Chapter 73 …
“Ugh…”
Why does my head feel so heavy, and why am I shivering like this?
My stomach’s all bloated too… I feel like I’m going to throw up.
“Urgh…”
What on earth did I do yesterday to end up like this…?
“Ah.”
I remembered.
I basically poured wine straight down my throat.
Still, I didn’t know I was this much of a lightweight.
“And after that…”
Elena pressed her fingers to her temples and focused hard, trying to gather her thoughts.
“Wait… don’t tell me I was shouting about how sorry I was and then just collapsed?”
There was no memory after that, so it had to be true.
She hadn’t even properly heard what Decarus said.
Judging by the fact that she was in bed, did he carry her here himself?
“I wanted something strong enough to knock me out, not actually kill me…”
This alcohol really was strong enough to kill someone!
Why did I have to pick such a deadly drink of all things?
“My fate really is something else…”
When she opened her eyes, sunlight was pouring in brightly—it looked like perfect weather for a walk.
It had gotten warm enough that short sleeves would be necessary.
But her stomach felt so unsettled she couldn’t even move.
Knock, knock.
“…Yeah…”
A raspy, scraping sound barely escaped her throat.
She was completely drained, unable to make a proper sound.
“Miss? Are you not inside?”
Jane peeked her head through the crack in the door.
It seemed Elena’s voice had been too quiet to carry outside.
“No… I’m here…”
“Oh my goodness, Miss!”
Jane’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s as she hopped over in a hurry.
Seeing what looked like a corpse destroyed by alcohol must have shocked her.
“Miss, what happened to you?!”
“Jane… I’m fine. I won’t die from something like this…”
‘Fine?!’
Jane let out a sigh and poured something from a kettle.
A faintly sweet aroma spread through the air—it definitely wasn’t plain water.
“What’s that?”
“Honey pear tea. Drink it all.”
Elena struggled to sit up and took the cup.
The sweetness of honey and pear juice spread deep through her mouth.
The warm tea seemed to calm her stomach.
“Ah… I think I can finally live again.”
“That’s a relief.”
Jane smiled warmly and held her hand tightly.
Was this what it felt like to have a mother?
Elena felt grateful for how well Jane always took care of her.
“Thank you, Jane. For looking after me.”
“Oh, no—if anything, you should thank the Grand Duke. He gave the instructions himself.”
“Huh? Carus did?”
Had his anger cooled off?
It didn’t seem like something he’d get over that quickly.
Did she perhaps cause a scene while drunk yesterday?
She hadn’t knelt down and clung to his pant legs while screaming, had she?
“Miss…?”
Seeing Elena lost deep in thought, Jane spoke with concern.
“No, no, it’s nothing. Anyway, thank you, Jane.”
“Yes, then I’ll take my leave. Please get plenty of rest.”
“Okay.”
The Grand Duke’s residence, conference room.
Inside the freezing-cold conference room, administrators sat around a round table.
At the center, Decarus tapped his fingers against the table, his expression irritated.
“Elena… as an advisory committee member?”
“Yes, Your Highness. The young lady is far more capable than we expected. She notices things we overlook. We believe she would be of great help.”
Elena as an advisor.
He hadn’t expected her to earn the administrators’ trust to this extent while he was away.
Still, the moment he mentioned an official position, she’d surely start whining.
The thought amused him, and the corners of his lips lifted.
Seeing him smile, the administrators stiffened and nervously darted their eyes around.
“Y-Your Highness… is there a problem…?”
“I’ll think about it. Next item.”
As soon as he spoke, an administrator who had been hesitating quickly jumped in.
“Your Highness, the atmosphere in the imperial palace has been unsettling lately. There are rumors that the Empress is gathering troops.”
“Troops, you say…”
Decarus spoke casually, inspecting his fingernails as if uninterested.
At that moment, a white-haired man beside him seized the chance to add on.
“There is no doubt the Empress is plotting something. Gathering forces without the Emperor’s consent is a clear provocation.”
“That’s right, Your Highness. Our pro-Emperor faction cannot remain idle. We must immediately organize our army—”
“That’s enough.”
Decarus raised one hand, silencing the room.
The administrators fell quiet, lips twitching like fish.
“Kylian, confirm whether that information is reliable. Rash decisions are poison. Provoking the Empress will do us no good.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And Logan, bring me a list of those organizing the noble faction. Anyone friendly to the Emperor’s side is to be absorbed immediately. As for the unfriendly ones—drag them in by force if necessary. The more numbers, the better.”
“Yes, understood.”
They bowed deeply, answering loudly as if competing to show their loyalty.
“All of this is to be handled so the Empress remains unaware. Though I assume you all know that already.”
“Yes!”
“Then we’ll end the meeting here.”
“…Lena.”
