I Slept with the Villain Holding My Hand Chapter 141

Merria slightly parted her lips as she gazed at him. She instantly recognized the emotion flickering in Reukis’s eyes.

In the brief moment her wide eyes blinked twice, Reukis pressed his lips to her wrist.

“Merria…”

The way he looked up at her was objectively very satisfying. She had always known her lover was exceptionally beautiful, but even the sharpness of Reukis’s jawline, honed by hardship, stirred her heart.

Merria left her hand in his grasp and replied, “Should I not go?”

“Please.”

Reukis spoke before she could even finish.

“Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”

“Do I seem that way?”

Reukis whispered by her ear.

The passion laced in every word flowed unmistakably into Merria.

She lazily curved her lips as her hand slid down his chest. 

 

Beneath her palm, Reukis’s heart pounded fiercely. Her own heart was racing just as wildly. She reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Reukis understood the gesture of permission and immediately lowered his head.

Once again, their lips collided.

Their heated breaths warmed each other’s bodies.

Though Reukis relentlessly pressed forward, his hands remained tender as they caressed her shoulders.

Merria clung tightly to his back, steadying her weakening legs.

Thud—

Lost in the whirlwind of Reukis, the back of her knees met the plush bedding.

The neatly arranged sheets, freshly prepared by Jaina during dinner, now lay pristine as if untouched.

She felt a twinge of guilt for disregarding the effort, but what could she do?

Without hesitation, she let her body relax. Her platinum hair spilled across the white bedsheets as she sank into them.

With half-lidded eyes, Merria gazed up at Reukis looming over her.

The rich, damp scent of citrus still clung to him. She likely carried the same fragrance.

‘This wasn’t why I washed up earlier!’

 

She wasn’t sure who she was speaking to, but it felt necessary to assert her innocence in her heart.

 

Reukis’s Adam’s apple bobbed heavily as he stared at Merria, who was gazing back at him.

 

Sweeping back his disheveled bangs slowly, he murmured, “I should send someone to the ducal residence.”

 

“If it’s about contact, I already took care of it while you were asleep.”

 

“The situation has changed now. So it’s only right to reach out again.”

 

“…How so?”

 

Merria drew in a small breath.

 

The reason was the sudden shift in Reukis’s demeanor.

 

Until just moments ago, he had been the Reukis she knew. But in an instant, his face had become that of a stranger.

 

The sight was unfamiliar, yet not unpleasant.

 

‘No, I think I actually like it.’

 

This was the first time she had felt so utterly trapped beneath him, and she licked her dry lips.

 

Whether that stimulated something in Reukis, he leaned down and captured her lips.

 

Then, after peppering small kisses, Reukis nibbled on Merria’s earlobe.

 

A shiver ran down her spine at the unfamiliar sensation.

 

“If you stay like this with me, you won’t be returning until late tomorrow.”

 

“No…”

 

It’s still dawn right now.

 

She had expected he wouldn’t let her go easily, but—Merria glanced out the window and only succeeded in needlessly chipping away at Reukis’s patience.

 

His head began to slowly lower further.

 

Unable to bear the tingling in her toes, she tried to push his head away.

 

“W-Wait!”

 

“Does it hurt?”

 

He asked without lifting his head, only raising his gaze.

 

Merria shook her head, her face burning red.

 

“It’s not that… It’s just embarrassing to be doing this as the sun rises.”

 

As Merria covered her eyes and muttered softly, Reukis smiled faintly.

 

“Merria.”

 

“…”

 

“Merria.”

 

“…Why do you keep calling me?”

 

“Open your eyes.”

 

At Reukis’s whisper, Merria removed her hand from her eyes.

 

The room had darkened enough that only Reukis’s face, now inches from hers, was visible. He had blocked the window’s gap with darkness after hearing her words.

 

“Now, will you focus on me again?”

 

“Ugh…”

 

To say something like that so casually…

It seemed Reukis became far less reserved once on the bed.

Merria gave up covering her face and simply nodded.

He curled his lips in satisfaction.

“I’ll make you feel even better.”

Reukis’ words were not empty.

‘Truly.’

Everywhere his hands touched, it felt like vibrations resonated.

Reukis pulled Merria into a tight embrace, as if he wanted to devour her.

And just as he had predicted, he didn’t let her go the entire day.

 

💫

 

“Ah….”

Merria clutched her dry throat and let out a pained groan.

As if waiting for this, someone slid a hand behind her neck and placed something against her lips.

Still half-asleep, she parted her lips slightly, and a cool liquid trickled down her throat.

Gulp, gulp—

After emptying the entire cup, Merria wiped her lips in satisfaction.

“Thank you. I was so thirsty.”

Reukis didn’t reply, instead pressing kisses all over her cheek.

Worried things might escalate again, Merria blocked his advance with her palm.

