Chapter 212
Chapter 212
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 212
Chapter Title: You Smell So Good
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"You smell so good..."
"Ah..."
My head goes blank.
Would it really be innocent if I just crushed William right here like this?
It's a bit early, but...
No, when I think about the age at which Mother and the Countess of Hume had their first child, it's not early at all.
They gave birth around my age, and no matter how hard I try, I'm still behind them.
So, I'm having children at just the right time—not too soon, not too late.
The one issue is that we haven't even exchanged engagement vows yet.
Unmarried people having a child could be a serious problem, but William and I are destined to marry someday anyway.
We're just doing what engaged couples do a little ahead of the engagement ceremony.
How many children would be the right number?
I need to hug them myself, and William does too, so two... no, with two arms each, four should be plenty.
Two girls and two boys would be perfectly balanced.
I can make their clothes by hand, one by one, as they grow.
They'll look good in anything since they're our kids.
Once they're old enough to go out, the boys can run wild in the fields, and the girls can nibble on cookies by my side, basking in the warm sunlight.
And when the children grow up...
"Hng..."
As I imagined sending the grown children off to the academy, William let out a small whine and nuzzled his face against me lightly.
"Hah...?!"
Thanks to that, I finally snapped out of it, drenched in cold sweat, mentally scolding myself for nearly crossing the line and failing to uphold the dignity of an imperial princess just moments ago.
Our marriage is one that's forcibly elevating a noble with all sorts of disqualifications,
so at the very least, our engagement must proceed perfectly, without a single rumor.
Yet here I was, losing my mind over a single thoughtless compliment from a drunk William, stumbling around in a haze and indulging in shameless fantasies...
"Ha..."
Even I couldn't believe it.
I'd nearly undone all of Mother's efforts in one go.
If it were just a simple mistake, Mother and Father would do their utmost to cover it up, but if a child were involved, that would be impossible.
"Hoo..."
I patted William's back and took slow, deep breaths.
The alcohol scent muddled my head, but filling my lungs with air cleared my mind a little.
"You bad guy, why don't you say that when you're sober..."
As soon as my wits returned, I glared at William— who was rubbing his head against me like a cat—with reproachful eyes.
'You smell good.'
It's a compliment anyone could give.
If he'd said it normally, I could've smiled without blushing and brushed it off with some flirtatious banter.
Because nobles always carry the scent of perfumes and oils.
It's impossible to smell bad, so it's small talk for when conversation runs dry.
It carries a slightly special meaning when said to the opposite sex, but we're not in that ambiguous stage where we'd read into every little word.
But today, those casual, meaningless words hit me fatally.
Because I hadn't put on any perfume today.
Why did I make that choice all of a sudden?
I could've just sprayed it on like always before meeting him, so why?
There wasn't any particular reason; I just wanted to meet him naturally, as I am.
After meeting my aunt, if I showed up all dolled up, it might burden him.
I wanted to show him a soft, comfortable side to ease that burden.
But that consideration came back like a boomerang.
The thrill of knowing my natural scent—trapped in my hair, unable to escape— appealed to him made my heart race.
Why do humans use perfume?
And why do we clean our bodies meticulously and wash our clothes spotlessly?
Because it's normal for people to find others' natural scents unpleasant.
But every now and then, someone comes along who doesn't mind another's scent.
And they call that a fated encounter.
I thought it was nonsense, but now that it's happening to me, it feels plausible.
"Haa..."
Letting out a heated breath, I leaned my cheek lightly on William's shoulder in half-resigned indulgence.
And as I stroked my hand slowly down his back, I soothed the big puppy acting spoiled.
"Men really are men, huh..."
William is slender compared to other men in height and build.
Yet his body felt larger and thicker than a woman's, with firm muscles in places.
If he pinned me down like this, could I escape?
Probably... not.
Even if I resisted in earnest, he'd hold my wrists firmly, and I'd be blinking back tears.
Then I'd bite my lip and whisper, "Be gentle," loosening my arms.
"Ugh... why am I thinking like this..."
My face burned, and my chest itched.
Just from one hug, and I'm spinning all sorts of fantasies—am I more of a pervert than I thought?
