ARTS 18

CHAPTER 18

This is from Prince Broud’s perspective, explaining what happened at that time.

I have been suffering from an incurable illness for the past five years.

Its name is love.

At first, I had no idea what it was, but after enduring it for five years, even I eventually understood.

Five years ago, she was ten years old. Despite her small appearance, she was a proper young lady with thoughts far more mature than her age would suggest.

And in these five years, she has grown into someone breathtakingly beautiful.

I fell in love with her when she was five years younger than she is now, but even so, I still love the person she is today. So I would like to believe this is not something like… lolicon. I do not feel any excitement toward small children, so I should be safe on that point.

Changing the subject, I mainly speak with her about pharmacology and magical research.

She has been working day and night on developing a magic stone that can neutralize aphrodisiacs—for the sake of her older brother and younger brother. I have also been assisting her in that research, though only in a small capacity.

And now, that research has finally been completed.

If this project ended, she might stop coming to visit my laboratory.

But at the same time, we needed to finish it quickly and present it to her brothers. If we delayed, it might not arrive in time.

I also wanted to see the happy expression on her face.

Looking back, I realize how foolish that thought was.

Reluctantly, I had my personal intelligence operative, Mujina, go and deliver the report.

After a short while, Mujina returned and informed me that he had contacted her personal intelligence agent.

About ten minutes later, she appeared in my laboratory, slightly out of breath.

Her physical ability is said to astonish not only intelligence operatives but even elite assassins.

I stared at her carefully.

She has truly grown beautifully.

Her bright red twin tails are unchanged, but her deep green eyes shine like gemstones, and her softly shaped lips carry a faint, almost seductive allure.

She is probably around 160 cm tall now.

Even her chest has developed quite well.

Any healthy man would surely turn around if he saw her.

“Is something the matter?” she asked.

“No… I was just lost in thought, considering how long I have been working on this research,” I replied.

“I see,” she said with a gentle smile.

So cute…

No matter how strongly I am drawn to her, she is still my nephew’s fiancée. And not just that—my nephew is the first in line to the throne.

There is no way someone like me could ever have her.

I walked over to the box containing the completed magic stone and opened the lid.

Inside was a gemstone shaped like a deep red rose.

A last-minute addition I had made on a whim—the rose extract inspired by thoughts of her had become the final key to its completion.

A faint rose fragrance lingered from the jewel. This was exactly what she had been searching for.

I slowly picked it up and turned around.

“…Huh?”

At that moment, I saw something unbelievable.

She had already downed a highly dangerous Level 5 aphrodisiac without hesitation.

The empty bottle rolled at her feet.

Her body swayed and began to collapse, and I rushed forward just in time to catch her.

The moment her unfocused eyes regained a slight focus…

“Broud…-sama…”

She called my name in a seductive voice from my arms.

The impact was overwhelming.

“Hot…”

Hot? Panicking, I placed my hand on her forehead.

She grabbed my hand and pressed her cheek against it.

“It’s cold… feels nice… more… please touch me…”

H-help me!

What am I supposed to do with a creature this cute?!

Is it even allowed for me to handle this situation?!

My father’s words suddenly came to mind.

“Do not leave a perfectly prepared meal untouched…”

Of course that’s not an option!!

The girl in my arms smiled again.

Too cute!

This is dangerous!!

Seriously dangerous!!

Would a kiss be acceptable?

No!!

If I start, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop at just that.

In a panic, I placed the gemstone I was holding into her hand.

After a while, she finally returned to normal.

“I’m sorry. But its effectiveness is amazing!” she said cheerfully.

She slipped easily out of my arms and began examining the gemstone closely.

I, on the other hand, slumped into a chair and collapsed onto the desk.

Shortly afterward, her older brother rushed in.

I felt relieved that we were no longer alone together.

She smiled happily.

After all, she had originally created this gemstone for her brother and younger brother, so of course she was pleased.

However, for some reason, she said she wanted to give the very first completed one to me.

No—please, not yet. I can’t take it.

When I asked her to reconsider, she tilted her head in confusion.

“What happened?”

Her brother looked at me worriedly and asked, but I sincerely wished he wouldn’t.

“I swear… I did not act in any improper manner. Please rest assured…”

That was all I could manage to say.

Everyone… please understand that Lord Broud did his best today.