Epilogue.2

“Speaking of which, the aide office did an interesting investigation.”

“You said you were resigning.”

“The hypnotic incense used by the palace shaman—that’s made from herbs exclusively distributed by the Ramantus merchant guild.”

“Ahem! What are you saying?”

His father’s evasiveness was an answer. Ramantus had surely figured out that Avgenia’s libertine reputation was mostly a deception.

Alexei smiled.

“Anyway, please reconsider. I’ll be off.”

“Where are you going at this hour?”

“To the palace.”

“You…!”

Going to the palace after everyone else had left for the day was suspicious. Whatever happened at the Mage Tower, the boy who used to come and go with a gloomy face now visited the palace with a smile every day for a month.

Who does he take after?

“Honestly!”

As soon as the Duchess saw her son heading out, she entered the Duke’s study.

“You’re going to allow it anyway, so why be so stubborn?”

“Who was it who moped for days, not eating, saying he and the Second Princess weren’t meant to be?”

“Lexie said it was all a misunderstanding.”

The Duchess’s pale blue eyes shone like glass. Faced with that gaze, the Duke could only soften.

If he’d known his son would give everything to Avgenia’s rosy eyes, maybe things would have been different.

“Well, if I’d known it would turn out like this, I wouldn’t have switched sides to the First Prince and Second Princess. Now Ramantus looks silly.”

“Lexie’s playing his cards well enough to avoid that. So how much longer are you going to hold out?”

“I’d like to wait seven years, honestly.”

Seven years, meaning the time since the First Prince was born and Ramantus joined his faction. The Duchess laughed.

“Baron Luchin must be anxious.”

“Does Baron Luchin really want to retire? He thinks of Alexei as a grandson, so he wants to see great-grandchildren.”

The Duke’s grumbling made the Duchess smile wryly. Whether direct line or retainer, Ramantus men were most passionate about marriage.

* * *

“Failed again today?”

As Alexei entered the office, Avgenia motioned toward the air.

Her eyes kept darting to the window, a signal for Rozie to leave immediately. While Alexei didn’t notice, a shadow slipped out of the office.

By now, the sun was setting.

“Well, still no good response yet…”

Alexei plopped into his chair. Not asking Avgenia’s permission meant he was now her lover, not just her aide.

“But eventually he’ll accept. Politically, and for Ramantus’s benefit, a marriage with the Imperial Family is all gain.”

“If he’s the Duke, he’s probably already calculating what dowry he’ll extract from the Imperial Family.”

“Of course. My parents are ruthless when it comes to me.”

“I know. When he thought I’d rejected you, he turned to my cute little brother who hadn’t even been weaned yet.”

“…Young Alexei Ramantus, foolish brat.”

Alexei muttered bitterly. Since they’d confirmed their feelings, he’d said this almost every day.

Avgenia rested one knee between his legs. As she leaned in, Alexei looked up at her.

“Could you not insult your younger self, my beloved Lexie?”

She stroked his cheek and hair, then pressed a brief kiss to his neat forehead.

For Alexei, these things becoming so natural were simply moving. He wrapped his arms around Avgenia’s waist, right before his eyes.

“Isn’t it the me now whom you love now, Your Highness?”

“Oh, who knows?”

Again, she pretended not to. Ever since she said she’d answer after Ramantus sent the proposal, Avgenia truly never uttered a word about it.

She simply didn’t say she loved him, nor did she accept the proposal, but she was actively involved in all things related to their engagement.

Alexei, secretly grinning, hugged Avgenia tighter, burying his face in her chest. He was moved to discover that holding her slender waist with all his strength didn’t make her uncomfortable.

As Avgenia played with his hair, she continued,

“The rumors are spreading well. They say Gronlant’s biggest libertine seduced Ramantus with her body.”

“…How pitiful, those who know nothing.”

A slightly menacing air hovered around Alexei. He knew the truth behind the rumors Avgenia had started, and now, he openly loved the source of those rumors.

The rumors fanned out by the aide office only suggested their long friendship had entered a new stage, but somehow, the story had become so sensational.

“I’m the one who toppled you.”

With a hint of displeasure, Alexei pulled Avgenia onto his lap.

“I’m the one who captured you with my body.”

Then, pulling her leg over the armrest, Avgenia leaned back against the opposite armrest, half lying down.

His hand slipped under Avgenia’s skirt, gently stroking the soft flesh of her thigh. Their blue eyes, now closer, glowed warmly.

“…Isn’t that right?”

“Hmm, maybe?”

She’d seduced him, but wasn’t he the one who started it?

Avgenia rolled her eyes away, pretending not to understand.

“And Your Highness, you like this so much.”

At some point, Avgenia’s fingertips, guided by his hand, gripped the hard pillar through his trousers. Even the tip was taut with heat.

He really was, at any time…

Well, with just the two of them in a closed space, how could this passionate suitor not be aroused? If he weren’t, it would be sad.

“Hmm, maybe that’s true.”

“You’re never honest.”

Alexei pecked her cheek with his lips, as if scolding. He couldn’t forget the look on Avgenia’s face when she first saw him, and she was just as cheeky now.

Even now, Avgenia was gently stroking Alexei’s shaft through his pants. Her touch wasn’t firm, just enough to feel the shape, but even that made Alexei swell even more.

“So what about when I go down on you?”

As Avgenia kept pretending indifference, his hand slipped deeper, under her skirt.

“You said I’m good with my hands now.”

“…Hmm, well, maybe.”

“…Avi?”

A brief flicker passed across Alexei’s face. He traced up her outer thigh, then slowly down toward her groin, but… there was nothing in the way.

Avgenia’s eyes curved in a deep arc. After a month of rapidly getting used to s*x, she was now capable of teasing her lover.

“To save grown-up Lexie the time of taking off my underwear.”

“When did you start doing this?”

“Since you sent a message you’d visit tonight.”

“…Ha, no wonder. I felt like I’d explode since the carriage.”

Unable to control his rising excitement, Alexei hugged Avgenia tightly. Her soft laughter echoed in his ear.

They faced each other again only after Alexei took a deep breath to calm the heat.

“Anyway, isn’t this all just physical?”

Avgenia didn’t reply. She just gazed at Alexei for a while, her expression unreadable.

Did he overdo the bravado?

Avgenia had just kindly accepted his clumsy efforts, but he’d mistaken it for skill…

“Lexie.”

“Yes.”

In that short time, Alexei had a deep moment of self-reflection and answered with a gentle look.

Avgenia slowly sat up to face him, legs folded to either side.

“I have a good idea…”

Alexei swallowed dryly. Fearing what Avgenia would say, he followed her gestures, and soon, his shaft, half exposed from his pants, stood proud. It wasn’t an exaggeration that he’d felt ready to burst since the carriage, and the tip was slick.

All the while, Avgenia’s face was businesslike. So Alexei, not realizing this was a prelude to the penetration he’d been yearning for, just desperately hoped for some sign from her.

Then Avgenia’s hand reached for his ankle…

Click, the sound of metal. Suddenly, Avgenia held an open bangle in her hand, with a blue aquamarine at one end, sparkling like Alexei’s eyes.

“Ah, that’s…”

“What if you get into a situation where you have no choice but to take responsibility for me?”

“Mm.”

A sly curve appeared on Avgenia’s lips, and Alexei’s tip was quickly buried in something soft and moist. While he tried to process the situation, Avgenia took him into her mouth.

And just as Avgenia was about to sit down on him—

“Avi, w-wait a second…!”

Alexei, startled, grabbed her waist to stop her.