, Father and Mother are doing well, aren’t they?”
“Yes. Apart from His Majesty having lost considerable weight and Her Majesty experiencing stress-induced digestive troubles, they are well.”
“….”
Was he trying to make me feel guilty…? He probably didn’t mean it that way, but my conscience pricked nonetheless.
Father’s trademark was his plump figure, the kind that looked ready to roll away at any moment…. How much weight could he have possibly lost? And Mother, who was already thin, suffering from digestive problems—what was this about?
I touched my teacup despondently. I had been thinking that, having become Yerenika, I should repay their love, yet I had completely forgotten about it until now. It was shameful.
“How is Tezebia?”
“She is healthy now. She has recovered almost completely and has no difficulty moving about. Her daughter is healthy as well.”
At least this was good news. I exhaled in relief.
“That’s truly a relief. I was so shocked when I heard….”
“Now we have one less worry. You need not be concerned.”
Right. As long as Tezebia and Brizni were healthy, that was what mattered. I nodded and turned my gaze to Fernandis, who stood beside me.
“Ferdi.”
“…Yes, Princess.”
He flinched as if pricked by conscience too, avoiding my eyes. I couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction.
“So, when is the due date?”
“W-winter. Around the end of this year….”
Winter. Of course. I remembered the original work mentioning in passing that Alexio’s birthday fell in the dead of winter. Our protagonist, Alexio. Our Lexi. Lexi was going to be born. My heart raced with excitement. Once Alexio was born, I would truly be able to witness the childhood of the original couple right before my eyes.
How adorable they would be, my protagonists!
“So, when is the Emperor going to send you back?”
If Sergei hadn’t interjected so abruptly, I could have continued basking in that pleasant thought. My elated mood deflated instantly. Right, Brizni and Alexio—first I had to return to Lebovni to see them. The melancholic thoughts I had consciously suppressed while with Auredhian crept back up insidiously. I reluctantly murmured.
“I’ll return with the delegation when they depart.”
“Oh, really?”
Sergei broke into a broad smile.
“So the master of Belgot isn’t entirely without conscience after all.”
“Watch your words, Sergei. This is the Imperial Palace of Belgot.”
Duke Lebanon sternly rebuked his younger brother. I laughed hollowly and gulped down my innocent tea. In any case, it was true that I really did need to return. There was the matter of my body, the threat of Soleia, and above all, I couldn’t make those waiting for me suffer any longer.
Still, if I could somehow endure about four more years in Lebovni, just until Raulus descended to save me, wouldn’t it be possible to return to Belgot again…?
“He’s as handsome as the rumors say. Much younger than I expected.”
“Yes. He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.”
But on what pretext could I return to Belgot? Unless Auredhian actually proposed to me, finding a suitable reason seemed impossibly distant.
“And though he seems somewhat arrogant, he doesn’t seem to treat you too forcefully.”
“Right. I had some trouble conquering him at first, but actually he’s a tender-hearted person…wait, what?”
I had been lost in thought, answering carelessly, when I suddenly came to my senses. And I found myself facing three pairs of eyes staring intently at me. Sergei narrowed his eyes.
“Conquest? And she’s giving him trouble? Something doesn’t add up….”
“What, what is it?”
Sergei Lebanon suddenly thrust his face right in front of mine, startling me so badly that I nearly choked on my tea.
“Look straight into your older brother’s eyes, Yerenika. I’m trying to see right through you.”

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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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