I’m Hunting My Enemy - Chapter 52
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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52. Beautiful You (4)
“The Duke’s Yeongae can send others away when she wants to be alone.”
While everyone else was pushed out, the only one who could remain by Ryuie’s side was Glem.
“Still in that outfit?”
“You’re still in that outfit too.”
Despite saying that, Glem seemed uncomfortable and started removing decorations with quick tugs.
Glem took off his coat, shoes, and most of the outer garments that didn’t fit him properly, then sat down next to Ryuie.
‘He was embarrassed earlier.’
Glem, now wearing only a shirt and pants just like Ryuie, plopped down beside her.
Having thoroughly enjoyed watching Glem undress, Ryuie drew up her knees and buried her face in her arms.
“Lover’s privilege is nice.”
“I should say the same.”
For a while, the two just sat in silence.
She expected him to ask about what had just happened, but surprisingly there were no questions.
Even though today’s incident had greatly increased the possibility that Benito was Yosua.
‘Glem is different.’
Usually, people who became Ryuie’s lovers would be overjoyed and then rashly attempt physical contact.
Then Ryuie would call a priest to test how much they could endure.
The Empress hadn’t warned her not to burn her partners alive for nothing.
One reason Ryuie had readily chosen Glem as her lover was that he seemed like he could easily endure pain.
‘Is that too cruel?’
Whether he knew about the scenarios playing out in Ryuie’s mind or not, Glem’s profile remained calm as ever.
‘Why are you the only one at peace?’
Wanting to provoke him for no reason, Ryuie suddenly spoke up.
“Today is our first day.”
Glem, who had been looking ahead indifferently, finally let out a chuckle at those words.
“What are you hoping for, miss?”
When Glem, who had always spoken casually, rarely played along, Ryuie’s heart, which had been sinking into boredom, suddenly soared.
Ryuie immediately turned around and moved closer, pressing her face close to his.
“Give me everything you’ve ever given to a lover before.”
Glem shifted uncomfortably. He awkwardly pulled back and his lips twitched.
‘What grand things could he have done?’
Ryuie’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. She didn’t feel even a fingernail’s worth of jealousy toward his ex-lovers.
Honestly, judging by his looks alone, Glem was a decadently handsome man, so unlike Ryuie, she got the strong impression he would have had plenty of experience.
So she expected Glem to make the first move this time too.
“…I don’t know about that stuff.”
“Huh?”
“You’re my first.”
Unlike the other knights, Ryuie had once faced a monster alone.
In the dark forest where she had escaped and walked alone, Ryuie’s gun had only one bullet loaded, and the weather was cold enough to see her breath.
When she saw the cold beast standing on fallen leaves without making a sound, Ryuie felt a thrill.
That was truly a beast worth hunting.
The monster’s glass-like eyes had blood around its mouth as if it had just devoured someone.
Perhaps because it was full, it didn’t bare its fangs first even when it saw Ryuie.
Thanks to that, Ryuie could admire the monster to her heart’s content. Of course, one small mistake would have immediately endangered her life.
It was precisely because of that danger that Ryuie was intoxicated by an ecstatic sense of wonder and didn’t make the first move until the monster moved.
And now, looking at Glem who was watching her, Ryuie felt the same way as back then.
‘Should I do it?’
Like that forest back then, there were only the two of them in this space.
If she touched him now, they would surely want to roll around together, burning with desire until one of them died.
Ryuie had never killed anyone yet. Because she had never met anyone worth killing.
‘If I had known that coming all the way to this remote border of the Empire would lead me to meet Glem, I would have left the capital much sooner.’
Among the pretty gem-like humans, he alone seemed truly alive.
Ryuie had tried to live by holding gold and rubies in her hands and drinking sapphires and pearls like water.
But her true desires could never be satisfied.
Perhaps even Yosua, who had been the Crown Prince, couldn’t have satisfied them.
Glem, who silently revealed his intimate parts, made her feel the same thrill as back then.
Because she could clearly see how he would change, having confessed he hadn’t even started hunting yet. That man who hid things that revealed themselves.
She coveted him.
Ryuie, who had somehow drawn closer, whispered.
“Do it.”
Something seemed to surge up beneath Glem’s pupils.
She could see even the fine hairs near his ears standing up sensitively. She could clearly see the blood vessels in his neck where his pulse was racing and blood was heating up.
‘I want to touch him.’
Without thinking about curses or Yosua.
As Ryuie was about to kiss him, something pushed against her stomach, blocking her way.
Glem, who had extended his sword sheath, was quietly looking down at Ryuie. To prevent her from coming closer.
“A sword doesn’t suit us.”
“…”
Glem definitely wanted Ryuie too. She had even caught his changing scent.
But Glem, who had raised his sword sheath so that not even their hands could touch, didn’t even seem to be showing signs of restraint.
