Chapter 544
Chapter 544
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 544
Chapter Title: Luryue Nukelavi (2)
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Siwoo knelt there, cheeks still stinging from the sharp slap, desperately spilling out every excuse he could muster.
Luryue, who had listened to the whole rambling tale with rapt attention, let out a scoff of utter exasperation.
"You expect Us to believe such absurd nonsense?"
"It's the God's honest truth...!"
Every word from his mouth sounded utterly implausible.
"That just smelling Our scent would make you lose all control over your lust? Don't make Us laugh! Even beasts in heat aren't that pathetic."
"But as I told you, didn't Your Majesty's mana recover fully?"
"It did indeed work like a charm. However, a sliver of truth doesn't lend credibility to the rest of your drivel."
Luryue emerged from the bedroom after a mere fifteen minutes.
Compared to the fury she'd shown upon first waking, she surprisingly didn't seem all that angry now.
He'd braced himself for at least a few days confined to his quarters—maybe not death, but punishment nonetheless—yet here she was, giving him a chance to explain right away.
But no matter how earnestly he laid out the truth, Luryue showed no sign of buying it.
Her initial restraint—limited to a single slap—was fraying as his words dragged on, her irritation mounting.
"Do you take Us for a complete fool?"
As she'd said, he knew it sounded utterly far-fetched.
Other women had been skeptical but ultimately believed him, or hadn't even doubted in the first place. But right now, with their trust at rock bottom, it was only natural she'd find it unbelievable.
The real problem was there was no way to prove it was true.
If he suggested she sniff his scent to observe the reaction, it'd just pile on more karma.
And even if he steeled himself to pounce on her while letting her smell it, he couldn't explicitly prove the link between lust and scent—lust being an intangible desire and all.
"Please believe me. It's really true."
"......"
All he could do was appeal to whatever scraps of trust she had left.
Luryue crossed her arms and pondered in silence for a long while.
Her furrowed brow refused to relax, which set him on edge.
"To think We wasted Our time just to hear such pitiful excuses... It only stokes Our anger anew."
"......"
"How disappointing. This is your final chance to confess the truth. Remember that Our mercy ends here."
With that firm ultimatum, Luryue clamped her mouth shut.
The ticking of a clock and the hiss of a burning fuse seemed to echo in his ears.
His answer here could very well decide life or death.
"......"
He'd already told her every last bit of the truth without a single lie.
But she wasn't convinced.
Repeating himself wouldn't suddenly make it more persuasive.
So what did she want to hear?
A flash of inspiration cut through the cold sweat trickling down his spine.
It was the timeless truth that sometimes, a lie one wants to hear rings truer than an unwelcome truth.
"This lowly one..."
But the words caught in his throat.
He couldn't be sure if saying it would really be okay.
"Why stop mid-sentence?"
The moment he opened his mouth, the grace period shrank even further, forcing him to spit out the prepared response.
"This lowly one... was so blinded by Your Majesty's exquisite, priceless form that I forgot all restraint and succumbed to desire."
Well, it wasn't entirely a lie.
Part of the reason his lust had spiraled out of control was undoubtedly her stunning body and beauty.
He gauged her expression with bated breath.
"......"
Her brows and lips remained stern, unyielding.
No need for words—it was clear his excuse fell flat.
But with one foot already in, admitting it as a slip would be the worst of bad moves.
Better to double down boldly and shamelessly.
"This wretched servant couldn't bear to miss the chance to hold Your Majesty. I resolved that even if it meant death after a single night with you, I'd die smiling in bliss."
"......"
He'd mounted the tiger's back.
No retreat now—he clenched his fists and pressed on like an orator.
"It was pure ecstasy, Your Majesty. But! After the deed was done, a greed for life bloomed in a existence I'd thought devoid of regrets."
Your single night with me wasn't just carnal union—it reshaped my very outlook on life with its overwhelming joy."
"......"
