Lacius smiled. In fact, I thought that there was no such thing as a relationship where it would be okay to take my money, so I was surprised by Lacius’ wealthy and generous perspective.
“Still, it’s time to get the responsibility back. The count is quite old, but he is still single.”
“He sounds like a unique person.”
For an old nobleman in this world to be unmarried was unusual. Besides, wasn’t the aristocracy a race that believed that looking after descendants was one of the most important things?
“He’s eccentric. You’ll understand when you meet him. He likes wearing pants made of red cloth under a jacket the color of a light budding leaf and then walking around with a rose behind his ear. That’s the kind of person he is.”
“… oh.”
“When was it? Once, when I was in a foul mood, the count came to pick me up while doing a handstand on a saddle.”
Pfft. I almost spit out my drink, trying not to laugh just imagining it. Hearing this explanation makes me feel like we’ve already become friends.
Seeing me laugh, Lacius gently moved his head and kissed the back of my neck. It was a brief kiss, but it carried the heat of a blooming flower.
It was a red flower that signaled that it was time to bloom.
“Ah, Lashin… … .”
“You are sweet. Sweeter than those over there.”
“Ack…!”
Before I had time to stop him, my waist fell backward. The bowl that was within reach of my arm lost its balance and fell over, but Lacius didn’t care. He popped a plump, honey-soaked red cherry into his mouth and then kissed me.
“Heup… … !”
As soon as I bit into it, honey flowed out. Lacius moved his tongue as he pushed the half-bitten fruit into my mouth. The tangy juice I hadn’t yet swallowed seeped out at the corners of my lips. I had been rejecting him for several days, so I knew he would explode by today. Lacius seemed determined to seduce me.
“Mmm, ha.”
“Your tongue is sweeter than cherries. I can’t get enough, no matter how much I taste.”
“Lashin, stop. Hm?”
“That’s something I really don’t want to hear today.”
When I pushed against his chest, Lacius twitched his eyebrows. He then grabbed both my wrists at once, pinning them above my head.
“I wonder how badly I have to tease you to get the word yes from those lips.”
“Ah, Lashin… … !”
He climbed on top of me and pressed his thigh between my legs. As he nibbled at my earlobe, heat surged into my cheeks.
‘Oh, I really can’t do this…!’
I couldn’t even tell him that I might be pregnant and just kept avoiding him. Lacius must have been frustrated because I provided no explanation. I rolled my head and thought about how to avoid this situation.
It’s not like my body wasn’t unaffected, but what if I was indeed pregnant..?
“… … Shay?”
“Ah.”
It was then. Lacius called my name in a disgruntled voice. Realizing my mistake, I opened my mouth briefly.
“You’ve been acting a little strange lately and distracted for days. I’m starting to wonder if there’s something wrong with you that I don’t know about.”
Lacius lifted me to a sitting position and adjusted my clothes. And then, true to his nature, he started to worry. I didn’t know if I should be honest at this point or just play it off. No matter what, I still want to speak up only after I am certain.
“Shay, if you have any problems or worries, I want to be the first to know. Isn’t that my right?”
As I kept my mouth shut like a clam, Lacius’ expression became more and more serious. It was as if he was afraid that something big was going on that he didn’t know about but couldn’t bring himself to press me. No matter how much I wanted to surprise him, I didn’t want to do it by worrying him.
I immediately reached out and lightly cupped Lacius’ cheek.
“Lashin, actually… I have something to confess.”
“Tell me anything. No matter what it is, please don’t forget that I am always on your side.”
“Well, it’s not that serious…”
How did things get so serious? Scratching my cheek, I slowly began.
“Actually, I had a dream a few days ago, but I think it was something special.”
“A dream?”
“Yeah. Even now, when I try to recall it, it comes to mind vividly. I can even remember the air I smelled in that dream.”
Lacius listened to my story very calmly and seriously. His gaze was so tender and warm that I felt a lump in my throat. Although I knew I wasn’t alone, a new certainty filled me deeply. I took a deep breath and continued.
“What I saw in that dream was a golden bird. And if I’m right, this must be—”
It must be a conception dream.
However, I could not finish my sentence, and it was not of my own accord.
“Your Highness the Archduke! Your Highness! Urgent, urgent summons!!”
“… … !”
What is it? Someone was yelling loudly from the terrace where the plane was located. Seeing Lacius’ expression stiffen, it was clear this was an unexpected visit.
“It’s noisy. I’ll go send them away.”
“No, wait. Didn’t they say it was an urgent summons?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“But that person… looks quite desperate.”
I stood up and found a man outside the terrace, almost clinging to the hull of the plane, his arms flailing wildly. He is someone whose face I have seen several times in the mansion. He must be one of Lacius’s closest lieutenants.
However, Lacius, who walked towards the terrace, grabbed the curtain and tried to close it completely to hide him from view—if only the man who spotted Lacius had not shouted this with a fierce look in his eyes.
“Your Highness, are you there?! You must listen, even if you don’t want to. A member of the Yulpe Duchy has returned!!”
One of only two ducal houses in the empire. A house that had been hidden in the shadows for a long time, buried under the Crisiona family.
They left at the behest of the royal princess to search for Krazen in the depths of the ocean.
They have returned. This was a very big event.
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