Chapter 3 (Part 8)

“If you’re not busy tonight, Duke Rockbellion, why don’t we drink all night?”

“I’ve taken care of all urgent matters in advance. I’m not busy at all.”

Matthias downed another glass and kept nodding happily.

“Duke Rockbellion, you are diligent. You cook, you don’t postpone your work.”

Matthias began to relax and even started to compliment Anthus a little.

“I have to be diligent. That’s the only way Yuli will like me, Father.”

Calling him “Father” so casually, Anthus made Matthias laugh awkwardly.

“Duke, it seems a bit early to call me ‘Father’.”

“I guess the truth slipped out because I’m tipsy.”

“Hahaha. Is the Duke getting drunk now?”

Anthus, with a face blooming like a flower, continued to flatter Matthias to the point where he couldn’t think straight. Matthias didn’t find the ever-so-polite Anthus so annoying anymore.

After drinking the ‘Strawberry Nose No More’ potion, Anthus wouldn’t get drunk no matter how much he drank. But in front of Matthias, who didn’t know this, he pretended to be tipsy.

Matthias liked Anthus, who didn’t have any bad drinking habits, and kept laughing. He felt good to have found a good drinking buddy after a long time.

As they exchanged drinks, Matthias started to speak informally to Anthus. Their enjoyable drinking session continued. Anthus kept calling him “Father” and pleased him with his politeness. To Leijin, who watched them, they looked like a father-in-law and son-in-law having a drink together.

“Father… I will cherish and protect Lia very much.”

As Matthias got more and more drunk, he teared up at the thought of Yuliana getting married.

“I’m not ready to let go of our Lia yet!”

Matthias’s eyes started to glisten with tears.

“Father, there are ways.”

Matthias wiped his eyes and looked at Anthus.

“Father, if we install the teleportation device, you can come to the Duke’s residence every day. If that’s inconvenient, I can move into the Earl’s residence.”

“You move in… I can’t send my daughter far away… I can’t do it even if I die.”

“Yes, I will move into the Earl’s residence.”

Anthus, thinking he could commute to the Duke’s residence for work and return to the Earl’s residence after work once the teleportation device was connected, smiled brightly as if he had the world in his hands. His face was as bright as a flower.

It was then.

Knock, knock.

With a knock, Yuliana, who had just returned from an outing, entered. She couldn’t stay still after hearing that Anthus and Matthias were drinking together.

“Father.”

“Come in. Hiccup…”

“Duke.”

As soon as Yuliana entered the room, she saw many wine bottles rolling around, her father drunk with a flushed face, and Anthus sitting next to him.

“Oh my… Father, what are you doing with the Duke who can’t even drink? Leijin.”

“Yes, Lady.”

Yuliana instructed Leijin to clean up the drinking session.

“Lia… I still need to drink more with Father.”

“Yes. Lia’s dad also wants to drink more with our Duke…”

She wondered what had happened in her absence and why was the Duke here. Why was her father happy being called “Father” by the Duke. Yuliana held her forehead as if she had a headache.

“Oh… my head…”

“Lia? Does your head hurt? Don’t be sick. We need to call a doctor, Father!”

“Leijin, call the doctor. Hiccup.”

“It’s the smell of alcohol that’s giving me a headache!”

Yuliana couldn’t hold back and shouted. Anthus looked at her with sparkling eyes and spoke.

“Haa… What should I do? Father, even when Lia shouts, she’s beautiful.”

“An angel can’t get angry.”

“You are right, Father.”

The embarrassment was all Yuliana’s.

“Please stop drinking now. Before I really get angry.”

“Alright. Alright. I’ll stop drinking.”

“Leijin. Before cleaning up, take the Duke to the guest room and let him rest.”

“Understood.”

“Duke, we will…”

“Of course, Father.”

Yuliana looked at the swaying Anthus. Even though he said he disliked alcohol, he had matched her father’s mood and ended up drunk. She felt sorry for him.

After helping the drunken Anthus to the guest room, Leijin left the room. Anthus, squirming on the bed, hit his head on the bed frame and let out a small scream.

“Ouch.”

Hearing Anthus’s groan, Yuliana quickly approached the bed to check if he was okay. Her heart raced at the sight of his beautiful blonde hair scattered on the white sheets.

“Lia… I’m fine… really.”

With his reddened eyes, flushed cheeks, and slightly rough breaths from drinking, Anthus looked rather tempting.

“Really, I’m fine.”

Anthus’s red eyes began to look at Yuliana with a heated gaze as if to seduce her. But Yuliana vowed not to be tempted by his appearance today.

