Chapter 12 (Part 8)
“…Ah.”
The kiss, after such a long time, left Therese trembling. She reached out and clutched his chest tightly. Jeremy’s heartbeat, felt through her palm, was stronger than ever.
“No physician can cure my illness. Isn’t that right?”
As he softly bit and sucked on her lips, his tongue lightly flicked over them.
“You are my remedy.”
Jeremy’s golden hair sparkled so beautifully that it brought tears to her eyes. Therese softly called out the name she had longed for in her dreams.
“…Jeremy.”
Jeremy, holding Therese gently, whispered passionately.
“Please don’t let go of me, just like this.”
“…But…”
“I’ll keep kissing you until you agree.”
Jeremy’s hoarse voice sounded more dangerous than usual.
This man, with his composed appearance, had always drawn her into ecstasy.
Frightened, Therese tried to push him away.
“If someone sees us here…”
It was unthinkable for the Emperor to kiss someone in the middle of an open road.
But Jeremy merely smiled at her worried expression.
“Loving one’s wife is never excessive, no matter the circumstances.”
“Still, stop this.”
“I already told you I’d be selfish.”
As Therese pressed her lips together and twisted her body, Jeremy persistently sought to part her lips with his.
His firm tongue slipped between her soft lips, and Therese suddenly thought of the child in her womb.
“…Oh dear.”
Feeling embarrassed in front of her unborn child, Therese tried to pull away.
At that moment, a necklace slipped out from Jeremy’s collar. The pendant attached to it was the Richard family’s signet ring, which he had once gifted to Therese.
“…Sigh.”
Jeremy had always been with her, as if they had never been apart.
Suppressing her emotions any longer was impossible.
‘Even if I’m called selfish, I can’t help it.’
Therese wrapped her arms around his shoulders and began to sob aloud.
“Waaah, what is all this?”
Startled by Therese’s sudden outburst of tears, Jeremy panicked.
“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have pushed you like this…”
“Waaah.”
“I’ve been dreaming of holding you like this every night, and I couldn’t bear it anymore.”
As Jeremy spoke, Therese’s sobs grew louder, and his face twisted as if he might cry as well.
“I’ll do whatever you ask, so please, don’t cry.”
Looking at the flustered Jeremy, Therese raised her head and kissed his cheek.
“The-Therese, is it really you?”
Jeremy’s eyes widened in disbelief as if he couldn’t comprehend that she had kissed him first.
“Then, Your Majesty, who else have you been kissing?”
“No, I thought you were angry because I kissed you without permission… or that you might hate me…”
Jeremy, who had been rambling incoherently, began to sob openly while holding her. Anyone who saw them would easily misunderstand the situation.
Therese gently stroked his broad back and whispered,
“Who would have thought the Emperor of the Empire was such a crybaby?”
“I learned that it’s okay to cry when you want to.”
When he was young, his mother had taught him to suppress all his emotions. Jeremy had even suppressed his natural instincts to prepare himself to become the head of the family. But after meeting Therese, he realized that expressing emotions wasn’t a bad thing.
“…Stop crying now.”
As Therese brushed back his disheveled golden hair, Jeremy asked,
“Th-Therese. If you were to come back to me…”
His tear-streaked face trembled as he stammered.
“That’s a misunderstanding on your part.”
Therese gently whispered as she stroked his cheek.
“I and our child have never left your side.”
“…Our child.”
“I think it must have happened in the barracks.”
“…Oh, my goodness.”
Jeremy had never doubted Therese, but in truth, it didn’t matter who the child’s father was. What mattered to him was Therese’s love.
Shocked, Jeremy carefully touched her belly.
“I-I’m sorry for coming late, Little One.”
Jeremy, who had barely stopped crying, began to sob again when he felt the baby’s kick.
“Therese, I think our child just responded to me.”
“…That can’t be.”
“Look now. The baby is kicking me, isn’t it?”
“Get up, Your Majesty.”
The two stood up, holding hands tightly. Their clothes were covered in dirt, so Jeremy spent some time brushing off hers.
Taking her basket, Jeremy wrapped his arm firmly around Therese’s shoulder. He looked around at the distant walls, the barren land nearby, and the road they were standing on.
“This path looks familiar.”
“The Night Wolf was treated here.”
“Ah, the man you said was your ideal type?”
“I don’t understand why you’re so fixated on that.”
It was truly strange.
Whether he was cold toward her or not, Jeremy was consistently obsessed with this “ideal type” notion.
“Even my subconscious must have wanted to be adored by you.”
“You’re too big to be adorable.”
When Therese jokingly replied, Jeremy turned around and embraced her, lowering his forehead to hers.
“Am I not adorable?”
His whispered words tickled her ear, making Therese grimace. Just when she thought she had escaped the awkward tension, the atmosphere grew heavy again.
“Therese, thank you for letting me love you.”
Jeremy whispered as he gently touched her belly.
There was a time he had thought of Therese as a curse. Being swayed by the vague emotion called love had been deeply unsettling for him.
The intangible nature of emotions made them harder to deal with than any monster, and no matter how much he tried to escape, he couldn’t.
But perhaps loving Therese had been destined from the start.
“Jeremy, I love you.”
Therese placed her hand over his large one and responded.
“Do you remember when I said that staring at something dazzling for too long would make you blind?”
“…Yes.”
It was something she had said when she thought of Jeremy as a star in the night sky. She had believed that she needed to let go of this love before it blinded her.
Jeremy slowly turned to face her and gazed at her intently.
“I’ve already been blinded by your light. So, you’ll have to take responsibility for me.”
“You’re truly impossible.”
Therese stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around Jeremy Richard’s neck. He held her waist tightly with one hand.
“I’ll never let go of you.”
A fierce wind blew across the barren land, shaking the two of them, but their tightly clasped hands didn’t waver.
***
Today was Emperor Richard’s birthday. From the morning, Gabriel, Thomas, and Georges had been invited to celebrate with a small party. Bread and wine were distributed throughout the Empire as well.
Therese, who was watching her son Etienne’s swordsmanship training, felt nothing but happiness.
Just then, Jeremy approached her with a curious question.
“Wasn’t today my birthday?”
“That’s why we had a party together, Your Majesty.”
“But I don’t think I’ve received your gift yet…”
“…Oh.”
Therese suddenly remembered the promise she had made during their trip to Pasa. She had agreed to wear a red dress as a birthday gift for Jeremy.
“Your Majesty, the sun is still shining brightly…”
Just the thought of it made her too embarrassed to continue. Jeremy, who had been lightly touching her neck, whispered softly enough so that no one else could hear.
“What does it matter whether it’s day or night when receiving a gift?”
“What if someone hears you!”
Therese looked around nervously and scolded him, but Jeremy remained utterly serious.
“A promise is a promise.”
“….”
At a loss for words, Therese didn’t know how to respond. Jeremy raised his hand, signaling a servant to bring over a prepared horse.
“Etienne, work hard on your swordsmanship training.”
Though his son couldn’t hear him from such a distance, Jeremy shouted carelessly and then mounted the horse. He extended his hand to Therese, practically kidnapping her as he pulled her onto the horse and galloped away at full speed.
“Your Majesty, where are we going?”
Jeremy didn’t answer, focusing only on the road ahead. Soon, they passed through the palace gardens and gates, and the scenery changed rapidly.
Finally, they arrived at a path leading to the distant Richard ducal residence.
“Ah, are we here to have dinner with Gabriel?”
“….”
Without answering, Jeremy steered the horse toward a forest path instead of the estate. Realizing their destination, Therese struggled to free herself from his grip. The horse neighed loudly, startled by her movements.
Neigh~!
“Madame, you’ll frighten Alexandra if you keep that up.”
Therese found herself unable to resist Jeremy’s insistence and arrived at a small log cabin. It was the same place where she had once met the Duke after losing her way in the forest.
“…This way.”
The two dismounted and slowly strolled near the cabin.
“All the potatoes have dried up.”
“But the firewood still seems usable.”
As Therese crouched to sift through a pile of potatoes and carrots, Jeremy naturally gathered an armful of firewood.
A short while later, smoke began to rise from the chimney, and the door swung open.
“It’s cold outside; please come in.”
Jeremy Richard’s golden hair shimmered under the setting sun as he leaned against the doorframe. However, the most beautiful thing was the gentleness reflected in his eyes.
“…Jeremy.”
Overcome with emotion, Therese rushed over to embrace him tightly. Jeremy carefully wrapped his arms around her.
“Have you fallen for my face again?”
“How many times are you going to ask that?”
Jeremy Richard often sought affirmation of Therese’s love. He even clung to her like a stuffed toy while sleeping.
As Therese leaned against his chest and stroked his firm back, Jeremy’s voice turned soft and intimate.
“With you being so forward, I’ll have to give it my all today.”
“What do you mean by that…”
The word “all” sent chills down Therese’s arms, making her trail off. Jeremy, however, lifted her into his arms and crossed the threshold.
Inside, Jeremy set her down in front of a gift placed on the bed.
“What’s this?”
When she opened the box, she found a neatly folded red dress inside.
“Oh my goodness! I can’t believe this.”
Therese was at a loss for words at Jeremy Richard’s thoughtfulness. This dress had been tailored by her former mother-in-law to make her uncomfortable and was supposed to be at the Richard ducal residence.
“When did you even bring this here?”
“I’ll close my eyes.”
