Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Infiltration (2)
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"......No."
The boiling in my gut cooled in an instant.
"When you only look ahead while running forward, you miss so much. Thanks to you, Madam, I'm able to reflect on myself."
I'd been a bit shocked to learn of Joel's actions, but I feigned a calm acceptance.
"You did well. You should report things like this to me."
"......You believe what I said?"
"I don't think you'd lie, Madam. There's no reason for you to."
"Ah......"
"I'll keep a close eye on Joel from now on."
A flicker of relief washed over Rose's face, which had been tense the whole time.
'I thought I couldn't hide the truth.'
The image of Rose speaking firmly overlapped with it. Even though revealing this could earn my resentment, she risked it to tell the truth.
It was a far cry from that first night when she couldn't explain why she wanted to inspect the wine.
This also meant Rose had come to trust me more.
'Things should go more smoothly from here.'
She'd think I suspected our chief physician Joel too, so she'd voice her opinions more boldly. Our talks about antidotes would be easier too.
Rose had shown real courage, and I found it quite admirable.
"Tha—"
I should thank her, but my stiff mouth was still a problem. The word just wouldn't come out.
"Tha......"
"Pardon?"
"......You've had a hard time."
"Not at all."
Even my curt words lit up her face like a candle.
"Thank you, Your Excellency."
Watching her rejoice more than I did felt strangely good.
I was wondering if I should say more when,
Thud, thud.
My ears, attuned to the outside, picked up footsteps. They were clearly heading straight for this room.
In the original story, Rose finished searching the room safely and left. Joel wouldn't return for another two hours as usual.
So this presence wasn't Joel.
"Madam, over here."
"Pardon?"
No time to answer. I grabbed Rose's arm and pulled her toward the back of the room.
Bang!
I flung open the large wardrobe and checked inside. It was a hiding spot I'd spotted the moment we entered.
'This should fit us both.'
I squeezed into the wardrobe and yanked Rose in after me.
"Your Ex—"
"Shh."
As I wrapped one arm around her, I grabbed the wardrobe door with my other hand.
Click.
We barely closed both doors when,
Clack.
The door opened, and someone entered.
"Ow, my stomach."
A woman's groaning voice came from outside. From the context, it seemed like a maid from the castle.
"This endless menstrual pain. Ugh, I hate it, hate it."
Thud.
The grumbling maid's footsteps drew closer. I held my breath, focusing on the sounds outside.
Thud, thud.
The footsteps approached the wardrobe completely, then brushed past and receded.
"Where was it?"
The maid's voice definitely grew distant. Then came the clatter of drawers opening and closing.
There should be separate ointments and medicines for the servants. She must have run out and come to fetch some.
"Joel, I'm sorry. But my stomach hurts so much. Please forgive me."
The maid muttered to herself as she rummaged through the drawers, completely oblivious to anyone being in the room.
'Lucky.'
I swallowed a sigh of relief. We'd almost been caught if we'd been a moment later.
If the maid spotted us, there was no guarantee it wouldn't reach Joel's ears. Except for Rose, I had to be cautious of everyone.
"Phew."
Once the situation outside settled, I could finally focus on the inside of the wardrobe.
It was pitch black inside.
But after a moment, faint light seeped through the door crack, and my eyes adjusted to the dark, starting to make out shapes.
"Eek......"
Rose was covering her face with both hands. Her nape and shoulders trembled faintly.
It looked like she was hiding her flushed face from me, or maybe just covering it because it was hot.
"......"
I stopped myself just as I was about to speak to her.
The space was too narrow, our bodies pressed completely together. Even without seeing, I could feel it.
No, I could feel it even more intensely.
Rose's body heat was more pleasant than expected, the soft tickle of her fine hair brushing my nose.
And finally, the faint floral scent wafting from her.
'What scent is this?'
It was soft and incredibly gentle, like the feel of something plush.
Curiosity surged at the unfamiliar aroma.
"......Hoo, ha."
Rough breaths leaked through her fingers covering her face. She was barely suppressing the sound, but it came out ragged.
