Chapter 49
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Dear, I believe you may be misunderstanding.
Episode 49
"M-Madam!"
Selena looked amused as Grace, startled by her own voice, bolted upright only to immediately collapse back down the moment she caught sight of Lucas's bare chest.
"My apologies, Madam. It's just that His Excellency isn't currently wearing anything...."
A smile bloomed unbidden at Grace's flustered words. Though this was surely an awkward situation for the young couple, the smile refused to fade from Selena's lips.
'Can someone truly be this adorable?'
Even in a compromising situation, she worried about Lucas's modesty—such a considerate child.
In mere hours of acquaintance, her thoughtful nature and gentle disposition were already evident. The way she sipped her tea possessed an understated elegance, and her measured speech pleased me greatly.
Most of all, I found myself delighted by how Lucas became utterly undone in this young lady's presence.
'How entertaining.'
Selena chuckled softly, watching Lucas beneath Grace, his eyes narrowing with displeasure at her amusement.
The way his eyebrows twitched in a silent plea for her departure stirred old memories.
'The more you look like that, the more I want to tease you, my son.'
Selena felt a warmth bloom in her chest—an affection she hadn't experienced in far too long.
Like those joyful days with her tender husband, now departed from her side.
"He's my own flesh and blood—what does it matter, Grace? If anything, I'm more concerned about you maintaining such an uncomfortable position."
Selena extended her hand with a radiant smile.
"Come now, won't you take my hand and stand?"
Ah, Mother.
Is it truly your intention to watch both Grace and me blush in unison?
Lucas pressed his forehead briefly.
His mother—who wielded her angelic beauty like a weapon to embarrass his father, making it her favorite pastime.
This was precisely that expression.
Since Father's passing, she had rarely worn such a genuinely(?) delighted smile.
'I'm not sure whether to welcome this or dread it.'
Lucas exhaled a small, exasperated sigh, quiet enough that Grace wouldn't hear.
Then, gently wrapping his arms around Grace's waist as she stood frozen, desperately uncertain what to do, he steadied her.
"Just stay as you are, Grace."
"Your Excellency."
He felt her tremble against his bare skin, her body quivering with each breath.
The subtle tremor was intoxicating. Yet simultaneously, he had to exert every ounce of willpower to ignore the warmth of her soft body pressed against him.
His own body, regrettably vigorous with youth, found it nearly unbearable to resist such a dangerously seductive tremor.
"Surely you don't genuinely wish to see your robust son's naked form, Dowager Duchess? Rather than standing there smiling, why not have Haem or the Butler bring me some clothes?"
"What a shame, Lucas. I was hoping to see how well you've grown."
"...Mother."
"All right, all right, off with you both. Any longer and Grace might announce she wishes to break off the engagement with our house."
With a playful wink, Selena turned gracefully and departed.
She moved away with deliberate slowness, almost suspiciously so.
Only after her figure had completely vanished did Grace, who had been rigidly tense, exhale in relief and allow her body to relax.
She had been so tense that she didn't even realize her forehead was resting against Lucas's shoulder.
Lucas observed her every expression, his thoughts wandering.
'...How adorable.'
Could a person truly be this lovely?
It was genuinely bewildering.
Her round, pale forehead came into view as he glanced down.
The sight made his lips tingle with desire.
His hands, wrapped around her slender waist drawn taut with tension, felt the same pull.
He encountered countless temptations, but he drew a deep breath and suppressed the savage beast raging within him.
That wretched instinct urging him to cast aside all reason.
"Grace."
He spoke her name again, feeling it roll off his tongue.
Saying it aloud made it dissolve like sugar on his palate.
Her ears twitched in surprise, but she remained still in that position.
The warm breath she exhaled touched his collarbone.
It grew increasingly difficult, yet he felt no desire to push her away.
"Grace, I apologize for saying this at such a moment."
"Yes?"
"Since you've now seen all of me, I believe you must take responsibility for me."
At Lucas's words, Grace startled and quickly lifted her head to respond.
"No, Your Excellency. I haven't seen everything."
"You've seen me in human form and completely bare.... You haven't seen everything?"
"Well, that's true, but I really haven't seen it all. It was too dark, and I was so startled that I quickly looked away."
"So, because you haven't seen everything, you won't take responsibility?"
"That's not exactly what I meant. But still... it feels unfair."
"Unfair? What do you mean? Is it unfair that you didn't see everything?"
