If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 160

“…”

 

Regen’s thoughts came to a halt. He remained frozen for quite some time. It was because he couldn’t understand what he had just heard. Somehow, he felt as though he had become an idiot.

 

In a somewhat dazed state, Regen requested. “Please say that one more time.”

 

“I said I have unrequited feelings for you.”

 

“Again.”

 

Sasha raised her voice, looking as though she might cry. “Why do you keep asking?”

 

Only when the sharp reproach pierced his ears did Regen’s mind begin functioning again. At last, he understood. “So you’re saying that you love me.”

 

“…”

 

Once he separated the words, the meaning finally made sense. As the full clarity of it dawned on him, his heart finally began to race uncontrollably.

 

The princess loved him. Come to think of it, it was only natural. From the day they had shared their bodies, Regen had desperately wished for those feelings from her. Wasn’t she the woman who had taken everything from the hero of Lohengrin? From his first kiss, to his first night, and even his first confession. Her love ought to have been his rightful share. And yet, having it confirmed in words did not feel natural at all.

 

His heart pounded madly, as though it were a separate creature that did not belong to him. No matter how much he tried to calm himself, he simply couldn’t. The serious situation from moments ago no longer mattered to him.

 

Regen reached out toward Sasha, whose face was crumpled with tears. His hand gently caressed the corners of her eyes and her cheeks, seemingly soothing her sorrow with utmost care. Yet his own face could not hide the smile overflowing with joy.

 

“Then what is the problem? We feel the same way, don’t we?”

 

“…”

 

“Surely Sasha isn’t going to claim that only your love counts as love, while mine is flawed and therefore not love, right?”

 

“…”

 

Sasha fell silent. Since he had deliberately asked despite already knowing the answer, Regen was not particularly hurt. Instead, looking down at her light sky-blue eyes clouded with guilt, he found an opening through which he could press further.

 

It didn’t matter even if Sasha had an emotional obsession with purity. Even if her aversion to domination was stronger than that, it didn’t matter. If she loved him, that was enough. Since the answer was already decided, fitting the logic to it was easy.

 

“Sasha, look at me.”

 

“…”

 

She did not refuse and met his gaze, and in that very act he already saw the outcome.

 

“What is the reason you can’t trust my feelings?”

 

“That’s because…”

 

“Is it because you’re afraid they might change after the domination is undone?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Even her straightforward admission worked in Regen’s favor.

 

Regen spoke boldly. “Then you simply don’t have to undo the domination, do you?”

 

“What?”

 

“If you don’t undo the domination, nothing will change. Isn’t that actually better? It means I will remain eternally bound to you, swearing eternal love.”

 

“What…”

 

Even when she looked bewildered, as though asking what kind of sophistry this was, Regen did not waver. He couldn’t. If he backed down here, he would go mad. The cliff was no longer in front of him, but behind him. He had no room to spare for distinguishing between logic and sophistry.

 

Regen gently cupped Sasha’s cheeks in both hands, holding her in place so that she could look only at him. Having completely blocked off any escape route, he used the softest voice he could muster to target her weakness.

 

“I understand that your love is perfect because it springs from genuine emotion. But Sasha, are you confident that your feelings will never change for eternity?”

 

“Eternity… is a bit…”

 

“I am confident that mine will never change for eternity. Thanks for the domination.”

 

“…” Sasha’s eyes widened, trembling faintly.

 

“Just as nothing lasts forever, nothing is perfect. So how about this? Let us trade my eternity for Sasha’s perfection.”

 

“…”

 

The turmoil evident on her face showed him that this persuasion was working. But Regen didn’t stop.

 

“If you can’t make a decision right now, there is a very simple way. When your feelings fade, you can simply discard me.”

 

“What are you talking about…!”

 

True to her nature as someone with a strong sense of responsibility and duty, the princess flared up in anger. It was the exact reaction Regen had expected and intended. Because she had given ground, she was inevitably drawn along to this point. Taking advantage of that opening, he sealed the conclusion.

