If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 131

“It’s not that I have any particular business here… I just wanted to come to your room tonight, Regen.” When his eyes silently asked why, Sasha confessed her inner thoughts, looking slightly shy. “For some reason, I felt like I needed to cheer you up.”

 

“…”

 

“You came back after winning the tournament, but I ended up returning so late.”

 

Regen felt a strange sensation stir inside him at Sasha’s voice, which was noticeably laced with apology. Did her words not carry the premise that he held the right to blame her for her late return? If so, what kind of relationship permitted such a right? An unwarranted thirst washed over him. His prominent Adam’s apple bobbed once.

 

In this manner, she constantly made him indulge in sweet imaginations.

 

✦

For a while, Regen gave no answer and simply stared at me intently. Even though it was likely a meaningless gaze, my heart fluttered thoughtlessly once again at this moment. Because of his intense, deep-set eyes, the gaze he sent my way somehow felt as though he harbored profound feelings for me.

 

Whenever we faced each other like this, it felt as though we had become lovers. Immersing myself in delusion and imagination as sweet as dessert, I secretly wished in my heart. I hope that gaze never turns toward anyone else. I wish it would face me solely.

 

Around that time, Regen opened his mouth, continuing the conversation. “So you were worried about leaving me alone after we returned to the imperial palace.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then, are you comforting me today, Sasha?”

 

“…Today?” The question slipped out, filtering through my thoughts. My eyes naturally narrowed as I looked at Regen, who was nodding his head. “You make it sound as though you’re usually the one comforting me.”

 

“My apologies.”

 

This was him pretending to be apologetic while actually agreeing. Having fallen for it a few times, I knew for certain. Still, he wasn’t exactly wrong. Regen was usually the one coaxing and comforting me, so my will to counter him vanished.

 

“Yes, that’s right. Today is the day I comfort you, Regen.”

 

“To think you would admit it.”

 

“It just so happens I have something to apologize for.”

 

“Something to apologize for?”

 

“…I gave you a command before the match started, didn’t I?” I had used my power to force him to hand over his wish right.

 

As if hearing something unexpected, Regen’s eyes widened before returning to their original size. “You don’t need to trouble yourself over it. It wasn’t something you did because you wanted to, Sasha, and I accepted it as well.”

 

“Even so.”

 

“It’s not much different from when you command me to calm down in front of Emilio Hwibrik. Furthermore, when doing something one dislikes, being commanded to do it actually helps. It numbs the resistance. In a way, it allows the most painful moments to pass with less ache.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes.”

 

My heart felt a bit lighter at Regen’s words. Then, curiosity suddenly struck me. “Perhaps because I only ever command you to do things you dislike, I’ve gathered a lot of information on that side. Then what about the opposite?”

 

“The opposite?”

 

“If I commanded you to do something you actually wanted to do, would it make you feel even better than usual?”

 

“It seems you wish to run an experiment.”

 

“How did you know?”

 

“You have exactly that kind of look in your eyes right now.”

 

I had intended to act serious, but a small laugh escaped my throat. I turned my upper body to face his direction, resting my hand on the armrest of the chair like a railing. “If there’s something you want to do, tell me, Regen.”

 

“It sounds like you’re trying to grant my wish under the guise of giving an order.”

 

“That works too.”

 

If he would just tell me, I was fully prepared to order it immediately. It would also be a good opportunity to repay the wish right he had transferred to me.

 

Regen fell into thought. “Something I want to do…”

 

Supporting myself with both forearms, I leaned even closer to him. Regen also rested his elbow on the armrest of his chair and propped his chin on his hand, staring deeply at me. This relaxed posture of his was a rare sight, impossible to witness during the day.

 

“…”

 

Whether he was contemplating it quite seriously, Regen remained silent for a while. His half-lidded golden eyes focused on me without even blinking.

 

Ah, this is troublesome. Whenever this happened, I found myself falling for him all over again. A foolish excitement and nervousness began to knock against my heart. Even though I knew I was the only one getting caught up in the atmosphere, I couldn’t help. I even swallowed dryly. Maybe it was my imagination, but the expression on his face as he looked at me resembled someone dazed and entranced just after a kiss.

