Chapter 569
Chapter 569
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 569
Chapter Title: Sleeping with the Enemy (5)
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1.
Sweat dripped in steady beads.
A scorching heat that no word like "hot" could possibly describe.
In the sauna's blistering warmth—where even taking a deep breath felt like it would sear his lungs—Si-woo was pathetically breaking out in cold sweats.
"Hmmm..."
It was because Lurue was staring intently at Si-woo's face, slick with beads of sweat.
Not to mention that she was vigilantly monitoring whether his gaze drifted toward Dorothy.
Lurue knew full well how pathetic her jealousy looked.
For someone as captivating as herself to throw a tantrum over a mere man glancing at another woman's chest—it was utterly undignified.
And who was the rival she had to keep in check?
Unlike Gehenna's vixens, whom she could openly crush with unbridled hostility, this was Dorothy—her closest friend, who had brought her wonderful gifts time and again.
She had already introduced Si-woo to her as the envoy from the Nukelavi Kingdom.
On top of bragging—almost giddily—about how utterly enchanted he was by her charms, openly playing the jealous card with lines like "Don't look at other women!!" would be mortifying.
So Lurue was giving Si-woo subtle glances on the sly, all while taking care not to let Dorothy notice.
Of course, the sharp-witted Dorothy had seen right through Lurue's feelings.
In any case, Lurue's ironclad marking of Si-woo was turning into a real sweat-fest for him.
It wasn't just about wanting to sneak peeks at her swimsuit or resisting that temptation.
In this cramped sauna—where if it had been just a handspan narrower, their knees would have been jammed together—the three of them were squeezed in tight.
From the start, it was damn near impossible not to glance in a particular direction even once.
Moreover, like how telling someone not to think of a pink elephant only makes it pop into their head, Lurue's clingy marking was ironically drawing his eyes toward Dorothy.
"Wow, it really is scorching hot in here. I'll go rinse off real quick."
Dorothy, who had been at the innermost spot, stood up.
Si-woo was sitting face-to-face with Lurue, so Dorothy naturally had to pass right in front of them to exit.
Meaning her bare body would inevitably come into Si-woo's view, front or back.
Realizing this, Lurue frantically blinked at Si-woo, signaling with her eyes.
He hadn't even ogled Dorothy with lustful eyes, so he felt wronged, but he played along with Lurue's game.
However, Dorothy—who found the whole situation endlessly amusing—clearly had no intention of cooperating with Si-woo.
"Oh my goodness~"
He sensed Dorothy brushing past right in front of him.
Then suddenly, a soft sensation enveloped his entire body.
The unmistakable plushness of a woman's body rubbed against his skin.
Pressed against Si-woo's chest was a heavy breast whose weight was felt even just lying there.
Plump, well-fleshed thighs wedged between his legs, and her arms wrapped around his waist like a lover playfully nuzzling in.
The moment Si-woo opened his eyes, he grasped the situation and held his breath.
He had already been careful not to breathe through his nose for a bit, so his constitution didn't cause any mishaps.
Besides, both Dorothy and Si-woo had been in the sauna for about ten minutes, so they were drenched in sweat.
The sticky sweat mingling with their skin—which felt almost cool compared to the room's muggy air—evoked the intimate moment during intense lovemaking when lovers clutch each other and lock eyes.
A position too deliberate to pass off as an accidental tumble—unless she had lunged with intent.
And seeing that sulky smile in her eyes, this was clearly Dorothy's scheme.
Her aim was obvious.
"Eek!"
A cartoonish yelp came from Lurue across from him.
Dorothy ignored it completely, staring straight into Si-woo's eyes.
A gaze that seemed to measure his desire, yet brimmed with playful mischief.
"Pardon me. I got a little dizzy."
"It's the heat, right? Up you go."
"Lies? I only speak the truth."
Lurue was bound to blow up, so he tried to shove Dorothy off quickly, but she dawdled.
By then, Lurue had already stormed over faster.
Probably, in this case too, Si-woo would be the one taking the heat.
With a sigh at falling for yet another pathetic ploy, he stifled it.
"Are you alright?"
But what Lurue spat out wasn't peevish jealousy-fueled irritation.
She didn't forcibly pry Dorothy off Si-woo or playfully punch him.
She simply slipped her arm under Dorothy's shoulders and helped her up.
"Even I get dizzy sometimes if I stay too long after a while. Hurry and go rest."
Lurue supported Dorothy with a voice full of concern.
No matter how much she disliked Si-woo eyeing Dorothy or felt that subtle jealousy, when her friend collapsed, worry took precedence.
Even if she had disabled her autonomous defenses to enjoy the sauna, a witch's body shouldn't take serious damage from this level of heat.
"......"
In that moment, Si-woo caught Dorothy's usually unflappable expression layering over with inscrutable emotions.
