NOVEL WEB Chapter 162
At that moment, Ren, who had been sitting in a chair with its hands covering its head throughout the banquet, suddenly lifted its head. The baby dragon’s round, black eyes sparkled. Ren immediately climbed onto the banquet table and ran towards Maxion.
“
Ppippi
!” [I figured it out!]
“Ren. Don’t walk on the table, it’s dangerous. And what did you figure out?”
“
Pipi ppippi
!” [The reason why Luize’s scent is mixed with human Edward’s scent!]
“…What?”
“
Ppip… Ppep
!
Pepep
!” [It’s because of mat…in…!
Oop
!
Mmph
!]
Maxion urgently covered Ren’s mouth. “Luize, I think I need to put Ren to bed.” He quickly stood up, holding Ren in his arms. Sweat beads formed on his forehead.
“Already? Okay, it’s not the only day we have.”
“Yes. See you tomorrow.”
“Sure. Goodnight, Ren, Maxion.”
“You too.”
“
Ppep Ppi
!
Ppep
?” [Goodnight! But already?] Ren waved at Luize with a bewildered face.
After Maxion and Ren quickly exited the banquet hall, Luize, who had been watching their backs, murmured softly. “Did Maxion say he could understand Ren? I wish I could understand what Ren was saying too…”
It was only after arriving at the northern annex that Maxion realized that, except for Edward and himself, others couldn’t understand Ren.
“…It didn’t matter.”
“
Ppip
?”
“No. Since we’re out, let’s quickly forget the bad things and go to sleep.”
“
Ppipppi
?” [Mating is bad?]
“…”
“
Ppippi
.” [It’s not bad.]
“… It’s not a word for babies to use.”
“
Ppii
!
Ppi
!
Ppiam
—” [Don’t treat me like a human baby! I’m a dragon!
Hoam
—]
Maxion chuckled lightly and patted Ren, who was starting to doze off, as he headed to his room.
* * *
The man’s hand holding the newsletter trembled. On the same day, an extra edition distributed throughout the capital depicted a scene of a black-haired man and a silver-haired woman kissing in front of a pink fountain.
[Grand Duke Edward E. von Lindeman, dramatic reunion with his lover, Luize di Servenia!]
[A huge scandal in the Empire’s social circles! A successful yet scandalous romance!]
.
.
.
[A world where a lover becomes a wife, and a lover becomes a husband. Is the Empire’s married life okay like this?]
The newsletter, crumpled by Reiad’s hand, was thrown straight into the trash can. “
Ha
! They call themselves journalists while writing this kind of article. They must have never thought about whether they’re doing a good job. Lowly scum.”
Reiad anxiously shook his leg. His restless blue eyes rippled like waves. He clutched his head with both hands, envisioning the future.
Originally, he planned to get what he wanted after getting engaged to the princess and then back out. Even the emperor couldn’t do anything if the princess changed her mind and the engagement was broken off.
“Although it started as a facade to escape my brother’s pressure, I found you quite appealing. If you can meet a few conditions, I think marriage would be fine. What do you think?”
“…I’m grateful just for the offer.”
“Even if we break up later, I’ll ensure you live comfortably as my ex-lover. I’ll make sure the emperor can’t harm you recklessly. It would be a waste for a face like yours to be sacrificed in a political struggle.”
“All of these are favorable conditions for me.”
“Your efforts are commendable, and your appearance suits my taste. Plus, you manage to please me well enough. Consider it an honor that you’ve caught my interest.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“By the way, I think it’s time we sorted out how we address each other.”
Diana’s eyes twinkled.
“I’ll allow you to call me by my name.”
What Reiad wanted was a stable life as a noble. So, he planned to balance things moderately, bring some decent information to the emperor, and use the princess as insurance to secure his retreat.
The princess was known for taking good care of her ex-lovers.
“…I intended to break up with the princess moderately and then come for you.” Just like the first day they met.
