By Zephyria If that guy comes along, I’m happy.
But the more I thought about it, the more concerned I became. So, after hesitating for a moment, I asked.
“Does Ruben really need to indulge that guy’s whims so much?”
There was a similar incident before.
I recalled Benjamin’s shameless face, throwing a tantrum about wanting to go into the Dragon’s Lair one more time in the dead of night. Ruben’s friends, on the other hand, were even more polite and formal, so I wondered if my friend Benjamin could be so informal with Ruben.
However, Ruben had a cheerful smile the entire time.
“He’s your friend.”
“Still.”
“He’s my friend too.”
The child took hold of my chin and slowly scanned me with his gaze. I became conscious of his gaze, which traced its way down my forehead, between my brows, the tip of my nose, and my lips, and I became careful with every breath. I blinked slowly. Looking at each other like this, kissing and meeting eyes didn’t feel so different. My mouth felt dry.
Ruben whispered.
“Are you jealous?”
“⋯What?”
Me?
No, just as I was about to retort, asking what he meant by that. His sweet smile, as if it could melt, made me speechless. Whatever it was, Ruben seemed to be having a lot of fun, so I didn’t reply.
Ruben stared intently at my face for a long time before suddenly pulling my head into a hug. My nose was squashed against his soft yet firm chest. Even as I reflexively hugged Ruben’s waist, I still couldn’t understand.
His voice, full of laughter, rumbled through his broad chest.
“It’s just that we went on the last Pilgrimage together, and I asked Lord Claudian for many favors while you were away. I’ve only received help from those two, so I wanted to do this much for them.”
“⋯.”
“I don’t want to tell lovers who have just started dating that they have to be apart for a year.”
A year?
Indeed, this continent must be quite vast. It wasn’t as if I was just dashing across it alone; visiting each territory, staying at scenic villas, and leisurely passing the time would make time fly. It wasn’t just about planting the Sacred Tree; it seemed they intended to install a proper portal as well, which would take even more time.
But there was another thing that puzzled me.
“Ruben, are you alright with this?”
“Huh?”
“⋯It’s a long journey, and you’re taking only my friends, not any of your own friends with you…”
“That’s why you have to do well.”
“⋯What?”
“You have to stay by my side so I don’t get lonely, so I don’t feel desolate.”
Ah.
I see.
Now that I heard it, it wasn’t a difficult thing. If I alone could satisfy Ruben, that would be better for me too. Without adding any unnecessary words, I nodded.
“Yes. I will.”
“Mmm. Whatever the pretext, it’s the last journey before I step down from the Throne… I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve already taken care of my luggage, but is there anything you absolutely want to bring?”
“No. I only need Ruben.”
Ruben let out a sharp inhale, and the chest pressed against mine swelled firmly.
Ruben released my face, cupped my cheeks, and kissed my entire face several times. My eyes, cheeks, and lips were showered with affection, falling like a drizzle, like a shower, and I was drenched, feeling languid.
“⋯I said this because I expected it, but hearing it….”
“Hearing it?”
“⋯It’s better than I thought.”
Did Emperors learn how to say cute things separately somewhere?
I was lost in thought, wanting to swallow his words that were melting away. As I looked up, unable to say a word, Ruben chuckled and pressed his booted foot onto my knee as if to crush it. I reflexively grabbed his ankle. He had run out without even wearing socks. His round ankle bone was perfectly within my fingertips.
Now, neither of us could smile. The study was instantly filled with silence.
Ruben took a ragged breath, licked his lower lip a couple of times, and asked in a slightly hoarse voice.
“Anything else you’re curious about…?”
Of course not.
I was still curious about Ruben. I couldn’t possibly know, no matter how much I pondered alone, whether the nipple hidden within this collar was still erect, or if he would laugh or cry if I licked my way up his pale, soft belly. Rummaging through my mind, tangled with all sorts of lewd thoughts, I managed to formulate a decent question.
“⋯Is there a reason for departing… before the reception is even over?”
“⋯Ah.”
I was wrong. My hidden intentions had been exposed. A faint blush of red appeared in Ruben’s eyes at my hesitant voice. But, as always, Ruben didn’t skip over my question and calmly explained.
“I decided that way because I wanted to avoid the fuss. Food, drinks, and a small amount of financial support are provided throughout the reception. Those who came from afar will return to their respective territories after enjoying the capital to their fullest, so I thought it would be more convenient to leave before then.”
“⋯Hmm.”
“And, there are too many eyes in the Palace…”
I knew the unspoken part of his words. I learned it through spending several nights with Ruben this time. We needed to escape people’s gazes more.
“Yes. I will hide you.”
“How are you going to hide me?”
“Like this.”
