Chapter 570
Chapter 570
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 570
Chapter Title: Sleeping with the Enemy (6)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1.
I'd tried to wrap up the deed as quickly as possible, but it ended up taking a full four hours.
I'd budgeted about two hours to put Lurue to sleep and slip out, so this was double the time.
The little queen, who transformed into a timid spoiled brat on the bed, had been extra clingy today.
I had no choice but to wipe her down with a damp towel soaked in lukewarm water and stroke her hair until she drifted off with a blissful smile.
Of course, that didn't mean I disliked the situation or found it nothing but a hassle.
As Lurue's affections grew hotter by the day, melting me into a puddle, I straightened my slackened lips and returned to the drawing room where Dorothy waited.
"Good evening."
Dorothy was lounging on the sofa in the exact same pose as yesterday, puffing leisurely on a cigar.
I felt awkwardly self-conscious for no reason. It was because her clear silver eyes seemed to pierce right through everything.
"You're so~oo sweet, aren't you?"
"Pardon?"
"Turning down surveillance on a suspicious public enemy just to indulge the princess's whims?"
"......"
I ignored her appropriately and sat on the opposite sofa. Dorothy spun around, lying prone, and giggled.
"You get shy when people praise you?"
"Not really."
"Anyway. I never imagined you'd go at it for four whole hours. Guess I have to take back calling you a quick draw before."
My body stiffened.
How did she know whether we'd gone four hours or not?
"The princess's passionate cries echoed all the way here."
"......"
I'd blocked out magic fluctuations during climax just in case, with a counterfield spell.
But the distance between the drawing room and bedroom was quite far, and I'd taken no soundproofing measures.
"I've got~ particularly sharp ears."
Just facing her after such sloppy, intense sex was awkward enough.
Realizing she'd probably heard every sound doubled the embarrassment.
"Enough of that. I have a favor to ask."
"What? I'm really~ bad with vulgar requests like that."
She was still in the mood to tease, coming on extra flirtatious.
I ignored her trailing invitations and got to the point.
"Can't you tone down the clinginess a bit?"
"Clingy? That's mean~"
"I get that you enjoy watching me squirm. But please refrain from creating weird incidents in Her Majesty's presence."
"Incidents? What kind?"
Dorothy played innocent, just as expected.
"If you don't spell it out, how would I know?"
"Don't provoke Her Majesty's jealousy on purpose. Like striking poses that flaunt your chest or pretending to trip into my arms."
"In that case~, how about an exchange for my favor?"
Dorothy proposed a trade as if it were the most natural thing.
I hadn't expected her to just comply with a request or advice anyway.
I nodded roughly, and she rose, circling the table to approach.
As I stayed on high alert, she slyly sat beside me.
"What is it?"
"Just sitting next to you?"
"No, the favor."
"Hold me?"
Dorothy cut straight to it.
Obviously, whether euphemistic or direct, it was a request I couldn't grant.
"No."
No matter that it was for a trade, I couldn't trust Dorothy's ulterior motives.
Allowing her to sit beside me was proof I'd earned a tiny bit of her trust, but...
Anything more was out of the question.
Despite Si-woo's curt reply, Dorothy showed no sign of backing down.
She simply stared at his face before speaking.
"You still don't trust me?"
"It'd be harder not to suspect you."
"Because~ I'm a public enemy?"
This was an unfair question.
I'd already been uneasy about keeping Dorothy at arm's length solely because she was a public enemy.
If she'd merely been an exile, I wouldn't have been so guarded or rejecting.
Her question—"Because I'm a public enemy?"—was plenty to accelerate that discomfort.
I nodded silently, and Dorothy smirked.
It was a slightly tipsy laugh.
"Not easy, is it? Trusting a public enemy."
"Even if you weren't one, I wouldn't grant that request. What do you think I am, a public service?"
I added the excuse on reflex, but such a lame justification wouldn't fly with her.
Dorothy gave a wry, regretful smile.
Incredibly, there hung a resentful sigh from her lips.
"Why do you keep doing this? You don't even like me that much."
They'd only met briefly, and their interactions amounted to Si-woo suspecting her and Dorothy enjoying the teasing.
She didn't seem particularly lustful toward him, nor overly curious about male witches.
At least, based on her behavior so far.
"True. I don't usually act this foolish."
Dorothy nodded without rebuttal, as expected.
"But lately, I've been having a pretty~ good time. It's been so long since I felt this stupidly peaceful—I can't even remember."
"......"
"Like I said earlier, you're kind."
"Piggyback rides don't count."
I was just starting to feel embarrassed by the sudden praise.
"You can't bring yourself to hate me just because I'm a public enemy, can you?"
