Chapter 162 – Laziness
Being told that he would never see Annette again was, without a doubt, a frightening threat to Lucion.
“……”
When Lucion finally fell silent, Loic’s brow twisted even more deeply.
His golden eyes flashed as Loic growled,
“Soon, I’ll be leaving the castle with Annette for a few days. While we’re gone, you’d better sort out that filthy desire you have toward my wife on your own. This is as far as my mercy goes.”
Then Loic spun around sharply and left, slamming the door shut just as violently as when he had entered.
Only then did Lucion feel the heat in the room, as if flames had spread everywhere.
The heavy, humid air made it hard to breathe.
“…Damn bastard.”
Lucion roughly rubbed his forehead with his palm.
A vicious sense of defeat bloomed through his body like a fever rash, wrapping around him completely.
“Cancel all the Saint’s Day preparations?”
Early in the morning, Cecilia entered lightly and widened her eyes at Perel’s words.
“Yes. It’s the Grand Duke’s order. He also instructed that Saint’s Day is not to be mentioned at all in front of Her Grace.”
“That’s too much!”
Even in the middle of their busy schedules, they had been preparing a surprise party to celebrate the Grand Duchess’s Saint’s Day.
She had already asked Bernie to make a pretty cake and even begged Enolius to arrange fireworks.
“Why would he do that?”
“He didn’t explain in detail, but… I think His Grace believes Saint’s Day may not be a happy memory for Her Grace.”
At those words, Cecilia let out a small “ah.”
Only then did she realize that Saint’s Day could hardly be a good memory for a ‘fake saint.’
“I didn’t think of that.”
Perel spoke with a slightly sympathetic expression.
“It seems Her Grace doesn’t properly remember her own Saint’s Day.”
“Didn’t they celebrate it in the capital either?”
“That, I’m not sure.”
“Then what about the first night?”
Cecilia’s face immediately fell.
She had carefully planned everything so the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess could have a romantic night after the Saint’s Day party.
“That won’t be possible either.”
Shaking his head, Perel explained the sudden trip the ducal couple would be leaving for tomorrow.
“Everne Forest?”
“There’s a quiet and beautiful villa there. There’s also a small lake right in front.”
At those words, Cecilia’s eyes suddenly sparkled as she murmured,
“A villa means… actually, that might be even better…”
“What are you planning now?”
Perel asked uneasily, his lips twitching.
“This is perfect.”
“What is?”
“Love tends to bloom more easily in unfamiliar places.”
Cecilia immediately shared her revised plan with Perel.
“Absolutely not.”
“Why? Are you afraid His Grace will scold you?”
Perel shook his head firmly.
“It wouldn’t even get that far. The knight order would never allow something like that.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Cecilia grinned.
“I’ve got my ways.”
Late that night, Loic submerged himself deeply in the bathtub and splashed water over his face.
The bathwater, filled with ice, was cold enough to make his teeth chatter, but once his overheated body sank into it, the chill quickly faded into lukewarm warmth.
After a long while, Loic stepped out and brushed back his wet bangs, staring at himself in the mirror.
At least today, his eyes were black.
— ‘It’s probably because of dragon magic, but honestly, I don’t know the exact reason.’
The mage had looked troubled, but Loic already had a rough idea of the cause.
‘It’s desire for Annette.’
The more he suppressed the urge to hold her, the faster the heat rose.
It was the same when someone like Lucion lingered around her.
Simple hugs or kisses no longer calmed it down easily. No—if anything, they made his body burn even hotter.
That morning, the moment their lips touched, the tension below his waist had become unbearable, forcing him to flee and leave Annette behind.
Perhaps because of dragon magic, his body was following instinct more like a beast.
‘I can’t let Annette be scared.’
At least with her, he never wanted her to realize how deeply aroused he was.
Tomorrow, they were even scheduled to ride in a carriage together.
‘Can I endure the sweet scent of her skin for hours?’
Loic swallowed a deep sigh, already feeling as if a trial were approaching.
The next day.
The ducal couple and their entourage departed for the villa in Everne Forest.
The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess rode in the carriage, with the knights riding ahead and behind.
