FLBE Chapter 10 Part 2
by SYLPHIt wasn’t as if I’m going to to attend an Imperial banquet—what was the point of preparing so many dresses?
As dumbfounded as she was by Lance’s eccentricity, she couldn’t help but feel a little grateful for his considerate gesture.
“Liena!”
“I’m getting dressed! Just give me a moment!”
Hearing Lance’s voice from outside, Liena hastily grabbed a simple one-piece dress and called out urgently. She quickly got dressed, tied her long, flowing hair into a messy ponytail, and stepped outside.
When she opened the door, Lance was sitting nonchalantly on a sofa. His gaze roamed leisurely over her. Feeling a bit awkward, Liena sat down across from him, half-chiding him as she spoke.
“Where on earth did you get all those clothes?”
“Where else? I bought them all.”
“No, I mean, why did you prepare so many outfits? And the dresses—when do you think I’m going to wear those…?”
Lance’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Liena grumble, dragging out her words. Yet, the corners of his lips twitched, revealing a strangely amused expression.
“Why wouldn’t there be a reason to wear a dress? This is a proper nation, and we have our share of banquets too.”
“…Really?”
“Of course. Do you even know how lively it is outside right now?”
“Why?”
“Because a Holy Queen has descended upon the land of mages. A grand welcome is only fitting.”
“Q-Queen”
Her eyes widened, and her cheeks turned red. Lance’s narrowed eyes curved pleasantly at her reaction. She was wearing the yellow dress he’d chosen for her; she looked as radiant as the morning sun. The dark hair she’d tied back was making her fair skin stand out even more.
“You look beautiful.”
“Huh?”
“You’re making it really hard for me to keep it together so early in the day.”
“…!”
“When’s your next heat? I’d love for it to come soon.”
“A-Are you crazy?!”
Liena burst out in frustration, glaring at him, as he licked his lips with a lascivious glint in his eyes. She had no idea that every reaction of hers was driving him crazier.
The truth was, Lance was doing his best to hold himself back. Until she felt settled and at ease in this place, he had decided to let her have her way.
Still, every little thing she did made it difficult. Even the faintest whiff of her pheromones was enough to drive him wild, and her vivid responses to his every word only made her seem all the more endearing. Suppressing the desire welling up inside him took everything he had.
Spotting the predatory glint in Lance’s eyes, Liena quickly changed the subject.
“When can I see my friends?”
“In a few days.”
“Why so long?”
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, wondering if he was planning to back out on his promise.
“Think about it. Where do you think the Emperor would search first once you went missing?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t you think he’ll search the places you’re most likely to go?”
Ah… How did I not think of that? She had broken down crying in front of Rhetrik, declaring how much her friends meant to her. Of course, they would be his first targets.
“He wouldn’t harm them, would he?”
Her voice trembled at the thought. She recalled how Rhetrik had threatened to mount their heads beside hers.
“He still needs to find you, so he won’t go that far yet. But your friends will probably learn who you are, where you’ve been, and what you’ve been doing this whole time.”
“…!”
Who she was… where she had been… and what she had been doing?
That she had become a saintess, been dragged to the imperial palace, and reduced to the emperor’s plaything. Is he really going to reveal all of that?
Liena’s face fell as she realized that was exactly what might happen.
If her friends found out everything, how could she possibly face them again? What if they thought she was dirty and pointed fingers at her—what would she do then?
“You really do have a bad habit, you know.”
“Huh…?”
“Worrying in advance about things that haven’t even happened yet. Is that your thing?”
“Wh-what are you talking about…?”
“Focus on what’s in front of you. Worry about the future when it comes. Why drag it into the present and fret over it?”
As if he had read her mind, Lance pinpointed her thoughts with uncanny accuracy. Staring at him with a blank expression, Liena was startled when he suddenly stood up and extended a hand toward her.
“Let’s go.”
“W-where to?”
“A date.”
“A date…?”
“You do like being cooped up inside, don’t you? Personally, being in a confined space just gives me all sorts of ideas.”
“No, I—I’ll go out!”
Flustered, Liena shot to her feet. Lance was still smiling, but the look in his eyes was turning more ominous by the second. Something told her it was unwise to remain in this room any longer.
After all, even though they’d sworn a promise via the sigil, Lance was still a formidable mage. Who knew what spells or schemes he might pull? It was probably safest not to tempt him with any more reason to snap.
But then he suddenly tilted his head with a dissatisfied expression.
“Why are you so wary of me? You practically melted when we kissed back at the palace.”
“Lance!”
“You got all cozy with the Emperor and the Pope, but then you build a wall whenever it’s me. Makes me feel a bit left out.”
As she had feared, he abruptly flipped a switch. Taking a step closer, he radiated a predatory aura. Alarmed, Liena backed away, issuing a warning.
“R-Remember the mark of our oath! If you lay a finger on my bo—body, yours will—nngh!”
In a flash, he grabbed her cheeks and murmured in a mischievous whisper.
“I do owe you a good morning kiss, don’t I? Three times a day, wasn’t it? If I skip that, my body’s the one that ends up getting torn apart.”
“Mmph!”
Before she could stop him, he stole her lips. His kiss wasn’t rough or forceful; he gently parted her lips while kissing and slipped his tongue inside naturally. Her eyelids fluttered shut as she gazed into his glittering violet eyes.
What is this feeling? The kiss was so intense that she couldn’t come to her senses. It was like she was biting into a piece of rich chocolate—so sweet and dreamy that she wanted to swallow all the saliva collecting on her tongue. The lavender scent emanating from him only made her feel hazier.