AWWEWNR Chapter 38 🔞

Recognizing the initial pleasure of the movement, Shia let go of the grip of reason and grabbed Hanaella’s waist with both hands and began rocking directly into her. 

 

Hanaella moaned lowly as she gripped Shia’s hand tightly, forcing him to move faster than he could.

 

Once she was rocking her hips in time with Shia’s hands, Shia’s hands moved to her breasts. 

 

Hot, wet fingers gently caressed Hanaella’s stiff little budding.

 

It was a skillful touch, to be sure, but the gentleness made her burn. 

 

‘It would feel good to squeeze a little harder,’ Hanaella thought and gripped Shia’s wrists tightly. 

 

Shia didn’t stop grinding against her chest, as if it was pleasurable to touch her, and Hanaella released the tension in her heart through the intensity of her hip movements.

 

As they both grew more and more ecstatic, they found each other’s lips before anyone could say who was first, culminating in a tongue-twisting kiss. 

 

Shia shuddered weakly, feeling his body tremble with the pleasure of the first time.

 

💫

 

It was late afternoon when Lionel came to the Empress’s palace. 

 

The Empress glared at her son, who had only just shown up after breakfast, and asked, 

 

“I sent word for you to come, and you’ve only just now arrived.”

 

“…The matter with my brother is still not completely resolved, and if I come to my mother like this, I might arouse unnecessary suspicion.”

 

The Empress felt bitter that Lionel, who had personally shot the arrow at Lloyd, was reluctant to come to see her, fearing that he might arouse unwarranted suspicion.

 

‘Why did you shoot that arrow there in the first place…? If you wanted to get rid of Lloyd, you should have used your head a little more.’ 

 

The Empress gave a short sigh, feeling that her son was still young after all, and spoke reassuringly to Lionel.

 

“The culprit turned out to be Baron Steo, who lost his temper when one business venture after another failed, and in his conviction tried to murder the Crown Prince of this country.”

 

“…!”

 

“The case of the attempted murder of the Crown Prince has been settled, as he will soon be executed.”

 

“…I see.”

 

“So you can relax now.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“Now, talk to this mother. Why on earth you did what you did.”

 

“…It was a mistake.”

 

“A mistake?”

 

“Really. I was just hunting… Anyway, my brother was unlucky enough to be hit by an arrow I shot. It was a mistake, obviously.” 

 

“…Lionel.”

 

“Yes, Mother.”

 

“That mistake could have taken the life of my son and the life of this mother, do you realize that?”

 

“…!”

 

“He is the one who will be the next Emperor recognized by the current Emperor, it takes a lot of effort and brains to get rid of someone like that, do you understand?”

 

“…It was really a mistake…”

 

“I don’t know why you want to kill him.”

 

“I don’t particularly want to kill him.”

 

“Listen to me, Lionel.”

 

“…”

 

“This mother will do it.”

 

“…”

 

“I’ll get blood on my hands, I’ll make you Emperor, I’ll do it all, so all you have to do is trust me and do nothing.” 

 

“…”

 

“Until this mother gives you the Emperor’s seat. Just stay quiet, stay still, and don’t do anything.”

 

“…”

 

Lionel was furious. 

 

He hadn’t really meant to kill Lloyd, it was just a mistake, but the Empress was misunderstanding him. 

 

“Yes,” he said in a low voice, knowing she wouldn’t listen to him if he tried to explain himself.

 

“By the way, the Lady of Thearine was at the Empress’s court yesterday.”

 

“…The Lady of Thearine…?”

 

“Ah, you mean Count Tharrott’s step-sister.”

 

“Yes. The young lady said something interesting.”

 

“…Like what?”

 

“She said that the first girl born in the Ariel family in 200 years had her coming-of-age ceremony this time.”

 

Ah!— I had seen her with my brother before.

 

“They say she’s in love with the Crown Prince. Did you know that?”

 

“…No…! I didn’t know that.”

 

“They’re going to make their relationship official soon.”

 

“…”

 

“That’s the fox that my son’s brother is. He’s trying to get his hands on Hayden’s neutrality, even the darkness.”

 

“…But Lady Ariel can’t be Crown Princess, can she? If Hayden’s Darkness becomes Crown Princess, the nobles will rise up. Will the Great Cathedral stand still again?”