"That's why I dared deceive Your Majesty. If I lived, another chance might come!"
What nonsense about losing control from my scent! Even now, it's a laughable, hastily concocted excuse. I'm ashamed of myself!"
"......"
"This servant was undoubtedly ensnared by Your Majesty's curse-like allure."
Drawing on host club eloquence laced with a touch of exaggeration, he poured it all out.
He hadn't planned to go this dramatic, but the sheer embarrassment fueled the momentum.
"Execute me, Your Majesty!"
He bowed his head, awaiting her verdict.
Ten seconds stretched like ten minutes; as his sweat cooled into an icy chill on his nape,
a mosquito-thin whisper barely audible unless one strained broke the silence.
"...S-So that's how it was?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Lifting his head, he saw her face flushed crimson, twisting strands of hair around her finger.
Her legs wouldn't stay still, stepping lightly as if dancing a waltz.
"You think~ sweet talk like that~ will make Us swoon~?"
Her tone turned saccharine, belying the words.
Bouncing in place, Luryue circled him with odd steps, then patted his shoulder.
"Well, that Our charm is like a curse... It's an undeniable fact, ahem..."
She kept tapping absently as she continued.
"Hah... truly... To let such a grave matter slide with Our magnanimity... So, which part of Us so captivated you as to upend your worldview?"
It worked almost too well—he was stunned.
Just like flaunting old-pro skills at the arcade.
Praise always hits harder from others than self-praise, no matter how obvious.
Even blatant flattery—the first from a man in her life—wielded massive sway over Luryue.
Her ego soared past haughtiness, blotting out last night's disgrace.
A ticklish flutter in her chest—not her lower belly—made her shiver.
Uncrosing her arms, she struck a runway model's pose, chin tilted defiantly.
"Come now, speak. What about Us was so irresistible?"
When things go this smoothly, suspicion creeps in...
He nearly blurted "your figure" and swallowed it back.
"First... Your Majesty's hair texture."
"Hm? Our hair? We hardly fuss over it—it's truly that lovely?"
Luryue brushed her side locks playfully, chuckling nonchalantly.
Cautious not to let her get too close to his scent, he pressed on carefully.
"Yes, it shimmers like waves on a midnight sea—lovelier than any shampoo model's."
"And?"
"Eyes brimming with spirit suit the term 'keen insight,' and your elegant brows seem painted by a master's brush."
"And? Is that all? Keep going."
"Petite in stature yet..."
"Petite?"
A piercing glare made him backpedal frantically.
"Slender frame graced with feminine curves. Calling you queen of the seas would undersell— you're a goddess. And taller than the average witch, too."
Her rapid-fire questions nearly tripped him up, but otherwise, it was masterful improvisation.
Experience really counts.
"Mmm...!"
Luryue let out a satisfied hum, lips twitching upward as if she'd never been angry.
Was she really this simple?
Fleecing such an innocent queen stirred even guilt.
"Hearing you out, it seems unfair to blame only your lack of virtue. Our fatal beauty bewitched you—who could fault a moth drawn to the flame?"
"Your mercy humbles me."
"However! We can't let it pass without punishment!"
Luryue's command boomed.
Her high, youthful timbre carried undeniable charisma.
No wonder witches weren't born every day.
"Interior Minister Shin Siwoo is banned from the dining hall for one week! No ice cream or desserts either!"
Reinstated from slave to Interior Minister.
"You'll be exiled to Nukelavi's inner palace! Contemplate there, rebuilding your deficient self-control and patience!"
"Your grace is boundless."
It was nominal exile—essentially, "go tackle trials or challenges."
Which aligned perfectly with his request to retry the ordeals.
Grateful for the subtle consideration, Siwoo sighed in relief.
That said...
Things got a bit tangled now.
He'd planned to ask about external comms or contacts today, but with her mood finally brightening, he hesitated to risk ruining it.
Trials first, then.
With Luryue's magic copied too, had they grown stronger? Time to check firsthand.