Between lips that opened slightly and then closed, excited breaths were exchanged, and as I opened my mouth to follow him, something hot invaded inside.
A pace that seemed a bit impatient, yet not at all rushed. He would push strongly, then slow down when I struggled to breathe, gasping for air, only to passionately reconnect again as if unable to hold back. Heat filled up, causing my body to tense.
“Relax.”
“B-but…”
“I know. It’s okay. I’ll be gentle.”
Edan whispered kindly before overlapping his breath with mine again. His hand gently wrapped around my waist while the other slowly trailed up my back, brushing my shoulder and reaching the nape of my neck.
Edan held me with just enough force to keep me from drifting away as I kept getting pushed back. A blissful feeling, soft yet rough, as if I could be devoured like this. The touch caressing my nape soothingly, and the hand around my waist that suddenly tightened then relaxed again.
All my senses were focused on Edan’s every movement.
Unknowingly, I trembled and wrapped my arms around Edan’s neck at the repeated dizzying contact. At this, Edan slightly raised the corners of his mouth and pushed against me again as if he had been waiting.
“Don’t act so seductively. It’s hard to hold back.”
It wasn’t even the pleasure from healing power, yet every single action of Edan’s was incredibly sweet.
The room filled with mine and Edan’s breathing sounds. It was just a kiss, yet it felt so good that my mind was becoming hazy.
It had been a difficult day. My body was in pain and tired, and my heart was very sorrowful. But now, all those exhausting moments seemed to be forgotten.
Living as the Grand Saint holds no meaning for me, but the only thing I’m thankful for is that I can heal Edan. I’m glad that it’s only me, no one else, who can heal this person. I’m happy that I’m necessary to Edan.
I like him. I like Edan so much.
If possible, I wish this moment would never end. Forever.
Such a thought crossed my mind for an instant.
Forever…?
Is that… possible?
“…”
As I loosened my arms that had been embracing him and caught my breath, Edan’s movements stopped.
“Did it hurt?”
No. I shook my head from side to side. Then, tears that had been filling my eyes to the point of blurring my vision fell down in drops. Edan’s hand that had been wrapped around my waist loosened.
“I won’t go all the way. I have no intention of doing that to someone who’s hurt…”
“You won’t do it in the future either.”
I hadn’t meant to cry, but tears kept falling endlessly in drops. Even as I wiped them away with the back of my hand, they filled up again.
“What do you mean?”
I really hate this so much.
“Lati.”
I had forgotten, but the scroll with the arranged marriage written on it came to mind.
“What is it? If something’s bothering you, tell me.”
I focused my eyes and wiped away my tears thoroughly. Then, breathing heavily with a stinging nose and rising sorrow, I opened my mouth.
“Are you going to get married?”
Edan’s hand, which was about to caress my cheek, stopped mid-air.
“What?”
“I saw everything. The scroll hidden in the room…”
As I spoke without thinking, my voice unconsciously grew quieter, realizing it was no different from being caught peeking secretly.
“I told them to put it away.”
Edan, seemingly recalling Ruben, clicked his tongue briefly and frowned. Then he carelessly wiped my eyes. I squeezed shut the eyes he had wiped and rubbed them hard again with the back of my hand.
“Edan.”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to marry Princess Ciela?”
Edan’s signature, which I had checked several times, appeared vividly before my eyes.
Edan Dietrich. Although I think Edan has already decided to have an arranged marriage by signing…
But he’s still treating me so kindly. Then doesn’t that mean he has at least some feelings for me?
So couldn’t he say he won’t do it? That what I saw was a misunderstanding. Couldn’t he tell me it’s not true?
I stared intently at Edan, full of expectation.
Come on. Hurry.
But Edan just quietly looked down at me. Then he raised his head to look at the ceiling, lowered it again meaninglessly, and ran his hand through his hair.
“…What if I do?”
What?
Thump. My heart sank. My body, which had been hotter than ever just moments ago, cooled down in an instant.
Perhaps because I had unknowingly expected otherwise, I felt as if my heart had been slashed in a moment.
Edan’s eyes, which I met as I slowly raised my head, were unwavering and firm.
The crackling sound of wood burning in the fireplace filled the room. The moonlight pouring through the window began to disappear, obscured by clouds.
As the light was completely swallowed by the clouds, in that instant, I bit my lower lip.
“I don’t like it!”
Words spat out irritably.
Edan’s eyes, which had been calmly looking at me after turning my insides upside down, grew slightly larger.
“What?”
“I said I don’t like it.”
Ha, Edan let out a laugh as if dumbfounded and stroked the nape of his neck.
“It’s not something I can decide. It’s a marriage based on the needs between empires, and whether the princess likes it or not, if it’s a path that benefits the empire, I ultimately have to follow orders.”
“…”
“Lati.”
“…”
It’s cowardly. I know that too. Even without explaining it all so coldly, I know that Edan is a prince and that arranged marriages are an obligation he must fulfill. It can happen. It’s something that happens.
I understand. If it were someone else’s situation, that is.
Recently, I had hoped that maybe Edan liked me for who I am, not just for my healing power.
Honestly, I thought so.
Because he treats me so well! For someone who only wants healing power, you treat me too well!
