-36-

“Did Her Majesty do this?”

Jafflin had no choice but to ask his mother in a rather blunt manner. She sneered at his words.

“As if. What do you think of your mother? Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been all this time? No matter how heartless I may be, I wouldn’t do anything to harm my own child.”

Jafflin’s mother, the Empress, replied with equal coldness.

“Isn’t it obvious who did it? It must be those incompetent nobles.”

“Are you sure you had nothing to do with it, Mother?”

“The time for such meaningless actions has passed. Unless you have desire on the throne, my son.”

“Even if I did have desire..”

It would be impossible to ascend the throne, especially with ‘him’ siding with the Crown Prince.

Jafflin swallowed the words that almost escaped his lips.

Duke Roan. Today, he witnessed the prowess he had only heard rumors about. He fully understood why those rumors were nearly infamous.

In short, what he possessed was a demonic talent.

Even someone who had often been called a genius could not have imagined that such a talent could exist in a human until he saw it himself.

At that level, there would be no one in this world capable of killing him, unless he chose to take his own life.

“By the way,”

The Empress started.

“It seems the relationship between the Duke and Duchess Bannister has changed a lot. The Duchess seemed concerned about the Duke. Didn’t she use to avoid him like the plague? I always thought it was foolish of her to have such a person by her side and not even think of making him an ally.”

“Their relationship has been interesting to me as well.”

Indeed, their relationship was as captivating a topic as the Duke’s abilities. It was worth keeping an eye on in the future.

***

Today, the maids seemed more attentive to my bath than usual. My body smelled like flowers.

However, the more the maids looked at me with bright, expectant eyes, the more I couldn’t help but feel discouraged. It’s all pointless, girls.

At one point, I almost said, “What’s the meaning of all this?” but thankfully, I didn’t say it out loud and shatter their expectations.

After getting dressed, I was waiting for Roan to come to the bedroom. Red petals were scattered decoratively on the bed. It felt a bit embarrassing, like I was getting ahead of myself and drinking the kimchi soup before the kimchi was even made.

On the table were wine, cheese, and a few pieces of fruit. Hmmm, nothing loosens the tongue like alcohol. It helps with nerves too. Yes, first, I’ll get him to drink some and then start an honest conversation.

…Hmm, why isn’t he coming? It felt like quite a bit of time had passed. Surely he’s not avoiding me?

No, Roan used to come to the room even when he couldn’t stand Delis. He didn’t fulfill his duties, but he did show up.

Honestly, the situation is much better now than it was back then. Probably?

I propped my chin and stared at the red wine.

…Should I just start drinking? The red liquid in the bottle seemed to be tempting me.

There’s nothing else to do until Roan arrives, so I might as well have a glass.

“Oh. It’s delicious.”

The wine was surprisingly sweet and not bitter at all. Maybe Delis had a good tolerance for alcohol.

Before I knew it, the plan to have just one glass had disappeared, and one glass became two, and two became three.

As the alcohol entered my system, my body felt warm and languid, like it was soaking in hot water. My speech started to slur.

“When are you coming?”

“Should I go to you?”

“What’s the point of scattering petals if we’re not going to do anything. Boohoo.”

…But we have to do it eventually, right? If you draw the sword, you have to cut something with it, so if we’re going to do it anyway, why not now?

The alcohol-fueled brain led to more proactive thinking.

Alright, if you won’t come, I’ll go to you. There’s no rule that says I have to wait for you to come.

Just as I was about to get up.

-Click.

I heard the sound of the door opening.

“Oh?”

Roan was standing there, looking at me with the door still open. He seemed to have just washed, his hair was wet. Who does he belong to, looking so sexy?

“You’re still awake.”

“I was waiting!”

Does he have any idea why I wasn’t asleep yet? And he just asks if I’m still awake.

“…I see.”

“Roaaan.”

“Have you been drinking?”

Roan didn’t seem any different from usual. The fierce aura I had seen before was completely gone. He was definitely the same as usual, but still…

“A little bit.”

He glanced at the nearly empty wine bottle.

“You should get some sleep now.”

Roan, thinking I was completely drunk, tried to lead me to bed.

“Nooo. We need to… have a serious talk!”

