Chapter 94

Chapter 94

Come to think of it, there was something she wanted to say to him earlier. Iellie glanced back at Zachary, and she opened her mouth cautiously.

“Hey, Zachary…”

“Yes?”

“I have something to tell you in advance.”

At those words, Zachary tilted his head. She lightly licked her dry lips with the tip of her tongue and continued her words.

“I-I want to send a wedding invitation to the Princess.”

Honestly, even if no one else knew, Iellie thought that the Princess deserved a wedding invitation. If she hadn’t informed her in advance that the former Duke had already died, she wouldn’t have even thought of returning to Zachary… So, at least in this way, she wanted to express her gratitude.

“Well, do whatever you want.”

He answered in a light tone.

Iellie, who was watching Zachary’s eyes, cautiously asked a question.

“…Aren’t you angry?”

“Why should I be angry?”

“But, you might feel uncomfortable with me continuing my friendship with the Princess.”

In addition, the Emperor deliberately sent the Princess down at this funeral as well. It was an action that clearly showed the intention to interfere in Hessenweiz’s internal affairs.

Zachary lightly flicked her cheek and smiled mischievously.

“Oh, Len.”

“What?”

“I don’t want you to give up your friendship with other people because of me.”

As he answered lightly, Iellie felt her heart thump. There were many people who try to control a woman’s range of behavior just because she was married. Of course, she knew Zachary wasn’t that kind of person.

“I was already watching how the Princess and Lady Rondo were nice to you in the Capital the other day.”

Still, she didn’t know that he was closely examining who she was close with.

“The family of Marquis Rondo is famous for its balanced attitude even in politics.”

Embracing her by the waist and pondering his thoughts, after a while, Zachary nodded his head slowly and spoke.

“Even though Lady Rondo was chosen as the Empress… The Marquis is not one to take advantage of his daughter’s position.”

“Really?”

“The Marquis is someone who loves his daughter dearly. Besides…”

He remembered the time he met Marquis Rondo. When he went up to the Capital, he was the first person to speak to him. The Emperor’s eyes were wide open at them, so it must not be easy for him to do such a thing.

“I know that the current Empress position only looks good, but has no substance.”

Zachary smiled.

While it was a fact that could be known with just a little peek, there were many people who covered their eyes even with such obvious flaws. Fortunately, the Marquis had more of a well-rounded political sense.

“Truthfully, Marquis Rondo wouldn’t have wanted to send his daughter as empress.”

“…What?”

“Of course, it’s obvious when you see that the Lady doesn’t really want a position as empress.”

Zachary narrowed his eyes.

Judging by Iellie’s letter, Lady Rondo had already clearly calculated the gains and losses she would gain by marrying the emperor.

‘Though she’s done her calculations, she probably won’t be too happy about marrying the Emperor.’

There were things in the world that couldn’t be helped. Thinking so, he gave Iellie a pat on the shoulder.

“Rather, it might be better to build friendships with the Princess and Lady Rondo.”

“Zachary.”

“Perhaps they want that, too?”

Zachary, as Duke Hessenweitz, made a sober judgment. It was true. The Princess did not know when she would be abandoned by the Emperor and an empress whose position was unstable. So for them, the mistress of a mighty duchy was a good target for friendship.

He spoke kindly to Iellie.

“Still, this is just my personal political opinion.”

“….”

Iellie nodded her head with a slightly uncomfortable face. He realized that there were very few people in her life who she could call ‘friend.’ In addition, he wanted to hear what she wanted.

“Len.”

“Yes?”

“You can do whatever you want.”

She didn’t know he would say this. As Iellie met his gaze sneakily, Zachary said again.

“I want you to have fun with people you like.”

His words went on in a plain tone. What he was expressing now was complete sincerity without selfishness.

“You don’t have to worry about your political stance or anything like that. I will do that part. Of course…”

Lifting the back of her hand lightly and kissing it, he smiled afterward and persisted, “…I wish I was the person you like most.”

The little face turned bright red. Iellie, who had just nodded her head without saying anything, hurriedly opened her mouth.

“That’s of-of course…”

“Of course?”

“The person I like the most is you… Of course.”

She got shy.

When he saw her like that, she was so cute that Zachary kissed her cheeks and forehead immediately. Iellie’s cheeks blushed and she hugged Zachary’s neck tightly. Like that, she was enjoying her husband’s cuteness.

“Len, what are you so shy about?”

But just then, a soft voice came. Iellie widened her eyes. Zachary sluggishly put his lips to her ear.

“Tell me one more time.”

The whispers that poured into her ears had a sweet yet profound echo. A seductive voice, like a hungry beast luring its prey. Feeling the pleasant goose bumps running down her spine, she stiffened her shoulders.

“…What?”

“What you just said.”

As he asked, Iellie replied to Zachary as if possessed.

“Th-the person I like the most…”

The next moment, the strength in her arm loosened. Zachary, who had slightly widened their distance, stared at her and she swallowed a gulp. The transparent shining blue eyes are so deep that she can’t tell the depth.

“…is you.”

After falling down there, Iellie didn’t think she would be able to get out of it forever. Zachary furrowed his eyes. At the same time, he twisted his head down.

“Sometimes… Len.”

His voice lowered a bit.

Carefully caressed her cheek, his hard fingers brushed her lips, rubbing her chin before running her neck down. Iellie gazed at him as she felt a tingling run down her spine.

“I feel like I want to swallow you from head to toe.”

His languid voice was full of longing that he could not hide. At that time, she lifted her toes, and after clasping their lips together with a tickle, she pulled them off. A provocative light penetrated her green eyes.

“You can swallow it.”

“What?”

“Swallow it.”

Hearing those words, Zachary’s eyes darkened.

“…You gave permission first.”

Even though they couldn’t remember exactly who kissed first, when she came to her senses, Iellie frantically followed Zachary’s tongue as he brushed her mouth. She thought, unable to control her panting breath.

‘It seems like I raised a beast that had been pretending to be a puppy…’

That thought was the last.

As even the least bit of reason was blown away by the persistent kiss, Iellie was stuck in her dense senses.

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