Second Life, I’m Dying Soon Chapter 97

Chapter 97

 

From the moment Claude stood before the aisle, he was completely frozen. He was so nervous that even those watching felt their lips go dry.

His entrance was even worse. His stiff, creaking steps looked like he was wearing rusty tin armor, making it hard to believe he was the Imperial Knight Commander.

When the bride finally entered—the climax of the wedding—Claude burst into tears. The groom, sniffling in sheer emotion, was met with laughter and applause from the guests.

Above all, the biggest highlight of the day was the dance the bride and groom shared after the ceremony.

Claude and Yuria had already taken the center of the hall, and around them gathered countless others dancing along.

Watching them, Alexis suddenly tilted his head and asked,

“Shall we dance too?”

“Are you drunk?”

Cecil let out a small snort and took a sip of wine. He naturally assumed Alexis was joking.

But the gaze fixed on him showed no sign of retreat. Alexis finally pushed his chair back, stood up, and extended his hand to Cecil.

Cecil stared blankly, only moving his lips. After alternating his gaze between the politely offered hand and Alexis’s smiling face, he finally furrowed his brow slightly.

“Are you serious?”

“I told you. I’m always serious.”

“I can’t. Not here.”

With so many eyes already on him, how could he possibly dance with Alexis? They would definitely think it strange. Cecile shook his head firmly, his refusal unwavering.

At that, Alexis narrowed his eyes thinly and shot Cecil a sideways glance.

“You never agree to anything easily. People usually call that resting on your looks.”

“Mock me all you want. It’s still not happening.”

“What if it’s somewhere without people?”

The renewed suggestion was sweet enough to be hard to refuse. When Cecil showed signs of wavering, Alexis seized the moment and held out his hand again.

“Come on. You should take my hand so it doesn’t feel embarrassed.”

Cecil looked at the long, smooth hand. How could he refuse a chance given like a gift? In the end, he took Alexis’s hand. The firm grip felt like it seized not only his palm but his heart as well.

The place Alexis led him to was a large terrace constructed on the upper floor of the banquet hall.

Like other terraces, sofas lined the walls for comfortable rest, but what made this one unique was its domed ceiling and glass walls on three sides. The secluded terrace almost looked like a scaled-down greenhouse.

“How did you even know about this place?”

“How many times do you think I’ve been here?”

Having visited the ducal residence as if it were his own home since childhood, Alexis moved as naturally as flowing water. He made sure the door was securely shut so no one could enter.

When he approached the window and pulled the handle, the massive glass panels folded open like a fan, revealing a wide, open view outside. Cecil leaned over the railing, fascinated by how the terrace could transform depending on its use.

“It’s incredible. You can hear the music all the way up here.”

“Perfect for dancing.”

Alexis placed a hand on Cecil’s waist and gently guided him. Before they knew it, the two were standing face to face at the center.

Once he assumed the posture to dance, Cecil’s worries came first.

“…I don’t know the woman’s part.”

“Who said you had to?”

Alexis wrapped Cecil’s arm around his own waist. He lifted the hand he was holding up to shoulder height, and placed his other hand on Cecil’s shoulder.

Seeing Alexis willingly take the female role was simply absurd and amusing. While Cecil burst into laughter, Alexis read the rhythm and slowly slid his feet.

Their dance flowed like water. The smooth marble floor was perfect for stepping and turning, and beyond the half-open terrace door, the elegant sound of strings drifted in.

Their steps matched perfectly to the melody. Alexis danced the woman’s part remarkably well. Rather than being ridiculous, it overflowed with grace.

“You’re good.”

“So are you.”

They exchanged compliments as they spun around. Their movements gradually slowed, and they stopped face to face to finish.

Cecil bowed like a gentleman and lightly kissed the back of Alexis’s hand. He was genuinely grateful for his thoughtfulness.

“I told you before that there were a few things I wanted to do before I die, didn’t you?”

“You did.”

“Dancing with Your Highness was one of them.”