Resting her head against his chest, she mumbled, “We promised not to overdo it…”

A pleasant vibration rumbled above her head.

His voice, laced with amusement, answered, “My apologies.”

Both of them knew it wasn’t a sincere apology.

After all, the one who had overdone it wasn’t him—it was her.

Merria had no retort, since she was the one who had egged on Reukis despite his efforts to hold back.

Flustered, she averted her gaze and noticed different clothes than before.

“Did you dress me?”

“I thought you might get cold if I left you as you were.”

Reukis gave a small nod.

While she had been briefly asleep, Reukis had taken care of many things. He had gently cleaned Merria’s body, dressed her in comfortable clothes, and even prepared the finest recovery potion, cool water, a light meal, and Eriene’s cake for when she woke.

 

After finishing everything, Reukis casually lay back down beside Merria as if nothing had happened.

And the moment Merria let out a pained groan, he made her drink an entire high-grade potion in one go.

It tasted pleasant, infused with the refreshing fragrance Merria loved.

From last night—no, from dawn until now, though they had taken breaks in between, it was only natural that Merria’s body had been pushed to its limits.

Even reflecting on it, he realized he had been excessively relentless.

Thanks to him loosening her body intermittently while he worked, she wasn’t completely immobilized—but

Reukis still didn’t realize that it was Merria who had pulled him in.

 

As Reukis waited for the recovery potion to take effect, Merria brushed her fingertips lightly over her eyelids and murmured,

“Ah, feels good.”

To think a man with this much sense and ability was now hers.

Merria smiled brightly and patted the spot beside her repeatedly.

Reukis mirrored her good mood, curling the corner of his lips. But he didn’t immediately settle beside her.

Merria followed his movements with puzzled eyes as he walked away.

 

He motioned for her to stay seated and brought over a prepared bedside table.

On it were all sorts of things laid out in abundance.

Merria covered her mouth with both hands and stared at Reukis.

“You prepared all this, too?”

“Eriene’s cake is also here. I’ll bring more once you finish this.”

“You’re… way too good. Seriously.”

She threw herself into his arms.

Reukis held her tightly as she expressed her joy with unrestrained excitement.

 

💫

 

After finishing their meal, the two sat side by side and talked.

Mostly, Reukis recounted what had happened while Merria listened.

“You detained Harriet’s sacred beast?” Merria asked, startled.

“I found traces of collusion with the one who approached me during the hunting tournament. The evidence was thin, so I couldn’t hold them for long. They’ve been released for now.”

 

Deston was a mage affiliated with the Ministry of Magic and the second son of a count.

Keeping someone like Deston confined in the Grand Duke’s residence indefinitely was unthinkable.

After spouting nonsense, Deston eventually returned to the Ministry.

 

“I’ve assigned a knight from the Grand Duke’s household to accompany him. They’re monitoring his every move.”

 

Reukis hadn’t sent him away without a plan.

Deston, too, had agreed to remain under the Grand Duke’s surveillance until all suspicions against him were cleared.

 

But he had a pressing reason to leave the Grand Duke’s residence as soon as possible.

 

Shannon Magner, who should have been in Demeter, had suddenly appeared in the Grand Duke’s detention cell.

Though his contact had been Arienne, he had also shown his face to Shannon a few times.

He needed to leave before the naive Shannon could say anything.

 

Fortunately, until his release, Shannon had pretended not to know him. She simply sat there, silent, as if in shock.

 

Reukis, recalling those held underground, continued, “Shannon Magner, who fled during my rampage, has also been detained.”

 

“What?”

Merria, who had been leaning against the sofa, jerked upright.

 

“Due to the effects of the truth serum, she was unable to escape and was captured by the guards managing the servants.”

 

“You locked Shannon up?”

 

“She drugged me and tried to harm you as well. Even dragging her to trial and sentencing her to death wouldn’t be enough.”

 

Merria was at a loss for where to even begin explaining. She ran a hand through her hair, opening and closing her mouth repeatedly.

 

“After locking her up, did you ever go to see her?”

 

“Yes. A couple of times.”

He nodded slightly.

 

The first visit had been the day after Merria collapsed.

Despite lengthy interrogation, he had gained almost nothing.

Shannon had simply stared blankly at the floor, like a person drowning in despair.

No matter what he asked, she either didn’t answer or denied any knowledge.

 

“At any point, did her face change into someone else’s?”

 

“What do you…?”

Reukis pondered her words before quickly reaching a conclusion.

“Was that face also stolen?”

 

“Yes. That Shannon is the real Shannon.”

 

“We missed her again.”

Reukis furrowed his brow and muttered.

 

Merria tugged at his hand and spoke, “I want to see Shannon.”

 

“Then at dawn—”

 

“Now.”

 

She couldn’t leave Shannon there a moment longer.

Because Shannon was no criminal.