A faint voice echoed from the depths of a dark abyss.
A pale light pierced the dense darkness.
She had been sleeping just fine—someone kept trying to wake her.
“Elena.”
At the familiar voice, she slowly lifted her eyelids.
She looked like a kitten that hadn’t even fully opened its eyes yet.
“Carus…?”
Ruby-red eyes sparkled brightly.
As she rubbed her eyes and came to her senses, his pale face came into view.
“You need to eat.”
“I don’t want to…”
Elena mumbled sleepily.
Finding her reaction amusing, Decarus let out a soft chuckle.
He reached out and stroked her plump cheek.
“Get up.”
Elena’s eyes flew open in surprise.
“Why—don’t you like it?”
“N-No…”
She darted her eyes around, flustered.
The change in atmosphere felt suspicious.
Just yesterday, he wouldn’t have spared her a glance.
“Don’t you… hate me?”
Her small lips moved cautiously.
She was clearly gauging his mood.
He sighed and pulled her into his arms.
“Why would I?”
“You were angry because I lied.”
“I wasn’t.”
She hadn’t expected denial to feel so relieving.
It was like a weight had been lifted from her chest.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Elena pulled back slightly and looked him over.
Judging by how much better his expression was than yesterday, he wasn’t lying.
“Did I do anything weird yesterday?”
“No.”
“Hm…”
She propped her finger under her chin like a detective and blinked slowly, deep in thought.
“Anyway… I’m sorry for lying.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Something soft and warm brushed against her lips.
Elena puckered them, eyes wide like a rabbit’s.
“As long as you stay by my side.”
He licked his lips and stared at her.
His burning gaze made her feel like she might melt.
“You’re tasty.”
His thick, soft tongue touched her lower lip.
The wet flesh licked up and down, warmly dampening her lips.
“You said we were eating….”
“Later.”
Clear strands of saliva stretched between them, thick with a provocative mood.
He licked his lips like savoring candy.
Each time his head moved, his tongue pushed deeper into her mouth.
He looked just like a loyal dog devoted to its owner.
Without realizing it, Elena stroked his hair.
“You’re like a black puppy.”
Decarus froze.
A puzzled look crossed his face.
They stared at each other, blinking.
“Why?”
“Just because.”
In the next instant, he lunged forward.
She couldn’t stop the forceful kiss as her body squirmed beneath him.
“Stop…!”
He kissed her roughly, his hand landing on her thigh.
Her thin pajama dress slipped to the floor in an instant.
“You said we were eating!”
“I can’t go out while you’re wearing pajamas.”
The absurd excuse made her laugh helplessly.
Then what was she supposed to wear?!
“Are you kidding me? You—”
“Okay, I get it.”
As if silencing her, he bit down hard on her lips.
The way he chewed at her soft flesh drew strange sounds from her throat.
“I like that voice of yours too.”
His sticky whisper echoed by her ear.
Her lips were soaked with warm saliva.
The kiss was so rough she could barely breathe.
He lifted her squirming body and sat her atop his thigh.
“What am I supposed to do with you?”
He looked at her with eyes filled with longing.
“I feel like I’m going crazy.”
His large hand slowly caressed her.
From her jaw, to her neck, to her shoulders—moving like flowing water.
So carefully, as if touching her might shatter her like glass.
Heat bloomed everywhere his hand passed.
Her heart raced, her breath grew shallow.
Being stared at like this while naked made her feel strange.
“I… I’m stopping.”
This was getting dangerous.
One look at his eyes told her he’d already lost control.
Elena got up and headed for the bed’s edge.
Thud—
But she couldn’t escape his snare.
The moment she turned, her body was pulled back like a magnet.
“Ah…!”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Unsteady breathing brushed between her shoulders.
He licked her sensitive ear and pulled her waist back.
“After making me like this.”
She felt something bulging firmly between her hips.
He breathed heavily and bit her shoulder.
A sharp cry escaped Elena’s lips.
Then his large hand slipped between her thighs.
“S-Stop.”
Startled, Elena grabbed his hand.
He clenched his fist, then flipped their hands and interlaced their fingers.
Resting his head against her back, he took a deep breath.
His soft hair tickled her skin.
“It’s hard to hold back.”
He squeezed her hand tighter.
Rubbing his face against her back, he kissed down her spine.
The feel of his lips on her skin made her whole body bristle.
“How can every part of you be this pretty?”
He said embarrassing things so effortlessly.
Elena turned and wrapped her arms around his head.
She could feel his rough breathing against her chest.
“Let’s go eat dinner now. I’m hungry. I didn’t even eat breakfast today.”
He let out a small laugh and lifted his head.
After planting a loud kiss on her lips, he scooped her up and set her down beside the bed.
“Get dressed.”
“Okay!”
