Chapter 172

At first, I’d really liked that about Zenia. In fact, her quick-wittedness often made things easier.

But right now, it was a bit of a problem. Why did she have to be so sharp?

“So that’s why you kept me from even going near the fourth floor. And you had your meals brought to your bedroom… Does that mean you were with His Highness this whole time? Don’t tell me he’s here right now?”

“No, he left this morning…”

Zenia, her eyes wide as she scanned the room, lowered her voice.

“Just when did this happen between you two? There was no sign of it until just a few days ago!”

“It just did.”

“Does the Young Duke know?”

“If he knew, all hell would have broken loose by now. I plan on telling him at the right time, so you pretend you don’t know anything.”

On second thought, it was more convenient in many ways that Zenia had caught on. I thought about the engagement ring I wanted to give Dante.

“Does Louis make rings?”

“Why a ring all of a sudden…? Is it a gift for His Highness?”

“Yes.”

“My lady, a ring is something the man is supposed to give.”

“Is that written into law?”

It felt a little strange to say it myself, but Dante’s mind was completely filled with me. He had no room to think of anything else.

He was in a daze the entire time we were together. His eyes were dreamy and hazy whenever he looked at me, unable to tear his gaze away.

His hands were always touching some part of my body. He couldn’t bear to be apart for even a moment, like a puppy with separation anxiety. He couldn’t even seem to form a thought that wasn’t about me.

So it only made sense that the person with more presence of mind should be the one to get the ring. It’s not like I was short on money. I would get him the most beautiful one.

Zenia let out a deep sigh.

“It would be better to commission a ring from a jeweler. Shall I have one summoned?”

Right, for a ring, the gemstone was far more important than the design.

“Tell them to visit the guild tomorrow. The afternoon would be best.”

“You’re going back to work tomorrow?”

“I have to. The strike is over.”

Zenia hesitated, a flicker of concern on her face. Unaware that Duke Ruthius was alive, she had been treading more carefully around me than usual lately.

“You should rest a little longer.”

“That’s why I’m taking one more day off. Tell the guild members to return tomorrow as well.”

“I will.”

“Ah, I almost forgot. Find a healer, too. That’s more urgent than the jeweler.”

Zenia’s expression instantly hardened. Her face darkened as she studied me, then she asked cautiously.

“Are you unwell somewhere?”

“It’s not for me.”

“Then who… Is His Highness unwell?”

“Maybe he’s just overworked with the abdication issue. He keeps getting nosebleeds.”

“…Could it be that he’s just tired from not sleeping at night because he’s too busy seeing you, my lady?”

Could that be it?

But it made no sense for a Hunter to get a nosebleed from just a few sleepless nights. And the color of the blood—not bright crimson, but nearly black—was also unsettling.

It seemed likely that the abuse he’d suffered from the emperor since childhood had caused some sort of internal problem.

He might look fine on the outside, but after being beaten so severely, there was no way he hadn’t suffered lasting damage.

‘It’s a miracle he’s survived this long with a body that doesn’t respond to healing potions.’

I had been planning to call a healer to check on Dante’s condition at some point. There were healers in the Imperial Palace, of course, but they couldn’t be trusted.

The only remaining problem was how to convince Dante…

“Anyway, find one as quickly as possible. The most skilled healer there is.”

“…When you had a nosebleed, you said you didn’t need a healer…”

“Zenia.”

“Yes, yes, I understand, my lady.”

Zenia pouted as if she disapproved, but she left to carry out my orders. Though she looked full of complaints, I knew she would handle the task swiftly.

I stretched and gazed out the window.

In the distant streets, I could see people gathered like tiny specks. Their slow, crawling movements suggested they were marching to celebrate the emperor’s abdication.

“Justice will prevail!”

“The Empire will be reborn!”

“Waaaaah!”

Startled by the cheers, a flock of birds took flight all at once. The shouts were so loud, one could believe that every single person in the capital had come out.

*Bang! Pop!*

Colorful fireworks launched by mages burst repeatedly in the sky. Five-colored confetti fluttered down like a blizzard. The entire city was in a festive mood.

I watched the fireworks as I finished my tea. Its bittersweet and fragrant taste was just like the taste of revenge.

* * *

I had an early dinner and went straight to my bedroom. I told Zenia I was planning to go to bed early and not to disturb me until morning.

Zenia knew I was lying in an instant, but surprisingly, she didn’t press me. With a sigh of resignation, she handed me some lip balm and said.

“It must be hard for you to sneak out every time… I must say, the power of love is truly amazing.”

I entered the bedroom and placed the balm on the table.

“I shouldn’t have told her…”

My face grew hot thinking about what Zenia must be imagining. As I fanned my face with my hands, a pair of strong arms wrapped around me from behind.

“…Your Highness.”

“Yes, darling.”

I instinctively suppressed the fist that was about to fly and placed my hand over his arm.

Even though I now knew the identity of this scoundrel who slipped in as silently as an incubus, I tensed up every time. It was a defensive instinct ingrained in my body.

“If you keep this up, don’t blame me if you get hit one of these days.”