“Duke Anthus, are you sure you’re okay? You seemed to have hit your head hard.”

“Actually, I’m not okay.”

“Should I call the doctor?”

Anthus reached out to Yuliana, who had approached, and gently stroked her cheek. Unconsciously, Yuliana bit her lip.

“Yuli, don’t bite your lip.”

Yuliana felt trapped by Anthus’s earnest voice, unable to escape.

“Those lips are mine.”

Anthus grabbed her wrist, placed her hand on his waist, and pulled her into his arms, showing the satisfied look of a predator with its prey in front of him.

“So don’t bite them.”

Anthus ran his tongue over her dry lips once. His hands, tangled in her hair, slowly moved towards her face.

Yuliana, unknowingly swallowing her saliva, promised herself to maintain her composure and push him away today.

“Duke Anthus… Can I push you away?”

Seeing Yuliana wanting to push him away, Anthus looked at her and smiled.

“You can push me away.”

“You’re speaking informally again.”

“Is that not allowed?”

The sweet and tangy scent of Ludvian berries filled the air as Anthus’s breath came close to Yuliana’s nose. His breath was hot. The intense gaze that looked at her seemed ready to swallow her whole.

“If you don’t want it, I won’t do it.”

Although Anthus said this, he had no intention of being pushed away. His eyes, full of desire for her to accept and allow him more, continued to caress her hair and waist, seducing her further.

“Push me away quickly. If you don’t push me away soon… you’ll be devoured.”

Anthus was a man who knew how to use his good looks to his advantage. He showed a smile that Yuliana would like and moved closer.

Before he knew it, Anthus had pressed his lips to the inside of Yuliana’s wrist. He didn’t miss the sight of her face turning as red as an apple.

“Do you know? The fact that your heartbeat and mine are beating at the same speed.”

His earnest yet gentle whisper was like the devil’s temptation, making it impossible to stop even though you knew eating too much chocolate would rot your teeth and make you gain weight.

Anthus held Yuliana’s neck and chin at the same time, making her look at his face. Seeing her beautiful golden eyes waver, he felt both satisfaction and a strong urge to torment her.

“Don’t avoid me, look at me.”

With a sweet smile, he persistently and intensely stared at Yuliana. Anthus gently caressed her neck, collarbone, and shoulders, moving down as if softly playing piano keys.

Anthus licked his lips like a predator savoring its prey and slowly moved towards her neck. Yuliana instinctively grabbed his clothes tightly.

“Were you trying to push me away while making such a seductive face?”

Yuliana looked at Anthus’s half-lidded eyes in ecstasy. She thought they looked like a swamp.

Without saying a word, Anthus pressed his lips gently against her slightly parted lips.

As he hugged Yuliana’s waist and back tighter, he even penetrated the tender skin inside her neck.

“I will keep kissing deeply.”

Anthus said tenderly as he cupped Yuliana’s cheek.

“I love you, Yuliana Loengrin.”

“I…”

“Don’t say anything.”

Anthus’s hands, unable to control themselves, caressed Yuliana’s back, waist, and legs.

As they explored each other’s lips, their gazes met. He smiled as he looked at her blushing face.

“When your eyes meet and you feel embarrassed…”

Anthus wiped Yuliana’s glistening lips, cheeks, and chin as he spoke.

“It means you have feelings for the other person.”

Anthus buried his nose in Yuliana’s shoulder and whispered endlessly in her ear. The more she recognized him as a man, felt embarrassed, and tried to avoid him, the more his heart ached. He wanted to lock her in his room and demand love right away, but he had to endure it until she came to him on her own.

“I can wait for your answer to my confession, but please don’t stop me from confessing. If I don’t say it, I might go crazy.”

“Duke.”

“I love you, Yuliana Loengrin.”

Yuliana tried to push Anthus away but couldn’t. It was hard to refuse him as he kept approaching her.

They kissed again, sharing deep kisses and warmth for an unknown amount of time.

Anthus couldn’t stop kissing Yuliana and wanted more. A great pleasure that made his whole body tremble penetrated every corner of his body and wouldn’t leave. Feeling that he couldn’t continue, Anthus reluctantly let go of Yuliana.

He kept losing control because of Yuliana in front of him. He wondered how he had endured this feeling for 9 years. Even he felt proud of himself. His heart pounded painfully. The desire and immense longing for Yuliana seemed to swallow him whole.

Yuliana loved kissing him, but seeing his serious expression, she squirmed in his arms and raised her hand to stroke his head, just like petting a large dog.