AWWEWNR Chapter 44

“Destined to die at the same time, on the same day, at the same time, I truly envy you.”

 

The corner of Lloyd’s lips twitched upward.

 

“You’re going to be the next Legionnaire.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Soon, the time will come when the demons will be on the move, and you will be the next Legionnaire, leading the charge against them.”

 

“Yes, indeed.”

 

“Do you fight well, sword or magic?”

 

“…I wield a sword.”

 

“A magic swordsman. Perhaps you should duel me sometime.”

 

“I would be honored.”

 

“I only wish to see your skill. Hanaella’s life is one with yours, so it would be a shame if you were to die in a battle against a demon.”

 

“…”

 

“Hanaella is more precious to me than anyone else.”

 

Shia realized that the unknown emotion that had been bubbling up from the bottom of his stomach earlier was jealousy at Lloyd’s words. 

 

Someone more precious than anyone else. 

 

The words from the Imperial Crown Prince’s mouth hit him like a ton of bricks.

 

He’d already been shocked once that he and his master were close enough to share such an act.

And now, during the act with the Crown Prince, he was shocked once more by Hanaella’s passionate moans, sounds that had never come out during the act with him.

 

His pride as a man aside, he felt ashamed of himself for allowing himself to give everything to her, even for the first time. 

 

I was both envious and curious about Lloyd’s ability to elicit such colorful moans from her lips.

 

Part of me wanted to ask him if he had to learn to take the lead in a relationship, and if so, how.

 

‘If I may ask, perhaps I shouldn’t ask His Highness, after all.’

 

Well, I remembered Thomas from the Knights bragging about his one-night stands with women he’d met in bars, so I figured I could ask him. 

 

After all, I had already made a name for myself as a man who couldn’t tell the difference between a moan and a scream. 

 

I didn’t want to give the Crown Prince any more reason to think I was clueless about women.

 

“Oh, and how to get the power of darkness from Hanaella.”

 

As if on a whim, Lloyd spoke to Shia, black smoke began to rise from his body, and before Lloyd could finish his next words, Shia’s body quickly turned to smoke and disappeared before his eyes.

 

“You said there were several ways to do that…”

 

Lloyd let out a short sigh and muttered to himself as the black smoke left in Shia’s place vanished into the air.

 

“I’ve already asked Hana to do it another way, so I don’t think I need to tell him.”

 

💫

 

“His Highness was saying something.”

 

Shia told her, having been teleported into the carriage by Hanaella, she looked slightly embarrassed and asked if it would be okay if she could hear. 

 

Shia said he knew it was a false scream, but his body had reacted instinctively, and Hanaella laughed awkwardly and explained that she hadn’t screamed, but had called his name, causing an awkward silence to fall between them.

 

In truth, she’d realized what the Crown Prince was trying to imply as soon as he’d asked about how to obtain black magic. 

 

Among the many ways, there was obviously the method of transferring it through a physical union, like a life covenant. 

 

It was a technique that the current Lord and Legionnaire, as male rulers, could not perform, but there were records of female rulers in the past using it to quickly transfer large amounts of black magic to their ministers.

 

As a minister who signed a life covenant to become a legionnaire himself, he has a larger vessel to hold the power than the current legionnaires. 

 

While there were ways to transfer the power, such as drinking Hanaella’s blood directly or staying in a circle of magic that could transmit the power, the easiest and quickest way would be to unite their bodies. 

 

As their ancestors had done in the past.

 

Perhaps the Crown Prince was trying to tell him not to do so. 

 

He didn’t hear Hanaella call out to him, though he teleported right to where she was.

 

“Well, we have another tea time in two days, so I’ll ask him then.”

 

Shia turned to her, looking slightly offended at her mention of meeting the Crown Prince again in two days.

 

“Are you… a couple?”

 

“Ah… Um. Well, publicly.”

 

“…”

 

“I asked him to pretend to be my fake lover for some reason. Why?”

 

“…Nothing.”

 

At the word ‘fake lover’, Shia’s expression relaxed. 

 

Looking at Shia like that, Hanaella shook her head in disbelief.

