Chapter 99: Crossing the Terrace (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 99: Crossing the Terrace (1)
Under the moonlight, Loik paced back and forth in the drawing room.
The heat of excitement coursing through him made it impossible to sit still.
‘Why can’t I calm down?’
He had spent much longer than usual at the training ground today, yet his body refused to settle. Perhaps it was because he had a few glasses of wine to soothe his restless heart.
— “…She said what she likes most about the Captain is how kind and gentle he is.”
Of all things, he just had to hear that.
Loik covered his mouth with his hand, struggling to suppress the corners of his lips that kept twitching upward.
It was driving him crazy.
How could someone like him…
‘How could she think I’m gentle?’
He had always been careful around Annette, fearing he might frighten her. He figured she only thought that because she hadn’t seen him hacking through monsters like a madman or beating knights into bloody pulps during "sparring" sessions, but still…
‘What am I going to do with this lovely woman?’
He couldn't control his thumping heart.
Of course, what Annette meant by "liking" him was likely very different from what he felt. She certainly wasn't thinking about wanting to swallow him whole.
But right now, it didn't matter.
‘I want to see her one more time before I leave.’
The delegation was set to arrive in a week. Early summer was the breeding season for major monster species, so while it was unlikely they would descend upon the villages, he planned to spend a few days inspecting the boundaries to ensure nothing would disturb the delegation’s visit.
Since he was departing at dawn tomorrow, the brief glimpse he’d caught of her earlier would be their last. He hadn't even been able to have dinner with her today because Raphael kept summoning her to the annex for every meal.
‘I want to hold her.’
If only he could pull Annette’s soft body into his arms like yesterday and lose himself in her sweet scent…
Once he became conscious of the desire, he couldn't clear his mind.
It would be rude to call for her at this hour, wouldn't it?
‘But I can’t exactly go down there myself…’
It was still an hour when servants would be moving about the second floor. Furthermore, Loik had a history of being caught by a maid when he had gone to drop Annette off previously.
As Loik agonized over a solution, his eyes fell upon the moonlit view of the terrace.
*
I had just climbed into bed a bit early.
Suddenly, there was a faint tapping sound from outside.
‘What was that? Reta should have finished her shift a while ago.’
For a moment, I thought of Norton frantically knocking to save the Grand Duke, and I bolted upright.
I rushed toward the door without even grabbing a robe, but then I heard the sound again—knock, knock.
Looking closer, the sound wasn't coming from the door, but from outside the curtained terrace.
‘Surely it’s not an intruder?’
I didn't think the Grand Duke’s Castle’s security was that lax, but…
I cautiously approached the terrace and peeked through the curtains. To my shock, Loik was standing outside the window.
I quickly unlocked and threw open the terrace door.
“What on earth are you doing standing out here?”
He hadn't left through my room, which meant he had come from the outside.
“Did you seriously come all the way here from your room?”
“…I just crossed a few terraces,” Loik said, his face slightly flushed. His black hair was tousled by the wind.
“What are the stairs for, then?”
“I was afraid I’d run into the maids…”
I hurriedly stepped out onto the terrace and looked up at the wall. From the west end of the third floor, where Loik’s bedroom was, to my room at the east end of the second floor, it was a considerable distance.
I tried to count the number of terraces between us, but I gave up around twenty and turned back to him.
‘What a big, foolish bear. He could have just called Whitley to clear the maids out, or called for me. Why climb across terraces?’
“What if the knights had caught you? Think of your reputation, Your Grace.”
“I’m a Sword Master. I don’t get caught doing things like that.”
He spoke with such confidence, yet the way he peeked at me to gauge my reaction made it impossible to scold him further.
“May I come in?”
He asked hesitantly. I suppressed a laugh and asked, “If I say no, will you go back?”
After giving his crestfallen face a slight glare, I grabbed his sleeve and pulled.
“Hurry up and get inside.”
His massive frame was easily pulled into the room. As the terrace door closed, the room fell silent.
“Your hair is a mess.”
When I reached for his head, he naturally leaned down. Feeling the tangled strands slip smoothly through my fingers, I tidied his hair.
