Chapter 571
Chapter 571
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 571
Chapter Title: Sleeping with the Enemy (7)
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1.
Dorothy woke up much later than expected.
She had slept soundly for nearly six hours.
Even in the most optimal position, it was hard to be comfortable while held by someone else.
"Hng..."
Dorothy opened her eyes with a sleepy hum, her drowsiness not yet fully cleared.
Just as Si-woo was about to wake her, fearing what chaos Leryue might cause if she saw this scene.
It was perfect timing.
"Uh..."
Her silver eyes, devoid of any vulnerability despite the languid air, suddenly clouded with confusion.
Even the world's most self-paced Dorothy couldn't escape that half-asleep haze.
Her usually inscrutable gaze was screaming, What? What's going on?
"Aha... right."
But the bewilderment didn't last.
In just a few blinks, Dorothy washed away the odd expression.
She let out a chuckle at her own absurdity, then stretched with a drawn-out "Uuuuuum!" while rubbing her cheek vigorously against Si-woo's chest.
"What time is it now?"
"Eight in the morning. You've slept plenty, so please move aside. I need to attend to things."
"You really stayed like this all night?"
As he gently pushed her away, Dorothy quietly pulled back.
"A promise is a promise."
"......"
It was just like when Dorothy had pretended to trip in the sauna and fallen onto Si-woo, only for Leryue to worry over her.
The ripple of emotion surfacing again resembled the agitation he'd seen yesterday.
But he didn't dwell on it deeply.
The world was full of unsolvable problems.
He wasn't arrogant enough to think he could shoulder every shortfall in his own capacity.
So there was no point overthinking it.
They were leaving today anyway—no need to probe her true feelings or bid farewell to that vague mix of regret and bitterness.
"Hey."
"Yes?"
As he rose from his spot, Dorothy called out softly.
"Want to work with me?"
"...Out of the blue?"
She tossed it out with her usual sly smile, like a casual joke, so he brushed it off lightly.
He couldn't bring himself to flatly refuse like before with a "No thanks" or "Pass."
It was due to the unresolved lump in his chest he'd left hanging.
He was about to wrap up the banter with a witty retort and head to Leryue, as usual.
"I've got an island near the Dominican Republic that I own. Emerald seas crashing on white sands—the view's stunning."
Dorothy continued, staring straight at Si-woo.
She treated everything like a game, so he figured this was just more of her teasing.
Seeing his dumbfounded face was probably her little revenge.
"It's not even visible on satellites, and there's no Location Point data on it. My private workshop."
"......?"
"Clean three million dollars a year, no strings. Generous bonuses, vacation time, annual negotiations—of course. I can even help with your magic research."
It felt like this was how Dorothy would be in her element at the negotiation table.
Sharp yet relaxed—the posture of a top-tier dealmaker.
But when the offer was utter nonsense, even a grandmaster negotiator couldn't sell it.
"What would the job entail?"
He played along for once, tired of always taking the bait.
"Obviously? My pillow. Just hold me tight like this when I sleep."
"The salary's high compared to the duties."
"You bet~ Perks include spending a hot night with me. As my pillow, I could spoil you for eight hours a day."
"Haha."
As they traded silly banter and he prepared to wake Leryue, his arm was yanked backward.
Turning around, there was Dorothy, smile gone.
"Your answer?"
Her gaze was so earnest it was hard to dismiss as a joke.
This was likely her most serious demeanor yet.
Only then did he consider the conversation might not be playful...
But his answer remained the same.
He politely declined.
"Thanks for the rare scouting offer, but I don't think switching jobs is feasible."
"That's a shame."
Watching her back off so readily, despite seeming genuine, he was reminded anew that witches were unpredictable.
2.
Dorothy kept her promise.
At breakfast, she announced she'd be ending her vacation earlier than planned.
Leryue pouted, her lower lip jutting out in disappointment.
"Leaving already? How upsetting."
"I'm su~per bummed too."
"Why the rush?"
Dorothy glanced at Si-woo so fleetingly Leryue wouldn't notice.
"The market's in a great flow right now. Lounging around is making me antsy."
The slightly disheveled Dorothy from morning was gone.
If she'd seemed like a master negotiator earlier, her sweet demeanor toward Leryue was now at luxury department store VIP sales level.
