Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Dress Fitting (5)
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Feeling my breathing grow rougher, I said,
"Don't you tremble at the slightest touch of my hand and act like you're about to flee?"
"……."
"Have I ever struck you, Madam? Why on earth are you so afraid of me?"
Rose blinked and stared at me vacantly.
'Me?'
Seeing that innocent gaze as if to say as much, frustration boiled over inside me.
"You don't have to recoil from me right in front of my face like that. Even if we're just a contractual couple, you should at least observe basic courtesy."
I had no idea why I was getting so angry, or if there was even reason to lash out at Rose like this.
What was ridiculous was that the more I spoke, the angrier I got.
My heart, which had never wavered even while riding fiercely or cutting down countless assassins,
was trembling violently right now. For a reason other than shortness of breath.
"Ah……."
Rose was so stunned that she couldn't utter a single word.
"Don't worry. I won't break our contract over something like this."
I knew I was pushing her too hard, yet my harsh mouth kept moving.
I knew she would leave eventually anyway. But until then, I wanted to maintain a relationship that wasn't bad for either of us.
Yes, that was all.
"I'll make sure not to touch you unless absolutely necessary, so—"
That was when it happened.
Whoosh.
Her red hair briefly blocked my vision, and then—
Snap.
Rose wrapped both arms around me.
"No!"
My mind went blank for a moment.
The feel of Rose's upper body against mine, her arms around my back. Even the sweet fragrance wafting into my nose.
Everything was unexpected.
My arms, which had reflexively risen, froze in midair. Without knowing what to do with them, I just stared blankly at Rose.
"No, Your Excellency."
Rose, who had wrapped her arms tightly around my waist, lifted her head. Her nose was flushed red, her eyes glistening with tears.
"No. That's not it."
My hand twitched, wanting to wipe her eyes, but I held back.
I'd resolved not to touch her anymore. At the same time, my posture stiffened awkwardly.
"...What isn't?"
When I replied curtly,
Squeeze.
Rose suddenly hugged my waist even tighter. I could distinctly feel her soft, full breasts pressing against my body.
"……."
Absolutely not. It wasn't that my anger eased a little because of this.
"How could I hate Your Excellency? I've never felt that way."
Rose buried her face firmly into my chest.
"I'm... I'm just a bit clumsy. With matters between men and women. So maybe I trembled a little."
"……."
"But it's not because I'm scared or hate Your Excellency. It's just, just..."
Her mumbling voice sent faint vibrations through my body.
"I'm embarrassed...... That's all. Everything's new to me."
I could feel the spot where her face touched growing warm and damp.
"Why would I hate Your Excellency? How could I ever......"
Rose's voice trailed off more and more. Even her shoulders trembled faintly.
My hand, floating in the air, moved as if drawn by something.
"Crying again?"
I gently cupped her chin and lifted it. In her green eyes, wet with tears, only my reflection was captured.
"...Eek."
With her tear-streaked face, Rose averted her eyes from mine.
Surely, it wasn't bad at all seeing Rose cry because of me.
From the fact that only I could see her flushed cheeks, damp eyelashes, and teary eyes.
Was this sadism? I was newly aware of a cruel impulse inside me that I hadn't even known existed.
"Your Excellency, please."
As Rose moved her lips, my fingertip brushed her soft ones.
It was an excessively sweet sensation.
"I was wrong......"
Just moments ago, I'd been furious to the tips of my hair.
But seeing Rose cling to me and apologize repeatedly, my anger faded as if it had never been.
Reason, stealthily returning to its place, began earnestly interpreting her words.
'So... she was just embarrassed?'
It occurred to me that it was a reaction a pure maiden like Rose might have.
Come to think of it, I'd only seen people trembling in fear of my killing intent all this time. I'd never spoken to a woman, so how could I know the difference?
Upon reflection, their reactions and Rose's seemed subtly different.
"...I see."
When I answered in a much softer voice, Rose let out a sigh of relief, "Phew."
"Stop crying now."
Suppressing the urge to rub her lips,
Swipe.
I wiped the tears from her eyes instead.
"Ung."
Rose shook her head lightly, whining softly. Her slightly swollen eyes rubbed against my palm, creating a bit of friction.
"……."
Why was she acting so adorably?
Sighing, I pulled my waist back slightly. It was because an uncontrollable change was happening in my body.
Why was my body reacting to something like this?
If she noticed, Rose would freak out. I absolutely had to hide it.
"This is because Your Excellency misunderstood......"
"Yes, yes."
