Chapter 46

Lehan slowly lowered his body to give Edelis time to prepare herself.

As Edelis stared up at him with wide eyes, the distance between them steadily decreased.

Lehan waited for her to close her eyes, but when she didn’t, he couldn’t hold back any longer and pressed his lips to hers.

Even as their eyes met, he repeatedly brushed his lips against hers.

Only then did Edelis’s face turn bright red, and she tightly shut her eyes.

Even with her eyes closed, the golden, sun-like glow of Lehan’s eyes kept flashing in her mind—the eyes that had looked at her like she was the most lovable thing in the world.

Her breath felt hot, as if she were parched, and her pounding heart felt like it might explode.

Meanwhile, his lips brushed across her cheeks, the corners of her eyes, her forehead…

‘I—I can’t get used to this!’

What had she been thinking, believing they could go that far before the Saintess returned?

Just moments ago, she had thought, ‘I’m ready now!’—how naive that had been.

‘Just kissing makes my heart race like this!’

She felt like crying out for Lehan to save her, but her pride wouldn’t allow it.

They say titles shape a person, and Lehan had indeed taken on the dignified air befitting an emperor.

But Edelis, who remembered his more adorable past self, didn’t want to lose face in front of him.

Still, the only pride she could manage was not begging him to stop.

Lehan’s large hand trailed down her shoulder and laced his fingers tightly with hers.

That strong grip only made her feel more nervous.

“H-Haa…”

Unable to hold back any longer, Edelis let out a heated breath, and his exhale mingled with hers through her slightly parted lips.

Startled by the sudden intrusion, her body stiffened—but Lehan paid it no mind and leaned deeper into her.

The unfamiliar sensation made her tremble.

‘I—I don’t know anything about this! It’s nothing like what I read in books!’

She had been too busy just trying to survive to ever care about romance.

Her only experience came from the romance novels she had read before discovering the book about her future.

Those books never described this feeling—like she was floating, her legs twisting, and heat spreading through her entire body.

But one thing was certain: This felt far better than anything she had imagined or read about.

“Are you breathing?”

Lehan pulled away slightly—still close enough that their noses nearly touched.

Edelis wanted to gasp for air, but she carefully exhaled, worried her breath would reach him.

As she calmed her breathing, Lehan kissed her again.

“Your mouth.”

He was about to tell her to open it, but just hearing the word “mouth” was enough for her to part her lips slightly.

“Well done.”

Lehan let out a hot breath and smiled.

He tried to act composed, but Edelis could feel he was just as flustered as she was.

Realizing this, she suddenly burst into giggles.

“Why are you laughing?”

“N-No reason.”

“……”

She regretted laughing almost immediately—but it was too late.

“It’s just… you seem just as flustered as I am.”

“…Ha.”

She thought she had seen through him, but Lehan turned his head and sighed.

“W-Why?”

“Edelis, the reason I’m flustered… is very different from yours.”

“…Are you used to women?”

“No! Of course not!”

Her bombshell question made Lehan frantically wave his hand in denial.

Still, Edelis eyed him suspiciously.

‘He’s a handsome emperor. Even if he weren’t emperor, he’s a duke’s heir. Maybe he is used to women…’

Just thinking about it made her blood boil.

She had never had time for love, so every kiss with Lehan left her heart pounding.

But he said it was for a different reason? That stung a little.

“Do you think that’s the only reason?”

Lehan relaxed and leaned his body over hers.

“W-Wait!”

Edelis flinched as she felt his body against hers.

One hand supported his weight, the other still entwined with hers.

Then what was that pressing against her…?

She thought she knew—but didn’t want to know.

“I said I would wait—and I meant it.”

“……”

“Or… are you ready now?”

“No!”

Just moments ago, she thought she was—but she had been wrong.

“Then please don’t mistake the reason I’m not calm for something so absurd.”

“……”

“Understood?”

“Y-Yes.”

Edelis quickly nodded.

She had thought they shared the same flustered feelings… but clearly not.

He was still waiting, still restraining himself night after night.

“Then you must be tired. Get some rest.”

“Eh?”

As Lehan tried to rise, he felt a slight tug on his hand—Edelis had pulled at their linked fingers.

They both froze and locked eyes.

Edelis, realizing what she’d done, tried to pull away—but this time, Lehan held on tight.

“Can I… take this however I want?”

