Chapter 118
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Become My Wine Glass
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I have to endure...
Skillfully maneuvering his massive frame, where muscles rippled beneath the surface.
Roman slipped smoothly through the narrow window without a sound, set the wine bottle on the desk, and spread his arms wide with a face that screamed utter delight.
"Kitty~ Come here."
Because it's been so long...? The moment she faced Roman, her heart pounded wildly, and a scorching heat flushed up from her face.
Even looking straight at Roman's face wasn't easy.
She couldn't charge into his arms with the same bubbly energy as Rike, but as she timidly drew closer, he enveloped her tightly in his embrace.
"You did great. Been really busy, huh?"
This warmth and sense of security, felt only in her lover's arms—she had missed it so much. Her mind grew hazy from Roman's scent, settling into a profound calm.
"Mm... a bit busy. Too much piled up... Still tired."
Yeah... what's there to hold back from? They're lovers. She couldn't complain to others, but with Roman, a little whining should be fine.
"Our Kitty~ You really worked hard! How about a kiss as a reward?"
He gently stroked her hair with his large hand, speaking in that childish tone. Strangely, coming from Roman, it didn't feel off-putting at all.
"..."
She didn't really answer his question.
As she slightly lifted her head from where it was buried in his chest, a soft smack echoed gently through the study.
Without exchanging a word, they held each other, slowly pacing back and forth or spinning in gentle circles for a good while.
Click!
Closing the window against the night breeze, Roman whispered softly into her ear.
"Kitty. Didn't you miss me?"
The silence in the study, now free of the wind's whisper, heightened the tender, sweet atmosphere.
What to do with this cheeky man who knew full well yet always made her say embarrassing things out loud?
Poking his side with her finger in playful retribution, she murmured her true feelings softly.
"...I missed you."
"Heh heh-"
Even after taking the hit to his side, he let out that foolish laugh while gazing at her.
Since the words she wanted to hear from him weren't coming, she ended up saying them herself.
"...D-Did you miss me, Roman?"
It felt like being teased mercilessly. She knew her lover's heart, but without hearing it directly, a hollow ache lingered.
She hadn't been like this at first... This was definitely all Roman's fault. He was probably the only one in the Empire who dated in this teasing style.
'This man, really...!'
Eclair was a knight by profession, but her personality made her averse to being swayed by anyone personally.
That's why she served the Empire—aiming for national interests, at least on the surface—rather than a cushy knight position in some fiefdom.
But this... it was different, even if she couldn't explain why.
Following the path Roman laid out brought a thrilling excitement that heated her lower body, masking the shame, along with the hopeful anticipation of praise if she just obeyed.
"I missed you."
Just those five short words calmed her heart, and she unwittingly let out a long sigh of relief.
Her completely disarmed emotions urged her not to hide her feelings from him. It was the only way to hear what she craved sooner.
"Roman."
"Yeah?"
Gazing up at him from his broad chest, she found she couldn't speak. Burying her face back into his embrace, she whispered.
"I love you..."
"...I love you too."
He caught her whisper perfectly and responded exactly as she hoped, making her lips twitch uncontrollably upward.
Thank goodness she could hide this foolish expression.
As her emotions settled somewhat and she lifted her head, Roman gently cupped her chin, gazing at her with honey-sweet affection.
Anticipation for what would follow brimmed within her, and Eclair willingly closed her eyes softly.
"Mm...!"
This was no brief peck like before—it was deep and intense.
Accepting Roman's tongue as it pushed into her mouth, she yielded passively.
In Roman's presence, she didn't need to take charge or bear responsibility. She could hide nothing of her hardships and speak honestly.
Just that thought.
As his feral intensity fueled the kiss with suffocating fervor, excitement welled up, and a ticklish heat stirred in her lower abdomen.
"Sluurp... haa...!"
But why his hands!
Unlike usual, his large hands weren't roughly groping her breasts or slyly fondling her rear—they merely wrapped gently around her waist.
Pent-up stress, impatience, and unquenched lust screamed for release, making her body writhe.
With desire building to block even her breath, her mind felt on the verge of madness.
"Roman...! Enough of your teasing...!"
Wiping the silvery thread between their lips with the back of her hand, Eclair glared at him with a fierce look.