“Let’s do it tomorrow.”

I felt like I understood something.

There was a strange wall in his words. Roan was the same as usual, but not quite.

And I could tell that he had been like this since the hunting competition.

No, this won’t do. We can’t understand each other without talking.

“Rooaan.”

But perhaps because of the alcohol, my actions came before my words.

I rushed towards him, who was now a little closer to me.

-Hug.

I pressed my heated forehead against his robe. The coolness emanating from Roan’s body and the chill of his skin felt soothing against my warmth.

As I hugged him, I could feel his firm body tensing up noticeably.

***

Roan found it hard to hide his bewilderment.

“What are you doing…”

“It’s so cool.”

Not only did his wife hug him, but she also rubbed her face against his body.

This is dangerous. He thought, trying to gently push her away.

“No!”

Whatever she disliked so much, she kept saying “No, no” whenever he tried to push her away even a little. The intoxicating scent of her was overwhelming. He clenched his teeth.

It was frustrating.

The truth was, he didn’t really want to push her away.

‘If only she knew what kind of person I am.’

‘What you see is just an illusion. If I show you even a bit of who I really am, you will… run away.’

It was clear from the way she had reacted in the forest today. Delis was afraid of him. She couldn’t handle seeing him covered in blood when he was called a monster.

So the distance between them was just right. Not too close, not knowing everything about each other, just the right amount of distance.

He held her shoulders and gently pushed her away, making eye contact.

Her eyes sparkled like starlight. Maybe that’s why. Despite his intention not to speak, he ended up saying:

“I don’t want you to avoid me.”

‘So please, don’t come any closer.’

“I can’t bear it if you see me as a monster.”

He didn’t care if anyone else thought he was a monster. He thought he would always be that way.

‘But not you.’

Something seemed to spill from her big eyes.

“Roan, you’re not a monster.”

The world stopped.

Her voice was clear, despite being drunk.

“You are a monster.”

The exact opposite words. He had always believed the latter.

Her scent filled his senses again, without a chance to block it.

“I’m not afraid of you, Roan.”

She murmured with her face buried in his clothes.

“I’ve been wanting to tell you, because it’s been bothering me.”

Slowly, he savored her unbelievable, though deeply desired, words.

And Roan von Bannister finally realized and admitted.

‘I can’t let go of her anymore. I have no choice but to hold her. I can’t push you away.’

He extended his arms and pulled Delis’ head and waist, holding her tightly.

“Roan, I-I can’t breathe…”

She wriggled as if she was suffocating. Roan loosened his grip.

Then, as if she had never struggled to breathe, she smiled again.

“Hehe.”

It was impossible to deny how pretty she looked, her red face looking up at him with her eyes shaped like half-moons. He mocked himself. He was overwhelmed by feelings of love and adoration.

Roan gently cupped Delis’ cheek. She still seemed unaware of what was about to happen.

There was no hesitation. Roan pressed his lips against hers.

“Mm…!”

Surprised by the sudden kiss, Delis tightly closed her lips.

Roan, coaxing and comforting her, stroked her hair and gently wrapped his arm around her waist.

Responding to his touch, her lips naturally parted. Roan seized the opportunity to deepen the kiss. Their breaths fully mingled.

Roan’s hand softly pulled her head closer. He could taste the sweet wine.

He gently nibbled on her lower lip, brushing the tender flesh inside.

“Ha, Roan…?”

As he slightly pulled away, Delis panted, struggling to catch her breath.

Roan’s eyebrows furrowed as he restrained the urge to go further.

He knew that if he went any further, it would be hard to control himself.

It wasn’t the right time to go further. Delis was drunk, and it had to be when she was truly ready to accept it.

Roan gave her another gentle kiss on the lips before pulling her into an embrace.

He lifted her and laid her down on the bed.

Pat, pat. Roan, with slightly clumsy hands, gently patted her back, trying to soothe her to sleep. It was also to calm his own heat.

Perhaps due to the wine, Delis quickly closed her eyes and began to drift off to sleep as he stroked her back.

The small warmth in his arms spread through him.

Oddly, that warmth brought a drowsiness that hadn’t come easily even with strong incense.

He allowed his eyelids to gradually cover his view of the world.

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories