Chapter 51

“My wife, you’re really cheeky.”

“Be quiet. If I draw it on paper, we’ll get caught. I’ll draw it on your body.”

Lexion, chuckling, took off his shirt, and Adelina glared at him once before preparing ink and pen.

“Keep your pants on!”

When Lexion mischievously tried to remove his pants too, Adelina quickly grabbed his hand and made him fasten his belt again.

‘This guy! Always trying to play around at every opportunity!’

Maybe I should just abandon this contract husband and run away!

“Why? I’m more confident about my lower body. You’ve seen it.”

“Stop talking nonsense and lie down on the bed.”

Adelina laid Lexion down on the bed, who kept grumbling, ‘I have an excellent lower body.’ 

She picked up the pen and carefully started drawing on Lexion’s back.

“It tickles. Are you sure you’re drawing that? It’s not some weird spell or talisman, is it?”

“Be quiet. I need to concentrate! Or else I’ll poke you.”

Scolding Lexion, who kept talking about talismans as if he didn’t trust her, she drew the map all over his back.

“It’s done. Let me dry the slightly wet parts.”

The ink absorbed into Lexion’s skin faster than expected. 

It dried just by blowing on it without needing a fan. 

Adelina marked all the parts where flags were placed with red ink and blew on those parts.

“It’s finished now.”

As Adelina put away the ink and pen, Lexion got up from the bed and embraced her from behind.

“I also want to draw on your body… with my lips.”

Lexion’s breath on Adelina’s ear was as hot as it was last night. 

“Shut your mouth before I sew it shut.”

Adelina clasped her hands together and forcefully struck down Lexion’s arms.

“Do you think that self-defense will work on me?”

Lexion quickly released his arms before she could strike. 

He spun the staggering Adelina around and laid her on the bed.

“Now it’s my turn.”

Worried Adelina might get hurt, he lifted her chin with the hand that had cradled her head.

Where should I draw?

He searched for empty spaces on Adelina’s neck and shoulders.

“There won’t be any space.”

“If I look, I’ll find it.”

He gently removed Adelina’s arms that were subtly covering her chest. 

Pulling the knot at the front of her dress, her well-hidden luscious curves were revealed.

Lexion lowered his head and placed his lips close to Adelina’s ear.

“Found it.”

The fine hairs near Adelina’s ear stood up in response to Lexion’s breath.

Lexion’s hand slowly moved towards those luscious, rounded parts.

“Ugh!”

“Don’t even dream about it!”

Adelina pressed Lexion’s Adam’s apple with all her might. 

‘You rascal! That part is reserved only for my real husband!’

She wanted to knock him out like Jaeyon by hitting a vital spot, but she refrained because of today’s important schedule.

When Lexion tapped her hand as a sign of surrender, she pressed once more before releasing it.

“Haha. My wife, you really know how to make your husband impatient.”

“Stop joking and get ready to leave.”

Adelina, her ears flushed red, tossed a shirt at Lexion, who was rubbing his neck.

+++

Nobles residing in the capital had to visit the Emperor or Empress within a week after their wedding. 

Lexion and Adelina, along with Stephan and Hailyn, entered the palace that evening.

‘I must inform Queen Sweeney and Chellus today!’

As the carriage arrived at the palace’s carriage depot, Lexion got out first. 

Adelina looked at Lexion’s back, covered by a black shirt and jacket. 

That reliable back was now holding the most dangerous secret.

“Congratulations on your marriage, Duke.”

As Stephan and Lexion helped Hailyn down, the Dragon Knights approached.

“Thank you. The Dragon Knights have been visiting the palace often these days.”

Lexion quickly scanned the surroundings as he helped Adelina down last. 

As usual, the Imperial Knights were inspecting other nobles disembarking at the carriage depot.

“Yes, Duke. We have been assigned to inspect Marquises and Dukes.”

“Is that so? You’ve been doing what you didn’t do before quite frequently these days.”

Once Adelina safely got down, Lexion turned to face the knights. 

When Lexion nodded, the knights searched the carriage. 

They thoroughly checked even the axle joints before finishing the inspection. 

Disappointed at finding nothing, they bowed to Lexion.

“Duke, Marquis, we must ask you to remove your jackets.”

At the knights’ request, Stephan stepped forward as if to grab their collars.

“What! You dare ask us to remove our clothes!”

“Stephan, calm down.”

Lexion calmed Stephan, handing his jacket to the knight in front of him.

He had somewhat expected this. 

He didn’t think Emperor Grain or Austin would be unaware of his connection with Sweeney. 

And jacket inspections were one of the routine checks for nobles visiting the palace.

“Duke, Marquis.”

The Dragon Knights’ expressions weren’t good after inspecting the jackets. 

They hesitated to return Lexion and Stephan’s jackets, stalling for time.

“What? Do I need to remove my pants too?”

“No!”

“Go ahead, remove them.”

As the knight flustered and waved his hands, Austin walked up from behind them.

“Duke Austin.”

Lexion saw Stephan retrieve the jackets from the knights and met Austin’s gaze.

“Call me Commander, Duke Lexion.”

Austin replied to Lexion in a monotone, hiding his annoyance. 