The night air clinging to Loik felt a bit cool.
“There, all done.”
For some reason, Loik had been silent since entering the room. As he straightened his back, his broad shoulders blocked the moonlight, making the room even darker.
The strange silence felt awkward.
“Wait a moment, I’ll turn on the light.”
As I started to turn away, Loik loosely caught my wrist.
“Right now…”
“It’s fine like this.”
His low, hushed voice vibrated near my ear.
My heart suddenly began to race at his words. I tried to speak as calmly as possible.
“…But why did you come so suddenly?”
“I won’t be able to see you for a few days once I leave at dawn…”
Loik paused as if hesitating before continuing.
“I wanted to see your face, Annette.”
I could feel a searing heat radiating from the wrist he held.
‘If you want to see my face, shouldn’t we turn on the light?’
I wanted to deflect with a joke, but I couldn't bring myself to say it. If I turned on the light now, he’d see that my entire face had turned bright red.
“Could you…”
Loik whispered in an impossibly low voice.
“Could you hold me today as well?”
I could hear the sound of his Adam's apple moving.
Well, we wouldn't see each other for a few days. I couldn't have Loik falling ill in the meantime.
Fearing my voice might tremble, I simply gave a small nod instead of answering.
Once permission was granted, Loik slowly wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into his chest. His thick arms wound around me firmly, pinning me in place. A soft pressure tightened around my body.
Before I knew it, the energy radiating from Loik began to envelop my entire body in a languid haze.
As we stood there, holding each other…
An inexplicable heat began to rise. My throat felt parched. A thirst I couldn't explain surged within me.
‘It’s not enough.’
I wanted to be held even closer.
When I instinctively burrowed deeper into his embrace, Loik’s waist flinched. Suddenly, his breathing grew ragged.
I looked up, and the gentle black eyes were now smoldering with an intense heat.
Staring at me with a damp gaze, Loik murmured lowly.
“…May I kiss you?”
My mind went blank the moment I heard those words. My gaze naturally drifted to his red lips. Just the thought of it brought back the intense sensations from a few days ago, making the tips of my ears burn.
He added, almost as an excuse, “It feels like my energy won’t settle with just a hug.”
“I think I’ll feel much better if we kiss.”
‘I should say no.’
We were only a contract couple, destined to part in a year. Such intimate contact was…
But as if possessed, I nodded.
Loik gently brushed back a stray lock of my hair and brought his face close to my forehead.
Mwah.
His lips lightly touched my forehead and pulled away. My fingertips trembled at the ticklish sensation. A burning heat settled over my eyes. His lips then carefully brushed against the bridge of my nose.
And then…
Loik whispered my name.
At that soft, almost pleading voice, I unconsciously gripped his collar tight.
Cupping my face gently, Loik drew closer. I could feel his hot breath just inches away.
Soon, Loik’s lips lightly met mine and pulled back. The brief, soft contact sent a jolt through me.
‘Ah, it was too short.’
Feeling a sense of longing, I instinctively parted my lips.
Watching my mouth, Loik kissed me again. This time, our lips lingered together longer. The sensation of him pressing firmly before pulling away was far too stimulating.
When he broke the kiss, Loik licked his own lips as if savoring the taste. The sight was so erotic it made my waist quiver.
“Ah… what should I do?”
Muttering softly, Loik cradled my head with his large hand and approached again.
This time, he swallowed my lips in a single breath.
In the moment my mouth parted in surprise, a soft, wet tongue pushed smoothly inside. Simultaneously, Loik’s mana poured out like a flood, surging through my entire body.
Our hot breaths tangled frantically. While his long fingers tenderly raked through my hair, his other hand pulled my waist flush against him.
I gasped at the thrill vibrating through my entire being.
‘I can’t breathe.’
Feeling like I might faint from the lack of air, I pushed against him to pull my head back. His black pupils were blown wide, tinged with a golden hue as he panted for breath.
The sight of his eyes, thick with simmering passion, gave me goosebumps.
“Loik, stop now…”
I tried to pull away from him.
“Just a little more, Annette. Just a little more.”
Loik murmured in a desperate voice.
“Right now… I can’t possibly stop.”