 

“It means Sasha just needs to accept me.”

 

“Regen, I…”

 

“Take your time and think it over. I will hear your answer later.”

 

With those final words, Regen brought his lips down onto hers. In a deep kiss, his tongue entwined hers. He devoured her lips relentlessly so that not a single word of refusal could slip out.

 

Meanwhile, their bodies slowly tilted back. Sasha’s upper body fell onto the bed, her platinum blonde hair scattering messily across the white sheets. Regen intertwined his fingers with hers, pressing them down firmly as if pinning her in place. Then, he buried his lips into the body beneath him that panted steeply in temptation.

 

Telling her he would give her time to think had been a deception. His persuasion was far from over. He had said enough in words. Now he was simply switching methods to continue with his body.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

Plenty of time to resist had already passed. Either way, neither he nor she knew any other way than to accept each other. Regen’s hand slipped between the sheet and her back, pulling at the laces tightening her dress. Meanwhile, Sasha’s hands frantically crumpled his austere shirt, unbuttoning it. All the annoying pieces of cloth standing between them were pushed off the bed. Their bodies began to entwine in desire.

 

Inside the small, enclosed space draped with heavy curtains as if hiding from the bright afternoon light, heat and moisture pooled together. Her porcelain-white body flushed crimson all over, opening up to him willingly. He, too, was fiercely aroused, matching the immense depth of his craving for her. After rubbing lightly to spread the wet slickness, he buried himself deep inside. Trembling faintly, she welcomed him in.

 

“Regen, Regen…”

 

Giddy amidst the rocking motion, she called out his name. Clinging to him as if he were the only thing left in the world, her entire body was declaring that she loved him. Yet, knowing her mouth might still utter cruel words, Regen filled even the inside of her mouth completely with himself.

 

“Mmph, nng.”

 

Then, seizing the moment while she was hopelessly lost in her own groans, he poured out everything he wanted to say to his heart’s content.

 

“I love you.”

 

“…”

 

“I love you, Sasha.”

 

“…”

 

As if embedding ecstatic pleasure into her body, he engraved his love into her mind. Even while thoroughly shaken and groaning in a haze of ecstasy, she still responded to his words. Strength returned to her fingers, which were locked beneath his. At the small gesture of her tightening their connection, his movements grew even more fierce.

 

The time seemed endless for these two people who loved each other yet remained as desperate as though they still didn’t possess the very thing they already had.

 

✦

When I came to my senses, the room was dark. Was it early evening? Deep night? Or perhaps dawn? My sense of time was such a mess that I couldn’t even guess.

 

Regen, who had told me to take my time and think it over, hadn’t left me alone for even a moment for my brain to function. It was to the point where I wondered if the nights we had spent together before were just some solemn ritual. Last night he had driven me relentlessly into pure pleasure. I was already seduced, yet I was helplessly brought down by a man who craved me with his entire body, as if he still had more left to seduce me.

 

My lips feel swollen. The events of last night came rushing back. Whenever I tried to say anything other than a groan, my mouth was instantly silenced with a kiss. And despite that, he had engraved his feelings into my ear over and over. I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you. I didn’t even know how many times I had heard it.

 

And now, that passionate confession of love ignited a terrible sense of exasperation in my heart. Because…

 

“You said it’s bad manners to leave without a word after spending the night together.”

 

The spot next to me was empty. Seeing how there wasn’t a trace of warmth left, he must have returned to his quarters long ago. Yet, somehow, he had cleaned everything up. My body felt completely free of any sticky residue, and I was even dressed in a chemise. It was an impossibly meticulous consideration.

 

The world was clearly trying to make me look thoroughly miserable. I could hear the sound of rain pitter-pattering against the window. Pulling the blanket all the way over my head, I curled up on my side.

 

Honestly, he was too much. As I brooded over my resentment toward him, a sudden feeling came over me that this situation felt strangely familiar.