Standing by the hearth, Jeremy spoke nervously. Therese quickly changed into the dress.
‘He’s so endearing; I might as well grant his wish.’
After all, this was the birthday gift the Empire’s greatest hero wanted.
However, wearing the sheer red dress in a small cabin felt oddly inappropriate.
“I’m done changing.”
“….”
Jeremy stared at her in the dress, saying nothing for a long time.
“Does it look strange on me?”
As Therese tried to cover her exposed back with her hands, Jeremy shook his head.
“Don’t cover anything.”
“B-but…”
“You have no idea what I was thinking back then.”
“…?”
‘I wished you would only wear this dress in front of me.’
Jeremy, speaking earnestly, draped his jacket over her shoulders.
‘Back then, Jeremy had looked incredibly uncomfortable.’
She had assumed it was because he valued propriety and couldn’t accept such attire.
“What were you thinking?”
“Rather than thoughts, my body reacted first.”
It was only then that Therese noticed his arousal straining against his trousers, making her face flush.
“So, you were thinking that back then?”
It was unbelievable.
His mother, Katrina, and numerous servants had been present, yet he had entertained such indecent thoughts.
“Yes, I definitely was.”
Jeremy slowly approached her and began undressing piece by piece until he was left in just his briefs. The white undergarment was already damp at the front, revealing everything.
“The dress seems a bit tight now.”
“Because your chest has grown.”
Standing before her, Jeremy cupped the part of her chest that was spilling out of the dress.
“…Ah.”
Therese shuddered under his firm touch. Jeremy slowly slid the shoulder straps down, leaving the red dress hanging precariously at her waist.
Since she wasn’t wearing a chemise, her bare, rounded br*asts were exposed.
“Come here, Therese.”
Jeremy climbed onto the bed and nuzzled into her chest like a child, biting her n*pple.
“…Je-Jeremy.”
The moment his tongue touched her hardened n*pple, a tingling sensation made Therese’s head spin. Although she had stopped lactating long ago, it oddly felt as if milk was flowing again.
When she tried to pull away, Jeremy held her waist firmly and sucked even harder.
“Stop, no more… ah!”
Therese’s intense reaction caused Jeremy’s arousal to spring out of his briefs.
“Therese, don’t go anywhere.”
Lifting his head, Jeremy locked eyes with her. Therese gently caressed his cheek. Looking at him closely, Jeremy resembled a wounded wild animal.
As she cupped his flushed face, she whispered tenderly,
“Happy birthday, Jeremy.”
Then, kneeling, she pushed against his chest, causing him to fall back onto the bed.
“…?”
Jeremy’s eyes widened in surprise.
Watching his reaction, Therese slowly straddled his waist.
“Until I allow it, don’t move a single finger.”
Jeremy trembled at the unusually assertive Therese.
“You must be a witch.”
“Why is this so hot and hard?”
As Therese gently stroked the throbbing veins of his arousal, Jeremy let out a low m*an. His member grew even stiffer between her soft fingers.
“Are you trying to k*ll me?”
“Not at all. I’m giving you a gift.”
When she removed his damp underwear, Jeremy’s arousal twitched upward. Grasping it firmly, Therese began to move her hips over him.
“…Ah, ah.”
Every time her silk undergarments brushed against his abdomen, Jeremy’s arousal seemed ready to pierce through. Panting heavily, Jeremy gripped the sheets as if he might tear them and let out a rough groan.
“Th-Therese. I’m sorry, but…”
“…?”
Jeremy suddenly sat up, grabbed her waist, and made her hold onto the bed’s headboard.
“Jeremy! Today, I’m the one…”
Therese protested as Jeremy seized control, but he shredded her silk undergarments with a ferocious grip. Without hesitation, he thr*st his swollen arousal into her soft depths.
“…So sudden, ah!”
Clinging to the headboard, Therese felt as if her body was shattering under the abrupt penetration, letting out a choked cry.
“You’ve made me this shameless.”
As Jeremy’s thick, heated length moved roughly inside her, Therese felt like her chest might explode from the pleasure. Their lovemaking was always intense, but sometimes it was overwhelming.
Overcome with ecstasy, Therese pleaded,
“Jeremy, a little slower… please?”
“Sorry. I can’t hold back today.”
“…Ah, too much.”
Therese whimpered, tears welling up from the overwhelming sensation, but Jeremy’s movements only grew more fervent.
“Therese, I love you.”
“…Ah, I love you too.”
Now and forever.
Entwined as one, the two lovers were surrounded by an endless melody of love.
My Ex-Husband Clings Like a Leech <The End>
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LumpySpacePrincess
This one’s all over the place. Was half-asleep trying to get through it. Even the smut failed to elicit some emotion.
Novel: 3/10
Translation: 10/10. Thank you!