The Archduke’s Gorgeous Wedding Was a Fraud

Such a request sounded so much like a lover’s request, which I was not used to, but it is simply impossible for me to go there by myself.

Without any hesitation, Lacius wrapped his arms around my waist and held me tightly against him as we slowly entered the sea. 

It seemed like he had been waiting for this.

“Wow…..”

It looked scary at first, and then it felt cold. 

However, once I was completely in Lacius’ embrace, all of those feelings disappeared. 

His body was so warm that it even made the seawater feel refreshing.

“It feels as if we’ve fallen into the night sky. I didn’t notice from afar, but as we go deeper, it shines blue here as well.”

Twinkle. Twinkle.

Whether it was actually moonlight or not, a beautiful cluster of light spread over the calm surface of the water.

It makes it easy to see where the three rocks are.

“During the day, there are four rocks, but at night, when the blue light covers them, they look like three. Strangely, the rock at one end doesn’t glow.”

“That’s interesting. Does that mean the gift is somewhere in between them?”

“Yeah.”

Lacius grabbed me by the waist and sat me down on a flat rock.

I searched between the rocks, lowering my head to find where the gift might be. And a moment later…

“This… … .”

“I was supposed to give it to you if I lost the bet.”

I held a round, transparent sphere in my hand. The magic used to preserve evidence was used to protect the gift. 

When I reached out my arm towards the side where the blue cluster of light was more concentrated, I found a small snow globe inside what I was holding.

‘Wow, how much is this worth?’

Inside the snow globe was a castle made of jewels. Pink diamonds formed the base, and various gemstones that I recognized adorned its surroundings. If it were just a castle, it would have served as a perfect decoration, but when I turned it around, there was a winding key.

“Could it be a music box?”

“I saw that you liked the song we listened to when we visited the opera before.”

“Is that the song? I really like it!”

It was really sweet of him.

I carefully took out the gift, afraid I might drop it into the sea, and placed the music box-turned-snow globe on the seat next to me. Then I wound the key five times, and soon the music started playing.

“Ah, it sounds nice…”

The sweet soprano voice filled the surroundings.

I had only heard it once that day, but it left a lasting impression in my memory.

“Shay.”

“Hmm?”

“Being here with you makes me think about it more and more.”

“About what?”

“I want our relationship to become real and to come here often.”

Is this a confession? No, it can’t be.

I denied reality for a moment.

However, Lacius looked at me seriously and traced my cheek with his thumb.

Who wouldn’t tremble at the sight of such a gaze full of endless love?

‘It’s those eyes again.’

Eyes that seem to scream that he wants me as a woman.

The only problem was that I wanted him as a man, too.

Not just a friend, someone I have an ambiguous relationship with, or a contractor.

But beyond that. As lovers. As a couple.

I wanted to be with him as much as he wanted me.

So, it wasn’t easy to refuse.

“Shay.”

My name is spoken in a husky voice that seems to echo from a deep cave.

He slowly approached me, his eyes never leaving mine.

As if he’s giving me a chance to push him away.

The sound of the waves receded in my ears.

I can feel Lacius’s body heating up.

“Ah, Lashin.”

His nickname popped out abruptly from my throat.

Immediately, he gave a low growl and devoured me with his hot lips.

It wasn’t violent, but his rough tongue caught me off guard as it tried to sneak inside my mouth.

Would it be an exaggeration to say that I feel like I am about to be eaten?

After sucking on my bottom lip a few times, he turns his head and thrusts his tongue deep enough to make me lose all sense of reason.

At the same time, the hot hands of this passionate man roamed up my thigh.

I shivered as they moved across my flesh.

‘Ah, my head… it’s spinning.’

Lacius wanted me completely bound. He wants every drop of my saliva.

He was so different from his usual gentle self that it felt strange.

I gasped and wrapped my arms around his neck.

I want to get closer.

Our lips separated, but he didn’t let me go.

Then, after a light, feather-like kiss, it turned into another deep kiss.

His tongue tickles the roof of my mouth, entangling and sucking.

For a moment, my head went blank.

His suction was so strong that the back of my tongue became numb.

It wasn’t exactly sweet, but it shows his desperation. I understood him, for I, too, wanted to burn with Lacius right now.

The hand that seemed about to lay me down stopped momentarily.

We looked at each other, both of us gasping for breath.

I don’t know what name to give to the gaze we shared in that moment.

Other than that it felt like an eternity.

“I like you, Shay.”

“Ah…”

“I can no longer think of my life without you. Your laughter and your sadness—I want you to share all the joy and pain you will experience with me.”

My heart pounded wildly, causing my chest to ache. I couldn’t breathe, and my mouth went dry. Lacius looked straight into my eyes, the desperation in his gaze tugging at my soul.

Thump, thump.

I already knew what he would say next. But I didn’t want to stop him.

“I swear right here, right now, that I will give you everything I have.”

His voice was so low that it felt overwhelming.

As if the intense kiss that had just happened were a fleeting dream, Lacius was now extremely gentle.

I closed my eyes for a moment, then slowly opened them.

However, he did not disappear. He was still there.

“Will you marry me?”

I couldn’t believe my ears. I never expected to receive a proposal here. But Lacius was already offering me a ring.

The music from the music box stopped as if the key had coincidentally finished turning. The moonlight enveloped us, along with the serene light of the sea. Could there be a more perfect moment than this?

Will I be able to forget this scene in the future?

The ring he held out to me was the exact same color as my eyes.

My heart swelled, as if it were about to burst.

The seed planted so long ago had grown and blossomed, and with his call, it finally came into full bloom. I couldn’t help but whisper. 

Because I can’t fool myself anymore.

“I like you too.”

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