Dorothy spoke in a serious tone.
Her eyes were profoundly earnest, overturning her usual lighthearted demeanor.
"Most people probably can't."
"No, they can. Most folks find reasons to hate others easily. Different skin color, ideology, affiliation—endless convenient excuses to shove people outside their walls. Heh, funny coming from me, preaching like some visionary. When I'm the same."
It was the same indifferent tone as when she'd bared her life story before.
But this calm carried a far more vivid glimpse into the life she'd lived.
"But you can't. You suspect me, guard against me, watch me—and yet you agonize endlessly.
Pondering if that suspicion, caution, surveillance is truly justified, agonizing ridiculously seriously. Even though we'll part ways soon anyway."
It was absurd.
Si-woo distrusted and suspected Dorothy so much, yet she trusted him.
Of course, it was trust in his softness.
Dorothy reached out and gently took Si-woo's hand.
Her fingertips, softer than expected, tickled his palm in circles.
"For example, even if I fell into your arms and slept defenselessly. You wouldn't harm me, right?"
"Her Majesty would get mad."
"See? You hate compliments. But no—even without Lurue on this sub, you wouldn't."
Her assertive tone left no room for denial; her analysis was spot-on.
In the end, he could only grumble a reply.
"So basically, I'm a sucker?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
Giggling, Dorothy scooted her hips closer and whispered in a sugary voice.
"Rolling among poisonous weeds like public enemies, you know? On my last vacation day, I want to melt into that harmlessness. Sure, you're handsome and built nice, so ideally sex too~ but I doubt you'd go that far."
"Last day of vacation?"
"An extra bet. Hold me now, and I'll end my vacation tomorrow and vanish. Right back to your lovey-dovey newlywed life with the princess."
Hold her now, and she'd leave tomorrow...
That meant no need to suspect or guard her further, and the trial would normalize.
It was the most efficient safety, backed by minimal risk.
And her intent didn't seem malicious...
"Fine."
Better to hug her once than keep her around building stress.
She hadn't suddenly pounced in the sauna today either? Just think of it as round two.
"That easy? You want me gone that~ bad?"
"Yes."
Dorothy burst into roaring laughter.
She wouldn't ambush suddenly, right? But Si-woo wasn't too worried.
His autonomic defenses were iffy, but his physical prowess had long surpassed superhuman levels.
Plus, he could visually track mana flow, spotting spell activation signs and countering.
Still tense, he opened his arms, and she leaned in.
No matter public enemy or whatever, a woman was a woman.
Soon, her soft, plush, delicate frame nestled warmly into his embrace.
A lithe body that seemed to melt if hugged too tight.
And those breasts above all.
Monstrous ones pressing firmly against his abdomen—no bra, apparently, as their shape pressed through vividly.
"Haa~"
As he awkwardly held his arms open, her hands wrapped around his waist, and she pressed her ear tight to his chest.
The intensifying pressure, plus the added breast squeeze, grated on his nerves far more than expected.
"You gonna stay like that? Squeeze~ me tight."
Fine, call it payment for all the suspicion so far.
He wrapped his arms around her back in return.
Her frame was smaller and shoulders daintier than expected.
Body contact naturally bred intimacy.
As initial stiffness faded into languid quiet, only Dorothy's satisfied hums filled the air.
"Nice. First time. Being held like this by a man."
With that embarrassing line, she softly closed her eyes and leaned her full weight against him.
Her face was serene, as if craving human warmth, ready to sleep at a lullaby.
"......"
An indescribable, strange feeling washed over him.
He recalled feeling something similar before.
Paola Sochetil.
On the way back after executing the Witch of Cowardice.
She'd chosen to become a public enemy to save her disciple—her methods brutal for that goal, but not one to label simply "villain."
Sharon, Amelia, his master, the twins, and others.
If a precious person died due to his mistake, could he swear he'd take a different path from Paola if compensating meant an inhuman road?
For similar reasons, if he'd become a public enemy right after inheriting his stigma, rolling among bitches like Ea or Bianca—could he claim he'd stayed pure?
"Can't you stop selling weapons to terrorists and cartels?"
He barely swallowed the intrusive words.
It was meddlesome pity, viewing Dorothy not as a public enemy but pathetically.
Honestly, he hoped she wasn't a bad person.
But Si-woo could do nothing for her, nor take responsibility.
As he mocked his flimsy sense of justice with a hollow chuckle,
One of Dorothy's eyes, seemingly asleep, cracked open.
Si-woo averted his gaze, uncomfortable.
"You can grope my chest; I'll pretend not to notice."
"Pass."
With that joke, Dorothy truly fell asleep in Si-woo's arms, breathing softly.
Utterly at peace.