 

“Ah— I know it’s funny to say this now, but that situation back there… I hope there was no misunderstanding.”

 

“…?”

 

“It was my idea, but I admit it wasn’t common courtesy, and I should have rejected it outright.”

 

“…”

 

“Please don’t think of us as strange individuals. We are not perverts who enjoy such acts, not ever.”

 

Hanaella held up a hand and spoke firmly, and Shia gazed out the window, his ashen gray eyes glistening like clear glass beads.

 

“I don’t… think so.”

 

Something made him ashamed to show his face.

 

“I’d appreciate it if you did.”

 

“I know you said it was ugly, but… I didn’t see it, I heard it.”

 

“…Haha.”

 

“Also… it’s good to know exactly the difference between a moan and a scream.”

 

“…I see.”

 

“And…”

 

“…?”

 

“If I ever get the chance… I think I’d like to make those sounds come out of Lady Hanaella’s lips.”

 

Hanayela’s face instantly turned red.

 

‘What is this guy talking about with such an unreadable expression?’

 

As if sensing her thoughts, Shia turned his head and locked eyes with her. 

 

Gone was the shy, avoidant boy, and in his place was a handsome man who made her heart skip a beat just by making eye contact, and he moved his full lips to say something that made her eyes widen.

 

“Will you give me a chance?”

 

💫

 

The man who had been keeping an eye on Rosaryn came to Edward to inform him that she had met with Brandz and the young ladies at their favorite dessert shop to discuss the tea party.

 

When Edward learned from the man who had been watching her that Rosaryn had told Brandz at the dessert shop to host a tea party and be sure to invite Hanaella. 

 

And that she had told Brandz to change the venue on the day of the party and have her come to the Thearine household, Edward realized that this was not something to be taken lightly. 

 

He immediately summoned Myden.

 

How Hanaella thought they were going to kidnap her was beyond her, but if not kidnap, they were certainly plotting something against her.

 

“Why Lady Brandz?”

 

Instead of answering his question, Edward, who had been flipping through the material on House Andredell that he had brought with him, turned back to Myden with a raised eyebrow.

 

“They owe a debt?”

 

“Oh, it seems that Count Andredell has been dabbling in casinos, and Lady Brandz stopped him from selling his title.” 

 

“So they made a deal for a building…”

 

“Huh? A building? Who makes a deal with a building?”

 

Edward asked Myden, setting the material he was looking at down on his desk instead of answering his question.

 

“Myden, we’re hosting a young ladies’ tea party at the house of Andre dell soon, and on the recommendation of Norwen’s firm, you’re to organize it from start to finish.”

 

“What?!”

 

“You’ll bill me for all expenses, and I’ll make it clear, I don’t want any of the invited young ladies traveling to House Thearine’s because they can’t have a tea party at her house. Do you understand me?”

 

“…Okay… but Eddy.”

 

“…?”

 

“Are you, by any chance, interested in that young lady, Brandz?”

 

Edward stared at Myden in disbelief at the ridiculous question that came out of his mouth, unable to think of an answer.

 

“No, but the fact that you’re suddenly here with an investigation into the Lady Andredell, and that you’re using your own money to host her tea party… I thought you didn’t like noble ladies.”

 

“…”

 

“You’re secretly seeing only commoner women, and the rumors in your social circle are that you hate women and like men.”

 

“…”

 

“And then all of a sudden you show an interest in that young lady, Brandz…”

 

“Myden.”

 

“Oh, and there was Lady Hanaella. No, I mean, Hanaella, like the others, she directly hit on you…”

 

“Myden.”

 

“Hmph, is that it?” 

 

“…?”

 

“You haven’t had any encounters with commoner women for a while, and now you’ve finally decided to try out your dazzling skills on noble young ladies…”

 

“Myden!”

 

Startled. Myden’s shoulders flinched at the sudden shout of Edward’s voice calling him, and he looked up at Edward in surprise. 

 

Sighing briefly, Edward addressed him.

 

“Have you forgotten, my lord, that the young lady Hanaella asked me for a favor?”