This was rejection.
Unexpectedly, Ryuie’s emotions were stirred enough to make her stomach burn hot.
Ryuie had assumed Glem would naturally embrace her even while being burned by the vow. Since he didn’t care about injuries.
‘You’re used to pain too.’
Sharp words automatically spilled out.
“Why are you refusing?”
“I’m not refusing.”
“You said you like me?”
“…Yes. I want to hold you. More desperately than anything.”
Ryuie spread her arms as if telling him to embrace her right now, but Glem didn’t put away his sword.
Frowning, Ryuie guessed the reason.
“Don’t give me some ridiculous excuse about being afraid of hurting me.”
No one could hurt her heart anyway, so this was of course purely about physical matters.
Damn betrothal vow.
However, Glem wasn’t talking about physical safety like others would.
“I’m afraid you won’t be able to forgive me.”
“Do you want forgiveness?”
Ryuie viewed Glem’s words only in terms of a brief relationship. There was no reason not to.
“Then just don’t do anything wrong.”
Glem smiled bitterly.
As expected, Ryuie wasn’t someone who forgave easily. She was someone who would make you pay a price. But what Glem truly feared was not being forgiven even after paying the price.
Because what he was planning to do would surely be beyond that.
“Wearing someone else’s skin like this.”
Glem grabbed the borrowed nobleman’s clothes conspicuously and crumpled the fabric with a crunch.
“…Touching you with an impure body disgusts me.”
“Ha.”
Ryuie, who had been coveting that impure body just moments ago, burst into hollow laughter.
‘Besides, you said I was your first anyway.’
Ryuie’s eyes rolled upward.
“You know, right? I don’t tempt twice. The moment you reject me, it’s over.”
“I’m not rejecting you.”
Glem approached Ryuie, who had been about to retreat. Still pressing his scabbard against Ryuie’s stomach.
“If this looks like rejection to you, then we have a problem.”
At the unexpected movement, Ryuie’s eyes, slightly surprised, filled completely with white light.
* * *
The servants who had been waiting outside for Ryuie after being kicked out were restless.
Knowing that she was left alone inside with Glem, the longer she stayed in, the worse the injuries they imagined in their heads became.
“They’re not just holding hands, are they?”
“Of course not. Don’t you know our lady yet?”
“Then why isn’t she coming out? Is she hurt so badly she can’t even come outside?”
“Oh no. What if a corpse really comes out today! And with so many nobles around too!”
Click.
The servants, who had been imagining all sorts of things, rushed over enthusiastically as soon as the door opened.
“Miss, your hands! Let’s treat your hands first!”
“No! Open your mouth first! You didn’t burn your tongue again, did you?”
“You were inside for so long, if you’re hurt, you must be badly hurt!”
“Don’t make a fuss.”
Ryuie calmly pushed away the approaching servants.
Her pronunciation was clear and there was no burning smell.
The bewildered servants examined Ryuie.
Her clothes and hair were still neat, without the burning smell that usually came whenever she broke the Betrothal Vow.
Her face looked strangely refreshed.
There was definitely a sense of satisfaction, but it was strange that there were no traces.
“Why are you perfectly fine?”
It was a trivial question, but Ryuie burst into brief laughter and didn’t say anything. The servants became even more anxious.
Ryuie was laughing. This was definitely not a good sign.
“Miss! You’re not really hiding something, are you?”
“What happened in there!”
“Hehehe.”
Ryuie’s smile only grew bigger.
‘Ah, this is fun.’
Glem had expressed all the sincerity he could muster before leaving.
Almost everything he could do without touching.
He had seated her in the chair, then used his scabbard to brush aside each strand of Ryuie’s hair before perching on the armrest.
Thanks to that, Ryuie learned that even the ends of her hair had sensation.
That even just breath touching her skin, not actual contact, could make her skin tingle.
If he had actually tousled it with his hands, it would have been even better.
The chair bearing both their weights gradually tilting further back added to the thrilling danger.
She also liked how he focused on Ryuie, light as a feather, while his lower body firmly supported the chair to keep it from falling.
‘He has surprisingly delicate sides to him.’
Glem seemed different from anyone she had ever met.
Yesterday, he had touched her hair, the only part where she felt no pain.
And just a single strand at that.
While his own finger was crackling and burning from lightning, Glem looked only at Ryuie, not at his burning finger.
“Does it hurt?”
“Not at all.”
As soon as he heard those words, she felt strength in the finger that wrapped around and pulled. That’s when she realized it. That Glem was enduring it. The longing to burn as much as he wanted and devour everything flowed up to the crown of her head like electricity.
That one action was more certain than a hundred words.
When it touched her lips.
Ryuie, who had become drowsy as well, was able to sleep pleasantly for the first time in a while.
Not knowing what news would be waiting for her the next day.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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