 

As if intending to add a languid charm to the mix, Regen cast his gaze slightly downward and spoke. “There is indeed something I want to do, but…”

 

“…”

 

“I don’t want to do it because I was ordered to.”

 

“…”

 

What did he mean?

 

“Rather than being ordered, it’s something I’d like to do with your consent.”

 

“…Consent?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Lifting the gaze he had averted, Regen fixed his eyes back on me. I felt as though his eyes were meticulously observing my reaction.

 

“Just what on earth is it that you want to do?”

 

“…”

 

The conversation looped back to the original question. My curiosity, which I thought would be resolved quickly, was left abandoned for an unexpectedly long time.

 

Regen narrowed his eyes as if measuring me. Then, tilting his head slightly to the side while it was still resting on his hand, he opened his mouth. In a manner that was a bit uncharacteristic of Regen, slightly crooked. “What do you think it is?”

 

“…”

 

In an instant, a certain thought flashed through my mind completely of its own. Something I had rejected him over once before. Something a loving couple would do at night, in bed.

 

…I must be crazy. I felt utterly ashamed of my brain for conjuring up such a wicked thought as if it were the most natural thing. Thank goodness the ability to read other people’s minds didn’t exist in this world. If such a thing existed, I would have had to flee immediately to a place where Regen could absolutely never find me.

 

I hurriedly corrected my posture to sit up straight and stared fixedly at the fireplace, worried that my face had turned red. Pretending to clear my throat, I brought my hand to my mouth and subtly pressed the back of my hand against my cheek. Fortunately, I didn’t feel any burning heat. Meanwhile, Regen was adjusting the shawl on my shoulders with a touch that was nothing short of pure and proper. It felt like receiving confirmation that I was the only one harboring suspicious thoughts.

 

For a while, only the crackling sound of firewood burning echoed through the room. I needed a new topic of conversation. Preferably a serious and heavy subject that left no room for wicked thoughts to slip in. It just so happened that there was a curiosity that had been weighing heavily on my mind.

 

“You know, Regen. About what happened with Shushu and Sir Ciel today.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“If I had done what Shushu did, how do you think you would have felt? Would you perhaps… have felt betrayed and hated me? A lot?”

 

“That’s…”

 

I waited tensely for his answer.

 

“It’s because Sir Ciel is young.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Frustration and helplessness are only temporary. If you stay alive and endure, an opportunity to make up for everything will eventually come. This is a fact my lady taught me.”

 

“…Ah.”

 

Only then did I realize. It was a foolish question. I had already done something similar to Regen once before. Against his will to die, I had forced treatment and imprinted upon him, making him continue his life. Maybe I was a terribly ruthless person who had barged into his life and turned it upside down. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.

 

Along with a gentle touch smoothing down my stray hairs, his deep, low voice softly resonated in my ear.

 

“Perhaps I’m not very good with words.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I spoke in hopes of putting your mind at ease, Sasha, but it appears to have had the opposite effect.”

 

“…”

 

I must have been wearing a gloomy face without realizing it. Before the mood could sink any further, I hurried to recover. “It’s because I worry too much.”

 

“That certainly seems true.”

 

“…You don’t need to agree so readily.”

 

“My apologies.”

 

Regen seemed to be teasing me slightly, but since his tone was so polite, I couldn’t even find fault with it.

 

“What about you, Regen? Don’t you have any worries or concerns?”

 

“…”

 

Once again, Regen gazed steadily at me. Why was it? Today, he seemed to spend a long time thinking before speaking.

 

“Of course I do.”

 

“Something serious?”

 

“Well. It is both serious. It’s a concern I ponder often.”

 

“I see.”

 

“Would you listen to it?”

 

“Yes. Of course.”

 

My eyes brightened. To think Regen was asking me for advice regarding his worries, that made me happy.

 

Because I nodded, the shawl slipped down from my shoulders once more. Without showing a hint of annoyance, Regen reached out his hand again. He could have just left it alone. It looked prettier when the ribbon on my shoulder was visible, so why didn’t he realize that? Though I felt sorry for Regen, his trained chivalry felt a bit bothersome today.

 

“Sasha.”

 

For some reason, even after the shawl was draped over me, he opened his mouth without taking his eyes off my shoulder.

 

“When there is something you desire, but you are afraid of the attempt to obtain it, what would you do?”