Including maids, aides, and servants, it was a fairly large procession.
Because they traveled while taking enough breaks, the sun had already passed its peak and was slowly beginning to set.
At the last rest stop, as Tiern personally checked the ducal carriage, one of the Grand Duchess’s maids suddenly appeared.
“How much farther to the villa?”
“…It’s not very far.”
Tiern glanced at Cecilia, who was holding a sandwich, and replied somewhat awkwardly.
“Once we pass that forest over there, we’ll reach the entrance to the villa.”
Lowering her voice, Cecilia suddenly leaned closer to him.
“We’re going ahead with the plan, right?”
Tiern leaned back slightly and pressed his lips together in displeasure.
The afternoon before, Cecilia had come to him and abruptly demanded repayment.
— “Repayment… for what?”
— “For when I found your handkerchief before. You said you owed me.”
Yes, a knight must keep his word.
When Tiern nodded and asked what she wanted—
— “We escort only His Grace and Her Grace to the villa, and everyone else clears out.”
The maid had calmly made an outrageous request.
And on top of that, she added the ‘cute’—no, horrifying—condition of doing it secretly.
— “…You’re asking this of the knight in charge of security? The entire order could be punished.”
— “That won’t happen. His Grace will secretly like it too.”
Hearing that the aide was also involved, Tiern had reluctantly agreed, but he was now seriously regretting that decision.
“Don’t act awkward, okay? We can’t let them notice until they arrive.”
“Sir Tiern, shouldn’t we get going soon?”
Cecilia, speaking excitedly, froze when she noticed the Grand Duchess standing nearby.
“Your Grace!”
Seeing the clearly suspicious maid, the Grand Duchess narrowed her eyes.
“Cecilia, you seem strange today.”
“M-me? Have I ever not been strange? Please get in quickly.”
Just then, the Grand Duke was approaching from a distance.
Cecilia hurriedly stepped back, winking at Tiern.
‘Is it too late to back out now?’
In any case, guards would be stationed around the villa all night, and the knights would remain nearby.
Only the inside of the villa would be cleared. Security itself had been fully prepared.
As Loic placed his foot on the carriage step—
“Captain.”
Tiern spoke quietly.
“We’ll follow behind more slowly.”
He had always intended to give at least some notice.
Even without being a sword master, Loic would realize the knights weren’t following the moment the carriage departed.
Loic hesitated briefly, then nodded and climbed inside.
Relieved by the silent permission, Tiern closed the carriage door.
Clatter—
At last, the ducal couple’s carriage set off.
The knights looked uneasy, unsure whether it was truly okay not to follow, but Cecilia watched the retreating carriage with a satisfied smile.
“Wow!”
As I stepped down in front of the villa, I couldn’t stop admiring the surroundings.
The first thing that caught my eye was the fresh, lush garden.
On both sides of a small path running through the center, fruit trees of all sizes proudly showed off their shapes.
Beyond them stood an old-fashioned two-story villa built of ivory-colored bricks.
The slightly faded red roof made the place feel especially cozy.
“Do you like it?”
Loic asked, watching my reaction.
“It’s so beautiful! I’m really glad we came.”
“That’s a relief.”
Loic smiled with clear ease.
As I excitedly looked around, something felt odd.
“But… why is no one here?”
Aside from the coachman heading off to park the carriage, there was no one in sight.
Come to think of it, where did all the knights go?
I couldn’t see Cecilia or Perel’s carriage either.
“Did we arrive first?”
“Everyone decided to arrive a bit later.”
Later?
“Why? Nothing happened, right?”
“Don’t worry.”
Loic let out a small, dry laugh.
“It seems they’re using us as an excuse to be lazy.”
I wasn’t sure whether to find that admirable or not.
After muttering quietly, Loic glanced around and said,
“It looks like it might get cold. Shall we go inside first?”
Holding onto Loic’s firm arm—his fist clenched unusually tight today—I stepped into the villa with him.
“The bedroom is on the second floor.”
As we climbed the stairs together, Loic opened the bedroom door.
The sight before my eyes left me speechless.
