Chapter 269
Chapter 269
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: A Deep Dream on a Midsummer Night (2)
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The party atmosphere grew ever riper.
As the night deepened, some of the noble guests began heading back to their territories or retiring to their rooms.
Thanks to that, the once-crowded party hall felt a bit more spacious.
Yet amid it all, the heat at our table showed no signs of dying down.
The dignified Emperor Hodrian was buzzing after tasting liquor for the first time in ages.
「Today’s drinks just slide down perfectly.」
Even a grizzled southern overlord has his indulgences.
Much like Leah with her novels.
“Your Highness, it’s time to head in. The night’s gotten late.”
“That’s right, Father. You’ll wear yourself out like this.”
Duke Luke and Crown Prince Huan rushed to support their father.
At the warm father-son scene, Leah let a soft chuckle escape unbidden.
She loved her own father, after all.
“Indeed, Your Majesty. Let’s call it a night. Next time you visit the Empire, we’ll host you in style.”
The Empire’s Il-hwangnyeo (1st Imperial Princess) elegantly swept back her golden tresses, offering a refined smile.
Repeated toasts from the emperor had brought a flush to her pale skin, hinting at her own slight buzz.
「Oh, the Empire…!」
Hodrian latched right onto Leah’s courteous proposal.
He chuckled throatily, expressing thanks for the heir’s generosity.
「Never set foot there except to invade, but this sounds mighty fine.」
A hearty yet chilling quip.
Nearing seventy, the emperor slapped his knee and sealed the deal.
「Done, Princess Leah. Heard you’ve got some famous whiskey over there. I’ll drop by soon to try it.」
On the surface, just friendly after-dinner chatter.
To onlookers, though, it was staggering in scope.
「And perfect timing—word is Leonhardt’s on the mend.」
A king once viewed as foe, off to share drinks with the Empire’s next ruler.
Agony for me, Mago, and Richard alike.
“Since Your Highness received the medicine, we’ve no doubt he’ll make a full recovery soon.”
「Hearing that alone makes me feel young again…!! Cough, cough!!」
The emperor’s booming laugh turned into a violent coughing fit.
The two devoted sons jumped, propping him up in alarm.
“This won’t do—we need to get you to your chambers.”
“Escort captain, over here!”
The middle-aged magic swordsman captain from earlier presented himself.
Having escaped our duel with minimal injury, he swiftly guided the emperor away.
「Well then, this old timer’s turning in, Princess Leah.」
“Rest well.”
Leah beamed, lifting her wine glass.
Mago and I dipped our heads in quiet farewell.
「Can’t cramp the young folks’ style.」
Young folks’ style.
The crafty emperor eyed me and Leah in turn, chuckled once more, and departed the hall.
Only Duke Luke hung back a moment to voice alliance gratitude.
“Truly thankful today, Your Highness. And Sir Vail, too.”
He no longer pined for Leah.
Admiration had bloomed into reverence; he wouldn’t dream of pursuing her affections.
He simply recognized his own shortcomings.
“We look forward to your nation rising alliance-worthy.”
Leah offered the duke a subtle smile.
Her soldierly impassivity cracked only for his evident growth, which she honored.
“Naturally. The Empire’s watching eagerly.”
Leah replied, hand gracefully atop her voluptuous form.
With the duke gone, she reclaimed her seat.
“Vail, I’ll pop up to say goodbye to Lize.”
Mago murmured as she rose.
Likely heading back to Hawthorn Kingdom’s capital now that the emperor was retiring.
I nodded and passed along a message.
“Right. Oh, and tell that elf this on your way.”
My own buzz had my tongue tripping slightly.
Steadying my voice, I whispered it to her.
“The spell’s lifted—head home easy. Ping me anytime for herbs.”
Mago blinked at my gentle wrap-up, so unlike my ruthless thrashing of Lize earlier.
Then she snickered, caressing my cheek tenderly.
“That’s Vail, alright.”
“Who else? When have I ever been different?”
My retort drew her fond eye-crinkles.
“Just… Chatting with both nations’ top brass earlier, it hit me—this guy’s really a marquis.”
Mago strolled with hands clasped behind, admiring the splendid hall.
“…”
I rose from my chair in answer.
Then patted my childhood friend’s crown softly.
“I’ll always be me, Mago.”
Short and sweet.
The grand witch nodded calmly, reassured by the clarity.
“Got it, Vail. Be right back.”
Off she went, white back-ribbon fluttering.
Upstairs with Lize, she shared the glad tidings; the half-elf stared dazedly from afar before…
Bowing her head—the first such show of respect from a haughty elf.
‘Allies like this? Pure peace.’
Even my childhood friend departed.
The table, once sizzling with interstate friction, held just Leah and me.
“…”
The golden-haired princess sat solo, chin propped on hand, staring into her clear wine glass.
She glanced up at my reflection in it.
“Why the stare, Mikhail.”
Blame the booze?
Her private intimacy swapped for uncharacteristic stiffness.
“…”
I fixed on her face.
Emotionless pallor swirled with crimson now.
Far from our first encounter, her lively features rang unexpectedly joyless.
Despite clinching a rock-solid alliance with the realm’s supreme ruler.
She seemed almost wistful about the moment.
“Everything worked out perfectly, yet you don’t look thrilled.”