‘That guy was always like that. Even with a sword at his throat, he spoke informally to me!’

Even when Lexion gave him a long scar on his back at 13, he spoke informally to Austin. 

The only time Lexion was forced to use formal speech was when addressing Austin as Commander.

“Commander.”

The voice Lexion used, gritting his teeth while addressing him, was quite addictive.

It would be even better if Lexion trembled with anger and shame, biting the inside of his lip.

“Take off your shirt too. Didn’t you always strip easily?”

Austin’s rude demand shocked even those subtly watching around them.

‘Lexion. No matter how much you glare at me, you can never defeat me. Then or now.’

Seeing Lexion clench his fists and swallow his anger, Austin raised and lowered his eyebrows as if he had given an insignificant order.

Lexion unbuttoned his shirt one by one. 

Faces of the nanny and attendants he loved flashed across Austin’s face.

‘Austin! I will kill you with my own hands! I will scatter your ashes over the sea in front of Ernst!’

The tense atmosphere between Lexion and Austin chilled the surroundings. 

Only the sound of horses snorting broke the silence, with no one daring to move or cough.

‘There’s a map drawn on his back! It must not be discovered!’

Adelina grabbed Lexion’s hand. 

Although Lexion held her hand too tightly in his effort to suppress his anger, she did not pull away.

Enduring the pain as if her hand would be crushed, she stepped closer to Lexion.

“No, Duke Austin.”

At Adelina’s calm voice, Austin shifted his gaze from Lexion to her.

“Duchess? Is there a reason why not? Is there a secret drawn there?”

“Yes. There is. A secret between us.”

“A secret between you two.”

“I drew it. With my lips.”

Adelina’s embarrassing answer snapped people back to attention, and they resumed moving. 

Even as they continued the inspection, people kept glancing at Lexion’s back.

“Well. Commander. Since my wife is so embarrassed, I’ll take off the shirt another day. On a day when my wife’s drawing isn’t there.”

Lexion relaxed his tightly sealed lips and spoke slyly, raising his head. 

Austin’s irritation probably rose as much as Lexion’s head did.

“Lexion, shouldn’t you maintain some decorum? I taught you to uphold dignity as a high noble. If my teaching is insufficient, I’ll teach you more today.”

As expected, Austin spoke as if scolding a 13-year-old Lexion while suppressing his annoyance. 

When Lexion gripped her hand tightly again and tried to retort, Adelina quickly spoke up.

“Duke Austin, isn’t asking a Duke of an empire to undress in such a public place itself a blow to dignity?”

She thought she was speaking politely, but Austin’s terrifyingly fierce expression was the response.

“I humbly offer my suggestion.”

Adelina smiled and quickly backed down. 

Right now, Lexion’s back was more important than pride.

“Commander, Prince Evans is waiting for you.”

Evans’ attendant approached Austin, who was still glaring fiercely. 

“I see. We have delayed too much.”

Austin nodded to the attendant, seemingly on his way to a meeting with Evans. 

After instructing the Dragon Knights to finish the inspection, he briefly glanced at Lexion and Adelina’s tightly held hands.

“Duke Lexion. Congratulations on your marriage. I hope you enjoy a short honeymoon.”

“Thank you for your kind words, Commander.”

Austin turned coldly and headed to Evans’ palace with the attendant.

+++

Adelina and Lexion walked side by side out of the carriage depot. 

“We almost got caught.”

As soon as they entered the quiet garden of the Emperor’s palace, Lexion whispered softly in Adelina’s ear.

“Who told you to take off your clothes all the time!”

Adelina, feeling wronged, snapped softly at Lexion. 

She truly felt like she’d lost ten years of her life. 

She hadn’t realized it then, but now her back was drenched in cold sweat.

“Is your hand… okay?”

“Pardon?”

When Lexion looked down at Adelina’s left hand, she hid it behind her. 

It still throbbed, and by tomorrow morning, it would surely be swollen and bruised.

“I’m fine.”

“Fine, huh.”

Lexion gently took Adelina’s left hand. 

He placed it in his jacket pocket.

“I’ll get you some ointment for bruises.”

Lexion continued walking, looking straight ahead as if it was nothing. 

His voice was as flat as could be.

“Alright.”

Adelina replied indifferently, also looking straight ahead. 

Lexion’s hand in the jacket pocket softly stroked the back of her hand as if soothing it.

+++

Stephan and Hailyn went to meet Chellus first, while Adelina and Lexion entered the Emperor’s audience chamber.

“Congratulations on your marriage, Duke Lexion.”

Emperor Grain, seated on the dais, looked down at Lexion and Adelina as they paid their respects, placing his fingers sequentially on the armrest. 

Right in front of the platform, Princess Isabelle sat in a chair, glaring coldly at the two bowing before her.

‘Wearing the Rose Tiara? You fake!’

The Petrus Empire had originally seized the Rose Tiara, last worn by Rose, and locked it away in a vault.

Isabelle had planned to wear that Rose Tiara when she went to Ernst.

‘They say the Rose Tiara Adelina wore this time is much more splendid than the original? Adelina. I will definitely take that tiara from you!’