How did this conversation even lead here?
Grace shot Lucas a look of utter disbelief.
He smiled calmly and whispered in a low voice near her ear.
"If you feel so unfairly treated, shall I make it fair?"
As he finished speaking, he made a move to shift his position beneath her.
Grace gasped in alarm and tightly embraced Lucas's shoulders, shaking her head vigorously.
"No, no, no! That's not it! I'll just stay feeling unfairly treated. Actually, no, I'm not unfairly treated at all. Now that I think about it, there's nothing unfair. I think I saw everything!"
"Hmm, then it seems you must take responsibility for me after all?"
At his subtle question, Grace's expression grew serious.
"No, that's something entirely different...."
Contrary to appearances, she possessed a stubborn streak.
She seemed unwilling to utter that simple phrase.
Lucas, feeling slightly petulant, deliberately shifted his body once more.
"Your Excellency!"
Grace called out in alarm at his words.
"Why would you do that?"
"Y-Your Excellency, why are you doing this?"
"Because I find it rather uncomfortable having a woman who won't take responsibility for me sitting naked atop my bare body."
He raised his upper body.
'What on earth is he thinking, really!'
Startled, Grace hastily clung to his shoulders and embraced him, crying out urgently.
"I'll take responsibility!"
"Hmm?"
"I'll do it! I'm taking responsibility! Just stay still!"
"Ah? How fortunate. Then since you're taking responsibility for me, I suppose I can safely adjust my position, can't I?"
"You terrible man!"
Unable to contain herself any longer, Grace burst out in exasperation.
Then, as if unable to believe the words that had escaped her own lips, she quickly covered her mouth.
Her trembling eyelids, wide with startled rabbit-like eyes, were utterly endearing.
So much so that he wanted to laugh and forget the situation entirely.
'I should stop teasing her now.'
Bickering with this adorable woman was far too entertaining, but he had no desire to earn her displeasure.
Fortunately, Haem's voice arrived at just the right moment.
"Your Excellency! Your Excellency! Where are you?"
The moment Haem approached, Grace immediately fled from him in a panic.
Without even glancing back, she rushed away, her earlobes flushed crimson.
"...Good heavens, what in the world is happening."
She had actually shouted at Lucas Black, calling him a terrible man.
Grace pressed her hand to her wildly racing heart and sank down where she stood.
And as sleep began to claim her, she realized that even upon seeing him in person, she had never trembled with fear.
* * *
Screeeech!
A towering Cliff dense with lush Forest.
Above it, an eagle with golden wings shot upward into the sky.
Its massive wings spread wide as it soared toward the sun at a terrifying speed.
Below, a black horse thundered onto the Cliff with a fearsome cry.
As colossal as the eagle that had ascended into the heavens, the horse snorted with fury and pawed at the ground.
Its anger unabated, it stamped its hooves repeatedly in place.
The force was so tremendous that each impact carved deep gouges into the earth.
Neighhhh!
Suddenly, a white serpent appeared and coiled around the black horse's ankle.
The horse reared in alarm, lifting its angry hooves, while the serpent raised its neck stiffly and taunted the black horse.
Then, with a cackling laugh, a red monkey appeared and grinned at the sight of the horse and serpent.
Beneath the tree the monkey had climbed, a wolf with beautiful silver fur and a teal-colored bear pushed through the undergrowth and revealed themselves.
Familiar yet strange beasts had gathered together.
The eagle, now soaring high in the sky, circled above the beasts' heads as it flew.
This was a dream.
Grace recognized it as such, yet she could not comprehend her current state.
A dream of landscapes from places she had never visited and beasts she had never seen.
The sprawling Sea gleamed with a dazzling blue, the sheer Cliff rose with austere majesty, and beyond it the dense Forest was filled with countless trees whose names Grace herself did not know.
Was all of this merely a product of her imagination?
Then why was it so vivid and crystalline?
Grace watched the beasts from beyond the Forest's edge.
Just then,
Boom! Rumble!
The Cliff where the beasts had gathered trembled, and the sound of collapsing earth echoed.
The gathered beasts showed no alarm and gazed down below the Cliff.
'What lies beneath?'
Following Grace's consciousness, her perspective drew closer to the beasts.
To discern the identity of what shook the Cliff....
One step, two steps.
As she drew nearer in this way.
The beasts' gazes, which had been fixed upon the depths below the Cliff, turned in unison toward Grace.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org