I gently patted the back of Rose, who was mumbling as if indignant. She sniffled for a moment before quieting down.
"You believe me, right? It's not that I hate Your Excellency—"
"I know."
I understood Rose's words well enough.
If she truly feared or hated me, she wouldn't be holding onto me like this or crying in my arms.
"On the contrary, I...... Your Excellency."
Rose started to say something but stopped.
Squeeze—
I could feel her small chin clenching tightly.
"Why stop mid-sentence?"
"...No, it's nothing."
Rose's face held the resignation only someone who had bottled up emotions for a very long time could have.
I wanted to know what it was. And I wanted to shatter that expression.
A sweet fruit dangled within reach if I just stretched out my hand, or perhaps if I stood on tiptoe.
Something inexplicable was blocking the space between us.
"...Then,"
Floundering because I didn't know how to bridge it,
"Can I touch you now?"
I blurted out something absurd from my jumbled thoughts.
'...Damn it.'
This mouth of mine was the real problem. It made me sound like someone desperate to touch Rose.
That wasn't what I meant to say.
I intended to avoid unnecessary contact on purpose, but since we'd have to act in front of others and touch inevitably, I was asking if that much was okay...
"Yes!"
My scattered thoughts halted. Because of Rose's resounding single word.
"As much as you want!"
As much as I want? As much as I want??
That one sentence filled my head: I could touch her as much as I wanted.
In an instant, all my complications simplified.
"...What did you just say?"
As if to prove her words, Rose hugged me even tighter.
"I'll show you from now on. That I don't hate or fear Your Excellency."
Rose's lips curved into a soft arc.
That smile, the sparkle in her eyes, the warmth of her body against mine.
Everything was so excessively sweet it felt like I'd just swallowed honey.
"Madam,"
Feeling myself melting into the sweet honey despite myself, I put on a stern face contrary to my inner feelings.
"You don't seem to realize how dangerous 'as much as you want' is."
"Your Excellency isn't a dangerous person."
Rose smiled brightly, as if seeking agreement.
"So it's fine."
"Hmm."
If she knew what I was thinking while looking at her reddened eyes, she wouldn't say that.
"That phrase can be interpreted subjectively as 'as much as you want.'"
I couldn't help smirking at Rose, who didn't realize she'd walked into her own trap.
This moment was utterly delightful.
Swipe.
I moved my tear-wet thumb to press firmly on Rose's lips.
"Like this,"
Feeling the warm breath on my thumb tip, I moved my other hand.
Swish.
I lifted the hair that had fallen over Rose's shoulder. My slowly moving hand brushed lightly against her jaw and earlobe.
"Like this."
I wrapped my hand around her fully exposed shoulder. The round contour of her shoulder blade was vivid against my palm.
"Can you say it's okay?"
I could observe up close how Rose's cheeks flushed hotly. Even her neck and collarbone turning red, faint sweat starting to bead.
I thought she'd run away by now.
"Yes, it's okay."
Rose merely whispered in reply. Between her slightly parted lips, her red inner mucosa gleamed smoothly.
"...Impressive."
I murmured without knowing what exactly I was admiring.
Rose, entrusting her body to me and breathing lightly, was a sight to behold.
I, who had felt boredom while taking countless lives, now felt joy simply from the fact that I could handle this one small woman as I pleased.
'It's just a contract anyway.'
Permission from this little squirrel wasn't important.
So why.
Was I rejoicing or despairing over each and every one of Rose's reactions right now?
Squeeze.
When I pressed my thumb a bit harder, Rose naturally parted her lips.
The moment my gaze fixed on the tongue inside—
"My goodness!"
Someone entering the room screamed. It was Lucessi, holding boxes in both hands, along with his staff.
"Your Excellency, please! Can't you hold back even for a moment?"
Lucessi quickly handed the boxes to his staff and hurried over.
"Have some decorum! Even the previous Your Excellency stayed still during dress fittings!"
More than Lucessi's scolding, another fact shocked me into freezing in place.
'...Why didn't I notice?'
I always sensed others' footsteps or approaches keenly. Yet just now, completely absorbed in Rose, I hadn't even realized someone was coming in.
The shock left me speechless for a moment.
"No matter how good the mood, you have to consider the time and place—"
Lucessi's face turned red and purple as he rushed over panting.
"What happened to the dress? The fitting is all messed up!"
"I tripped and......"
For some reason, Rose, who ended up getting scolded along with me, mumbled.
"Your Excellency must have made you trip!"
Lucessi clutched the back of his neck.