He had once swallowed his envy while watching Yuria dance with Alexis at her debutante ball. He had thought it was a dream he could never realize, and had given up on it. Yet something impossible had just happened.

Cecil’s lips curved into a soft smile.

“I just achieved it.”

Alexis was silent for a moment. His eyes stared intently at Cecil’s face. He couldn’t understand why someone who looked this happy also seemed sad.

With his fingertips, Alexis gently traced Cecil’s neat eyebrows. Before he knew it, his hands were cupping Cecil’s small face.

“You can dance with me as much as you want from now on.”

“…Really?”

“Of course.”

He wanted to give him anything he desired. Whatever it was. Even if Cecil asked for the entire empire, he would gladly hand it over.

His throat tightened with undeniable first love. Wanting to pour out his affection blindly, Alexis pulled Cecil’s cheek closer.

The moment their lips met, breaths tinged with wine intertwined. Without showing surprise, Cecil wrapped his arms around Alexis’s waist and opened his mouth wide, accepting the forceful intrusion.

The kiss, ignited in an instant, produced wet, messy sounds. As if quenching a thirst, they sucked at each other’s lips endlessly and tangled their red tongues.

Even that felt insufficient. He sucked in the sweet saliva, rubbed thoroughly over the moist membranes, neat teeth, and even the roof of the mouth. Yet instead of being quenched, his mouth only grew drier.

“Mmph, ngh.”

Entangled with Alexis, Cecil staggered backward. The fabric of Alexis’s clothes, which he was gripping tightly, had long since become unsightly wrinkled.

After being pushed back a few steps, he found himself against a soft sofa. Though unintentional, he ended up lying down on it.

Even then, Alexis didn’t break the kiss, instead finding an opening on his own and overlapping his body with Cecil’s.

As if responding, Cecil grabbed the back of Alexis’s head and pulled him into his embrace. His fingers, burrowing through the soft golden hair, were bent from the effort to restrain his burning desire, his fingertips and knuckles turning white.

They continued their deep, lingering kiss, lying tangled on the sofa. Their tongues intertwined and sucked fiercely, like people competing to steal more of each other’s breath. Their cheeks and lips flushed crimson as Alexis’s right hand suddenly slipped inside Cecil’s shirt.

“…Ah, Your Highness!”

When cold fingers slid up past his navel, Cecil snapped back to his senses and cried out.

Sensing his startled reaction, Alexis slowly withdrew his hand. In his excitement, he had nearly undressed Cecil without realizing it.

Though he avoided making a mistake, he couldn’t help but feel regret. Tilting his head, he brushed his lips against Cecil’s warm ear.

“…Is it still too soon?”

“Do you… want to?”

As if that were even a question. Alexis let out a soft, breathless laugh.

Blood rushed heavily downward, to the point where his trousers felt ready to burst. He wanted to take Cecil right then and there. What did the location matter? He was the Crown Prince of the Verka Empire, someone who could take anything he desired.

But the moment he saw Cecil’s flustered face, he had to pull reason over instinct. A subtle trembling was transmitted through their touching bodies. After nearly being assaulted several times, it was only natural for Cecil to be afraid.

He steadied his breathing so Cecil wouldn’t notice his condition.

“I have no intention of forcing you.”

“……”

“I just got carried away.”

Cecil slowly sat upright.

With his eyes tightly shut, Alexis tried to calm himself, and Cecil quietly watched him before letting his gaze drop toward Alexis’s lower body.

The clear bulge straining against his trousers was unmistakable in what it signified. It was proof that Alexis truly desired him.

Cecil moved without another word. When Alexis felt the rustling and opened his eyes, Cecil had already slipped down to the floor and taken a place between his legs.

His eyes widened instantly.

“What are you doing?”

“…Could you be satisfied with just this today?”

“Cecil!”

“This isn’t forced. I’m doing it because I want to.”

Cecil let out a long breath. It had been a while, so he wasn’t sure he’d do well. Judging by the thickness faintly visible, Alexis’s was clearly quite large.