Thump—thump—thump—
Her heart pounded rapidly against me. At the same time, I felt the unmistakable fullness of her ample chest.
'Impressive.'
No, she was so slim—how was this part so big?
I shook my head to clear the stray thought and asked Rose,
"Are you alright?"
I whispered as quietly as possible to avoid leaking outside.
"Hic."
Rose flinched and lifted her head.
Whoosh.
I'd anticipated it and tilted my chin up to dodge. I checked her complexion.
Through her slightly lowered fingers, I saw her wide eyes trembling like a startled calf's.
"Madam?"
"I-I'm fine. Fine......"
Rose answered with effort and subtly tried to pull away from me.
Swish—
Her hair swayed lightly, creating a faint breeze. The scent that had been teasing me grew stronger, hitting my nose directly.
Twitch.
A sudden impulse surged.
The overwhelming urge to bury my nose in her soft skin and breathe in that scent deep into my lungs.
"......"
The long habit of self-restraint controlled the raw impulse. So I didn't press my lips to her nape.
But I didn't want to let go of that scent either.
Squeeze.
I tightened my arm around her,
"—!"
And Rose reflexively placed her hands on my chest.
"......!"
This time, I froze in shock.
That light touch, not forceful at all, had devastating power.
How could these small palms make my whole body freeze, as if captured, by their warmth?
The bigger problem was separate.
From the moment I became aware of her body, a certain part I couldn't control started asserting itself.
'...No, not this.'
Reacting immediately just because we're cramped and pressed together? I'm not some animal in heat.
Calm down. She's just a kid. A kid who blushes at the slightest exposure......
Suddenly, I recalled Rose on our wedding night, her cheeks flushing pink as she looked at me.
The thin nightgown she wore had outlined her figure perfectly. Parts I'd overlooked back then too.
'...Damn it.'
Backfire. I needed to think of something else.
Fortunately, Rose didn't move anymore. She just turned her head slightly away and cast her eyes down in resignation.
Her body, now completely immobile, was trapped in my arms. I felt a strange relief at that fact.
...Wait. Relief?
'Have I lost my mind?'
The obsessive male lead route from the original story I'd been so wary of was approaching fast. Realizing I'd somehow gotten on board made my vision spin.
That was when,
"Your Excellency, please."
Rose whispered, as if exhausted.
"Ease up on your arm a bit."
"Why."
"I can't......breathe......"
"Hm."
Only then did I loosen my arm slightly. But our bodies stayed pressed together.
"Haa......"
Rose finally exhaled in relief.
The problem was that her breath went straight to the hollow of my throat. The hot, moist exhale settled on my nape.
Twitch.
The unfamiliar sensation tensed me up involuntarily. My center started asserting itself again.
'Tricky.'
I had to get out before Rose noticed. I began praying the maid would leave soon.
Time inside the wardrobe dragged unbearably slow. In the cramped, sealed space, all I could sense was her.
Her warm body heat, the light weight of her hands on my chest, the pitiful breaths tickling my ear—every time they registered,
'Damn it.'
I muttered curses under my breath and swallowed hard. Part of me wanted this moment to last, while another desperately wished it would end. Conflicting desires tormented me.
"Is this it?"
To make matters worse, the maid was agonizingly slow. Only after checking nearly every drawer did she find what she wanted and start fidgeting.
'I'll remember that voice.'
Petty thoughts of tracking down that maid later and giving her hell started forming. Absurdly, it made fighting my body's urges a bit easier.
"Ow, next time I need to take extra. I'm dying......"
Click.
The muttering maid finally closed the door and left.
"......"
I waited a bit longer for her to get sufficiently far,
Clack.
Then reached out and opened the wardrobe door.
Moonlight poured in, revealing Rose. Her flushed cheeks, the faint sweat on her collarbone and nape.
The strands of hair clinging to her skin were overly stimulating.
"Y-Your Excellency."
Her nicely pinkened lips moved.
"Please let go now......"
The eyes meeting mine seemed fearful, yet expectant too.
What if I didn't release my arms here? What would happen if I bit into those moist pink lips?