Chapter 122
I pretended to give in and wrapped my arms around his neck.
The soft flesh slipping between my lips left a sweet lingering sensation.
The gentle hand stroking down my shoulder.
The gaze burning with heat.
The red lips that had now become familiar.
As I naturally went limp and fell back with a thud, I sank deep into the plush sofa.
Alferen, pulled along with me, propped himself up on the sofa with his arm and looked down at me.
“…”
“…”
We simply gazed at each other without a word.
The veins in his forearm, braced to avoid putting his weight on me, stood out prominently.
He was so tempting one moment, yet his patience was truly remarkable.
I, too, knew full well what act would follow after the lips.
“Ahem.”
I awkwardly cleared my throat and twisted my body to slip out of his embrace.
“This is your office, after all.”
Right. Indulging in affectionate displays in the office would only disrupt work.
Even at my flimsy excuse, he offered no particular resistance.
He merely adjusted his posture and stared at me.
My face flushed hot at the realization that I’d nearly given in just like that.
“Yes. This wouldn’t do here.”
He straightened his disheveled clothes and withdrew plainly.
His easy acceptance left me grateful yet regretful.
To think I’d be harboring such contradictory thoughts.
As I awkwardly rubbed my arms in embarrassment, Alferen changed the subject.
“I’ve been investigating that Pierre fellow myself in the meantime.”
“Ah.”
“He does seem connected to Father’s incident, as you said.”
His eyes, now regained composure, gazed steadily at me.
Likely referring to Edwin’s request from earlier.
“You probably can’t exclude him entirely from this matter. He’s the one who cast the spell.”
“I suppose not.”
I hadn’t hoped to spare Pierre any punishment in the first place.
Edwin had accepted that as well.
“My request wasn’t for forgiveness either. Just to let him live out what little life he has left. He said that incident made it terminal.”
“That’s feasible. However, he’s likely involved in this current affair too—any chance of swaying him?”
“I plan to think about that after capturing him.”
In any case, this incident was orchestrated primarily by Cesare.
In the original story, it was a ploy targeting the crown prince, but Alferen, sensing something amiss, informed Adrian, who was guarding the crown prince, and it was thwarted.
Cesare, cornered as the mastermind, killed Pierre to pin all the blame on him.
I couldn’t help but tense at the atmosphere flowing similarly to the original this time.
Even though the engagement with Nanael was broken off, avoiding the poisoning, I couldn’t prevent Alferen from being in danger until they were completely finished.
“Cesare will probably try to pin it on Pierre whether this succeeds or fails. So we need to capture him, secure him in a safe place, and proceed.”
I was worried sick that Alferen might come to harm in the process.
Sensing my concern, Alferen took my hand firmly.
“Don’t worry too much, Delly.”
“How can I not?”
“Of course, I’m happy that you’re worried about me. But as long as you’re safe, that’s all I need.”
Even in this situation, Alferen’s face showed relief that I hadn’t become a target.
Just like the kind-hearted sub-male lead he was.
“I feel the same. I can only sleep soundly if you’re safe.”
“Our Delly can’t lose sleep.”
Alferen fiddled with my hand as if delighted.
“If they’re planning to use the Fairy Bloom and the ice dragon’s egg, then it’s actually fortunate. I’ll use this opportunity to smuggle out the ice dragon’s egg and give it to you as a gift.”
I was dumbfounded at his words promising spoils of war.
Though, admittedly, the ice dragon’s egg was tempting.
“Ahem. Well, if you insist on giving it.”
“No one else could hatch it anyway.”
“Ahem.”
My shoulders involuntarily rose with pride, and he kissed my cheek.
“It’s an engagement gift.”
Just like the master of the magic tower he was—the scale of the engagement gift was extraordinary from the start.
“Then what should I give you?”
“You’ve already given it, Delly.”
“Huh? I don’t remember giving any gift.”
It was as I tilted my head at the mention of receiving a gift without my knowledge.
He tapped my forehead lightly.
“You came to me.”
“…”
“That’s enough for me.”
Seeing Alferen blush shyly afterward, an explosion went off in my mind—boom!
“H-How can you say something like that so casually?”
As I clutched my beet-red face and stammered the question, Alferen grinned broadly.
“I’ve waited a whopping eight years, after all.”
He looked at me with tender, loving eyes.
Thinking of the heartache he must have endured while I was oblivious to his feelings made my heart twinge.
“My remaining life is all yours from now on!”
At my bold declaration, Alferen gently echoed back.
“Really?”
“Yes!”
At my confident reply, Alferen smiled brightly.
As he spread his arms wide, I dove right into his embrace.
He kissed the top of my head and whispered.
“My remaining life is all yours too, Delly.”
Our touching hearts pounded rapidly, knocking against each other.
We quietly savored the joy that sensation brought.
* * *
Ahead of the founding festival events, news spread that the Crown Princess had collapsed with bleeding.
As everyone whispered that she might miscarry.
Consort Rosaria entered the Crown Princess’s palace under the pretext of a sick visit.
The Crown Princess, looking thoroughly ill, greeted her while lying in bed.
“Please forgive me for not being able to come out to welcome you personally due to my poor health.”
Her calm voice carried a hint of suppressed sorrow.
Swollen and dry lips.
A pallid face and emaciated body.
Suppressing her glee, Consort Rosaria asked the physician.
“How is the imperial child’s condition?”
“It is very poor. At this rate, the mother could be in danger as well, so surgery is urgently needed…”
“Surgery? Absolutely not!”
The Crown Princess interrupted the physician sharply.
Her hand clutching her still-flat belly was tenacious.
“Never. This child…”
Tears welled up in the Crown Princess’s eyes.
Even witnessing that pitiful sight, Rosaria felt no stir of emotion.
‘She held out longer than expected.’
The curse the consort had cast was a type that would take away the child.
A curse doll woven with the blood of an animal that died while pregnant.
The inherently frail Crown Princess seemed to have taken a direct hit.
“The imperial child is important, but the Crown Princess’s health is far more so.”
“Sob, sniff.”
“Can’t you have another child later?”
At the words feigning a caring mother-in-law, the Crown Princess simply turned her back in response.
“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”
At Rosaria’s words, the physician wore a grave expression.
“I’ll send some nourishing herbs for recovery.”
With her final consolation, Rosaria left the bedroom.
Immediately after, Rosaria smiled triumphantly and moved quickly.
Now that the curse had taken proper effect, she needed to destroy the evidence before any tails were caught.
The waiting maids followed behind her.
Meanwhile, right after Consort Rosaria left, the Crown Princess rose from the bed.
As she removed the ring she was wearing, color rapidly returned to her face, as if she’d never been a patient.
It was a magic tool crafted personally by Alferen to make her appear like a sick patient.
Magic so intricate it deceived even the physician.
“She fell for it completely.”
The Crown Princess smirked, recalling Rosaria’s hurried departure.
[There is a planned terrorist attack at the upcoming founding festival event.
Just in case, it would be best to feign illness and not attend the event.
Since we’ve accelerated the timeline, you must watch the consort’s movements closely.
She’ll likely come to destroy the evidence.]
The contents of the letter delivered through Loti Beige were astounding.
Not only targeting her own child but even attempting to ruin a national event.
As Rodellia had said, Consort Rosaria shamelessly came under the guise of a sick visit.
Just refraining from spitting in her face had exhausted all her patience.