You acted as if you loved me.
When I said I felt like throwing up, you were considerate enough to even refuse healing, so it’s understandable to misinterpret. The situation is like that.
…But it seems that wasn’t the case.
“As a prince, there are things I have no choice but to do.”
Just now, Edan stabbed my heart with a knife.
With a simple word, he clearly cut my heart to pieces, though invisibly.
Edan drew the line so firmly that I couldn’t even throw a tantrum.
The wounds wouldn’t hurt anymore because of the medicine, but my abdomen ached and throbbed.
“Then do it.”
I said, lowering my eyes and avoiding Edan’s gaze.
“But I won’t congratulate you.”
I’m sorry, but I can’t be that kind of woman.
I abruptly stood up from my seat.
“I absolutely won’t congratulate you. And I’ll never see you again for the rest of my life…!”
“Kuk.”
…Kuk?
Edan, who had grasped my fingers as I was turning away, let out a small laugh.
“You’re laughing? Is what I’m saying funny to you?”
This is ridiculous. There’s a limit to underestimating me.
“Let go!”
I tried to shake off Edan’s hand…
“…”
Ha, damn. I tried to shake it off, but it’s not working. Damn it!
He’s freakishly strong.
As I frowned deeply, Edan chuckled and wrapped his large arm around my waist, sitting me down on his firm thigh.
“Scary, princess.”
“I’m not in the mood for jokes. Let go.”
“Are you angry?”
“I’m beyond angry, you know?”
“Good. Well done.”
This man! I felt like anger was surging to the top of my head. I clenched my fists tightly. Then Edan chuckled again.
“Want to hit me?”
“You think I can’t?”
Kuk kuk. And he laughs again.
I won’t let it slide anymore. I stood up from my seat and punched his chest. Thud!
“I won’t.”
Huh?
“I’m saying I won’t get married or anything like that.”
Edan, who had wrapped his arm around my waist again, naturally pulled me to sit on the sofa.
When I didn’t respond, Edan asked again.
“Lati, did you hear me? I’m not getting married.”
Only then did I come to my senses at his repeated words.
“But there was a signature there…”
“Edan Dietrich?”
“Yes. It was clearly written.”
“My signature isn’t my full name. I usually sign as DT. If I had to say, that signature was pre-written by the Empress. It wasn’t me agreeing to it.”
It felt like I had been hit on the back of my head.
“Then why did you speak like that just now?”
I asked with wide eyes, dumbfounded, but Edan languidly closed and opened his eyes. As if it were nothing.
“I wanted you to feel my emotions a bit too.”
“What? What emotions?”
“For me, even if other guys just touch your fingertips, I feel like I’m going to go crazy. I want to kill them.”
As he spoke, Edan smiled brightly. It was a pretty eye-smile curved like a crescent moon, but the look in his eyes filled with killing intent was chilling.
“But you’re not like that.”
Wow… Are you really joking? There are no women around you to begin with! What is there for me to be jealous of?
“And.”
Edan paused for a moment before speaking.
“Someone was crying.”
Ha, really, I can’t believe this.
“You don’t like me crying?”
“I don’t.”
“Why?”
After asking, my heart started beating like crazy, tactlessly.
Maybe this time he’ll say he likes me? In this kind of atmosphere, it’s okay to say something like that, right?
He won’t get married because he doesn’t like me crying, and he gave me such a sweet kiss, and he’s smiling at me right now.
I stared intently at Edan in tension. And Edan’s answer was.
“Because you’re pretty.”
At those words, I foolishly opened my mouth. As the moonlight that had been hidden by clouds revealed itself, Edan’s golden hair sparkled as if blessed by the stars.
“You… said I wasn’t pretty before.”
“You are pretty.”
“…”
It’s what I wanted to hear, but am I not objectively unpretty right now?
My face is a mess of tears and snot, and my body is mottled with bruises. It’s unfair to say I’m pretty at this moment when you left me alone when I was fine.
All sorts of words floated around in my head, but I couldn’t choose what to say and just blinked my eyes.
“I’m saying you’re pretty, Lati.”
Edan repeated his words as if it wasn’t a lie.
And as my face turned red, finally accepting the situation, he raised his body and pressed his lips below my neck.
“You’re the only one pretty in this world.”
Edan’s voice resonated softly by my ear.
“You were pretty from the start.”
It was a gentle voice that could melt my entire body.
Chu. Several more short kisses followed, briefly connecting and separating.
“And I can’t make you cry over something like this. I’m looking forward to it.”
“To what?”
“You crying.”
What does that mean? The man who just said he didn’t like me crying and wouldn’t get married because of it!
I frowned and tilted my head, as if I really didn’t understand what he meant.
“I told you I wouldn’t let you off even if you cry while underneath me.”
Edan smiled smoothly, as if giving an advance notice.
Ah, no. Geez. Who’s the really perverted one here.
“I might not cry!”
I shouted loudly out of embarrassment. And thud, I was laid down on the sofa.
“I went easy on you because you were hurt, and now you’re talking back?”
Edan’s body, backlit by the moonlight, overlapped on top of mine.
______
In This Life, I Won’t Be Foolish To Lose You Again (Female-dominant)
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]