"Couldn't I just buy out your luggage? I can't pay cash now, but I'll issue Nukelavi Kingdom treasury bonds."
"Oh my~ Such an honor~ But I need cash urgently."
"Ten-year maturity at a guaranteed ten percent interest—still no?"
Dorothy seemed slightly flustered as a detailed counteroffer emerged from what she'd meant as an excuse to slip away.
"It's not just today. Now that I know where you are, Your Majesty, I can visit anytime."
"Still... There are so many things I want to do with you. For a reunion after ten years, it's too short. Such a pity."
Leryue sighed deeply, lips pursed like a lollipop dropped in the dirt before she'd finished it.
Si-woo exhaled in relief—not anxiety—as Dorothy honored the agreement more readily than expected.
"Your Majesty."
"Yes?"
"Could I borrow him for a bit?"
The request blindsided both Si-woo, who'd been listening, and Leryue herself.
Si-woo was surely wearing the same baffled look as Leryue now.
To think she'd actually say it, half-jokingly as he'd dismissed.
"What did you just say?"
"I asked if I could borrow Shin Si-woo."
Leryue's shock faded briefly from her face.
Si-woo caught her startled glance at him in that instant.
Her eyes said, Did you two conspire without me? He shook his head vigorously.
He'd clearly stated his refusal.
"That's impossible. You know that's not a reasonable request. But tell me your purpose."
"He looks sharp~ I want to put him to work on various tasks."
Leryue's expression was conflicted.
Should she snap, or phrase it gently? She seemed torn.
"Shin Si-woo may look tidy, but he's a beast dreaming of three wives and four concubines. Send him off alone with you, and who knows what scandal might unfold."
She opted for persuasion first.
In a calm, low tone, Leryue lectured on Shin Si-woo's dangers.
"Thank you for worrying~ But I'm bolder than Your Majesty thinks."
Dorothy replied with an infuriatingly serene smile.
Si-woo had already refused anyway.
Leryue was unlikely to permit it, and even if she did, he had no intention of going.
He couldn't fathom Dorothy's motives.
The air grew heavy.
"Do you realize that means taking a state letter of the Nukelavi Kingdom from me?"
The queen's high soprano rang low.
It sounded like a predator growling at captured prey.
"Take? I meant borrow temporarily. Sorry if that offended you."
Dorothy backed down readily again.
As she retreated, Leryue's irritation eased.
Of course, she held firm on non-negotiables.
"I forgive you. I don't want to sour our last day either."
"It was just a light joke. So~rry."
"Understood. I value our friendship—don't say such things."
"Yes~ Got it."
Si-woo, who'd watched anxiously fearing a fight, sighed in relief.
After breakfast.
Dorothy packed her belongings and prepared to leave.
"Thanks for taking such good care of me. I'll be off now."
Leryue had briefly been upset over Si-woo but had already made up, as usual.
Now, her disappointment at Dorothy's early departure seemed greater.
"Dorothy."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Leryue strode forward and hugged Dorothy tightly.
A tender embrace, like holding a cherished doll.
"When will you come next?"
"No idea~ Probably my next vacation?"
Leryue considered Dorothy might be hiding hurt despite her casual retreat.
"I hope you're not too upset."
"Huh? About what?"
"Me not letting you have Shin Si-woo."
Dorothy stroked Leryue's head with a smile.
"It's fine~ I knew it was an unreasonable ask."
"You're precious to me too. Once the trials end and I can travel freely... let's three of us have fun together."
"......"
Dorothy fell silent briefly before smiling back.
"I'd love for that day to come soon."
3.
Dorothy vanished as abruptly as when they'd first met, leaving only Si-woo and Leryue on the submarine.
It wasn't easy to call her a pesky interloper outright, but she had stalled their trials—now they'd redouble efforts to make up for lost time.
"Si-woo."
"Yes."
"You didn't want to go with Dorothy, did you?"
"Of course not."
She'd urged them to get friendly earlier, but now fretted at Dorothy's interest in him.
After soothing her anxiety, they dove straight into the trials.
Partly because the delay had made her urgent...
But it was the wrong choice.
He realized too late.
He should have refrained.
Spent just a bit more time with Leryue.