“I’m not ready yet!”

“Understood.”

He looked slightly disappointed.

In the end, Edelis decided to take one bold step forward.

“J-Just once more.”

“Once more… what?”

“Kiss me. Just one more time.”

“Then may I interpret that however I wish?”

“……”

Edelis wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close.

Then she kissed him.

“Is that… the right interpretation?”

Lehan didn’t even think of replying—he simply devoured her breath as if not letting a single gasp escape.

Until she finally surrendered and begged him to stop.

That night ended with one clear conclusion: Edelis should never tease Lehan carelessly again.

“Your Majesty, Commander Johannes Frache of the Imperial Knights is here.”

Lehan had taken to spending time with Edelis while she read, going over state affairs by her side.

The problem was, as they grew closer, Lehan would kiss her constantly.

He had always expressed his affection generously, usually with gifts or words.

But now, it had become routine for him to pull her into his arms and kiss her any chance he got.

“L-Lehan…”

“Just a little more.”

Edelis tried weakly to push him away, but he only held her tighter and kept kissing her.

However, with someone waiting outside, she turned her head.

“B-But Sir Frache is outside…”

“He can wait a little longer.”

“But still…”

“He didn’t schedule an audience. We could keep him waiting two or three hours, or just send him away.”

Lehan tightened his arms around her waist as she sat on his lap.

“Delaying state business isn’t good.”

“Maintaining a good relationship with the Empress is also part of my job.”

She wanted to say, ‘We’re already close enough!’

But she remembered how upset he’d been when she said something similar before—so she bit her tongue.

“I don’t want to be known as the Empress who ruined the empire by distracting the Emperor.”

“…Even if history remembers you, it will say you were the Empress who kept the Emperor working.”

Lehan reluctantly set her down on the sofa.

“Let him in.”

With Lehan’s command, Sir Frache entered.

His expression shifted subtly the moment he stepped inside.

An unusually long wait, a flushed Empress, and the Emperor’s barely hidden good mood—he noticed it all.

But he was no fool and pretended not to notice, joking instead: “I almost barged in.”

“You’d have lost your head.”

“Brutal.”

He laughed, rubbing his neck.

“So why are you here?”

Lehan’s tone turned serious.

“Raiden was attacked.”

“…Raiden? When?”

“Last night, on his way home from duty.”

Raiden was one of Edelis’s guards.

Today was his day off, and she had told him to rest.

Now he had been attacked?

“On horseback, returning home in the early hours.”

“Why not stay in his quarters?”

“He wanted to see his pregnant wife—left as soon as he handed over to Ferrin.”

“……”

Lehan frowned in thought.

Edelis had three guards, and one of them had just been ambushed.

“Any suspects?”

“Raiden’s badly wounded and unconscious.”

“Is it serious?”

“His life is safe, at least.”

A small relief.

But Edelis’s guards were top-notch—what kind of opponent could injure Raiden so badly?

“Any witnesses?”

“No. A shopkeeper opening early saw him riding back, bleeding. He called the guards.”

“Not much to go on, then.”

“Yeah. Just like the last time.”

Lehan’s face darkened at that.

Frache was referring to the previous attack targeting Edelis.

“You think it’s the same person?”

“Maybe not the same attackers, but the same mastermind, yes. No witnesses again, no signs of a struggle near any homes.”

There had been several small attempts on Edelis’s life after that—but Lehan had foiled every one without her knowledge.

And this time, his instincts were clear:

Whoever attacked Raiden… might be the same person—or even more dangerous.

“…But for now, Her Majesty isn’t well…”

Lehan turned toward Edelis—her face was pale, her hands trembling.

This was his fault. He shouldn’t have discussed it in front of her.

He pulled her close, gently rubbing her back.

“It’s alright. Nothing will happen.”

“But if it is the same person… they could be targeting people close to me first, waiting for a chance when I’m unguarded.”

“…That is possible.”

That’s why Lehan had once sent all three of her guards with her to the slums—nothing happened then.

But now?

“Edelis, stay close to me at all times.”

“But I can’t follow you into cabinet meetings. There will be times we’re apart.”

“I’ll adjust Ferrin and Pasis’s schedules for now.”

“No need for that.”

Johannes, who had been listening silently, finally spoke up:

“I’ll guard Her Majesty myself until Raiden recovers.”