“If you’re going to hit me, do it with your lips, darling.”

“…That’s so cheesy.”

Cheesy, but I liked it. Why was I liking it more and more? I never thought I was into the smooth-talking type.

Dante buried his face deep in the nape of my neck. My skin prickled as he took a deep breath.

“You smell delicious. It’s making my mouth water.”

His languid voice warmed my ear. It felt like sticky strands of honey were clinging to my eardrums. I couldn’t help but shrink my neck.

“Hah, that tickles.”

“Even your earlobe is pretty, darling. Can I have a taste?”

“That’s something… you should ask before you do it.”

“Next time, I’ll ask before I taste.”

“Liar…”

“Yes, I’m lying.”

A low voice and a sensual sound mingled in my ear. Dante’s mouth, which had taken my earlobe, was incredibly hot.

“Are you… feeling unwell?”

“Mm, why?”

“Your temperature… seems… hotter than usual…”

“It’s because of you.”

Dante’s arms tightened around my waist as if to break it. I could feel the scorching heat radiating from the man’s body pressed against my back.

A shiver ran down my spine. At this rate, I would get swept up in the mood again. Just as I had for the past fifteen days.

I didn’t know if I was particularly weak to seduction, or if Dante was just exceptionally good at it. My mind turned red, and my thoughts wouldn’t connect.

“Your Highness, wait, just a moment.”

“Just a little longer. Just a little… haah.”

I pushed against Dante’s arm with all my might, but it didn’t budge.

Instead, he pressed his body even closer and breathed into my ear. He knew my ears were a weak spot and was doing this on purpose.

“Your Highness…”

Trapped in his embrace, I squirmed before finally managing to turn around. Then, I met Dante’s eyes.

“Not today.”

Dante blinked slowly, as if trying to clear his head. Yet the heat in his eyes didn’t diminish in the slightest.

“No?”

“I have something to do. Something very important.”

Dante smiled beguilingly—a smile clearly meant to seduce. He lifted my hand and deliberately pressed his lips to the back of it.

“Darling, is your work more important than me?”

At times like this, I wondered if this man was a fox or a human. So much so that I suspected he might be hiding a tail somewhere.

I consciously forced down the corners of my mouth, which were rising on their own.

“It’s something that has to be done. We’ll only be apart for a few hours. You can bear it, can’t you?”

“No.”

Dante’s gaze fell dejectedly. His eyes, visible through his long lashes, looked sorrowful.

“Every moment I can’t see you is agony for me.”

“……”

“I don’t want to bear it. I don’t want to be away from you.”

Perhaps the problem wasn’t me, but this overly seductive man. How could he say such things so casually?

Dante didn’t hide his feelings in the slightest. Like a man with a long-held grudge, he expressed his love for me over and over again, at every opportunity.

Even between lovers, people tend to vie for the upper hand, but Dante didn’t seem to care about such things at all.

‘I really like this.’

I loved this man who acted as if he were born solely to love me, regardless of any past life. I loved these eyes that looked at me with such blind devotion.

I gently stroked Dante’s smooth cheek. This man, who rubbed his cheek against my hand like a small animal, was unbearably lovely.

So this is why people become fools when they fall in love. It made me want to give up on quests and everything else just to be with Dante.

‘Ah, no. Get a grip.’

I shook my head to fight off the temptation.

“It’s something that can’t be postponed. It won’t take long.”

“Where are you going?”

“Panton.”

Dante’s atmosphere turned chilly.

“I’ll go with you.”

“You can’t.”

“You don’t need to dirty your hands. I’ll do it for you.”

That wasn’t possible. Because, contrary to his assumption, I wasn’t going to end the emperor’s life myself.

I fiddled with the collar of Dante’s shirt, deep in thought. As long as the emperor was in Panton Monastery, there was no chance of my revenge failing. So, I could probably give him a little hint.

“My hands won’t be getting dirty. I’m just a spectator.”

“…Then the Young Duke will do it?”

“No.”

“What on earth…”

Dante trailed off, studying my face intently. Then, his eyes suddenly widened.

It seemed he had finally realized. Who would be the one to end the emperor’s life.

Before Dante could say it out loud, I covered his mouth with my hand.

He frowned, his eyes asking why I hadn’t told him sooner. A hint of resentment colored his gaze.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it. There were too many hidden ears.”

I slowly removed my hand from Dante’s mouth.

“You’re not going to be mad, are you?”

“No, I’m going to be mad.”

At his words, I quickly stood on my toes and kissed his lips. Dante, who had closed his eyes reflexively, soon frowned.

“This is cheating. I can’t stay mad when you do this.”

“Right. Don’t be mad.”

“……”

Dante had a peculiar fondness for it whenever I spoke informally. His expression softened instantly, and I kissed his lips again. A soft, wet sound echoed quietly.

“I’ll be back soon.”

As I turned to leave, Dante caught my arm and pulled me back. His lips met mine as he drew me into his firm embrace.

“One more time before you go.”

I smiled against his lips.

“Yes.”

It was a bright, moonlit night.