"Huh? Teasing?"
She wanted to pinch those smug cheeks hard as he grinned mischievously at her words.
"..."
"You said no in the study, so I thought it'd be bad if I got you too worked up."
It had been ages since she'd regretted her own words so much.
Today was especially hard to hold back... yet he wasn't brazenly crossing the line like usual.
During that kiss just now, her switch had fully flipped—she'd planned to play along if he tempted her like last time.
'Pervert...!!'
What Roman wanted was surely to hear her beg for it from her own lips.
Even if it drove her mad, saying it stone-cold sober—with her reason intact—was still a high wall for her, unlike Rike.
After repeated trysts when her mind loosened, obscene words flowed naturally, but now... just a sigh escaped.
—What do you think? Our master is such a 'pervert'—he'd be thrilled if you drink this.
Even that day with the three of them, she'd agreed emphatically with Rike's claim that Roman was a pervert.
Who knew how many sexual quirks he had? Did he get some special thrill or satisfaction from her embarrassment?
The memory surfaced of her sternly declaring no licking or such in the mansion or study because of Chloe.
'Just one word...'
Clinging to Roman's embrace, Eclair wrestled with her dilemma.
Clearing her throat and shifting her gaze, she noticed the wine bottle. It was definitely what he'd carried in.
"...What's with that wine?"
"Just a gift I picked up. Thought the rich tannins might suit your taste, Kitty."
He'd done it before too—guessing her preferences perfectly without her ever mentioning them. Impressive as always.
Just that thoughtfulness alone washed away her image of him as a smug jerk. The human heart was so fickle.
"Thanks... I told you last time you don't need to come empty-handed."
"Wanted to drink together. Don't worry about it. We'll save it for when we have time."
After a moment's thought in his arms, Eclair squeezed Roman's waist hard with both arms, forcing him to look at her.
As his gaze naturally met her face, she smiled faintly and spoke.
"Tomorrow, I just need to pop into the office in the afternoon to check reports—plenty of time for drinks. But don't you have classes at the Academy tomorrow, Roman?"
"Yeah, but—a little won't hurt. I can sober up with mana."
"You plan to teach Chloe and Rike while drunk off your ass?"
"Hey, one bottle between us two isn't gonna make me a drunkard..."
"Anyway, I won't allow it. But today, I really want a drink."
Rather than getting mad at her stubbornness, Roman chuckled and stroked her hair. His voice, stripped of playfulness and full of affection and care, assured her he'd grant any request.
"You're so cute... Alright~ Can't teach cadets drunk. But Kitty wants a drink... What to do?"
"I want to drink the wine you pour... but sadly, no wine glasses in the study—just teacups."
"My bad on prep. I'll bring some next time."
"No... I'll prepare them. This lapse in preparation? Forgiven with a simple punishment."
"Haha! Thanks. Such a generous heart."
No matter her approach, he seemed set on yielding to her, grinning as he looked at her with eyes calling her cute.
"As punishment... Roman...! Today, be my wine glass."
"Wine glass?"
Seeing his confusion, Eclair explained curtly, her face beet red.
"With... your mouth... hold some wine...! And pour it politely into mine!"
Roman's eyes flashed with thick desire upon hearing her. Eclair didn't miss it, swallowing hard in anticipation of what was to come.
"Kinda exciting, huh?"
Pop!
Eclair hurriedly stopped Roman's arm as he grabbed the bottle, popped the cork with his finger, and moved to drink straight from it.
"D-Don't rush! Listen first...!"
"More orders from on high?"
"We have time tomorrow, and I want to savor the wine—no mana use. I trust you'll handle the soundproofing properly..."
Her lover was sharp enough to grasp she wanted to get drunk and the implication of 'soundproofing.'
Roman slowly lowered his hand, kneading her rear like dough as he replied.
"Understood!"
Eclair lightly headbutted his chest in mock punishment for his clumsy knight impression, then spoke her final words before the wine.
"I'm not great with alcohol... If I say or do something stupid when drunk, don't hold it against me—forget it..."
Even to herself, it was an absurd, contrived excuse.
Roman just smiled like he didn't care, gave her a quick kiss, and took a sip of the wine into his mouth.