But.
"Sorryyy... I shouldn't do this..."
But asking me not to fantasize in this situation is too cruel.
When the man I harbor feelings for is pressed so close, murmuring sweetly.
"Hng... hngh..."
...Okay, maybe not that sweet.
Still, the important thing is he's sharing his warmth with me.
No matter how much I tell him it's okay, how many others could approach me this casually?
Even with the other staff, whom I told to treat me informally as fellow employees, they still hold back with me.
Even Sera keeps up formalities now that I'm officially recognized as an imperial princess, but this man treats me like plain Elizabeth without a care.
"Incorrigible."
He's always burdened by things related to me, yet he drops the formalities, and it irks me.
That's why I was so curious.
Which side is the real him?
The one who finds me intimidating?
Or the one who acts casually?
Or is it all an act?
Asking normally would just get him glancing around nervously with vague answers.
But now? It's different.
'Truth lies in wine.'
That proverb, passed down from the city-state eras before the ancient empire, isn't there for nothing.
Those loosened by alcohol's magic spill truths they'd never say sober.
"William."
I called him and gently pushed his shoulder.
"Yeah~?"
I worried he might not want to pull away, but he obediently lifted his head, meeting my eyes with his dazed ones.
"Why'd you call~?"
"......"
Ah... should I just lock him in the palace and keep him forever?
I'd earn his resentment, but soaking him in alcohol for life would do.
He'd be happy forever, and I'd have this cute creature by my side.
A happy ending for everyone, right?
"Haa..."
Of course not.
I prefer sober William.
That casual attitude only works when he's in his right mind.
So I had to resist locking up this adorable creature forever.
Because someday, I'd see him whenever I wanted.
For now, priority was getting answers to my questions.
"William."
"Yeah~"
"What do you think of me?"
This time, I steeled myself and asked what I'd always wondered.
"Elizabeeth...?"
Watching him tilt his head as he said my name made my heart feel like it would burst.
What if some weird answer slips from his lips?
I might really confine him then...
"Too much for me..."
"...What?"
"You're so noble... it's intimidating..."
"......"
My heart sank at his answer.
So his casual attitude was an effort for my sake.
I really am an intimidating woman to him...
I knew it, but hearing it from him tore at my chest.
But how do I fix this?
I can't abandon my status as imperial princess.
Elevating his status won't make me any less intimidating.
"Eep...?!"
As my thoughts turned dark and my breathing grew ragged, William suddenly grabbed my cheeks.
"What's suddenly...?"
Staring up at him in shock at this audacity, he grinned dopily and kneaded my cheeks.
"Gulp..."
Is he going to kiss me...?
This suddenly? It's startling...
A-at least after sunset...
"I like it when you smile a little more freely..."
But my heart chilled at his next action.
"Huh?"
Contrary to expectations, he didn't lean in but pinched my cheeks to force a smile.
Is this provocation?
Teasing a seventeen-year-old maiden?
"Hehe~ So cute..."
"......"
I should be angry.
I should vent my frustration at William for keeping me on edge.
But seeing him grin happily made my chest and stomach heat up instead of my head.
"Haa... Whatever."
This is William's fault.
I've endured plenty, so taking his lips now would balance the scales.
"Ugh... Elizabeth... why grab my collar suddenly...?"
"Just close your eyes for a bit."
"What's that... mmp...!?"
William's face filling my vision.
The soft mesh of our lips.
The hot breath tickling my skin.
"U-ugh...?"
"Haa..."
I wondered what it would feel like to go further, but I might not stop, so I ended the brief kiss and savored the aftertaste with heated eyes on him.
It was a shame it wasn't the sour lemon taste poets describe for first kisses.
Still, the faint grape and oak notes amid the sharp alcohol were intensely stimulating, making even that short kiss more thrilling than anything.
"Wh-what was that...?"
"......"
What is this lewd beast?
I'm trying not to cross the line, so why is he shaking my heart with such a seductive attitude now?
"William, close your eyes one more time."
"Mhm..."
I can't hold back anymore.
William started it.
Even a judge would rule it his fault.
So I'm just a frail woman toyed with by a wicked man.