They Say an Age Gap Like This Doesn’t Even Need Matching - Chapter 91

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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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He manipulated the faucet with one hand, turning on the water to fill the bathtub, then settled onto the bathtub’s edge.
As my body sank onto his firm thighs, my movements became considerably freer.
I traced the corners of his eyes with my fingertips—eyes that had been tempting me all along.
His sharply defined nose, his beautifully shaped lips.
I caressed one by one the things I had only coveted with my eyes.
“So this is what a date is….”
He spoke as he rubbed his cheek against my palm.
“I never realized it required such tremendous patience.”
He whispered in amazement at how people managed to do this so well.
I agreed with his sentiment even as I replied.
“Tomorrow should be better though.”
“Why?”
“Because Kei will mobilize the full resources of the Information Guild to plan our date schedule.”
He nodded and brushed his lips against my neck.
“It will probably be similar unless you show up wearing a mask….”
“A mask? Why?”
“Because you’re beautiful.”
He turned his head slightly to meet my eyes as he spoke.
“So beautiful. Even though these are novel experiences I’m encountering for the first time, I find myself seeing only you.”
There was no hint of laughter in his eyes.
I could tell it was pure sincerity, not a jest or exaggeration.
Actually… I had felt it all day long.
His heart crying out to me ceaselessly, his affection overflowing.
Now that I think about it, there’s something else overflowing.
“Elhart, the bathtub.”
“Ah.”
He quickly manipulated the faucet and shut off the water.
He stepped into the bathtub while holding me.
The warm water, heated by magic, embraced both of us tenderly.
Gentle ripples tickled my skin.
When I poured fragrant oil into the water, a sweet floral scent spread through the air.
Mingling with Elhart’s sweet manarang, it became even more intoxicating, so I pulled his neck close and leaned my body against him.
Separate from the desire that was building within me, I felt contentment simply from holding my body against his like this.
Of course, Elhart would not feel the same way.
‘This is getting difficult soon.’
Just as I was thinking that, he rose up, poured clean water over me several times, then lifted me up effortlessly.
“I can’t hold back anymore.”
Muttering thus, he began to stride forward with long steps.
He roughly grabbed a towel from the shelf and wrapped it widely around my body, then left the bathroom as is.
Water dripped from his body onto the floor, but he seemed to have no mind to care about it.
It was as though everything I’d been holding back since morning suddenly erupted.
He laid me down on the bed and urgently pressed his lips against mine.
“Ah, yes….”
A fierce kiss that stole my breath entirely consumed me. A thrilling anticipation wrapped around my body, and my heart pounded wildly.
He raised his upper body and pulled me flush against him.
My body settled onto his thighs as his hands drew my waist deeper into his embrace.
As if he wouldn’t grant me a moment to escape.
“Elhart….”
When our eyes met, his gaze softened.
“Ser.”
His voice was far deeper and rougher than usual.
“This is strange.”
His eyes held me with an intensity I couldn’t evade.
“Even though you’re this close to me, why is it still so difficult to hold back?”
You’re still restraining yourself even now?
“The Goddess….”
Elhart laughed, his expression almost pained.
“How could she have released you into this world?”
Then he whispered softly.
“If it were me, I would never let you go from my arms—I’d treasure you far too much.”
Elhart leaned in slowly. His forehead touched mine gently.
Without waiting for a response, he kissed me.
Slower and deeper than ever before.
Ragged breaths mingled, burning hot between us.
In the moment every sound that escaped my throat was consumed.
I could feel it through every point where we touched.
What Elhart was pouring into me now was far more than mere desire.
His touch, his gaze, his every movement.
All of it was directed at me.
Leaving no room to escape or evade.
Each time I closed my eyes, he gently bit my lip to make me look at him.
As if reminding me never to forget who he was.
His feelings for me, his passionate affection, poured down like a waterfall.
The careful, hesitant touches he’d shown before—afraid of burdening me—vanished without a trace.
It was as though his entire body was crying out.
Look at me.
Love me.
His confession, desperate and almost anguished, gripped my heart silently.
As if his racing heartbeat was transferring into me.
Thump-thump, thump-thump.
I rushed forward with fierce intensity.
Like my gaze, which kept turning toward him no matter how hard I tried to look away.
All this time, I had claimed not to understand, that it was difficult, and simply avoided the truth.
But the reality was… I already knew.
When I couldn’t bear the thought of Elhart getting along well with another woman, when I found myself stealing glances whenever she was mentioned.
I thought his smile was beautiful, but even when he frowned or looked melancholy… I realized how hard it was to tear my eyes away.
When he carelessly moved my sleeping bag and pretended innocence, or subtly reached for my hand—I found it so endearing that I pretended not to notice as well.
Yes, I had already known in all those moments.
‘I like you too.’
How could I not like you?
Elhart, you who seem to be carefully crafted from all the things I hold dear.
But precisely because of that… please understand that I cannot be honest with you alone.
So many things are entangled with him, directed toward him.
There were words I could never speak aloud.
“Ser… ah, Ser….”
When Elhart brushed aside the disheveled hair on my forehead and kissed me, I wrapped my arms around his neck.
I could instinctively understand. Elhart was answering me that this alone was enough.
“Elhart….”
Unable to do anything about him being so happy with just this, I simply held him tighter.
“Yes.”
A brief but clear answer came back.
It was a voice filled with certainty, as if he had seen straight into my heart.
His voice, like a vow to remain steadfast in that place, seemed to overlap with a certain day from the past.
Manarang, no longer the same as before.
Yet the time and promise with someone equally precious remained unchanged.
The warmth of our clasped hands.
***
“Kei, what are you doing?”
Raern shuffled into the room and asked while casually leaning against the desk.
His hair stood on end in wild disarray from pouring excessive mana into repairing the mana tunnel.
“I received a commission.”
Kei answered halfheartedly and pushed a stack of papers to the side.
But Raern was persistent.
“Hmm… A dress code that excites the other person.”
He casually summoned mana and spread the papers out in midair, then began reading through them in order.
“Makeup techniques that look effortlessly done, accessory recommendations by body part….”
“Look at it moderately and put it down.”
“You’re not….”
Raern narrowed his eyes and stared at Kei.
“Planning a date course for the Commander?”
“It’s a commission, I said.”
Kei quickly gathered the papers and tossed them into a spatial bag.
“Stop being a nuisance and go finish your work.”
“I’m against it.”
At Raern’s groundless statement, Kei looked at him.
“Against what?”
“The Prince and the Commander getting together. I’m against it.”
Kei let out an exasperated laugh.
“Who do you think you are to oppose it? Just because we lent you the castle, you’re acting like the Commander’s family now?”
Despite Kei’s sharp sarcasm, Raern didn’t crumple his expression but spoke even more seriously.
“I have my reasons.”
“…What reason is that?”
“Kei, listen carefully.”
Raern pulled a chair close and sat beside Kei.
“Do you remember how childishly Mikhail disposed of his rival?”
“….”
Kei pressed his forehead with a solemn expression.
“Without even having the courage to confess, the pathetic bastard!”
“…Keep it down. The Founding King is treated as a hero in this era.”
“What would I know.”
Of course, despite his words, Raern also found Mikhail’s end lamentable.
“Deceived by that gloomy bastard, even his body was stolen. Truly heroic, so very heroic.”
Watching Raern pour out his anguish, Kei tilted his head curiously.
“Setting that aside—why are you opposed to the Prince?”
“….”
Kei regarded Raern suspiciously as he suddenly clamped his mouth shut.

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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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