Leah’s sea-blue eyes blinked mutely at my words.
Sipping wine, she murmured to herself.
“If we just head back like this…”
One hand trailed fingers to my cheek.
Rubbing softly, she breathed.
“Doesn’t sit right, thinking you’ll see my sisters again.”
Her candid admission blindsided me into silence.
The empire’s lofty shadow lioness, jealousy a rarity.
Or if felt, flawlessly concealed.
Who knew she’d lay it bare.
“Spoke out of turn.”
Regret nipped her wine-loosened tongue; she grazed red lips with teeth.
The sight struck me cute—I stroked her cheek in turn.
Grinning like a handler gentling his beast.
“No, it’s fine. All the other princesses act the same. Natural to feel that way.”
‘Leah drunk hits different.’
I peeled a golden lock from her cheek.
Languidly, she whispered back.
“Run off together, just like this?”
Conqueror King drive fused with Rozanna seduction.
Leah peered up, devilish grin blooming.
Champagne-sheened swells beckoned with fevered warmth.
“…”
Part of me ached to dive in and dissolve.
But public party venue, as is.
Knight’s duty: shield the Empire’s heir apparent, nobility incarnate, from scandal.
Escort to chambers it was.
“You’re tipsy—back to your room, Your Highness.”
I beckoned Richard from his distant vigil.
Murmuring low.
“Her Highness is deep in her cups; I’ll see her there.”
“Yeah, next door over—handle it well.”
Alone together, trainee-era banter resurfaced.
Captain polish sharpened his gaze now, though.
“You two unwind. Champagne for each.”
“Since when you my mom? Fine.”
Richard cuts a dashing blond figure.
Party-long, noble ladies swarmed him.
Family honor and knightly zeal blinded him to them, naturally.
“Right, Your Highness. Let’s go.”
Task dumped on him, I grinned wide, steadying Leah.
Her cheek nestled feather-light on my shoulder.
‘Escorting the Il-hwangnyeo (1st Imperial Princess)? Wild.’
Figured even boozed she’d march soldier-stiff.
This womanly grace? Fresh revelation.
“Mmm…”
‘Leaning awful natural, though…’
We escaped the hall, her sway guiding us.
To the serene VIP guest wing.
“Dizzy…, Vail.”
Her press against me sharpened.
Ample softness melding to my shoulder chief among them.
Drink-fired heat had me warming too.
“Door, Your Highness. Key on you?”
“Hold…”
Leah finally peeled upright.
No key rummage, though.
Hand to knob, mana pooling fingertip.
“Security spell over key.”
Mage ingenuity in self-guard, as expected.
Drunk precision mana work?
‘Elite mage training only…? Impressive.’
Nodded admiration interior.
“In we go.”
Auto-open; back to my shoulder she went.
Magic earlier proved steady gait…?
Mana toll inebriated sapped her, I reckoned.
Escort priority: support.
Princess bedroom ingress.
Auto-seal behind, security reengaged.
“To bed with you.”
“Mmm…”
Eased her to edge.
Heels off for self-recline assist.
Slow slip: black-stockinged gloss emerged.
Pristine soft instep to toe.
Heels bedside-docked, relief sigh.
“Whew…”
Her hushed boudoir.
Heated tandem trek left me toasty.
Shirt button loose, self-fan.
‘My turn for bed.’
Empire dawn departure begged early sack.
Framed wall-turn queued.
But.
“Vail.”
Sober-clear call from rear.
Pivot met bed-lounging Leah’s upgaze.
“Stick around longer?”
Deep inhale flushed her.
Voluminous curves ballooned fair, deflated true.
“Y-Yes…?”
Blank me; out came the infamous orb anew.
Conviction gleaming.
“Lie here. Rest up.”
‘Hypno round two…?’
Booze-unleashed inner charm, I pegged.
Indulge till slumber, resolved.
“Very well. What mischief now—”
Drunk nobility felt cozy.
Her game, my tempo: bed-edge perch.
“Watch till you doze off?”
“…”
Question hung.
Red ripe lips curved soft.
“Yeah. Perfect.”
Leah eased upright.
Docile prep-mode: bathroom-bound.
“Shower first—wait up.”
“Sure.”
Ironclad self-care: booze bowed not to instant crash.
Bed-flat vigil till return.
But.
Bathroom waterless.
“...?”
Just…
Princess’s faint moans leaked.
“Hnng…. Haa….”
‘Tricky solo undress?’
Zipper-down assist tempted.
Manners vetoed; bed-wait persisted.
Then.
――――――.
Bath door cracked.
Steamy billow escaped.
No shower vapor.
Sweat-simmered woman in skin-tight emergence heat.
‘What?’
Dim lights silhouetted faint.
Leah’s shadow bore anomaly.
“Fox prey’s rabbit, they say.”
Head-sides: elongated ears.
Leotard vice on bust and hips.
Nobility absent; lewd bunny tail.
“Hard work today—prey reward time.”
Il-hwangnyeo (1st Imperial Princess) closed grinning.
Royalty-defying raunch.
Strut-shake: tail swish.
“Right, Mikhail?”
No drunk act.
No extra frailty today.
Leah-planned perfection.
Lewd smile at my “hypnotized” self.
Hidden depths unveiled raw.