 

“That’s why it’s a fox, isn’t it? He’ll use Ariel’s ritual to draw the Knights to his side, and the Crown Princess will be greeted with another honor to solidify his power.”

 

“…Ah…”

 

“The Crown Prince is a manipulative and devious man, not to be trifled with.”

 

“…”

 

“Which brings me to you, Lionel. Why don’t you make yourself acquainted with the Lady of Ariel?”

 

“…I…?”

 

“Yes. Why can’t you do what the Crown Prince does, son?”

 

The Empress smiled at Lionel. The laugh of refusal. Lionel knew full well that it was a command.

 

💫

 

It’s tea time with Lloyd. As they sipped tea together, Hanaella looked at Lloyd in surprise. 

 

The words that came out of his mouth were quite unbelievable. 

 

She’d seen Lionel running away with her own eyes, and now it was Baron Steo.

 

“What in the world was Baron Steo thinking…!”

 

“You’re sure he didn’t do it, are you?”

 

“Of course, I saw his face…!”

 

After shouting in anger, Hanaella closed her mouth with an apology. 

 

She hadn’t told Lloyd, even though she knew that Lionel might be the culprit. 

 

It was natural to be cautious when royalty was involved, but it was cowardly not to tell Lloyd about the man she most suspected.

 

“It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me.”

 

Lloyd said, smiling brightly, “Rest assured, whoever you saw, I won’t force you to speak.”

 

‘…What the hell is this guy… Shouldn’t he be mad at me for not telling him sooner? I mean, I know it wasn’t him who tried to kill him, but it was someone else who deserved it.’

 

If Lloyd was angry with him, he had nothing to say. She was a coward who only cared about her own safety.

 

“…I saw the Second Prince.”

 

For a moment, Lloyd’s pupils widened slightly.

 

“Then… I saw it clearly. He was riding on a white horse, holding a bow used by the imperial family in one hand, as if he was in a hurry to get away…”

 

“…I see.”

 

His face was grim. Despite realizing that the person who tried to kill him was his half-brother.

 

“I’ll testify even now, Baron Steo is definitely not the culprit.”

 

“No. That’s enough, Hana.”

 

“But….”

 

“Baron Steau must have gotten a price for his life, and the real culprit is the one I had in mind, so I’m not surprised.”

 

“…!”

 

“I can’t tell you the whole story, but I’m quite familiar with this sort of thing, so you don’t have to do anything. And you don’t have to feel guilty.”

 

At Lloyd’s words, a part of Hanaella’s heart throbbed with inexplicable sadness.

 

Lloyd had almost died, had really died in the past. 

 

She didn’t know exactly what kind of life he led in the palace, but she knew that he had lived a life where someone was constantly trying to kill him.

 

Even so, even though he knew who was trying to kill him, he kept his mouth shut and told himself it was okay. 

 

It’s okay to not speak up, to not feel guilty, because he understands the position of a neutral family.

 

‘Something a selfish person would never say is okay.’ 

 

When you’re born and raised as the Crown Prince of an Empire, it’s even harder to understand, or even try to understand, another’s position, and this guy would probably be a noble warrior.

 

“And you’ve sworn to keep me alive as long as I have breath, so all is forgiven.”

 

Ah, I don’t think he’s going to be a warlord.

 

“By the way, when do you intend to have Leige and Duke Edward meet? I’ve already spoken to Tran.”

 

“Oh, soon, but before that, there’s this place called Norwen’s office…”

 

Hanaella said that she was afraid of what the Thearine siblings might do to her, so she had commissioned Ron of Norwen’s to spy on them.

 

Lloyd was surprised that Hanaella knew Ron, but didn’t push it. 

 

But when she told him that Ron’s entourage was Edward, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “Duke Edward?!”

 

Lloyd had heard about Ron of Norwen’s agency from the Emperor, that he was a man who moved in secret on behalf of royalty. 

 

The Emperor had nothing against him, as he had gained something from him, and he had never harmed the Emperor himself.

 

I had expected him to be a nobleman, but the Duke of Delioffe, the vanguard of the old aristocracy, was quite surprised to find him running the affairs of the imperial family. 

 

Moreover, he was commissioned by Hanaella, someone who only works for the royal family.

 

That alone was surprising enough, but Lloyd’s eyes widened at the next words that came out of Hanaella’s lips.

 

“And I, the next Legionnaire of the Knights, signed a life covenant yesterday.”