It was fortunate that Luize wasn’t in the capital. He felt uneasy about showing himself getting engaged to someone else in front of her just before their reunion. But now she has started seeing Edward again? And even kissed that deposed crown prince in the crowned Central Square?
Grit
. Reiad clenched his teeth and balled his fist tightly. Even he had never kissed Luize in the Central. Square. For them to openly show such affection in a public place meant…
“…
Haha.
It must be that deposed crown prince’s scheme. Luize would never do such a thing. She wouldn’t engage in such indecent acts with someone she’s not even engaged to.” Reiad tried to reassure himself, but his mood didn’t improve at all.
Reiad was quite knowledgeable about women, and no matter how fortified a woman’s heart was, once she fell for him, she would act passionately, just like how Luize decided to leave her hometown and come to the capital, where she had no connections.
“Luize and the deposed crown prince…” He lowered his head. “… There’s no way.”
A petal fell from the purple anemones filling the vase on the corner of his desk. It was a day when spring had just begun.
* * *
As night began to deepen, only Luize and Edward remained at the welcome party. Thanks to the quick-witted members who fed others plenty of alcohol, they quickly cleared the place, allowing the two to have a deep conversation.
Hiccup. Hiccup.
With a face flushed from the alcohol, Luize giggled. “
Hehe
. So, do you know what Maxion said?”
“I don’t.”
“He said, ‘Meals are for survival, but if I eat what you made, I’ll die soon, Luize.’”
“It must have been an extraordinary dish, hard to come by in this world.”
“What have you been listening to?”
“I was listening to how Miss Luize almost assassinated Maxion with your cooking.”
Luize, with her eyes half-open, nodded contentedly. “
Hiccup
, good. You were listening. When I think about it, Maxion has had many close calls because of me.”
“I see. That’s fortunate.”
“Why does someone say ‘fortunate’ with a face like that? Your mouth is smiling, but your eyes are not.”
“I didn’t realize I could be this childish, but it seems I’m jealous of Maxion.”
“What? Why, Edward? Why would my boyfriend, who has beauty, intelligence, and personality, be jealous of Maxion? I mean, he’s a nice guy, but… why?”
Edward laughed low at her response. “It seems everything is resolved now.”
“Good. It seems Edward is more of a jealous type than I thought.”
“…Is that bad?”
“No, it’s good. I think it’s good.”
“That’s fortunate.”
“Edward, but I’m a bit sleepy. The annex seems far away…”
“Miss Luize will stay in the main building from now on.”
“Really? I’m looking forward to the new room…”
Luize nodded off, soon lowering her head. As she was about to rest her forehead on the table, Edward supported her shoulders, tilting her into his arms.
“I hope it meets your expectations.” Edward smiled.
The next day, Luize woke up in an unfamiliar bedroom, meeting the gaze of a handsome half-naked man looking at her.
“…Edward, good morning. I don’t remember, but did we,
um
, do it again last night?”
“No.”
“Then, are we going to use the same room from now on?”
“I plan to merge them soon.”
“That’s good news, even though we’re not engaged yet. But where is this place, and why is Edward here?”
Edward, smiling, answered sincerely. “This is the marital room in the Lindeman residence where Miss Luize will be staying from now on, and I was chosen to serve until all traces left on Luize’s body last night disappear.”
At his words, Luize looked down at her body. She noticed there were no intact spots. It was a relief that it was spring; if it were summer, choosing clothes would have been troublesome.
“…Who selected that?”
“You did.”
“I see…” She sighed. “Come to think of it, my body feels fresh. I must have had the sense to wash while drunk.”
“Yes. Miss Luize insisted on cleanliness. It was my first time assisting a woman’s bath, so it was a new experience in many ways. Personally, it was visually stimulating, which made it challenging.”
“…Did I make Edward assist in my bath?”
“Yes.”
“Oh gosh. I must have been a real handful… I didn’t do anything else, did I?”