FTDP - Chapter 107

"Your Highness"

As I entered the third floor where the Duke's office was, the butler Albert made a show of noticing me. Several of the servants were making a fuss about me, and it seemed that the butler had already heard about it.

He bowed deeply in greeting.

“It’s been a long time. If you had told me you were coming, I would have welcomed you.”

At first glance, it sounded like he was criticizing me for not even giving him a message, but I just laughed, knowing that he was actually worried about the lack of hospitality.

“If I had sent word in advance, His Majesty would not have permitted it at any cost. I stopped by on my way back from the salon of the Countess of Fauven.”

“Was that so?”

“It’s been almost half a year. How have you been?”

“Thanks to Your Highness’s concern, it really is.”

Albert answered, stretching his back as if showing off. I had asked the palace doctor to send him some medicine that was good for arthritis every month, and today, it seemed to have really worked.

I smiled happily and nodded toward the office.

“Is Laskan inside?”

“Yes. While you two are talking, I will prepare tea in the reception room.”

“No. I have to go soon... Ah, if that’s what you wanted to tell Laskan, I’ll tell him instead.”

I reached out to Albert for the documents he was holding at his side. He seemed to think for a moment, then handed them over to me.

“As he is a man of good temper, he may accuse me of abdicating my duties to you, which you must prevent.”

“I will do that.”

I smiled at Albert's teasing and answered. He bowed politely to me once more and walked down the stairs with an elegant gait.

I think about it every time, but he has always been the same in his treatment of me. Ever since I was a girl from an alley with extremely low social status, to now when I am treated as a Princess. Perhaps it is because of his uprightness that Laskan keeps him by his side as his butler.

I waited until the footsteps faded away and then knocked on the office door.

“Laskan. Are you inside?”

I knocked a few more times, thinking that maybe he hadn't heard me, but there was no answer. I was sur Albert said he was inside... I opened the door carefully.

Even though it was broad daylight, it was quite dark inside. I had to blink while standing to adjust to the sudden darkness. So, somewhat belatedly, I found Laskan asleep, leaning against a large armchair.

His neck was loosely stretched back along the backrest, and his slightly raised head was beautiful even in deep sleep.

A ray of sunlight poured over his face, shaded by the curtains that half-covered the window. It was like the holy painting I had often seen in the old cathedral of George, lost in thought and forgetting the time.

He was fast asleep, not even realizing that someone had come in... It was the first time I had seen him in such a defenseless state.

When he was staying at the Princess’s palace, my health would suddenly worsen without warning, so he couldn’t sleep and had to stay in bed. Now that he's banned from entering the Princess’s palace, he's also worried about supplies. It seems like he's worked his body to the limit and just fallen asleep.

Half of my heart was filled with pity, and the other half was filled with worry... No, maybe it was all just sinister desires.

I stood in front of Laskan as if possessed. As I lowered my head closer, his scent became a little stronger. It was not an artificial perfume, but closer to the fresh scent of grass from the forest.

According to the legend passed down through the Ashkabad family, their ancestors were wolves who ruled the forest... So that's why.

When I felt him, I couldn't bear it anymore. I was struggling between morality, reason, and desire.

While I was unconscious and defenseless in front of him, Laskan probably didn't even think to steal a glance at my lips.

But I... Damn it, what can I do with a human being born like this? The moment of conflict was brief.

I placed my palm on his forearm, which was clenched into a fist so that the veins bulged out, wondering what he was dreaming about. Slowly, I shifted my weight and brought my lips to his.

It was too shallow to be called a kiss, but too deep to be called a simple touch. I liked the feeling of my lips gently touching his teeth.

As I licked his smooth lips with my tongue and fell, his eyelids fluttered and slowly revealed his golden eyes.

His beautiful eyes sparkled, and he called my name in a low, soft voice.

“Sasha...”

He pulled me with such force that my weak arms had difficulty resisting it, and I ended up sinking down on Laskan's lap.

He cleverly made me spread my legs apart and then pulled me a little closer. I could feel his leg muscles under my overlapping thighs. It was all in an instant.