As I spoke, I pulled Ruben’s waist towards me. The child placed his hands on my shoulders and was willingly pulled to sit on my right thigh. As my somewhat damp cheek touched my neck, Ruben let out a laugh. My heated fingertips gently stroked my wrist.
Holding Ruben fully in my arms, I asked softly.
“Where are we going first?”
“For now, I think we’ll install the first portal near the South Gate of the capital. At first, I thought about installing it near the North Gate, closer to the Imperial Palace, but the South Gate is closer to the center of the Empire, so I thought it would be more useful.”
“Hmm.”
“And then… we must visit Earldom Ernhardt first. Originally, I planned to visit Duke Ernhardt’s Territory first and then head down the coast, but that won’t do. Let’s go to the Duchy last. I should have properly thanked my mother and father this time, but I skipped it.”
The Emperors of the Sierran Empire had always been extremely wary of their maternal relatives. Even Ruben’s mother, Empress Dowager Kate, did not interact conspicuously with her own family. Despite that, Ruben always tried to take care of my family one step ahead of me. Just like now.
How could I express this grateful heart?
“I would also like to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager before we leave.”
“⋯Mmm. Then, I’ll let her know we’ll visit tomorrow morning. Let’s go pay our respects and then leave.”
“Yes.”
“⋯No. Would you rather write a letter?”
“Why?”
“Mother… she would probably prefer that.”
“Haha, yes. Let’s do that.”
Still, it was delightful to see him no longer wary of his mother compared to before.
Ruben lowered his eyes and acted demure. I kissed his upright cheek and sharp chin with smacking sounds. After initially accepting the kisses demurely for the first three or four times, the child began to squirm. It was likely because he was conscious of sitting on my lower body.
“Mmm, Mika. We have to wake up early tomorrow.”
“Yes. I know. I’m not… trying to do anything else.”
Even as I spoke, I pressed my lips onto Ruben’s cheek a couple more times. The child, unable to bear it any longer, parted his lips and looked at Ikyun. I quickly turned my head and found my way into the gap of his open lips. Could honey be sweeter than this? Strangely, the longer we kept our lips together, the sweeter it became.
I pulled back slightly.
Since neither Ruben nor I had closed our eyes, our gazes met directly. Then, with a melting smile, Ruben clung to me, and I lifted him up and placed him deeply onto the desk. Fortunately, there was nothing on the desk, as it hadn’t been used for the past few days, so there were no objects to fall.
Ruben took a deep breath.
“What time do we have to wake up tomorrow?”
“⋯Six, six o’clock. I need two hours for grooming, and at eight, I have to meet Mother… We can leave at ten and depart at eleven. And later… I must send a letter to Her Majesty before seven in the evening…”
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
“⋯Mmm. Let’s.”
I placed my hand on the button of Ruben’s shirt. Ruben let his hands fall above his head, presenting his broad chest and straight abdomen fully to my view. The flame of affection, long suppressed, showed no sign of extinguishing.
The Empress Dowager’s Greenhouse was filled with blue flowers.
A cool greenhouse bathed in the scorching summer sun. Even to me, who was accustomed to luxury, it was an unfamiliar sight. The round greenhouse had paths lined with flowers like a maze, but for some reason, the floral scent was very faint.
In the center of the greenhouse, with the highest ceiling, a round table and several small fountains were placed beneath a stained-glass skylight. At this size, it could comfortably seat six people. Seeing the two waiting for me, I immediately placed my hand on my left chest and bowed halfway.
“I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager.”
“You may speak comfortably now, Your Majesty.”
“No. You are like a mother to me, so it is you who should treat me comfortably.”
“Well, my son doesn’t treat me that comfortably either.”
At the teasing remark, Ruben, who had been standing without a word, twisted the corner of his mouth.
Escorting Ruben is my duty. Before the child could retort, I quickly pulled out a chair halfway, preparing a seat for Ruben. Ruben, who sat gracefully in the offered seat, directed his gaze not at Empress Dowager Kate, but at his younger sibling.
“What is that outfit?”
“Why, isn’t it pretty? What do you think, brother-in-law?”
The Empress Dowager wore a deep wine-colored dress, and Lucilla, sitting beside her, wore a strikingly blue outfit. While they could be called clothes since they covered their bodies, they didn’t look like dresses. I examined the avant-garde attire, which resembled a mass of voluminous ruffles rather than a skirt, once more.
And I promptly replied.
“Yes. It suits you well.”
“See, he says it suits you.”
“⋯.”
Kate and Ruben narrowed their brows simultaneously. Though they didn’t sigh consciously, the mother and son were strikingly alike. Watching Lucilla jump up to show off her outfit, I quietly suppressed a laugh.