If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 150

“…”

 

My heart was filled with joy, yet it ached.

 

Those who can’t bear the hollow emptiness that washes over them after completing their revenge often end their lives in a self-destructive manner. Regen, too, seemed to have felt the urge to make that sacred battlefield his grave. I could tell that his heart had been far more exhausted than his body.

 

“You know, Regen.”

 

My arms stopped patting him and wrapped tightly around him in return. He might not have realized it, but in my own way, it was a crushing embrace. A desperate cling.

 

“I don’t know how to endure hell on my own anymore.”

 

“…”

 

“I must have forgotten. I’ve grown weak. Perhaps it’s because of you, Regen.”

 

“…”

 

At my words, framed as a playful resentment, his hold on me loosened slightly. I also released the hug and faced him directly. Looking into his eyes, I proudly demanded his responsibility. “So please, stay by my side. Forever.”

 

“…”

 

After a long gaze, a faint smile appeared on Regen’s face as he looked at me. Beneath his sorrowful eyes, the curve hanging at the corners of his lips was heartbreaking. Pulling my shoulders close again to embrace me, he gently rubbed the bridge of his nose against my cheek. That gesture, seemingly begging for love, effectively captured my heart.

 

“Yes. I will stay by your side. In return, please keep the place closest to you empty just for me, Sasha.”

 

There was no way I could refuse while I was so defenseless.

 

“It’s already yours.”

 

Regen’s lips traced down my chin as though searching for something, then found my lips and pressed firmly against them. I parted my lips and welcomed him. Our tongues became deeply entangled in a kiss filled with dependence and yearning. Even though our lips were already pressed together without a gap, it wasn’t enough. I wanted him more.

 

Just then, I felt his hand pulling firmly at my waist. Walking on my knees across the bedsheets, I sat atop his thighs. Then, I wrapped both arms tightly around his neck. Like intertwining trees that could never be separated, I wanted to stay entangled with him like this.

 

I slightly parted my wet lips and met his gaze. To my delight, there was heat in the golden eyes reflecting me as well. His attractively prominent Adam’s apple bobbed once. That served as the signal.

 

“Regen.” I slowly stroked his cheek with the back of my hand. Feeling him take a deep breath through our bodies pressed together, I coaxed him deliberately, pitifully. “Can’t we?”

 

His chest collapsed as though he had exhaled all the air at once.

 

“…We can.”

 

A man who was handsome even in his surrender to temptation overlapped his lips with mine once more. Our clothing hung over our embracing bodies like a half-sloughed skin. He traced the exposed skin in my line of sight with his tongue, and stamped his warmth with his hands on the deep, hidden bare flesh.

 

While mingling our bodies in desire, I suppressed sensuous sounds inside my throat so that our secret act would not leak past the room’s door. During a few close calls, he wrapped his hand around the back of my hand and gently pressed it down, allowing me to bury my lips into his solid shoulder. I barely managed to endure it while sinking my teeth into his body. Even though it must have hurt, he merely stroked me gently, running his hand in a long caress from the top of my head down my back, as though telling me I had done well.

 

I loved that so much. He always makes me feel loved like this. Then, did he love me? I had never heard Regen say it directly. So, amidst the swaying passion, I wanted to ask.

 

“Regen.”

 

“Yes, Sasha.”

 

Whether he loved me.

 

“…Am I pretty?”

 

But I couldn’t ask. Having bound him with the imprint, I felt I shouldn’t dare to covet his love.

 

“Yes. Insanely so.”

 

“Then go insane for me.”

 

To the point where even the imprint no longer mattered.

 

“Yes.”

 

The answer delivered in a resonant, low voice was plain and simple. Because he didn’t know I truly meant it, he was able to answer so sweetly.

 

I clung to his neck and embraced him. Held firmly by him, I was shaken even more intensely up and down.

 

16. Not Dominated

Princess Silver Bird’s traveling party returned to the imperial palace in less than a month. Unlike when she had departed, she entered the imperial palace with dozens of troops lavishly accompanying her. So, her return drew everyone’s attention.

