If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 76

My voice trembled. “You…”

 

You are Regenhart Lohengrin, aren’t you? The hero who protected the Eastern Alliance, a guardian who stands like a pillar holding up the sky, and a knight who carries the deepest honor in his heart. How could someone so noble like that, completely setting aside his pride, say such words to me?

 

My heart ached. I couldn’t believe that the one treating him so carelessly is none other than himself.

 

“Why… are you saying something like that?”

 

I ended up asking the same question again. But this time, I got an answer.

 

“Isn’t it something I can say as your personal knight?”

 

“I never asked you for something like that…” Or have I?

 

My conscience screamed at me. Could he not know that I desire his body?

 

Regen has already caught me twice. I couldn’t possibly claim that I never asked for it. But I swear, I never wanted him to serve and devote himself to me like this. He was the one who first suppressed his emotions and made the offer, so I tried to refuse him with a dry, logical excuse.

 

“It seems you’ve forgotten the task you’re volunteering for.” I avoided saying the words’ educational service’ again and chose to phrase it differently. “Only a pure man can do that.”

 

“Why do you think I would be disqualified?”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

His immediate rebuttal left my mind blank.

 

What? Did I understand that correctly? No woman has ever had this man?

 

My heart pounded so hard it hurt. I felt an intense temptation. As if I had found a spring after a long thirst, or food after prolonged hunger. I felt like I might go mad with the urge to have him before me.

 

Taking several deep breaths, I endured it. With my barely clinging to the thin thread of reason, I forced myself to say what I had to, not what I wanted to.

 

“I…” I barely managed to get the words out, just barely. “I don’t, want to.”

 

His eyes seemed to waver, but I had no time to dwell on it.

 

I bristled, hiding my wounds behind sharp thorns. “I don’t want to receive service from Sir Regen.”

 

No matter how easy I might have seemed to him, this was too much. It wasn’t just any man I was curious about, but him. I didn’t want to cling to someone asking to sleep together without pride, when he didn’t even know this.

 

Regen’s face twisted slightly. Even that was handsome enough to steal my gaze, but his expression, as if he were hurt, was something I couldn’t comprehend.

 

“Why?”

 

“Not knowing is the reason.”

 

“…”

 

“Don’t ever bring up something like that in front of me again.” Without looking at him, I pointed to the door. “You may go now.”

 

It took quite a while for the shadow cast over me to disappear.

 

The sound of the door closing made me feel miserable. I was the one who rejected him, yet it felt like I was the one who had been dumped.

 

✦

Things went back to normal with Regen. He was a good knight, and I tried my best to maintain the boundaries as a proper lady. Though every night, we exchanged kisses without fail.

 

“You don’t have to force yourself.”

 

“I promised to fix your mana core. I should fulfill my duties and responsibilities.”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

I suppose that meant we were doing well.

 

“Duty and responsibility, you say.”

 

“…”

 

“Yes, I understand.”

 

Regen seemed to be holding something back, but he didn’t reject the kiss. As our lips met and our tongues intertwined deeply, neither of us laid a hand on the other’s body. Of course, our mindsets must have been different. I endured and held back, while he seemed relaxed and at ease. Well, he was the kind of man who hadn’t even touched my shoulder despite me wearing off-shoulder nightgowns every night. My body must not hold much appeal to him.

 

The recent kisses felt different from before. They were so slow and cautious, almost as if he were soothing or pleading with me. Just as my heart was about to soften from the act, the moment our kiss ended, and our eyes met, my heart would turn cold again.

 

In the past, right after pulling away, he would look at me with a dazed, intoxicated gaze, and I loved seeing that. But these days, even when he opened his eyes, all I saw was his clear, sharp gaze carefully observing me. That, too, felt like some kind of service. And every time it happened, I pretended to respond out of obligation. If Regen had the weapons of service and attentiveness, then I had the shield of duty and responsibility, which was the only thing that kept me going.

 

“The masquerade banquet is already just around the corner.”

 

“You’re looking forward to it, aren’t you, Your Highness?”

 

“…Ah.”

 

The chatter snapped me out of my thoughts. I was being fitted for a dress, surrounded by three maids.

 

“It’s going to be stunning once it’s finished.”

 

“I’m worried the young lords might try to flirt with you.”

 

“Your Highness looks absolutely beautiful.”

 

Compliments didn’t really resonate with me. The reflection in the mirror showed a lifeless expression, making it hard to believe I could attract anyone’s interest. Seduction? That was out of the question.

 

…Maybe my self-esteem is hitting rock bottom these days. I missed the days when it was just a past first love. Now that it had turned into an ongoing unrequited love, it was mentally exhausting.

 

“Should I call Sir Regen over? I bet he’d be shocked to see this.”

 

“No.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Don’t show him. Keep it a secret.”

 

“Ah, are you planning to surprise him on the day of the banquet?”

 

“…”

 

I didn’t give an answer.

 

✦

The masquerade banquet held at the imperial palace at the end of spring was famous for its grandeur. From dusk until the next day’s sunrise, the banquet offered an endless array of music, food, drinks, and entertainment. The event attracted a mix of people, from those who enjoyed it lightly to those who indulged in sticky, sultry pleasures, always making it both popular and fervent.

 

For several days, Regen, with Hamel’s help, prepared his attire while also being thoroughly educated on just how decadent and debauched the imperial masquerade banquet could be.

 

“A ribbon tied to the back of your shoe, a loosely tied necktie down to the chest, or a chain draped across your back, these are all sexual signals. They mean you’re looking for a partner for the night.”

 

“…”

 

“If someone tries to take off your mask, loosening your tie, asks you to untie their hair ribbon, or asks you to put their shoe back on, it’s an even more explicit signal. I recommend refusing them.”

 

“…”

 

“During the masquerade banquet, all the rooms on the first floor of the palace’s wing are open for use. However, if there’s a ribbon or tie tied to the doorknob, you must never open or enter. It means someone is already inside.”

 

“…”

 

“And also…”

 

The more he heard, the more Regen felt the imperial masquerade banquet was like a corrupt ritual of devils. He resolved never to leave Sasha alone in the banquet hall. Regen could never allow anyone with impure intentions to even touch the princess’s hair ribbon.

 

Finally, the day of the masquerade banquet arrived. Today, even the personal knights are allowed to wear something other than their uniforms. Regen dressed in formal attire with a white base accented with blue and draped a light gray half-cape over his shoulders. Hamel brought a sparkling metal chain for the finishing touch. The accessory loosely hung across his face, just below his eyes.

 

“No mask?”

 

“The face chain is your mask. It’s trendy.”

 

“A masquerade banquet without masks, huh.”

 

Regen found it somewhat relieving. With so little effort put into concealing faces, there would be fewer people who failed to recognize Sasha as the princess and acted rudely, or tried to use their mask’s anonymity to pull tricks on her.

 

While Hamel went into the dressing room to help Sasha with her attire, Regen waited in the parlor. He thought Sasha’s preparations were taking longer than usual when Demia suddenly appeared and looked startled to see him.

 

“Sir Regen? Why are you still here?”

 

“Lady Demia?”

 

“Her Highness has already gone to the banquet hall…”