So tangled and complex it was like overlapping text impossible to read—but if condensed to the closest single word...
Disquiet.
"Oh~ Thank you, Your Majesty."
Yet, as if it had never happened, Dorothy donned a pure white smile like a mask and willingly leaned into Lurue's support.
"What thanks for such a trifle. Come on now—get some cool air and drink water, and you'll be fine."
2.
After the commotion died down and they shared cool milk, the three followed Lurue.
In truth, it was a reminiscent experience from when Si-woo had just boarded the Akula.
Meaning he was simply trailing after Lurue as she proudly showed off the ship's various eras.
Judging by Dorothy's reaction, aside from the newest addition—a theater from her latest spoils—nothing seemed to have changed much.
But neither Si-woo nor Dorothy showed any signs of boredom.
Dorothy was hard to read as ever, making it tough to guess her reasons, but Si-woo alone lit up with a pleased smile just watching Lurue's excitement.
After watching a movie together, the three got thoroughly drunk, just like the night before.
They'd probably keep boozing like this until Dorothy's departure.
In the end, Lurue—who had pounded drinks right up to knockout—clung to Si-woo's side with drowsy eyes and whined.
"It's time to sleep. Have the servants move my luggage to the bedroom."
"Sure thing."
"Dorothy, sleep well. How about a deep-sea stroll tomorrow?"
"Anything's fine as long as it's with you, Your Majesty~"
Exchanging affectionate final goodnights, Lurue had Si-woo piggyback her to the bedroom.
Her hot, booze-flushed breath tickled his ear, while the sweet chocolate scent from her snacks wafted subtly.
He sat the limp Lurue on the bed and prepared pajamas, knowing she'd inevitably ask him to change her.
"Si-woo."
Then a clear voice came from behind.
The pronunciation was still a bit slurred, but far from the stumbling drunk she had been—it was a much crisper tone.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Turning around, Lurue was blinking at him from where she perched on the bed.
Come to think of it, she had drunk far less than yesterday, and it was only around ten—no real bedtime yet. Her quick complaint of fatigue made sense now.
The alcohol couldn't have vanished in that short time, so her heavy intoxication had been an act from the start.
Lurue fidgeted, squirming her hips against the sheets for no reason.
They had tumbled in this bed together double digits times already.
He knew exactly what her oddly atmospheric behavior hinted at.
"Come here."
He had to keep an eye on her to stop any funny business with Dorothy, but one of yesterday's gripes from Lurue was that he hadn't initiated before "tormenting" her...
Ignoring her outright wasn't an option.
Si-woo quietly knelt on one knee before her, matching her eye level.
"You know what you did wrong today, right?"
A question that felt vaguely familiar.
Last time, his wrong answer had infuriated her to no end, but the vibe now was different.
The scolding felt like mere pretense—as if any answer would be forgiven in this relaxed atmosphere.
"No idea."
"Didn't you devour Dorothy's body with your eyes in the bath today?"
"...Was it that bad?"
"Indeed. I clearly saw the lust brimming in your gaze."
Lurue closed her eyes, nodding exaggeratedly as she pouted her lips.
She really pulled the most varied expressions, he thought.
"I get it. Dorothy's breasts are definitely off the charts. For a man obsessed with women's chests, hips, and asses, it's natural you'd be tempted."
"I wasn't tempted that far..."
His eyes had wandered, sure, but his wariness toward her overrode any real sexual pull.
In other words, he was just telling the truth...
"Tsk...!"
Lurue clicked her tongue, dismissing Si-woo's excuse.
Considering how she usually humored at least one apology, this confirmed she wasn't truly angry—there was another agenda.
"What worries me isn't your willpower. Look at today—in the sauna, Dorothy tripped, and you nearly caught her scent, didn't you? If you lost control and pounced on my dear friend, I'd die of shame."
That was precisely the part Si-woo was most cautious about.
Meanwhile, Lurue glanced upward slyly, flashing the whites of her eyes like a puppy checking for scolding.
"Plus, it's been three days since you last released... You must be pent up."
She took a breath as if broaching something grave, then continued.
"To avoid any discourtesy to our guest, I'll sate your urges with my body instead."
Fancy words piled on, but...
Her true intent was plain as day.
Si-woo gave a wry smile and leaned in.
No helping it—he'd have to indulge her whims a bit more.
Lurue lunged into his arms as if waiting, crashing her lips against his.
The bittersweet chocolate scent he'd only caught whiffs of earlier now tangled on his tongue.
"Mmm... slurp..."
Unlike her earlier bravado, Lurue obediently suckled the tongue in his mouth like a caress.
Her shoulders trembled adorably with each layer of clothing peeled away.
No matter how haughty the queen, once in bed, she turned this cute—and Si-woo could never bring himself to hate her for it.