Is this, is this, something natural...? ...The moment I began to doubt his past of never having had sex with another woman, he grabbed my chin and made me lift my head.

“...!”

As he tilted his head down, our lips locked tightly together. Our tongues tangled as he parted my gaping teeth.

It was so wild and violent that it almost seemed extreme, incomparable to what I had done a moment ago.

He grabbed the collar of my dress and pulled it down, as if the lace around my shoulders was disturbing. It was an insolent touch. I could feel his abs between my spread thighs.

Breath, my breathing was hard. I grabbed his collar and crumpled it. As if even that was annoying, he took my hand and lowered it. The naturalness of that hand...

"...Your Highness?"

As if I had been intoxicated by something, my lips parted in an instant. A confused voice called out to me.

He stuttered, showing a rare look of bewilderment.

“If you’re not at the Princess’ Palace, what on earth are you doing here..?”

“...”

“It’s okay, are you okay?”

As I gasped for air, he looked at the seams of my dress in disbelief. In an instant, he paled, and I lost the will to tease him.

“Okay... it’s okay.”

I was about to reply that it was good, but I quickly changed my words because I thought that was a bit too much.

Laskan quickly threw his cloak over me and threw me far away. He would retreat to the other side of the continent if he could just get away from me.

Even I felt awkward at the sharp line drawn. I asked as if nothing had happened, straightening my messy hair.

“Look, you’ve been very busy preparing supplies, haven’t you?”

“...It was my fault. I don’t have the face to meet Your Highness.”

“Yes. It’s not like I know you or anything.”

“...”

He didn't answer. I just blurted out something awkward... Well, he must have known it was me. He called me 'Sasha' before we first kissed.

The back of my neck burned with the belated realization. I quickly handed him the crumpled documents to change the subject.

“This, this, Albert asked me to pass it on.”

“...”

“And, the reason I came today was because I had something to say about the competition...”

He, who had been standing there like a nailed-down man, was the first to react. I hastily added before the awkwardness set in.

“I think we will need a capable finance officer for the third competition.”

“The Treasurer... are you speaking?”

“I had missed this, but His Majesty said that the winner of the second competition would receive a separate reward. It was Ashvital Island and ten thousand pieces of gold. He said that would be advantageous in the third competition.”

Laskan, who had been listening quietly, raised his head slightly.

“It’s most likely a topic related to investment.”

“I think so too. So, is there anyone you can recommend?”

“Yes. I will select the relevant people and send them by tomorrow.”

I nodded with satisfaction. I could trust him to handle his work. He was capable and had no backers, so I thought he would choose him appropriately.

I glanced up and looked at his face. To be honest, my business was over. I wanted to stay with him a little longer, but Laskan's mind seemed to be elsewhere. He didn't even seem to have the time to say a single kind word to me.

I was embarrassed to keep squatting, so I stood up.

“Then, I, I’ll be going now.”

"Your Highness."

He called me softly. His expression was calm and composed, unlike the first time, but his ears were still red.

He came closer, opened the cloak that was halfway down due to the difference in size, and continued speaking. He couldn’t bear to look at my attire, so his gaze was elsewhere, and the knot he had tied was more sloppy than ever.

“Clothes... I’m sorry, but I think it would be better if you changed your clothes before you go.”

"Ah."

“If you wait a moment, I will call the tight-lipped maid and...”

I immediately grabbed his hand that was falling. Only then did his gaze turn to me, as if embarrassed. In his eyes, I could read his longing for me. I felt my lower abdomen getting hot.

I bit my lip. I wasn't drunk or caught up in the mood. This was a moment where I could truly choose by my own will.

Olga said that when something like this happens, it is important to be sane above all else. She said that instead of going for the momentary pleasure or desire, you should make a choice when you are sure that you will not regret that moment for a long time.

That time seemed to be now. I took a step closer to Laskan.

Laskan flinched, but did not dodge. As if he could not dare to refuse. The sunken golden eyes were cold.

“Laskan.”

He froze and let me wrap my arms around the back of his neck.

I moved my lips slowly, feeling his thrill.

“I want to have you.”

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