 

Curious about what had happened, the nobles lingering around the imperial palace witnessed an unusual sight. Princess Silver Bird stepped down from the carriage and looked pale. Dominic, who was escorting her, possessed a menacing aura. That alone was enough to fuel wild imaginations. Before long, tragic news regarding the governor of Lohengrin arrived. Of all things, the man Princess Silver Bird had shown interest in had died after being caught in an unfortunate rockslide accident.

 

The nobles of high society excitedly poured out their speculations about what had happened.

 

“It’s obvious Princess Silver Bird tried to follow Marquis Hwibrik and was caught by Sir Dominic!”

 

“Of course. What rockslide accident? Sir Dominic was probably blinded by jealousy and got rid of Marquis Hwibrik.”

 

“Oh dear! She couldn’t run away and lost her lover too! Princess Silver Bird must be heartbroken.”

 

Right on cue, news spread that Princess Silver Bird had fallen sick in bed. Official word from her chambers claimed it was the aftereffect of a long carriage journey. But in high society, it became an established fact that she had collapsed from a broken heart after losing her beloved.

 

Those who become the subject of public attention cannot escape malicious gossip, regardless of whether they are at fault or not. Some took this opportunity to criticize Princess Silver Bird while pretending to sympathize with her, while others simply hurled insults.

 

“That’s why she shouldn’t have tried to run away for no reason.”

 

“She should have just focused on getting on Sir Dominic’s good side.”

 

“Far more foolish than she looks…”

 

It was an opportunity for them to look down upon a noblewoman whom they normally wouldn’t even dare to approach. Just as the nobles gathered in small groups, chattering with vulgar amusement…

 

“Quiet.”

 

“P-Princess Safflower!”

 

Lilliana, who was on her way out of the main palace’s great library, issued a sharp warning. “If I hear any of you running your mouths recklessly about the imperial family one more time, I’ll rip out your uvulas.”

 

“Eek! I-I apologize.”

 

Lilliana spun around with her curled hair swaying and walked away irritably. Anger filled the face of the cold, beautiful woman. “Idiots. I warned you so clearly.” She, too, was one of those who mistakenly believed that her half-sister had been captured and dragged back by Dominic.

 

Meanwhile, there was one person who enjoyed the commotion in high society over the gossip more than anyone else. It was none other than the mad emperor, Axellion.

 

“Interesting.”

 

The platinum-blond handsome man sitting cross-legged on the throne let out a languid laugh from his throat. Standing directly before him as he looked down at them with arrogant eyes were two knights. One was a blond imperial guard wearing a blue uniform, and the other was a personal knight with silver hair wearing a black uniform. A handsome man with a refreshing impression smiling habitually contrasted with an expressionless handsome man whose appearance was so unreal that he looked like a work of art.

 

Dominic was present to submit a report as the head escort in charge of the princess, while Regen had been summoned as a witness on behalf of the bedridden princess. Though unwilling, the two knights stood shoulder to shoulder and answered the mad emperor’s questions with utmost sincerity. Their reports matched naturally, without a single discrepancy. Even though they were committing perjury on the spot, their coordination was so perfect that Regen and Dominic both felt strangely displeased. But they could not show it in front of the Mad Emperor.

 

“It is regrettable that such an outstanding governor has gone to an untimely death.”

 

The mad emperor’s expression as he offered his condolences was shamelessly nonchalant. He didn’t believe the rockslide accident. Just like the rumor spreading throughout the imperial palace, he too thought that Dominic had committed the deed after losing his mind in his attempt to reclaim Rosasia.

 

Regen and Dominic were fully aware of that. The purpose of aligning their stories was not to make the mad emperor believe the rockslide story. It was to offer just enough sincerity and entertainment to make the mad emperor intoxicated by the thought of himself as someone who knew the truth behind it all and was nevertheless covering it up.

 

“You’ve all worked hard. Keep a close eye on Rosasia.”

 

Finally, the report came to an end. Just as they were about to bow respectfully and withdraw, Dominic suddenly asked in confusion. It was because the spot to the mad emperor’s left was empty.

 

“Your Majesty, where is Sir Blackhound?”